Introduction
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In Massachusetts, we have a name for Nevada Democrats: "Republican"
Well, that's not completely true. Most Mass Dems probably have never given a thought to Nevada Dems in general, and it's good to see Harry Reid out there, 'giving them hell'
But here in Massachusetts, we have a governor who is a lot like Harry Reid ...
Mormon and anti-abortion, but just signed a law that will allow and require all working Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. Mitt Romney is a Republican, but would fit in among Nevada Democrats.
I was born and reared in Henderson, Nevada. I went to Basic High School, where Harry played baseball 30 years before; went to the Boy's Club, where he boxed. I worked for his mentor Mike O'Callaghan at the Henderson Home News and LV Sun after attending the University of Nevada in Reno.
Growing up, my parents (older than most) were disabled and living on Social Security. My dad had been a cop, an electrical engineer at the Nevada Test Site, a bus driver, and a worker at the Titanium Metals Corporation in Henderson before he became disabled when I was just under 2 years old. In each of those jobs, he was a member of a union.
My parents also always had friends of every color and creed, and our religious activities (Baha'i) introduced us to many different cultures, religions and ideas.
This, combined with seeing the effects on my family of poverty and lack of health care, turned me into a Democrat, like my parents.
In 1998, I traveled the state with the Joe Neal gubernatorial campaign and dreamed of doing it for myself some day. The people I met were fiercely independant, moral and hard working.
Joe was for levying a larger tax on casino profits and using the proceeds to give Nevadans the best education and health care system in the country. Nevada hadn't raised its casino profit tax in decades, and it was one of the lowest in the country -- less than half the rate of other places. He was for restoring voting rights to felons after they'd served their time, and for making Nevada a fairer playing field for labor.
After we lost the primary, I went to the Nevada Day parade in Carson City and yelled "Casino TOOL!" at Kenny Guinn as he passed by on a horse and carriage.
I left Nevada soon thereafter, in 1999, driving cross-country in my Chevy pickup with everything I owned in the back, and stickers for Joe Neal and Al Gore on the bumper.
Now that I live on the east coast, it's easy to let my progressive tendencies take over. I love that I live in a state with equal marriage laws, and that will soon have almost universal health care. I am proud to be in a "blue state," but I just wish I could sit down and talk to each and every one of the people who vote Republican and try to see their point of view and correct misconceptions. I started by getting my Republican brother-in-law a subscription to The Nation to balance out his diet of 100% Fox News.
With this blog, I plan to post rants about national and international politics, as well as commentary on local issues for Nevada and Massachusetts.
I look forward to lots of discussion!
As Sparks, Nevada-based progressive-labor Democrat columnist Andy Barbano says:
Be well. Raise hell.
Well, that's not completely true. Most Mass Dems probably have never given a thought to Nevada Dems in general, and it's good to see Harry Reid out there, 'giving them hell'
But here in Massachusetts, we have a governor who is a lot like Harry Reid ...
Mormon and anti-abortion, but just signed a law that will allow and require all working Massachusetts residents to have health insurance. Mitt Romney is a Republican, but would fit in among Nevada Democrats.
I was born and reared in Henderson, Nevada. I went to Basic High School, where Harry played baseball 30 years before; went to the Boy's Club, where he boxed. I worked for his mentor Mike O'Callaghan at the Henderson Home News and LV Sun after attending the University of Nevada in Reno.
Growing up, my parents (older than most) were disabled and living on Social Security. My dad had been a cop, an electrical engineer at the Nevada Test Site, a bus driver, and a worker at the Titanium Metals Corporation in Henderson before he became disabled when I was just under 2 years old. In each of those jobs, he was a member of a union.
My parents also always had friends of every color and creed, and our religious activities (Baha'i) introduced us to many different cultures, religions and ideas.
This, combined with seeing the effects on my family of poverty and lack of health care, turned me into a Democrat, like my parents.
In 1998, I traveled the state with the Joe Neal gubernatorial campaign and dreamed of doing it for myself some day. The people I met were fiercely independant, moral and hard working.
Joe was for levying a larger tax on casino profits and using the proceeds to give Nevadans the best education and health care system in the country. Nevada hadn't raised its casino profit tax in decades, and it was one of the lowest in the country -- less than half the rate of other places. He was for restoring voting rights to felons after they'd served their time, and for making Nevada a fairer playing field for labor.
After we lost the primary, I went to the Nevada Day parade in Carson City and yelled "Casino TOOL!" at Kenny Guinn as he passed by on a horse and carriage.
I left Nevada soon thereafter, in 1999, driving cross-country in my Chevy pickup with everything I owned in the back, and stickers for Joe Neal and Al Gore on the bumper.
Now that I live on the east coast, it's easy to let my progressive tendencies take over. I love that I live in a state with equal marriage laws, and that will soon have almost universal health care. I am proud to be in a "blue state," but I just wish I could sit down and talk to each and every one of the people who vote Republican and try to see their point of view and correct misconceptions. I started by getting my Republican brother-in-law a subscription to The Nation to balance out his diet of 100% Fox News.
With this blog, I plan to post rants about national and international politics, as well as commentary on local issues for Nevada and Massachusetts.
I look forward to lots of discussion!
As Sparks, Nevada-based progressive-labor Democrat columnist Andy Barbano says:
Be well. Raise hell.
