From a North Carolina Newspaper:
Welcome to the culture wars of the 13th Congressional District, where Republican Vernon Robinson is trying to unseat Miller, a two-term incumbent from Raleigh.
. . .
Robinson has already run a radio ad that features mariachi band music playing in the background. “If Miller had his way,” says the announcer, “America would be nothing but one big fiesta for illegal aliens and homosexuals.”
It looks like November is going to be real exciting.
Thomas Franks’ What’s the Matter With Kansas? argues that the right wing pushes conservative economic philosophy but using social issues. Today’s Post, in an article about the troubles of the Ralph Reed campaign, shows the dynamic at work.
Reed sent a mailer to conservative Christians asking that they contact their Congressman and urge him to take a position. The position was to vote against the extension of federal labor laws to the Marianas Islands — a place where “Made in the USA” gear is built with Chinese labor and no US labor protection. But Reed sold it thusly:
“The radical left, the Big Labor Union Bosses, and Bill Clinton want to pass a law preventing Chinese from coming to work on the Marianas Islands,” the mailer from Reed’s firm said. The Chinese workers, it added, “are exposed to the teachings of Jesus Christ” while on the islands, and many “are converted to the Christian faith and return to China with Bibles in hand.”
The really interesting thing here is that Reed’s trouble is not because of this cynical manipulation of Christian voters’ concerns for the plain interest of money. It’s because it turns out there are very un-Christian things going on in the islands:
A [Department of Interior] report found that Chinese women were subject to forced abortions and that women and children were subject to forced prostitution in the local sex-tourism industry.
Michael Moore Hata Needs Some Love: Buried in medical bills. Needs money to defend the insurance establishment.
Done
So I finished up my last paper this morning. It’s kind of anti-climactic — somewhere along last nite at about 4 in the morning I reached a “final draft” status for my paper. Not quite as exciting as submitting an exam. But still.
As far as schoolwork, I’m all finished with school. Now its just getting little minutia and pats on the back out of the way. I’m thinking of celebrating with a new MP3 player.
And also, we have some form of “senior week” with lots of booze before graduation. That could be kind of good, a last chance to meet the folks from school that are going to disperse. I’m worried I won’t see the ones that take corporate jobs anymore.
CFP
What has been much more exciting is that I’m having a blast at CFP. I’ve met some great people. I’ve met people I’m looking forward to cooperating with. But also in general here the attitude is that folks are very welcoming and interested. The privacy field grows and grows, and people are excited that I got funding to work for two years trying to solve problems.
I didn’t know this was possible, but its made me even more excited about the work I’m going to do. I hadn’t noticed fully what an opportunity I had to impact the privacy and domestic violence worlds. But meeting industry people has given me a shot in the arm — privacy folks are cool, but domestic violence people are awesome! A big presence here is the National Network to End Domestic Violence. They have a technology safety project, and thanks to meeting them I’m going to their annual training this August.
It’s going to be a neat two years. Hopefully next year we can have a Domestic Violence panel at CFP.
The panels have been interesting. I’ve just finished watching one on cellphone tracking. I’ve missed a bunch because of school, but have been able to mingle in evening sessions (*cough* bars and receptions).
Wow. So our school has been fundraising for the class of 2006 gift. Some alumni chose to match our giving 4-1 if we exceeded 52% participation. And we’re up to 61% already! This is really great because I think this giving is going to a great cause.
Each giver has the choice of designating the class gift towards the Loan Repayment Assitance Program (LRAP) or a merit scholarship for an incoming student. I prefer LRAP, and I hope that others do too. Merit scholarships are important, they do help to attract people. And I must admit I got one. But I’m basically using it as a need-based public interest scholarship. Its allowed me to lower the costs of my education, making it easier to plan a public interest life. I don’t know if all merit-based recipients do that. But with LRAP, we know they’re working in the public interest.
Administration and other classes, if you’re listening: I have heard people say that they feel really good about giving knowing that it’s going to LRAP. I don’t think people are excited about giving funds for the Dean to spend with discretion. They want to give to worthwhile causes. Yes, you may feel that GW Law is a worthwhile cause in itself, but you’d be surprised at the attitude that some students have about the administration as graduation nears. If you want participation high, I recommend making LRAP the target of your giving campaings.