A big thank you to the St. Louis Rams football players who said "Hands up/Don't shoot." before today's Rams game in St. Louis.

The work of freedom is up to each of us. 

Please read all of NeilAquino.com   

Here is a picture of the waiting area of the Honda dealership I was last week to get my car fixed as part of the giant airbag recall. 

Airbags in millions of cars sold to consumers all over the world in recent years are defective. If they go off, they may well shoot shrapnel into your body.

If this had been a government screw-up, you'd never hear the end of it all. 

The private sector makes defective products all the time. The private sector cheats hard-working people out of fair wages all the time.

Folks can keep on bashing government for everything in our society, but in so many cases if were not for government oversight and regulations we would be even more powerless in the face of big money than we are at the moment.

The work of asking for something better is up to each of us. 

Please read all of NeilAquino.com

With early voting underway in Texas, who can a liberal or progressive support in 2014? 

And given how low our expectations are here in Texas, who can we vote for who isn't a far right wing extremist?    

I'll also be focusing on a small number of races in Harris County, Texas. I live in Houston.

Early voting in Texas ends on Friday, October 31. General Election Day is Tuesday, November 4.  

Here is my ballot----

Governor of Texas: Wendy Davis 

I wish Ms. Davis had run a campaign more focused on economic issues and the refusal of the State of Texas to accept the expansion of health care from the Affordable Care Act.  We need to expand turnout in Texas. But Ms.Davis is who we have for the top spot on the ballot. She could be worse. 

Lt. Governor of Texas: Leticia Van De Putte 

Ms. Van De Putte has run a hopeful and energetic campaign against far right-wing extremist Dan Patrick.
Given the power of the Lt. Governor over the Texas State Senate, I'd ask that people consider looking at Dan Patrick's record and discussing this race with fellow Texans.  

United States Senator from Texas: Emily Sanchez

With Democratic U.S. Senate nominee David Almaeel headed nowhere, Texas Green Party nominee Emily Sanchez is the best pick. Ms. Sanchez is the U.S. Senate candidate talking about climate change and fair wages for all.  

Texas Attorney General: Sam Houston

Mr. Houston is a strong competent candidate running against a Republican nominee--Ken Paxton--who may soon face criminal charges.    

Texas Agriculture Commissioner: Kenneth Kendrick

This is another race where the Democrat is not running a credible campaign. Green Party nominee Kendrick is well-informed about Texas agriculture and has a history of taking on big corporate interests.  

Harris County District Attorney: Kim Ogg

This is likely the most important race on the Harris County ballot. Ms. Ogg offers a hopeful and more humane course of justice in Harris County after years of Republican control in this position.

Harris County Judge Executive: David Collins

There is no Democrat in this race. Why not cast a ballot for thoughtful and progressive Green for the highest office in Harris County? 

Harris County Board of Education: Melissa Noriega  

I know Melissa and she is all right. 

Make sure you vote all the way down the ballot on Election Day. The judgeships are important. 

Here is my post from a few days ago of things I intend to do to be of at least some impact in this election.

Taking part in traditional politics does not mean that we should ignore things like the ongoing pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong or the recent climate change march in New York City.  

The work of freedom is up to each of us. We've got to make use of every opportunity and avenue we can to make progress in our nation and the world.  

Here is a list of ideas for everyday resistance to our often greedy and violent society.    

Please read all of NeilAquino.com 

Early voting begins in Texas on Monday, October 20, 2014 and runs through Friday October 31, 2014. General Election Day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014.

Because of our wrongful Texas voter ID which is intended to keep poor people and people of color from voting, here are the various forms of ID that will be accepted at the polls so you'll be allowed to vote. 

Here are things I'm doing to help candidates and ideas I support in this upcoming election and beyond---

1. I'm voting.

2. I'm asking people I know if they are voting. 

3. In the next day or two, I'm going to make a series of small donations to candidates I support and also to the Texas Green Party. The Green Party offers Texas voters a needed option for fair wages, a sustainable way of living and more democracy.

4. I'm using resources I have such as this blog and my Facebook page to advocate for my beliefs. 

5. I'm making this list and asking others to do something similar if they think it might be of value.  It helps to have a plan as time growing short in this election season. 

6. I'm making the point that Texas Republican Lt. Governor Dan Patrick nominee is a far right extremist who should give both independents and Republicans second thought at the ballot box.

7. I'm going to keep on saying that the Democratic Party needs to focus on economic stagnation and frozen wages in Texas and the United States, with the same energy it has applied to some social issues. 

8. I'm asking you to offer your own ideas with a comment here on the blog.

The work of freedom is up to each of us.  

Please read all of NeilAquino.com

October 16, 2014 is the 8th annual Blog Action Day.

The theme this year is inequality. 

It is good to see this yearly blog effort because bloggers around the world are everyday people who do the work of freedom. 

Some bloggers brave substantial risk to offer their viewpoints in the places they live and to the entire world.

As awful as the state government of Texas is, I don't face the risks bloggers in even more repressive parts of the world confront. So I'm glad to be a small part of a global effort with such good colleagues. 

(My friend Perry Dorrell at Brains & Eggs is also taking part in Blogger Action Day.)  

Wealth is increasingly concentrated across the world. 

In the United States, what is left of the middle class is economically worse off then 25 years ago.

Our global economic systems, which all lead to the rule of just a few elites whether it be in China or Russia or the United States, are accelerating climate change and making sure that the most powerful remain in power with the use of constant surveillance and militarized police.   

There are other ways to live other than feeling our lives and our fates are tied to systems that don't pay fair wages for our work, pit us against each other, offer us junk to eat and destroy the planet. 

These efforts begin with each of us as individuals and as people coming together to demand something better.  

We all have the capacity to fight back. Fast food workers in the United States have been striking for higher wages. We all have the power to fight back individually and collectively.

Here is a list of ideas for everyday resistance. 

Your thoughts and ideas on better ways to live and ways to resist the greed and violence of everyday life are welcome. Please leave a comment or e-mail me at naa618@att.net. 

Good and hopeful things happen all the time in life. Let's bring about a better way of living. 

Please read all of NeilAquino.com

A hopeful thing in our Texas politics is the Texas Progressive Alliance. I am a member of this organization. 

The TPA is a group of citizen-bloggers who each day observe, write about and take an active part in Texas politics at the local and statewide level.

(Photo is of sweet onions. The sweet onion is the official vegetable of Texas.) 

The work of freedom is up to each of us. 

Each week the TPA offers a round-up of the best in Texas blogging for the week just past.

Here is the most recent round-up--- 

Off the Kuff began his series of interviews with statewide candidates by talking to Sam Houston, the Democratic candidate for Attorney General.

Libby Shaw, writing for Texas Kaos and at Daily Kos, is very pleased that  Wendy Davis hammered Greg Abbott on Austin's pervasive culture of corruption. 

From WCNews at Eye on Williamson: The question remains, is something like the Texas Enterprise Fund scandal enough to get voters to change their mind about Greg Abbott and the GOP? If not thenwhat would it take?

William Rivers Pitt wrote "an open letter to his Democratic spammer". PDiddie at Brains and Eggscommiserates.

BlueDaze outs the not-from-Denton Master Debator representing the frackers. 

Texpatriate updated the lieutenant governor's race, Texas Leftist reviewed the debate, andEgberto Willies passed along the HouChron's endorsement of Leticia Van de Putte.

Bay Area Houston wonders why Greg Abbott sat in traffic for ten years before deciding he wanted to help.

Neil at All People Have Value wrote an art review of the fish cleaning station at the Texas City Dike. APHV is one of many pages worthy of review at NeilAquino.com.

================

And here are some posts from other Texas blogs.

jobsanger ruefully observes that Wendy Davis is trailing in the governor's race because Texans don't feel that women should be equal to men.  But Socratic Gadfly believes there is no "self-hating woman" meme at work here.

TFN gives us the news that RNC head Reince Priebus believes it's 'compassionate' for Texas Republicans to close women's clinics in Texas.

Trail Blazers has the story of the lesbian couple that that asked the Fifth Circuit to schedule arguments next month in their gay marriage suit ... because they're expecting in March.

Scott Braddock shows the evidence of who's behind some recent wingnut-on-wingnut violence. Be sure your popcorn popper is in good order, this one looks like a gift that will keep on giving.

Lone Star Q is happy to report that Dallas City Council has voted week to ban discrimination against transgender city employees.

The Lunch Tray took a stand for citizen journalism.

Hair Balls explains what pot has to do with the Harris County DA race this year.

Char Miller eulogizes his colleague John Donahue, a "gracious force for good" in San Antonio.

Nancy Sims posits her grand unification theory of Houston Mayoral elections.

The Texas Election Law Blog assesses the GAO report on how long it took to vote in 2012.

Texas Watch wants you to understand the impact of the Texas law that shields the medical industry from accountability.

BOR points to HD94 as a below-the-radar race to watch.

Nonsequiteuse connects the dots from racing for the cure to racing for Governor.

Below is a list of Green Party nominees on the ballot in Texas for 2014. 

The Green Party has a message we need in Texas and in the nation.

Take a few minutes to review this list and see if there is a Green nominee running in your community.  There are also statewide Texas nominees. 

Here is the link for the Green Party of Texas.

Here are the ten core values of the Green party.

Here is the Facebook page for Emily (Spiceybrown) Sanchez for U.S. Senate from Texas.

Here is the link for Kenneth Kendrick for Texas Agriculture Commissioner. 

Ms. Sanchez and Mr. Kendrick are the best nominees for these offices. Democrats have no chance in either race.

Here is the list---

US Senate - Emily "Spicybrown" Sanchez
Governor - Brandon Parmer
Lieutenant Governor - Chandrakantha Courtney
Attorney General - Jamar Osborne
Comptroller of Public Accounts - Deb Shafto
Commissioner of Agriculture - Kenneth Kendrick
Railroad Commissioner - Martina Salinas
Supreme Court Justice Place 7 - Charles E. Waterbury
Supreme Court Justice Place 8 - Jim Chisolm
Court of Criminal Appeals Place 4 - Judtih Sanders-Castro
Court of Criminal Appeals Place 9 - George Joseph Altgelt
US Representative District 2 - Mark Roberts
US Representative District 3 - Paul Blair
US Representative District 13 - Don Cook
US Representative District 18 - Remington Alessi
US Representative District 21 - Antonio Diaz
US Representative District 28 - Michael D. Cary
US Representative District 35 - kat swift
US Representative District 36 - Hal J. Ridley, Jr
State Senate District 10 - John Tunmire
State Senate District 17 - David Courtney
State Representative District 42 - Niclolas Serna III
State Representative District 64 - Braeden Wright
State Representative District 80 - Marco Buentello
State Representative District 130 - Art Browning
State Representative District 146 - Morgan Bradford
County Judge - (Bexar) Paul Pipkin
County Judge - (Harris) David B. Collins
County Judge - (Webb) Frank Cortez
County Clerk - (Bexar) Earl Lyons
County Clerk - (Comal) Matthew Hanson
County Clerk - (Travis) Bill Stout
County Clerk - (Denton) Schyler Butler
County Criminal Court At Law No 13 - (Harris) Clint Davidson
County Commissioner Precinct 2 - (Bexar) Chuck Robinson
County Commissioner Precinct 4 - (Webb) Luis F. Decker
County Treasurer - (Webb) Jesus Quiroz
Justice of the Peace Precinct 2, Pl 3 - (Bexar) Diana D. Kendall
Justice of the Peace Pct 2, Pl 1 - (Webb) William "Willie" Koehn
Justice of the Peace Precinct 4 - (Webb) Lakshmana "Vish" Viswanath
Justice of the Peace Precinct 1 - (Denton) Aaron Renaud
Commissioner of General Land Office - Valerie Alessi
State Representative District 123 - Paul Ingmundson
County Commissioner Precinct 4 - (Bexar) Matthew Lerma     

Please read all of NeilAquino.com

Congratulations and support to the folks in Hong Kong protesting for democracy under Chinese rule. 

The Chinese government is a brutal dictatorship.

Please read all of NeilAquino.com