The good news: The Kansas House should be able to vote after all on divesting the Kansas Public Employees Retirement System from companies that provide funds to or otherwise support the Sudanese government, which is complicit in the slaughter in the Darfur region. The Senate approved the measure unanimously in March, and House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, has promised to bring it up during the wrap-up session. But Neufeld has got to be kidding in saying that the measure is popular among lawmakers “not so much because they care about the Sudanese, but it’s a great political position to take. I’m not sure it’s a good position for KPERS.”
The heartbreaking facts on the ground make it impossible not to care about the Sudanese — or should. And other states have divested from Sudan for the same reason that so many, including Kansas, divested from South Africa during apartheid — divestment works.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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19 Comments
“House Speaker Melvin Neufeld, R-Ingalls, . . .“not so much because they care about the Sudanese, but it’s a great political position to take. I’m not sure it’s a good position for KPERS.”
Typical repube response: money first, lives whatever. Disgusting. And these “humans” wonder why there is partisanship.
What else would you expect a Republican to say? Republicans only care about rich white folks. Poor black people in Darfur?? They don’t even care about poor black people over here! The Republicans are the symbol of evil and all that is wrong with our country today. If the price was right, most of them would sell their own mothers!
I had no Idea idiots got up this early.
“I had no Idea idiots got up this early.”
Sure they do. They have to go get in line for the free goverment cheese.
If everyone cares so much, why doesn’t Senator Brownback, a leader in this cause, have people standings in line to help support the needed action? That is where the rubber meets the road.
Divestiture is a nice gesture, without meaningful effect. Neufeld recognizes that.
If they had the kinda oil that iraq has, bushco would have been there to plant the halliburton flag long ago.
And if it were a colony of gay folks, melvin would have not only divested the state, he would have called for the ks national guard to “clean the place out”.
The almighty dollar is what is important to lawmakers only. And businessmen. Surely you know that so are you kidding?
Afterall, that’s why we do so much business with all those countries where human rights violators are the worst. Because they can abuse their labor and bring us cheap products. Businesses here can hire slave workers there and ship here cheaper so they can line their own pockets.
America used to be the leader in freedoms and civil rights.
I’m sorry, but the comments about Republicans on this thread are unfair. There are people who are concerned about Darfur. Sam Brownback, as much as I am inclined to loath him otherwise, has undeniably worked to put this issue front and center.
Neufeld’s comments were stupid, but to hang them on all Republicans is a form of argument by association, and a straw man.
And even then it should be pointed out that Neufeld is pushing the legislation forward.
In order for Kansas to “divest” from Sudan, we will have to find buyers of our Sudan-linked stock that are less morally superior than we are.Those buyers, no doubt, will care even less about what goes on in that country.
FarmgirlThere IS oil in the Sudan/Darfur region.I believe Communist China helps promote the genocide primarily for that reason.Do we want to boycott or embargo China wheat sales?Do we want to boycott or embargo China aircraft sales?
Look at the mess Commie wheat caused pet owners.
I said “the kinda oil iraq has”.
Does it have the oil production potential that we know iraq has?
Nice try paulie, but no cigar.
farm girl
Oil is Oil.Oil is the reason China cares about Darfur or Sudan.
By the way, Did Bush ever “take” any oil from Iraq?
So answer my question Paulie.
“Does it have the oil production potential that we know iraq has?”
And I meant amounts, not type if that is why you said oil is oil.
I dont think Darfur has as much potential to make halliburton money as iraq.
Is that clear enough for you?
Since you are an expert on oil, I was hoping you could answer.
Farm girlHalliburton is losing money in Iraq!Halliburton was once controlled by Democrat LBJ’s family, and his heirs still own a chunk of its stock.Clinton used Halliburton.Carter used Halliburton.
Democrat Diane Feinstein of California had to resign a Congressional/Senate Committee because she DID divert money towards her husband’s defense contracting firm. (Which also did VA contruction work.)
http://aan.org/alternative/Aan/ViewArticle?oid=oid%3A182359
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/sub-saharan_africa/sudan/map_oil_text.html
Known reserves are “vast” while most of Sudan remains “unexplored”
http://www.mbendi.co.za/indy/oilg/af/su/p0005.htm
More info
“Mixing oil and Blood” (IN SUDAN)
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Africa/Sudan_Oil_Blood.html
The China connection:http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21143-2004Dec22.html
“”I had no Idea idiots got up this early.”
What you really mean is that you have no idea us Democrats get up this early. We do so because we WORK unlike most of the dumb Republicans that lay around the trailer parks all day drinking and beating their wives!
Did you know that every member of the Republican Party joined voluntary? Nobody ever forced any person to be a Republican anymore than they forced me to be a Democrat. Now, if I voluntarily join an organization that promotes certain ideals then it is NOT unfair to make an association argument. Unlike being black or female which you are born as, being a Republican is a matter of choice- although I guess it could be argued that it is a mental illness.
“I’m sorry, but the comments about Republicans on this thread are unfair. There are people who are concerned about Darfur. Sam Brownback, as much as I am inclined to loath him otherwise, has undeniably worked to put this issue front and center.
Neufeld’s comments were stupid, but to hang them on all Republicans is a form of argument by association, and a straw man.”