Comments on: A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/ Progressive Politics Tue, 06 Jan 2009 05:29:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Peace is a local issue–ICPJ Encourages Ann Arbor City Council to call for Peace in Iraq | Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-17261 Peace is a local issue–ICPJ Encourages Ann Arbor City Council to call for Peace in Iraq | Interfaith Council for Peace & Justice Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:10:32 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-17261 [...] Peace is a local issue–ICPJ Encourages Ann Arbor City Council to call for Peace in Iraq The Ann Arbor City Council is considering a resolution to push Congress to bring an end to the war in Iraq, and ICPJ is supporting this effort. [...] [...] Peace is a local issue–ICPJ Encourages Ann Arbor City Council to call for Peace in Iraq The Ann Arbor City Council is considering a resolution to push Congress to bring an end to the war in Iraq, and ICPJ is supporting this effort. [...]

]]> By: Henry Edward Hardy http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10912 Henry Edward Hardy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:15:02 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10912 Slight correction to my previous response: "President of their Congressman" should read "President *or* their Congressman" --HH. Slight correction to my previous response: “President of their Congressman” should read “President *or* their Congressman”

–HH.

]]> By: Henry Edward Hardy http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10911 Henry Edward Hardy Thu, 25 Oct 2007 18:10:43 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10911 Peter, Dude! When did you start thinking inside of small rigid little boxes? Weren't you once a Cypherpunk? What has happened to you? Such local resolutions are an essential part of a functioning democracy. Not everyone can speak directly to the President of their Congressman; but we can speak to our local councilpeople. They in turn have not only the right but the responsibility to act as a channel for such local concerns about national issues as I think Ron is offering to do here. When you say "out of scope" you are invoking a totalitarian and anti-democratic, feudal tradition expressed in the old English axiom, "God bless the squire and his relations And keep us all in our proper stations" see http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ETX8CO2lsC&dq=God+bless+the+squire+and+his+relations+and+keep+us+all+in+our+proper+stations&pg=PA184&ots=K9vI9Bi_Mh&sig=V2AuYuzChlj_wkK1tqDNppZN5Ac&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3DGod%2Bbless%2Bthe%2Bsquire%2Band%2Bhis%2Brelations%2Band%2Bkeep%2Bus%2Ball%2Bin%2Bour%2Bproper%2Bstations%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26client%3Dfirefox-a&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1&cad=legacy In a democratic society, nothing is or should be "out of scope" in terms of legislators acting to express the concerns of their constituents to higher authorities. Indeed, if "keeping in scope" were to be more important than the democratic functions of the council, then there would be little reason to have an elected council. The city manager system would work without them. The City Manager could be appointed by the President acting as a "unitary executive". But this would be injust and undemocratic. More on the Peaceworks proposed resolution and related issues at my blog Scanlyze: A response to Ron Suarez’ A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? at: http://scanlyze.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/a-response-to-ron-suarez-a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/ --HH. Peter,

Dude! When did you start thinking inside of small rigid little boxes?

Weren’t you once a Cypherpunk? What has happened to you?

Such local resolutions are an essential part of a functioning democracy. Not everyone can speak directly to the President of their Congressman; but we can speak to our local councilpeople. They in turn have not only the right but the responsibility to act as a channel for such local concerns about national issues as I think Ron is offering to do here.

When you say “out of scope” you are invoking a totalitarian and anti-democratic, feudal tradition expressed in the old English axiom,

“God bless the squire and his relations
And keep us all in our proper stations”

see http://books.google.com/books?id=-1ETX8CO2lsC&dq=God+bless+the+squire+and+his+relations+and+keep+us+all+in+our+proper+stations&pg=PA184&ots=K9vI9Bi_Mh&sig=V2AuYuzChlj_wkK1tqDNppZN5Ac&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3DGod%2Bbless%2Bthe%2Bsquire%2Band%2Bhis%2Brelations%2Band%2Bkeep%2Bus%2Ball%2Bin%2Bour%2Bproper%2Bstations%26ie%3Dutf-8%26oe%3Dutf-8%26aq%3Dt%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26client%3Dfirefox-a&sa=X&oi=print&ct=result&cd=1&cad=legacy

In a democratic society, nothing is or should be “out of scope” in terms of legislators acting to express the concerns of their constituents to higher authorities.

Indeed, if “keeping in scope” were to be more important than the democratic functions of the council, then there would be little reason to have an elected council. The city manager system would work without them. The City Manager could be appointed by the President acting as a “unitary executive”. But this would be injust and undemocratic.

More on the Peaceworks proposed resolution and related issues at my blog Scanlyze:

A response to Ron Suarez’ A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq?

at: http://scanlyze.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/a-response-to-ron-suarez-a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/

–HH.

]]> By: A response to Ron Suarez’ A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? « Scanlyze http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10874 A response to Ron Suarez’ A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? « Scanlyze Wed, 24 Oct 2007 20:49:49 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-10874 [...] A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? Dingell bill sets date for Iraq pullout War costs may total $2.4 trillion [...] [...] A New Ann Arbor City Council Resolution to End the War in Iraq? Dingell bill sets date for Iraq pullout War costs may total $2.4 trillion [...]

]]> By: Ron Suarez http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1917 Ron Suarez Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:59:28 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1917 There are two categories of time here: (1) Council meeting time spent on resolutions regarding national issues and (2) my personal time contacting people, which I am happy to do. But, I could use help identifying other government officials who could use a nudge in the correct direction. There are two categories of time here: (1) Council meeting time spent on resolutions regarding national issues and (2) my personal time contacting people, which I am happy to do. But, I could use help identifying other government officials who could use a nudge in the correct direction.

]]> By: Joel Eckel http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1911 Joel Eckel Fri, 30 Mar 2007 19:04:17 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1911 OK, I'm biased. I'm the Dir. for Michigan Peaceworks and one of the people who worked on this resolution. I, too, agree that limited time should be spent by the city council on this matter. However, the limited time that has been spent does add to the community's and Michigan's Congressional members' growing awareness of popular oppostion to this war. This resolution is different from others passed in that it places the responsibility on those who represent us in Congress to act to end the war. Furthermore, we are using this resolution as an effort to target key Congressional members by contacting cities they represent. Thank you for your leadership, Ron! OK, I’m biased. I’m the Dir. for Michigan Peaceworks and one of the people who worked on this resolution. I, too, agree that limited time should be spent by the city council on this matter. However, the limited time that has been spent does add to the community’s and Michigan’s Congressional members’ growing awareness of popular oppostion to this war.

This resolution is different from others passed in that it places the responsibility on those who represent us in Congress to act to end the war. Furthermore, we are using this resolution as an effort to target key Congressional members by contacting cities they represent.

Thank you for your leadership, Ron!

]]> By: Dave DeVarti http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1660 Dave DeVarti Mon, 19 Mar 2007 19:21:03 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1660 City Coucil should enthusiastically support this resolution and it need not take alot of time away from OTHER local business. I say "other" because this is a local issue too. In order to finance the billions of dollars this war costs, the administration is proposing, among many other cuts in local and state funding, reducing its medicaid commitments. This is a defunding of medical and healthcare costs that will have a direct negative impact on the health and welfare of Ann Arbor and Michigan residents and will cost local communities more to provide adequate healthcare for their residents. Additionally local resolutions like these will strengthen the resolve of our federal Representatives and Senators to stand up and end this war. City Coucil should enthusiastically support this resolution and it need not take alot of time away from OTHER local business. I say “other” because this is a local issue too. In order to finance the billions of dollars this war costs, the administration is proposing, among many other cuts in local and state funding, reducing its medicaid commitments. This is a defunding of medical and healthcare costs that will have a direct negative impact on the health and welfare of Ann Arbor and Michigan residents and will cost local communities more to provide adequate healthcare for their residents. Additionally local resolutions like these will strengthen the resolve of our federal Representatives and Senators to stand up and end this war.

]]> By: David Cahill http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1659 David Cahill Mon, 19 Mar 2007 16:55:16 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1659 I hope Council acts on a resolution like this. FWIW, Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution on the Iraq war last spring. Ergo, if it was a Council issue then, it's still a Council issue. "All politics is local." I hope Council acts on a resolution like this. FWIW, Council overwhelmingly passed a resolution on the Iraq war last spring. Ergo, if it was a Council issue then, it’s still a Council issue.

“All politics is local.”

]]> By: Ron Suarez http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1618 Ron Suarez Sat, 17 Mar 2007 14:50:07 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1618 I agree that Ann Arbor City Council does not need to spend a lot of time preaching to the choir. But, I do think it is important for us to send a message that will hopefully make our congressional representatives understand that we want out of Iraq as fast as possible. Debbie Dingell, at a recent meeting of Ann Arbor Democrats, specifically asked us (AA Dems, not Council specifically) to not hold back our opinions. It seems that for our federal representatives to have more conviction on this issue, we need to speak more loudly at a local level. I agree that Ann Arbor City Council does not need to spend a lot of time preaching to the choir. But, I do think it is important for us to send a message that will hopefully make our congressional representatives understand that we want out of Iraq as fast as possible. Debbie Dingell, at a recent meeting of Ann Arbor Democrats, specifically asked us (AA Dems, not Council specifically) to not hold back our opinions. It seems that for our federal representatives to have more conviction on this issue, we need to speak more loudly at a local level.

]]> By: peter honeyman http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1610 peter honeyman Sat, 17 Mar 2007 02:34:54 +0000 http://ronsuarez.com/2007/03/16/a-new-ann-arbor-city-council-resolution-to-end-the-war-in-iraq/#comment-1610 imho, this issue is way outside city council's scope. imho, this issue is way outside city council’s scope.

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