Coolest Communities Create the Happiest Citizens

Carrboro, NC July 4, 09

We are all influenced by the people and places where we live. In particular, research shows that the communities we live in shape our ability to pursue and attain real happiness.  My own professional interests have always included a focus on community development.   Now I am able to identify and describe some real differences that can only be found by experiencing life in different communities.  I hope this will help you gain insights into what are the best and worst places for you to live.

This is a renewed emphasis and focus for The HipHappy Times.  From now on, most of my writing will be focused on how to get and stay happy.  I will focus on the role of social institutions on quality of life for individuals and communities.  I hope you enjoy and learn.  My first is a tribute to my relatively new (two years) hometown of Carrboro, NC. Learn about what makes a community cool and creative by reading my entertaining and educational Powerpoint presentation about why as Jim Morrison said  “The West is the Best – Get Here and We will do the Rest.”

Click on this link to view a PDF Version of  a presentation I have shared with community leaders entitled:  C2HC2 (Carrboro, Chapel Hill and Chatham County) as the Creative Corner of the Research Triangle Park.l

Please President Obama: Stop War on Marijuana

One of the first things FDR did when he became president in 1932 was to end the failed prohibition of alcohol. This single act freed up resources for needed public works programs and added lots of new tax revenue.  That  also dramatically improved public mood as promised by his 1932 campaign song “Happy Days are Here Again.”  Another benefit was the dramatic drop in crime  and fewer prisoners.   We will see these and other major benefits once the wasteful weed war ends.

President Obama has the same chance to restore a sense of freedom and happiness in our country.  One easy thing to do is end the unethical and ineffective war on medical marijuana.  This will also improve how the rest of the world views the United States.  Read all about what we all can do to persuade and pressure our new president to “Do the Right Thing” for millions of medical patients and recreational users across the country and around the world.  The US is the only country standing in the way of global ganjah legalization.

Young People Rocked Barack Right into White House

Young Americans have started to take control of their collective future by electing Barack Obama president.  Two-out-of-three voters under 30 chose Obama over McCain.  The kids now have their own leader who understands them and will work for them.  It is time for the older generation to leave the major decisions to those who will have to pay the consequences.  The younger generation invested more time and energy in Obama then for any previous politician.  Obama represents a blank slate for youthful hopes, dreams and aspirations.

The polls tended to underestimate the youth vote impact. Young people were able to surprise the pollsters and pundits who have generally ignored this key segment.  The fact is many young people will never be included in standard telephone surveys. Growing numbers of young people only have cell phones (which by law prohibit telemarketing and opinion polling.)   Telephone surveys also miss people who screen calls or are not home at night.  However, Obama was well aware of the potential power of the youth vote. He was able to reach out and tap their hopes for a better future.  Read on to learn how he did it and what that means to the future of our world!!

Michelle Obama Will be Awesome and Admirable First Woman!!

One of the real benefits we will get when we elect Barack Obama next week is that we will get the energy, experience and enthusiasm of his wife Michelle. I have watched her give speeches and grant interviews over the past year.  I have also collected some of the best print articles and interviews for your information and inspiration.  Michelle clearly embodies the modern American woman better than any of the other women in the news (i.e., Cindy McCain and Sarah Palin.)

Read about how she is able to keep their children at the center of her world, while helping here husband stay focused and strong!!  As a sociology professor I am particularly impressed with the original sociological research she conducted to receive her undergraduate degree from Princeton.  You will learn about her family ties and young influences.  We are so lucky to have her by Barack’s side.  Learn how they met, fell in love and got married!!

Karl Marx Would be Marveling at Capitalism’s Colossal Collapse

As the global economy continues to tank, everyone is looking for the reasons we are in this mess. What we have is the predictable and inevitable collapse of the corrupt capitalist system.  Everyone seems to be “whistling in the dark” when they half-jokingly say we are headed for socialism.  By fostering greed and inequality Capitalism is collapsing – just as Karl Marx predicted over 150 years ago.   This could happen within a couple years so get ready.  Realize that like all countries, the US has socialist features (especially with the current fed bank bailout.

Reading this will help you understand what has happened and what we all can do together. As the economy becomes less fair more people will join the underground economy and resist the power of the corporations.  People will increasingly walk away from their debts and stop buying new toys and upgrading technology.  Old McCain is now claiming that he won’t redistribute wealth. According to Marx, he and his rich friends will soon have no choice (they must share the wealth that Bush stole for them.)  The rich have gotten that way by living off the “surplus labor” of the workers.  Now you can learn about Marx’ life, times and lessons for today.  Along the way you will see customized pix along with expert opinion.  Tell your friends and leave comments.

McCain’s Body Language Reveals Hostility, Arrogance and Dishonesty

Most people read a lot more meaning from body language and other non-verbal factors than they gain from the words a person says.  Barack Obama clearly won all three debates with Old McCain in terms of body language and the overall “Vibes” he gave off. During the first televised debate in 1960, Republican Nixon looked awful – sweaty and nervous with a “five-o’clock” shadow.  Kennedy, on the other hand, looked cool, calm and collected.  Sounds a lot like the stark contrasts we saw during the debate in Mississippi. Lesson is to study the candidate’s body language for clues into what they are really thinking.  Trust your intuition and gut reaction.

I must note that this and most of my writing is intimately informed by watching MSNBC news coverage (6-8 hours per day.)  Thanks especially to Keith Olbermann, Rachel Maddow, Mika Brzezinski and Eugene Robinson (also of the Washington Post.) Also, I am increasingly impressed with someone I used to not like because of his political views – Pat Buchanan (oh that we all have could have his energy, enlightenment and enthusiasm in our later years.)  You may want to consult my first article on this BLOG:  MSNBC Makes Most Sense of the World (January 18, 2008).

Todd Palin is a Domestic Terrorist who Hates America

The more we learn about the Palin Klan the more obvious it becomes that they are a bunch of radical rednecks who have little previous connection to the civilized world.  In fact, these extreme domestic terrorists and their posse have shown outright contempt for the United States.  Time to expose the potential “First Dude”  as a vengeful and vindictive vigilante.  He and other Alaskan hillbillies are bitter and dangerous as they cling to their guns, booze, and snowmobiles (Alaskan version of pickup truck.)

However, the problems with Todd Palin are much more serious than just the fact that he is a hillbilly hick.  He was a long-term member of the Alaskan Independence Party (AIP) that openly hates America and wants to secede from the United States.  Make no mistake this group is very dangerous and represents the same mind-set that led to the Oklahoma City bombing. Todd runs his wife’s power posse and campaigns like a gangster thug.  Learn why we can’t let this idiot get anywhere near Washington, DC.

Jesus was a Community Organizer – Pontius Pilate was a Governor!!

During the Republicans’ wretched convention they launched a foolish attack against Barack Obama’s experience as a community organizer.  Response to these ignorant tirades has included reactions from those who have worked their whole lives to help the less advantaged – namely community organizers.  Why would the Republicans spend a whole night of their convention attacking ordinary people?  With the nation watching, the Republicans mocked, dismissed, and actually laughed out loud at Americans who engage in community service and organizing.

During my Ph.D. program in Rural Sociology I studied community development (organization).  During the past two decades I have worked with groups of farmers, citizens and others to organize their efforts to make improvements in environmental quality, economic development, and social justice.  These are clearly the types of efforts we need to give a higher priority if we really want to improve our nation and the world.  In this article I document the reaction to this attack on community organizers and explain the kinds of important work that they do.  It will also be clear why Barack’s experience as a community organizer will be the key to  success his of his GRASS ROOTS campaignin November.

Why Barack is Best – Read His Own Words

Over the past year I have watched and recorded all of Barack Obama’s televised speeches and debates.  I am also reading his awesome book “The Audacity of Hope.”  Now I have collected some of his key quotes for your reading pleasure.  Truly he is the smartest and most eloquent person to run for president in my lifetime.  The quotes are organized into four main topical areas:  American Dream and Values; Change We Can Believe In; Politics and Policies; and Solutions Through Social Service.

Hope you find these gems to be informative, inspirational and influential.  He clearly understands what our country needs for the future.   Enjoy all the “bumper stickers” that I found on the Internet.  Truly there are as many positive reasons to vote for Obama-Biden as there are negative reasons to vote against McCain-Palin. Now that the Obama campaign is fighting back I will shift more of my writing to the positive changes we can expect under an Obama administration.  Truly his election represents the best and last HOPE we have to save our country and the planet.

McCain is Too Crazy to Become President

John McCain does not have the temperment to become president.  He is a vengeful vigilante and compulsive liar who has trouble controlling his temper.  These and other severe personality disorders are due in large part to the five-plus years he spent as a POW in Viet Nam.   The psychotic behaviors McCain exhibits are a result of the post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We really cannot trust this crazy old codger who has lost touch with reality.  For more see: Old McCain Should Buy a Farm – Not Become President.

In fact, many of these charges about McCain’s mental illness were originally raised by the Bush campaign back in 2000. At that time, Republicans clearly were worried about McCain’s PTSD and related emotional instability. Now, eight years later and the evidence is clear that McCain is even crazier and less stable.  Our world will be in real trouble if this loose cannon and his redneck sidekick are elected.   Time to send this discredited old cultural warrior back to Arizona to spend his golden years in a rocker like other diabled senior citizens.