10. North Carolina’s “Employers Are Gods” law, otherwise known as Employment At Will, under which employees can be fired at any time for any reason whatsoever — or even for no reason.
9. The ongoing insanity of America’s “War on drugs,” which has become even more destructive and damaging than the failed U.S. experiment with alcohol prohibition.
8. The ongoing bigotry, fear and hatred promoted by supposedly “Christian values” groups who oppose gay rights and women’s reproductive freedom.
7. The Israeli government’s apparent belief that it is the sole owner of the entire Middle East, as well as judge, jury and executioner of anyone who even disagrees with them, never mind attacks them. It is tragic and astonishing how a government born of such moral authority has gradually squandered the world’s good will.
6. Parenting columnist John Rosemond, who seems to have rarely met a child he likes.
5. BP honcho Tony Hayward, who says that while he’s sorry for the ecological holocaust his company is causing along the Gulf, also reminds everyone that he’s being personally inconvenienced, too. “I would like my life back,” said Howard, who rakes in $4.5 million per year for his inconvenience. Yeah, Tony, tell it to the Gulf Coast fishermen whose livelihoods you’ve ruined.
4. The recent move by the Texas State Board of Education, which wields a large, disproportionate influence on the contents of national school textbooks, to rewrite American history to suit its far-right misconceptions, er, versions of events. (Hint: Confederacy good, civil rights movement bad).
3. Duke Energy putting the squeeze on the local solar industry, as reported in the Charlotte Business Journal.
2. The Charlotte business community, which has very glaringly not stepped up to the plate to help save the county’s schools from catastrophic cuts. I guess the Chamber thinks it’ll be easy to recruit new businesses to a city where libraries are closed and the public schools suck.
1. The “deer in the headlights,” aka “gutless” approach of the County Commission, who steadfastly refuse to consider raising taxes to save critical programs, schools and libraries. Must be easier to remain paralyzed by the anti-tax crowd (who wouldn’t vote for the majority of present commissioners in any case).
SPECIAL BONUS OUTRAGE! The Roman Catholic hierarchy, whose moral obtuseness, rigidity and butt-covering instincts bring disgrace on a religion whose ground-level members probably do more to help the unfortunate, heal the sick and promote peace and justice than anyone. Latest of too-many incidents: The excommunication of Sister Margaret McBride, a senior administrator of St. Joseph’s Hospital in Phoenix, who agreed that the life of a 27-year-old mother of four could only be saved by aborting the woman’s 11-week pregnancy. The bishop of Phoenix, Thomas Olmstead, decreed that Sister Margaret was “automatically excommunicated” because she assented to an abortion, and his PR flack added, “The mother’s life cannot be preferred over the child’s.” Huh? But it’s OK to “prefer” the child’s life over the mother’s?! There’s some moral clarity, huh? And how about the five kids the mother would be leaving behind after her death? Is the Phoenix diocese going to raise them? Yes, I am Catholic, although these repressive knot-heads aren’t making it easy.
This article appears in Jun 1-7, 2010.
Love, love your SBO! Catholic here too… did NOT know I was pro-choice until Bishop Olmsted made this case in all its unholy gore public. I truly thought I was pro-life but now without any doubt I understand why in some measure abortion needs to be legal.
Been on many blogs about this and saw a new side of some pro-lifers, very scary. For the love of God and all life which is holy, I reject the stupidity and selfishness in letting a woman die (sin of omission IMHO) in vain along with an unviable fetus.
If it weren’t for liberals America would be a third world hellhole.
Better we just sent all the rightwing nutjobs out on a raft and burned it.
My only issue with this post is that Mr. Grooms missed an opportunity for a classic “too many banana peppers” joke.
p.s. how about some equal time for stuff that soothes your butt
The republicans are the sorry bastards that have ruined everything. I wish they would all go down with the ship by God.
As you can see, Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld are still alive and well in these devils’ minds. They want to start another war by supporting the death regime of Israel. They will be the death of us all.