It's a Wonderful Life

During the holidays, we decided to take in the quintessential christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life". It's been awhile since I've seen it and the emotional resonance affected me deeply as I watched it with my family. What is it about this film that makes it so beloved? Why does it have such a lasting affect on our American conscience? These were some of the the thoughts that swept through my mind as the credits rolled.

It is now 2016 and the United States of America is a country in turmoil. Everywhere we look, we find conflict: mass shootings, racism, corruption, attacks on women, greed, environmental degradation, anger, hate. So many of us are wondering, "How did this come to be?" Not only that but, "What can we do about it?" It's easy to feel like we are powerless against the onslaught of despair.

In a way, our nation is at a crucial turning point. We are a lot like George Bailey, standing on the bridge while we look down into the turbulent waters, wondering if we should just jump and allow the chaos to consume us. But if we do, what will become of our great nation? What will happen to all of the goodwill our beautiful system has created over the years? Right now, it's so important for us to take to heart the valuable message of this wonderful film. There's a reason that we love to turn it on when we are surrounded by those we love.

It's about the value of community, about caring for the livelihood of your neighbor. It's about making a place where everyone has an opportunity to thrive, so that we all can create a life of value. It's about embracing the spirit of compassion and finding the courage to stand up to the exploitation of authoritarianism. It's truly a movie about cherishing the value of democracy, the very heart of what we believe to be the American experience.

Unfortunately, as we look around today, our American culture doesn't seem to reflect this lofty human ideal. Instead it looks a lot more like the world Henry F. Potter built, the world as it was without George in it. Too many of us are suffering. There's an abundance of misery. That's because we have allowed the negative influences of greed, anger and intolerance to control the outcome. By rejecting the fundamental tenet that all lives are sacred, we have created this crazy place. And by remaining ignorant to the power of our own thoughts and deeds, we continue to embody the pain of the world.

But the most sublime message of  "It's a Wonderful Life" is the simple truth that each of us has tremendous power. It only takes one person to create incredible change in the world. The true spirit of democracy is not something that is given to us by the leaders of our country. The beauty of a democratic society lies in the heart of the people, when they embody that spirit within their lives. When each and every one of us takes this message to heart, only then will our communities be places of joy and appreciation. Our families, our neighbors, our coworkers are all affected by the causes we make. So what kind of choices do we want to make? What kind of life do we want to live?

Like George Bailey, each of us has an angel that is here to help us. I know that it may sound like a cliche but it's true. The angel is inside of us, in our hearts. But there's also a demon in there and both of these aspects of our nature has the same potential. What really matters is which of them are we going to feed? Our thoughts, our words and the actions that we take are the fuel that empowers them. We must ask ourselves, "Who do we serve? Angel or demon?" No one else can answer that question for us. We must do it, every day, in every moment. When we take this responsibility as our own, then we have the power to shape the world around us.

There is only one reason that America is great. It's not because we have the biggest economy or the biggest military or the best marketing team. It is only because this country was founded on the ideals of democracy, a philosophy based on equality that recognizes the inherent value in each and every life. Regardless of gender, or the tone of one's skin, or how we pray, or where we came from, or how we were raised, we all have an opportunity to participate in the process of developing our lives and our communities. An ocean is vast only because it accepts all rivers that flow into it, never discriminating. That is the American dream. George Bailey embodies those values and that's why we love him so much.

Let's take a moment and consider how we are living our lives. Stop looking at the spectacle that is "out there" and ask yourself, "What am I doing? How am I participating?" Do you support those who are only interested in helping out themselves? Who are greedy and hateful? Who are trying to divide people so that we no longer see another person's humanity? There are a great many of these type of people out there and they are trying to influence you. It's not that hard to spot them. They may be people in power, perhaps even running for president, people like Henry F. Potter. Or they may be someone close to you, a friend or family member  who has become deluded to the sacred value of all life, the very meaning of our American democracy. I implore you to reject their agenda. It is the very force that has created all of the suffering we are seeing in our country today. It is the destruction of our way of life.

Instead, why don't we embrace the George Baileys of the world? They're out there, working hard for everyone. They understand the fundamental truth that when you light the way for another, then you can see the path, as well. Or, even better, let's be George Bailey. Let's shape our Bedford Falls, our own communities, wherever they may be. Let's be the change that we wish to see. We have the power. We can become a great beacon for the world and when America shines that wonderful light of democracy, then it, too, shall no longer remain blind.

Going, Going Gonzo #1

After seeing the movie Gonzo: The Life & Times of Dr. Hunter S. Thompson, I've come to realize that it is vitally important that we discuss the crucial elements of our times-politics, religion, community, education, culture, the future-with those around us-family, friends, coworkers, neighbors-so that we don't have any regrets about the path that unfolds during our lives. One of the greatest aspects of Thompson, beyond his writing of course, is the spirit with which he approached life. He never hesitated to ask the awkward question or engage in heated dialogue or cause discomfort upon those who become too comfortable. For more than a decade he was a revelation in the mainstream press and his impact was felt in high places.

For too long I've remained on the sideline when ignorant fools spew hatred of fear or ignorance, holding onto the heart of "political correctness", only wishing to keep the boat from rocking, trying to remain high and dry, never realizing that when we allow such evil ideas to thrive with our silence that our ships have already sunk. So now I'm attempting to change my reticent behavior by engaging in dialogue with my fellow citizens.

First up-the coming Presidential election.

This is the most obvious avenue to pursue at the moment since we only have three months til our national identity changes, either minutely or in a big way. Plus, this is one of the first Presidential elections where I see such an obvious need for a certain candidate's success. The United States of America has gone down the wrong rabbit hole my friend and the view from here ain't very pretty. We are in the shitter and their is one reason for all of it; the Bush Administration. They have made colossal mistake after colossal mistake and we are reaping the rewards. Now, most people might take umbrage with my using the word reward in regards to what has recently occurred with the economy or the war or the cost of oil, but I feel that ultimately this all will be a blessing.

Yeah, the Bush Administration has destroyed our way of life and their war on terror has caused the deaths of millions of people and our presence in Iraq has crippled our military threat throughout the world, which only allowed the price of the dollar to plummet and their lies have caused hundreds of thousands of good-hearted Americans to lose their faith, along with their pensions. But...but here's the thing, that's what we needed so that people will finally pull their eyes from the highs and lows of the Bachelorette and start focusing on what we need to do to change this country into an instrumental power for change.

That's what I'm hoping for at least and if that really happens, people will understand the terrifyingly simple reality that John McCain is going to do nothing to change any of it. If people don't come to this understanding, all I have to say to everyone is this, "You ain't seen nothing yet." There is only one electable candidate who will try to create some changes that might lead us down a brighter road and that person is Barack Obama. Let's not kid ourselves. I'm not saying that he is going to be a savior, a superhero who will prop the crumbling infrastructure upon his shoulders like the mighty hand of God but at least the man will give an honest go at it, at least it'll be something different. Right now, I can handle that because I've seen the road down which were currently traveling and it scares the shit out of me. John McCain may be a nice individual and he probably would have been a much better President if he was elected eight years ago (God I wish it were so!) but at the moment, the idea of that man sitting in the oval office is terrifying.

It's enough for me to tell people that they have to vote for Obama, people who I'd imagined would normally vote for someone like McCain, someone who probably voted for Bush, someone like my Mother. And I got a positive response for my first time out into Gonzo territory. She actually sounded like she really would vote for a black man for President. I was shocked! But then I must admit that I'm a bit judgmental when it comes to my parents, and you know that the moment a judgment is cast it's so difficult to alter the way we look at the dice. We've already made up our minds on the subject and the perspective is very persistent. Well, I was pleasantly surprised that this Gonzo attitude created such quick results and that's when the conversation took a turn down much more familiar territory.

She starts to tell me that there's one thing about Obama's campaign that she didn't really like. It was an image that appeared on her teevee of the candidate during his current worldwide tour. He was in Afghanistan, she tells me, with the troops and the thing that she complained about was that all of the troops around him were black. I was so stunned by the comment that I was struck silent as she waffled and hemmed and hahhed regarding whether that's how it truly was or if it was simply this one image that she saw...but yeah, she didn't like it.

This is the exact type of scenario that I'm talking about when I say that we can't remain quiet. Racism is alive and well in this country and this election is going to reveal this terrible fact quite dramatically, seeing and hearing it in obvious ways, without shame, and it'll also be revealed in many utterly subtle ways that most people won't even recognize. Like this vision that my Mother witnessed upon her network televised program of Barack Obama cavorting strictly with his fellow black folk. It was probably a small segment of the entire program, I really don't know because I refuse to watch that shite for this exact reason, but it was enough for my White Mother to be threatened by all of the blackness that Obama might bring along with his Presidency, like a step-cousin who can help but ruin the family reunion.

My first reaction was one of dismay, I mean, why would she think that Obama's campaign would plan something like that? Would they really only request soldiers with a certain skin hue? And how in the hell would that actually benefit his campaign? In fact, as my Mother pointed out, it could only hurt his view with White voters. So, once you ask these simple questions, it seems quite obvious to me that someone with the network manipulated the tape so that Barack Obama might take a step back along his triumphant march toward a better America. Someone who just happens to be a racist.

I don't even know what network it was, although one quickly comes to mind, but imagine what type of reaction all of the true racists out there had to that one. My Mother, who only seems racist some of the time and will quickly waffle about that fact whenever she reveals it, was pulled right into their scheme, hook line and sinker and I can guarantee that there were a lot of people out their who "just didn't like it" either. A lot of people who are searching for an excuse to follow their heart even though they know it's not the right thing to do, because the evil residing in that heart is eating them from the inside out and it is the reason that we're stuck in the stink. It's the heart of Bush Co. and it is the heart that will eventually destroy everything that we hold dear...

...if we let it.

(to be continued)

Rat

Leaving a sinking ship.

Every day, I pray that these bastards will be imprisoned for their crimes against humanity.

International Espionage

Fay Grim: Why did we have to overthrow the government?
Agent Fulbright: It was inappropriate for the needs of the American Economy?

(Our foreign policy basically amounts to this idea: Making sure that the activities of other countries are appropriate for the needs of the American economy)

Partial Birth Supreme Court

This is what happens when the Supreme Court is less thoughtful than the embryo they purport to protect. Another sad day to be a woman in this country.

Remembering 9/11

Authoritarianism: 1. of, relating to, or favoring blind submission to authority. 2. of, relating to, or favoringa concentration of power in a leader or an elite not constitutionally responsible to the people.

On the fifth anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York we find ourselves reflecting on the memory of that tragic day. As we find ourselves bombarded with the images and personal stories on the front page of the newspaper, with various movies that beg for a way to invade our consciousness with their dutiful agenda, with the political motives of those in power or those who wish to be in power, with the faint whisperings of plans for even more devestating destruction, with the terrible stories of those who perished on that day five years ago and the countless others who have fallen since then in response it's hard to evaluate what has become of our world since we witnessed those horrid visions of planes bursting into fireballs as they struck two of the tallest buildings on the planet. How could the hands and hearts of human beings reach out and crush the very foundation of human civilization with complete disregard for the lives of other human beings? This is the question that burns at our guts when we look back at all that has been wrought.

Violence lives in the heart of authoritarianism. When people give themselves up to external authority they relinquish their freedom and independence in exchange for a false sense of security sought by releasing themselves of the burden of responsibility to self-reflect and shape their own destiny. This destructive impulse exists throughout our world in many stifling environments where religious or cultural dogma attempt to thwart the very will of humanity. The terror we witnessed on September 11, 2001 was a reflection of the human weakness of authoritarianism...and the response by many leaders in this country as well. Let us not forget what lies in the true heart of freedom and never give up our noble ideals to those who covet them using fear and terror as their allies. To be free means that we must be courageous and point this country in a new direction, one that respects the thoughts of all individuals no matter the culture that may guide them. This is the only true path toward peace.

And...why hasn't George WMD Bush been impeached and charged with war crimes?

Most of the time I consider myself a progressive when it comes to many of the issues facing people in the world today. I may not be fully informed on a lot of these issues, but I feel that if we refuse to take action toward creating a better world (or simply decide to remain where we are because it appears that we are safe) is just as destructive as consciously trying to destroy the world. I often try to sum up the difference between conservatives and progressives in this way, "conservatives don't want things to get worse and progressives want things to get better."

Which one is right?

That's the type of question each person must answer for themselves. I can never be a conservative because I truly believe that life is an ever-constant-changing-process that we are always facing. Things will never stay the same.

One of the periodicals that we've been reading for the past few years is "The Sun" magazine. It's a collection of memoirs, poetry, short stories, reader's perspectives and quotes. Everything in it can help you look at the world differently, which as human beings (and as progressives) is one of our constant challenges. "The Sun" always begins with an intervew with an inportant progressive voice in the world today. These interviews always give me new insight into the diversity of the world that we live in and opens my eyes to the hope that humanity can live together peacefully regardless of borders, culture, religion or language.


--"There is an emerging progressive Muslim voice in the U.S. that is trying to remind American society of the foundation on which this country was built. The task of all progressives in America-not just Muslim progressives-is to ask: Are we living up to those values? Or are we instead abusing the rhetoric of freedom, insisting merely that other people be more like us? Progressives must refuse to give in to the lack of will and imagination among dominant conservative groups. They have to create solidarity across religious and political divides. In all societies, progressives will always be a minority; their role is to be the culture's conscience."

In the current issue, there is an interview with a prominent Muslim scholar here in the U.S. and it is very enlightening; a clear perspective about American policies in the Middle east that isn't coming from a so-called fundamentalist. In our society, where it is very easy to fall into media-fueled prejudices it is refreshing to hear a different voice, one that is filled with understanding and clarity.


--"The regimes we support in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt invite fundamentalism because they leave no room for rational political discourse, for voicing one's opinion through elections, for working within the system to remove people from power. Citizens come to see violence as the only option."

We tend to forget that all the terrorists that we are currently fighting are coming from countries where brutal dictators are being supported by the U.S. As the War on Terror continues and questions regarding the causes of it begin to be revealed, the U.S. will not be looking so morally divine.


--"The irony is that most Americans think they are moral yet remain unconcerned about the immoral way their government exercises power. That's what I find hardest to understand; the level of self-delusion that Americans allow themselves. Then again, I suppose that if Americans really thought about what their government is doing, they might go crazy."

Thus...conservatives are born!

New Torture Photos

As Sy Hersh original explained over a year ago, there are many more photos regarding the use of torture by the United States military. These have recently been published by an Australian newspaper and, as many have feared, they represent a systematic problem rather than "a few bad apples" as the the Bush Administration would like you to believe.

They are unapologetically tearing down the very functions of our society that pertain to the rule of law and basic human rights, not only throughout the world with the use of questionable methods (torture, rendition, secret prisons) but within the United States as well (warantless wiretaps, undermining civil liberties). They are in the process of developing a new system that will weaken the foundation of human rights, the United States Constitution and anything that functions in the name of equality. This is the agenda of those who are currently in power here in this country.

"the term 'penal torture'...is a differentiated production of pain, an organized ritual for the marking of victims and the expression of power that punishes; not the expression of a legal system driven to exasperation and, forgetting its principles, losing all restraint. The the 'excesses' of torture, a whole economy of power is invested."
--Michel Foucault from "Punishment and Discipline: The Birth of the Prison"

The Known Intolerant World

Here's an excerpt from an incredible book about our glorious past (the one that included denying certain human beings inalienable rights...like freedom).

"A few woman had cried, remembering the way Henry smiled or how he would join them in singing or thinking that the death of anyone, good or bad, master or not, cut down one more tree in the life forest that shielded them from their own death; but most said or did nothing. Their world had changed but they could not yet understand how. A black man had owned them, a strange thing for many in that world, and now that he was dead, maybe a white man would buy them, which was not as strange. No matter what, though, the sun would come up on them tomorrow, followed by the moon, and dogs would chase their own tails and the sky would remain just out of reach."
--Edward P. Jones from his novel THE KNOWN WORLD

We need to create a world where the sky is within reach for every human being, not just the privileged few. As long as we have a system that doesn't nourish the burning desire of hope in each and every individual, then that system is failing and must change. There is a history of intolerance that exists within our collective hearts and the more we fight against the advancement of human rights, the more we reveal our previous indignity.

Have we learned nothing from the mistakes of our ancestors?

Here's some interesting information about the rising cost of the uninsured. I read this and started to wonder about the election back in 2000 when Al Gore and every liberal website warned about the dangers of Bush's planned tax cuts. Well, not only did the majority of the original tax cuts benefit the wealthy at the time, they're still raking in the dough after all the dust has settled. Where is the outrage of the working class people that shouted from the rooftops about how big government was taking money out of their pockets? I guess that $300 a year didn't have much staying power.

The people who think George WMD Bush represents their interests really need to take some time to look into the matter. The Republican bastion is beholden to Big Business, which is just as bad as Big Government. Both are corrupt and unethical. The only difference is that Government ultimately becomes accountable to the people because as a democracy they must rely on our continued vote. The Corporations don't have to worry about that. So which one should be more of a concern for the rest of us who are simply trying to survive?

I wonder why the talking heads don't seem to be pointing out these vital facts to the people who worship them? They quickly make sure everyone gets all riled up about the ridiculous taxes and how the government constantly steals from the people. Is this any different?


WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Health insurance premiums will cost families and employers an extra $922 on average this year to cover the costs of caring for the uninsured, according to a report released on Wednesday.

With the added cost, the yearly premiums for a family with coverage through an employer will average $10,979 in 2005, said the report from consumer group Families USA.

By 2010, the additional costs for the uninsured will be $1,502, and total premiums will hit $17,273. In 11 states, the costs of the uninsured will exceed $2,000 per family.

For individuals, the extra charge this year is estimated to be $341 on average, rising to $532 in 2010. Total premium charges for individuals will be $4,065 in 2005, and $6,115 in 2010.

"The stakes are high both for businesses and for workers who do have health insurance because they bear the brunt of costs for the uninsured," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.

Intelligent Design

Rumsfeld, explaining the “threats” and why they are invisible and unidentifiable said: “There are things that we know. And then there are known unknowns. That is to say there are things that we now know that we don’t know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we do not know we don’t know . . . That is, the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence . . . Simply because you do not have evidence that something exists does not mean that you have evidence that it doesn’t exist.”

It makes complete sense to me now. How can we possibly question these geniuses? Check out the link.

Here's the top news item today on the Guardian Unlimited.

And a correlating history lesson from The Nation.

"Despite the refusal of the Shah to rule out the possibility of Iran's developing nuclear weapons, the Ford Administration in 1975 approved the sale of up to eight nuclear reactors with fuel to Iran and, in 1976, approved the sale of lasers believed to be capable of enriching uranium. The Washington Post reported that an initially hesitant President Ford was assured by his advisors that Iran was only interested in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Ford's Defense Secretary was Donald Rumsfield, his Chief of Staff was Dick Cheney and his man in charge of nonproliferation efforts at the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency was Paul Wolfowitz."

Look, it's the smoking-gun-holding-apes that run our country!

I didn't catch much of the inaugural party in the freezing cold the other day, but I did happen to hear the grand entrance of chief supreme wizard Rehnquist on the radio. I tried to listen to the somber commentary of the reporters on KPBS about his failing health and his noble attempt to make an appearance, but as soon as they mentioned the glorious golden robes he was wearing, which he instituted as dress code for chief justice, I had to turn it off just so I wouldn't laugh myself off the road.

Just who do these freakin people people think they are?

A note to grand supreme being Rehnquist: You are not a genius. It is not your responsibility to do whatever you can so that you are remembered fondly by the masses. You serve them. With humility. That means without pride, without arrogance. You do not have power because of who you are. You only have power because we allow it. Now just die already so that we can forget all about you.

Unfortunately there were thousands of people at the inauguration more worthy of mention than this schmuck. But I guess sound technician, lighting assistant, peace officer, valet, and all the people behind the scenes who helped set up the entire fiasco just aren't glamorous enough to bother with. I hope that we start celebrating the people who deserve it in this godforsaken country before we are all sorry. I think the first step is to do whatever we can to peel our eyes away from these people who, though they hold the high offices of the land, really do not have much effect on our life. What truly matters is the people around us with whom we share our every day lives. Our neighbors, co-workers, grocers, family, friends, the video store clerk, all the people we come face to face with on a daily basis.

The more that people come to recognize this reality, the sooner THEY lose control over all of us.

The speech John kerry didn't give yesterday

Today--the curse of the bambino is over!

And in five days--the curse on this nation will end as well!

October 2000

I remember October four years ago. There was a tremor traveling across the land and with it came uncertainty, a sense of foreboding. A man from Texas was invading our consciousness and he swept forth from the gulf like a hurricane. He knew how to talk to the common man, he was a good ole boy and he didn’t join in the rhetoric of fuzzy politics because normal people just couldn’t relate to any of that stuff anyway. But who was he, really? What had he done to create value in this life? What kind of leadership ability could we expect from this man of self-distinction who everyone was falling for? These answers would never be answered as the day of reckoning loomed ever near.

I felt optimism on Election Day. Surely the American people would come to their senses and realize that this man was unfit for the role. He was naive and cocky. Surely the American Voters wouldn’t emulate that behavior. Then came Florida and the sudden crashing thud of that paper tiger we call Democracy. The people had their say and it exclaimed, “We want Al Gore to be our President!” to the tune of over a half-million votes. But the peninsula governed by the brother of our man of Texas in collusion with the woman who actively campaigned for him had its final say and it said, “Fuck you America, we George W. Bush will our President!”

Now, here I am, four years later and I find myself in a similar situation. As we move closer to the first Tuesday in November I’m beginning to question the sanity of the American Public. But this time I’m even more amazed that I have these feelings of uncertainty about my fellow Americans. George W. Bush isn’t descending upon our awareness like a hidden natural disaster this time. We are standing here in what is left from that hurricane that turned into a tornado and swept through America for four years scattering anything that wasn’t bolted down to the far corners of the Earth, leaving many dead in its wake. We now know about George W. Bush, we understand what he values in life, and we’ve seen first hand what kind of leader he is. It is all very clear. Yet I worry and fret over the strange reality that the people of this country will let that man control our lives for another four years.

On the teevee we are constantly being told how to think and feel about this President and the job that he’s done. Opinion polls invade our brains at an alarming pace so that when we have the opportunity to have our say we will not make the wrong choice. One day it seems like George W. Bush doesn’t have a chance and the next he’s ten points ahead. We don’t have time to think about what it all means and we seldom focus on what really matters; the reality of his Presidency and what has occurred while he was our commander-in-chief. So here’s my simple look at the last four years in America and what George W. Bush has accomplished.

-- He was the standing President during one of the worst scandals involving corporate corruption ever to disgrace our economy. The CEO of the company involved was a close friend of the President.
-- He was the standing President when the most devastating foreign attack on American soil took place. Approximately 3000 people lost their lives on September 11, 2001 in what he termed the “Worst Terrorist Attack Ever!”
-- He pushed the “Patriot Act” through Congress in the weeks following the attack, which gave stronger secretive powers to the security forces in America whilst weakening the Civil Rights of all Americans.
-- He started a war against the country that harbored the mastermind behind this terrorist attack in what he called the beginning of a “War on Terror”. The war against Afghanistan was supported by a majority of the world and was extremely successful. A handful of American soldiers were killed while thousands of the Afghani people died and millions were displaced from their homes. Three years later, we still have not captured that mastermind.
-- He secretly removed many of the special forces involved in the Afghanistan campaign before it was completed and prepared for an attack on the nation of Iraq before approaching Congress with the idea. He then proceeded to persuade Congress with faulty intelligence and bully tactics to give him the authority to declare war whenever he deemed it necessary. When the rest of the world questioned that same faulty intelligence and wouldn’t heed to his bully tactics regarding this ambition for another war, he called them “irrelevant” and determined to “go it alone” in Iraq. The second war of his Presidency began with the majority of the world opposed. Even the American people said they didn’t want to go to war in Iraq without the approval of the United Nations. He didn’t listen to our allies and he didn’t hear the voice of the American people, stating that he “didn’t make policies based on focus groups”.
-- The intelligence behind his determination that Iraq was an “immediate threat” turned out to be wrong just as those who opposed the war had declared. He still hasn’t owned up to this colossal failure. To date over 1000 American Soldiers have been killed in Iraq, and how many Iraqi people have died? He doesn’t bother to count.
-- Of all the countries involved in the two separate wars mentioned above, the United States of America is the only country to have and use “Weapons of Mass Destruction” (WMD); in the form of depleted uranium. The desert in Iraq has more radiation now than both Hiroshima and Nagasaki combined after World War II. Not only are they infecting the Iraqi people with this deadly toxin, the American Soldiers are being infected as well. Over 60% of the veterans who fought in the first war in Iraq have health issues today, the first time this new and “efficient form of warfare” was used. He continues to support this heinous technology that qualifies as a WMD under the requirements of the Geneva Convention.
-- His Administration never prepared for the postwar occupation and rebuilding effort. To this day the situation in Iraq continues to deteriorate, as the insurgency grows stronger. The American leader of the reconstruction effort in Iraq, Paul Bremer, says that we never had enough troops on the ground to handle the awesome task of putting that country back together.
-- He opposed an investigation into what happened in Manhattan and Washington on September 11, 2001 and once the investigation was under way (despite his efforts) he continued to do everything he could to hinder the investigation.
-- His second in command, Dick Cheney, is the first Vice-President to be under indictment while in office.
-- He passed his touted education reform with the “No Rich-White Child Left behind Act” that basically rewards schools that are already excelling with more money and punishes those that are failing with less. The Federal Government is currently not meeting the mandated financial requirement of this new bill pushing the fiscal burden on the states.
-- He passed the “Clean Air Act” and similar legislation that turned the clock back on all Pro-Environmental legislation thirty years taking us back to a time before effective Government regulation forced corporations to combat their dirty habits. These new rules give companies the freedom to pollute more easily, to dump more toxic waste in our environment and increase mercury poisoning in the food chain. In every instance he replaced renowned scientists with industry executives on the oversight committees dealing with these new laws.
-- He passed across the board tax-cuts that mainly benefited the wealthy and the corporate sector of America. These tax-cuts helped cause the National Budget, which was at an unprecedented projected surplus of ten trillion dollars, to plummet to an unprecedented projected deficit of ten trillion dollars in less than two years. The financial situation in almost every state has become dire causing an increase in taxes on the state level, which mostly affect the general populace.
-- He passed a new Medicare Bill that primarily benefits the Pharmaceutical companies rather than the people. It allows drug companies to charge whatever it wants without respite and it makes it very difficult for people to obtain cheaper drugs elsewhere. He also failed to divulge the true cost of this Bill when it was put to vote before Congress.
-- He proposed an amendment to the Constitution that would be the first to limit individual rights.
-- The cost for healthcare in this country has skyrocketed causing 45 million Americans to be uninsured.
-- Almost 3 million jobs were lost during his tenure making him the first President since the Great Depression to fail to increase employment for the constituents.
-- The World opinion of America is at an all time low.

This November I hope and pray that the American People listen to the truth and hear the voice in their hearts. I have faith that once again they will make the right decision and show the world that we are not ignorant and cocky, that we do understand the impact of the choices we make and that we can choose to remedy all our blunders. It will not be easy. It will be admitting that we’ve made mistakes and sometimes that’s a hard thing to do. It’s quite obvious that this President doesn’t know how to do that, otherwise we would have seen some effort to change this deplorable track record. Yet during his campaign we’ve heard nothing but praise for all of these policies and phrases such as “stay the course”.

I remember going to the polls on that clear, sunny day on the first Tuesday of November in the year of our Lord 2000. It was beautiful day with the bright promise of hope. It was a day that the American People expressed their desire for a wonderful future. It was a day of calm sanity that the Voters have learned to appreciate in this land of freedom. Before the day would end that peaceful security would be struck down by a deranged whirlwind of politics that wiped out all that we knew with its 150-mph winds. That storm hasn’t ended and we-the-people have to this day continued to feel the reverberation of Hurricane George. This November we can end that storm and one day, with the right choice, we will see blue skies again.

I've figured it out!

I have come up with a simple explanation of the different thought process that occurs between conservatives and liberals, even though nothing is this simple when it comes to politics.

Conservative--How can I avoid making things worse?
Liberal--How can I make things better?

"From their point of view, missile "defense" is the perfect weapon system: it is unnecessary; it doesn't have to work as defense; it generates hundreds of billions of dollars in direct revenue; and the cherry on top of the sundae is that since it invites retaliation by China and Russia, it delivers a new, built-in global arms race, a vast new opportunity to arm all sides of all new global conflicts for the next half century. It is the Mother of All Self Licking Ice Cream Cones."

Eventually all militaristic societies have crumbled due to the hands of greed. The United States continues to follow this trend. The true failing of the United States in the past century and so far in this one will be found in the foolish amount of money spent on weapons. In the future our society will be studied thoughtfully with constant reminders of a path which you should not take.

RNEP--Bunker Busters

I just sent a message to Congress regarding funding for these horrific weapons. This is my message:

End funding for the Robust Nuclear Earth Penetrator, also known as the bunker buster. New U.S. nuclear weapons will make us less safe by encouraging other countries to rely on nuclear weapons for their security. Anyone who thinks that a nuclear weapon is a viable option for peace and security can only be considered a terrible enemy of humanity. This is because the citizens of the world have an inherent right to live. Whoever threatens that right is the devil. Because of this, it is unconscionable to allow funding for these weapons to continue. I call on you, our representatives, to make the correct decision regarding this funding. You do so out of obligation no only for the citizens of this country, but for all of humanity as well. Godspeed!

Please go to this website and let our representatives know that it is unacceptable for them to work toward the death of humanity.

This just in! The only weapon of mass destruction found in Iraq is the United States Military!

Apparently everything said by those who opposed the war was true. There were never any weapons of mass destruction and the United Nation's inspection process was doing it's job. Our soldiers have not been welcomed with open arms as liberators of the Iraqi people. A postwar occupation is proving far more costly in dollars and lives than the Bush Administration suggested, and they have no apparent idea of how we are going to get out of this mess. Reconstruction in Iraq is being handed over to friends of the Administration (Haliburton, Bechtel) with no-bid contracts while the capable Iraqi people are forced out of employment and reduced to accepting handouts from humanitarian aid.

And now it turns out that the pride of the Bush Administration and their "Go it alone!" mentality was not only negligent, as millions of people around the world warned during the build-up to war, but has also become criminal. The Bush Administration are not only Liars and Thieves, but Murderers as well. George Wmd Bush can now count himself among such despicable leaders, who used pre-emptive war under false pretenses, as Slobodan Milosevic, Adolph Hitler, and...oh yeah, Saddam Hussein.