• About
  • marygriggs.com
  • Mouth Brothels

Mary Griggs

~ The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.

Mary Griggs

Monthly Archives: October 2011

Vote Or Die!

22 Saturday Oct 2011

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Elections, Mary Griggs, Rant, Voting

(c) by Mary Griggs

This morning I walked a mile from my home to my polling place. I figured that I would exercise my body’s muscles while I exercised my electoral ones. That pretty much sums up how I feel about elections—I might not necessarily like doing it but I know it is good for me.

And voting isn’t just good for me. It is good for all of us. These days, we are voting for our lives.

For example, the same group that pushed the personhood ballot measure in Mississippi has vowed to do the same in all the other states (see here). The same coalitions that pushed for constitutional amendments on marriage are toying with the idea of statutes to criminalize homosexuality (Uganda’s draconian anti-homosexuality bill was written with help from The Family, a conservative Christian fellowship based in Washington, DC that has proposed modified legislation to its constituents. See here, here and here).

Further, every single state legislature in the country introduced bills, propositions, and amendments that had been drafted by ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) to disenfranchise voters, to restrict choice, privatize vital public services and dismantle health, safety and environmental regulations. (See here, here and here)

The Citizens United decision removed corporate and special interest spending limits from campaigns and has allowed more money to flow into politics than ever before. We have to resist temptation every time we walk by the candy aisle on our way to the cash register and we must also resist the false promises found in 30 second television commercials funded by shadowy organizations with innocuous names and hidden agendas.

As we push ourselves in our physical workouts for better overall health and fitness, so must we push ourselves to learn all we can about ballot measures and politicians to strengthen our democracy. There are groups like Project Vote Smart and local League of Women Voters who are determinably non-partisan in the collecting of data to help voters make up their minds. Equality organizations like the Forum For Equality PAC endorse candidates after an interview process and a vote from the membership. Their voter guides can help you find candidates who are more likely to support fairness and equality.

We, as a nation, have gotten obese from not thinking about what we put into our bodies. In the same way, our politicians become bloated from relying on easy money from corporate lobbyists. Our elected officials should be held accountable for the money that funds their campaigns. For a list of almost 2,000 politicians whose political integrity has been compromised by their association with ALEC, go to SourceWatch.

As much as the Koch brothers funded Supreme Court might wish to bestow full personhood on corporations, there is still something they can’t do.

They can’t vote.

You and I are the ones with that power. While religious extremists and right wing corporations may direct millions of dollars toward feeding our fears, we have the power to vote our values.

If you listen to Faux News, you might think that the only pro-family votes are anti-abortion, anti-LGBT, anti-health care and anti-tax. The rest of us know that progressives have families, morals and values, too. Our families promote diversity and challenge discrimination. Our morals show a commitment to ending violence and poverty and respect science over magical thinking. We value a social contract that includes fair taxation and paying forward for the next generation.

Voting, like exercise, can improve the quality of life for us and everyone else on the planet. It might mean we have to gird our loins (or hold our noses) but we are better off for having done so.

So get out there. Vote!

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

National Coming Out Day 2011

11 Tuesday Oct 2011

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Events, LGBT Equality, Mary Griggs

I’m a lesbian and National Coming Out Day is today. I’m coming out for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender equality because too many lives have been lost to anti-LGBT bullying, bias and harassment. I live my life to show that a queer life is possible and worth celebrating. Come out and live in joy.

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Occupy New Orleans

10 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by marygriggs in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Mary Griggs, Protest, Voting

(c) by Mary Griggs

Last week, I gathered with several hundred other activists for an Occupy New Orleans protest and march. Modeled after the Occupy Wall Street actions, the group spread information about the day’s activities primarily through social media:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OccupyNOLA
Twitter: http://twitter.com/OccupyNOLA
Google Groups: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/occupynola
and their website: http://occupynola.org/

There were a lot of different reasons why people were out protesting. The fact there is not one single issue or one single organizer is causing a lot frustration with the major media. There was a lot of local media and alternative media out in New Orleans on October 6th, though.

My primary reason for participating is my belief that Congress must pass legislation to reverse the Supreme Court’s decision in Citizens United. Allowing corporations to buy elections is undermining our democratic institutions. Negating the Citizens United decision is something that needs to happen as soon as possible. Campaign finance is one of the biggest issues we face as a country right now (and much of our economic issues stem from the power of corporations in lobbying for the writing laws which favor them over ‘people’ and fighting regulations and other consumer protections).

I was also walking because I’m a lesbian that lives in a state and country that offers no protections against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination in employment. Employment decisions should be based on a person’s qualifications and job performance. Without an Employment Non-discrimination Act at the Federal and State level, LGBT citizens will continue to face bias and discrimination and even be fired for their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. In this tough economy, LGBT workers should also have equal rights in job opportunities.

As we walked, we generally got a lot of support from motorists and people on the sidewalks and hanging out the windows. The police presence was non-obtrusive and was very helpful for the long walk from Tulane Avenue/Broad Street to Lafayette Square (down Poydras to St. Charles).

I loved being part of the protest and especially walking down our city’s public streets shouting “This is what democracy looks like!”

Share this:

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Email

Like this:

Like Loading...

Recent Posts

  • Coronavirus Journal for December 2020
  • Coronavirus Journal for November 2020
  • Coronavirus Journal for October 2020
  • Coronavirus Journal September 1-30, 2020
  • Riding Out Sally

Archives

  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • April 2019
  • February 2019
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • February 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • August 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • November 2009
  • September 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • January 2008
  • December 2007
  • November 2007
  • October 2007
  • August 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007

Twitter Updates

  • RT @Reuters: U.S. does not have reserve stockpile of COVID-19 vaccines: health chief Azar reut.rs/35KyQ96 https://t.co/kmaxJmmndz 11 hours ago
  • RT @LouisianaGov: LDH has confirmed Louisiana's first case of the more contagious COVID-19 variant that has been identified in the United K… 12 hours ago
  • @ltgrusselhonore Thank you for your service! 12 hours ago
  • “To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.” ~Aristotle #CatsOfNewOrleans… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 19 hours ago
  • RT @antirealism: As the founder of Krewe of House Floats, this is HORRIFYING. Please do not travel to New Orleans for Mardi Gras. The pande… 1 day ago
Follow @griggsme

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Cancel
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: