Quote
February 05, 2013
“The abortion myth serves as a convenient fiction because it suggests noble and altruistic motives behind the formation of the Religious Right. But it is highly disingenuous and renders absurd the argument of the leaders of the Religious Right that, in defending the rights of the unborn, they are the “new abolitionists.” The Religious Right arose as a political movement for the purpose, effectively, of defending racial discrimination at Bob Jones University and at other segregated schools. Whereas evangelical abolitionists of the 19th century sought freedom for African Americans, the Religious Right of the late 20th century organized to perpetuate racial discrimination.”

— Randall Balmer, Thy Kingdom Come (via slacktivist)

(Source: recoveringhipster)

Quote
December 29, 2011
“When the Know-Nothings get control, it [the Declaration of Independence] will read: “All men are created equal except negroes, foreigners and Catholics.” When it comes to this I should prefer immigrating to some country where they make no pretence of loving liberty—to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”

—

Abraham Lincoln, letter to Joshua F. Speed, August 24, 1855 

The Republican Party is a lot like Weezer. Their early stuff was great, and their middle period was still pretty good, but their recent stuff has just been one long descent into self-parody.

(via recoveringhipster)

Nicely put!

Quote
November 21, 2011
“

What we have seen in the last two weeks around the country, and now at Davis, is a radical departure from the way police have handled protest in this country for half a century…

These issues go to the core of what democracy means. We have a major economic crisis in this country that was brought on by the greedy and irresponsible behavior of big banks. No banker has been arrested, and certainly none have been pepper sprayed. Arrests and chemical assault is for those trying to defend their homes, their jobs, and their schools.

”

— Militarization of Campus Police

Link
November 08, 2011
GOP sees disconnect between universal phone, healthcare coverage »

latimes:

David Lazarus: Most conservatives are perfectly at ease with the idea of requiring all phone users to pay a fee to provide universal coverage for telecom services. But they balk at the idea when it comes to health insurance.

“Many of these guys who scream about socialized medicine represent largely rural states, and without these subsidies, there wouldn’t be universal phone and broadband service,” [Art Brodsky] said. “Basically, the phone subsidies are a form of corporate socialism.”

…After all, why should anyone be deprived the benefits of our state-of-the-art telecom system? It’s un-American to even consider such a notion.

The public cost of universal health coverage would run significantly more than a few bucks a month. But when it comes to mandates, the principle is the same: spreading the risks and expenses evenly among all members of society.

Conservatives grow bug-eyed at the thought of such a thing. They say that healthcare is a privilege, not a right, and that no one can be forced to pay for insurance.

It’s a ludicrous distinction. Either the government is tasked with ensuring fairness and equality in society, or it isn’t.”

(Source: Los Angeles Times)