Change For A Nickel

I was recently at Chicago’s first annual Green Festival. Not sure where I fit on the green scale. Maybe I’m olive green?? I recycle. I have replaced most of my light bulbs with low energy florescent bulbs. I take public transportation, ride my bicycle or walk whenever possible. (All of which increase proportional to the price of gas!) But of course there is always more that can be done and boy, there were plenty of vendors at the festival to show you just how to do it! Apparently to be green you must also be a vegitarian. I couldn’t find a piece of chicken in that place! I guess cows and pigs aren’t green enough! Must be something to do with all of that methane they produce? I was also looking forward to getting some cool festival swag! Let’s see, they ran out of cool green event bags. I got a free T-shirt but it was too small. Apparently a large for hemp wearing hippies is smaller than for us Target size men. And the final insult.. The city was giving away low energy florescent bulbs as you left the event. They ran out by the time I left.

All that aside, the real reason I went was to hear two authors speak. Greg Palast, author of Armed Madhouse and Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now and co-author of Static. I was able to get a picture with her during her book signing. I have to give her credit. Old girl packed the place and gave a great speech!

Don’t know if you caught the news yesterday about Barack Obama’s campaign. The numbers were impressive. He raised 25 million bucks! But I was more impressed by the number of individual donors, 100,000! That’s damn good. I figure it’s time to put my money where my mouth is. I think I might be donor 100,001! I like the fact that he is reaching out to everyday people for support with a message of working together to solve this nation’s problems and it seems like he actually means it!  Also, the Obama campaign is not taking donations from lobbyists or political action committees. When I was submitting my more than generous online donation I had to check the following disclaimer:

Check this box to confirm that the following statements are true and accurate:

1. I am a United States citizen or a lawfully-admitted permanent resident.
2. I am at least 16 years old.
3. This contribution is not made from the general treasury funds of a corporation, labor organization or national bank.
4. This contribution is not made from the funds of a political action committee.
5. This contribution is not made from the treasury of an entity or person who is a federal contractor.
6. This contribution is not made from the funds of an individual registered as a federal lobbyist or a foreign agent, or an entity that is a federally registered lobbying firm or foreign agent.
7. The funds I am donating are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.

So Barack is my man and I’m standing by him. (Michelle, I mean that figuratively!) It would be great if you would all send him lots of money and support but I know better than that. You know my line. I don’t care who you support I am just happy if you are involved in the political process even if you are a staunch conservative. Remember, terrorists won’t destroy this country complacency will do that.