Walmart has been circulating a confidential memo about their health care benefits, employees and profit margins. If you want to read the entire memo you may find it at this location :
http://www.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/business/26walmart.pdf
http://walmartwatch.com/
I have taken the liberty of extracting some of those items for your review. The first sentence is my summary opinion, the balance in quotes for each item is taken directly from the Walmart memo :
The only reason, it seems, to shop at Walmart is for the low prices. They are not good for their employees, their neighborhoods, their states or the nation.
Medicaid Supporting Walmart Stock Price :
"Wal-Mart’s healthcare benefit is one of the most pressing reputation issues we face because well-funded, well-organized critics, as well as state government officials, are carefully scrutinizing Wal-Mart’s offering. Moreover, our offering is vulnerable to at least some of their criticisms, especially with regard to the affordability of coverage and Associates’ reliance on Medicaid."
Breeding a Better Human and Interfering with Government :
"Redesign benefits and other aspects of the Associate experience, such as job design, to attract a healthier, more productive workforce. – Make some select strategic investments in our healthcare offering (e.g., lower maximum out-of-pocket expenses) so it can better withstand external scrutiny. – Improve communication of Wal-Mart’s benefits offering so we get more credit for what we provide, and, over the long-term, work to shape state and national outcomes on healthcare."
Better Benefits to ‘Healthy’ employees :
"Maintaining benefits spend at or below today’s level as a percentage of sales; Offering a more attractive benefits package for healthy Associates; Better positioning us to fight Wal-Mart’s critics. We presented this material to the Executive Benefits Steering Committee (Tom Hyde, Lawrence Jackson, and Tom Schoewe) in late July. They received the recommendations enthusiastically and asked that we share them widely within Wal-Mart, something we have begun to do."
Walmart and the Elderly :
"Our workforce is aging faster (0.50 years per calendar year) than the national average (0.12 years per calendar year). ¶ Our workers are getting sicker than the national population, particularly with obesity-related diseases. For example, the prevalence of coronary artery disease in Wal-Mart’s population grew by 6 percent compared to a national average of 1 percent, and the prevalence of diabetes in our population grew by 10 percent compared to a national average of 3 percent."
It’s the Government’s Fault :
"A segment of our workforce consumes healthcare inefficiently, in a pattern similar to a Medicaid population. Our population tends to over utilize emergency room and hospital services and underutilize prescriptions and doctor visits. This pattern is most evident among our low-income Associates, and one hypothesis is that this behavior may result from prior experience with Medicaid programs."
Full-Time, Loyal Employees are Bad :
"Given the impact of tenure on wages and benefits, the cost of an Associate with 7 years of tenure is almost 55 percent more than the cost of an Associate with 1 year of tenure, yet there is no difference in his or her productivity (Exhibit 2). Moreover, because we pay an Associate more in salary and benefits as his or her tenure increases, we are pricing that Associate out of the labor market, increasing the likelihood that he or she will stay with Wal-Mart."
The Employees are Parasites :
"In particular, the least healthy, least productive Associates are more satisfied with their benefits than other segments and are interested in longer careers with Wal-Mart."
The Government Figured Out What Walmart has been Doing :
"Moreover, federal and state governments are increasingly concerned about healthcare costs, and many view Wal-Mart as part of the problem (a view due, in part, to the work of Wal-Mart’s critics). Medicaid costs are a major priority on most governors’ agendas; already a quarter of states are spending more than 25 percent of their budgets on Medicaid, and observers across the political spectrum assert that the current system – with spiraling costs, a large population of uninsured, and an increasing number of medical bankruptcies – is unsustainable (although there is little consensus on what should take its place). In this environment, we can expect efforts like those in Maryland (which is trying to mandate that companies spend a certain percentage of revenue on healthcare) and New Hampshire (which requires health services to track where Medicaid enrollees are employed) to accelerate. Proposals such as these, if successful, will bring added costs to Wal-Mart. Moreover, these battles with critics and governments are contributing to the decline of Wal-Mart’s overall reputation."
Walmart Welfare :
"Specifically, our coverage is expensive for low-income families, and Wal-Mart has a significant percentage of Associates and their children on public assistance."
Uninsured Employee Children :
"We also have a significant number of Associates and their children who receive health insurance through public-assistance programs. Five percent of our Associates are on Medicaid compared to an average for national employers of 4 percent. Twenty-seven percent of Associates’ children are on such programs, compared to a national average of 22 percent (Exhibit 5). In total, 46 percent of Associates’ children are either on Medicaid or are uninsured."
Doctor Walmart :
"Continue to explore adding health clinics in stores. Wal-Mart is starting an effort to put clinics in stores, a strategy currently framed as a real-estate opportunity. Over the long term, and with several important modifications (e.g., innovations to create lower-cost visits), these clinics could become an important part of our healthcare strategy, especially as a substitute for emergency room visits.
The Republican Answer :
"Overall consumer-driven health plans are less popular with Associates than traditional plans, albeit not dramatically so, and are more difficult to communicate. Strong opposition is isolated to approximately 10 percent of Associates. Wal-Mart will also face reputation challenges in implementing this change given that progressives view such plans as a Republican answer. Wal-Mart will have to be sophisticated and forceful in communicating this change internally and externally.
" Social Security Will Take Care of Them :
"We should also redesign the specifics of our retirement program. In particular, we should convert the 401(k) program from a no-strings-attached flat contribution to a matching program in which Associates receive funds from Wal- Mart based on the contribution they make to their 401(k). Such a program would help Associates better prepare for retirement. A fully participating career Associate would be able to replace 30 to 40 percent of his or her income at retirement, compared to 15 percent today, resulting in some 80 to 90 percent of income replaced at retirement (when Social Security is included)."
Hire ‘Healthier’ People :
"A healthier workforce will lead to lower health insurance costs, lower absenteeism through fewer sick days, and higher productivity. It will be far easier to attract and retain a healthier workforce than it will be to change behavior in an existing one. These moves would also dissuade unhealthy people from coming to work at Wal-Mart."
‘Reframe’ (Lie) About Medicaid :
"Address the Medicaid issue head-on by reframing the debate (e.g., this is everyone’s problem, not just Wal-Mart’s) and by offering some type of counterproposal or compromise. This first effort is critical because Wal-Mart is under serious attack from state governments with regard to the number of Associates on publicly funded health insurance.”
Talk Loud and Carry a Big Stick : “Become more engaged in the national healthcare debate, to position Wal-Mart as a leader in healthcare in general and on access (e.g., individual mandates) and affordability (e.g., bringing IT to healthcare) in particular. Establishing Wal-Mart as a leader on this critical issue will help deflate our critics. It will also put us in a position to help shape the outcome of the public debate about the healthcare crisis in a way that is at least somewhat advantageous to our interests.”
Medicaid is Better than Walmart Benefits : “Public reputation risk. Healthcare enrollment will fall several percentage points due primarily to a shift to more part-time Associates, which could draw additional attacks from Wal-Mart’s critics. Also, despite the proposed efforts, the Medicaid problem will not be “solved.” A significant number of Associates and their children will still qualify for Medicaid. Because many of these programs will offer more generous health insurance than Wal-Mart provides, many Associates will still choose to enroll in Medicaid, leaving the door open for continued attacks.”
Friday, October 28, 2005
Oil for Food Scandal Over
The Independent Inquiry Committee has today issued a Report on The Manipulation of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme.
What does it contain?
A bunch of tables that list countries by the score and numerous companies that did business with Iraq.
Is it an indictment of these countries or is it something else? There are many private companies from many nations around the earth.
The situation that it grew out of was an intent to relieve everyday Iraqis from the weight of sanctions.
Sanctions had been imposed on Iraq by a small group of countries led by the United States and spurred on by Great Britain – one of Iraq’s principal competitors in the world oil trade.
The sanctions as applied were killing large numbers of children and throwing millions of Iraqis into poverty. They didn’t do anything to Hussein’s army or air force.
The Americans and British then tried to apply sanctions by removing the sanctions and allow Iraq to buy food with profits taken from oil sales.
The Iraqis have long been self-sufficient in food production – I believe the intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates is known as the cradle of modern farming.
In any case many companies began trading in Iraqi oil. Sometimes there were extra ‘fees’ that needed to be paid.
The numbers quoted by the Committee are fantastic especially in light of the fact that much of the money went into the Iraqi economy rather than to buy weapons.
The conclusion then would be that the program was run poorly and business competed effectively to get their share.
When we look at who took the most, however, we get names like Vietnam, Russia and Communist China.
When the world is doing one thing and only one voice is raised in opposition there are two possibilities.
1. The voice being raised is the voice of reason and we should all listen to it. Like the voice of an innocent like Jesus Christ, Bhudda or Mohammed.
2. The voice being raised is that of a fanatic.
The United States and Great Britain in the case of Iraq are not innocents so that leads me to believe that we are listening to fanatics.
No matter which way you slice it the invasion and occupation of Iraq remains an illegal act which has undermined international cooperation and raised war to the level of an acceptable level of diplomacy.
Will the United States and Great Britain now punish each and every nation and company that acted in their own best interests in the international market when dealing with Iraq?
Let us pretend that the will of the American people can be stretched to believe that the United States has the power to be the world’s lawyer (solicitor). In what court will these cases be heard? What nation would knowingly submit itself to the laws of the United States when the United States does not even obey them?
Shall we allow President Bush and Tony Blair to sit in government of the world and trade practices that have been in place for time immemorial?
Are they the saviors of the world or are they just mad because when they stole the whole pie they found the plate to be empty?
You can read the pompous and poorly prepared document at :
http://www.iic-offp.org/
What does it contain?
A bunch of tables that list countries by the score and numerous companies that did business with Iraq.
Is it an indictment of these countries or is it something else? There are many private companies from many nations around the earth.
The situation that it grew out of was an intent to relieve everyday Iraqis from the weight of sanctions.
Sanctions had been imposed on Iraq by a small group of countries led by the United States and spurred on by Great Britain – one of Iraq’s principal competitors in the world oil trade.
The sanctions as applied were killing large numbers of children and throwing millions of Iraqis into poverty. They didn’t do anything to Hussein’s army or air force.
The Americans and British then tried to apply sanctions by removing the sanctions and allow Iraq to buy food with profits taken from oil sales.
The Iraqis have long been self-sufficient in food production – I believe the intersection of the Tigris and Euphrates is known as the cradle of modern farming.
In any case many companies began trading in Iraqi oil. Sometimes there were extra ‘fees’ that needed to be paid.
The numbers quoted by the Committee are fantastic especially in light of the fact that much of the money went into the Iraqi economy rather than to buy weapons.
The conclusion then would be that the program was run poorly and business competed effectively to get their share.
When we look at who took the most, however, we get names like Vietnam, Russia and Communist China.
When the world is doing one thing and only one voice is raised in opposition there are two possibilities.
1. The voice being raised is the voice of reason and we should all listen to it. Like the voice of an innocent like Jesus Christ, Bhudda or Mohammed.
2. The voice being raised is that of a fanatic.
The United States and Great Britain in the case of Iraq are not innocents so that leads me to believe that we are listening to fanatics.
No matter which way you slice it the invasion and occupation of Iraq remains an illegal act which has undermined international cooperation and raised war to the level of an acceptable level of diplomacy.
Will the United States and Great Britain now punish each and every nation and company that acted in their own best interests in the international market when dealing with Iraq?
Let us pretend that the will of the American people can be stretched to believe that the United States has the power to be the world’s lawyer (solicitor). In what court will these cases be heard? What nation would knowingly submit itself to the laws of the United States when the United States does not even obey them?
Shall we allow President Bush and Tony Blair to sit in government of the world and trade practices that have been in place for time immemorial?
Are they the saviors of the world or are they just mad because when they stole the whole pie they found the plate to be empty?
You can read the pompous and poorly prepared document at :
http://www.iic-offp.org/
Monday, October 17, 2005
Modern American Entertainment
Below you will find two movies – both of which have been rated PG-13. Clearly after viewing them you should be able to understand that children should not see them at all.
The current rating system as followed by the Motion Picture Association of America is inadequate, misleading and dangerous.
The following two movies contain information and images that are normally associated with individuals suffering from schizophrenia.
Considering the tax write offs, credits and handouts the entertainment industry receives from the Federal Government it is not unreasonable to ask you to question the current ratings system.
Why not a review of that ratings system?
It seems to me that an industry like the entertainment industry, which has become dominated by a foreign national company (like Sony) should be eyed closely in order to confirm that they are living up to our national standards. Clearly they have not been as their music business has recently been indicted by the New York State Attorney's Office for bribing radio companies to broadcast their songs. If they are doing it with songs what do you think they are doing with movies and television?
Please note that below are just two examples out of the thousands of movies, television programs, songs, games and other media that are dumped on our children every day.
White Noise (2004)
Universal Studios
PG-13
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language.
Boogeyman (2004)
Screen Gems
PG-13
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror and terror/violence, and some partial nudity.
You may also find a selection of items considered ‘okay’ for American television at :
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/worstclips.html
The current rating system as followed by the Motion Picture Association of America is inadequate, misleading and dangerous.
The following two movies contain information and images that are normally associated with individuals suffering from schizophrenia.
Considering the tax write offs, credits and handouts the entertainment industry receives from the Federal Government it is not unreasonable to ask you to question the current ratings system.
Why not a review of that ratings system?
It seems to me that an industry like the entertainment industry, which has become dominated by a foreign national company (like Sony) should be eyed closely in order to confirm that they are living up to our national standards. Clearly they have not been as their music business has recently been indicted by the New York State Attorney's Office for bribing radio companies to broadcast their songs. If they are doing it with songs what do you think they are doing with movies and television?
Please note that below are just two examples out of the thousands of movies, television programs, songs, games and other media that are dumped on our children every day.
White Noise (2004)
Universal Studios
PG-13
Rated PG-13 for violence, disturbing images and language.
Boogeyman (2004)
Screen Gems
PG-13
Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of horror and terror/violence, and some partial nudity.
You may also find a selection of items considered ‘okay’ for American television at :
http://www.ebaumsworld.com/worstclips.html
Monday, September 19, 2005
Roberts and Guantanamo
Curious events are happening surrounding the Supreme Court and Judge John Roberts but they are not what you would expect.
They have to deal with the terrorism suspects on war crimes charges at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The terrorist suspects are apparently being charged with war crimes. The proceedings were brought to a screeching halt in November, 2004 when a federal district judge ruled they violated domestic law and the international treaty obligations of the United States.
The court interpreted the international treaty obligations as saying the US must treat the Guantánamo detainees as prisoners of war unless a Geneva Conventions special tribunal determines they are not.
P.O.W’s charged with war crimes are to be tried by court-martial not by a military commission.
In July, 2005, an appellate panel made up of three judges, one of which was John G. Roberts Jr., nominee to the Supreme Court, unanimously decided against the district court.
The case was then appealed to the Supreme Court for review. If the case is given the go-ahead and the appeal declined then the proceedings will continue.
It will put the United States government in the questionable light of having John G. Roberts, who made a ruling, then become one of the Justices that would be responsible for confirming his own ruling.
The insidious nature of the crimes with which the defendants have been charged has helped to obscure the major role that Judge John Roberts has played in the process.
Skipping judges around is a trick of dictatorships.
They have to deal with the terrorism suspects on war crimes charges at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba.
The terrorist suspects are apparently being charged with war crimes. The proceedings were brought to a screeching halt in November, 2004 when a federal district judge ruled they violated domestic law and the international treaty obligations of the United States.
The court interpreted the international treaty obligations as saying the US must treat the Guantánamo detainees as prisoners of war unless a Geneva Conventions special tribunal determines they are not.
P.O.W’s charged with war crimes are to be tried by court-martial not by a military commission.
In July, 2005, an appellate panel made up of three judges, one of which was John G. Roberts Jr., nominee to the Supreme Court, unanimously decided against the district court.
The case was then appealed to the Supreme Court for review. If the case is given the go-ahead and the appeal declined then the proceedings will continue.
It will put the United States government in the questionable light of having John G. Roberts, who made a ruling, then become one of the Justices that would be responsible for confirming his own ruling.
The insidious nature of the crimes with which the defendants have been charged has helped to obscure the major role that Judge John Roberts has played in the process.
Skipping judges around is a trick of dictatorships.
Disgraceful Bolton
John Bolton, the American Ambassador to the United Nations is humilitating our nation.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
Disgraceful Bolton
John Bolton, the American Ambassador to the United Nations is humilitating our nation.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
Disgraceful Bolton
John Bolton, the American Ambassador to the United Nations is humilitating our nation.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
He has taken the view that the UN charter "has never been interpreted as creating a legal obligation for Security Council members to support enforcement action." He seems to defy history.
He asked to remove phrases calling on nations to prevent "incitement" of mass atrocities. That is, the Saudi Arabians would have to stop teaching their school children to hate Americans but Bolton apparently believes that advocating the murder of innocent people is guaranteed by the First Amendment of the Constitution.
Bolton claims the US "stands ready" to intervene in select cases where governments refuse to stop or carry out genocide. He indicated world leaders should not "foreclose" using the military "absent authorization by the Security Council."
The UN calls humanitarian intervention "responsibility to protect."
Bolton is refusing to discuss a specific definition of terrorism. Bolton is arguing that the convention should exclude any acts by armed forces during a conflict – in effect – the Janjaweed in Sudan are not guilty because they murdered civilians on the battlefield and so there is no penalty.
Bolton introduced hundreds of amendments to the UN document at the last minute.
Bolton has been quoted as saying, "We haven't done something at the last minute here. I've got my pen in my pocket and I'm ready to go. We can make this deadline, we can get a strong outcome document."
Bolton is disgracing the United States of America at this very moment.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
NASA Blasts off with Lockheed Martin
NASA Blasting off With Lockheed Martin
He walked into the White House on 9/15/2005 and presented his plan to replace the dangerous space shuttles. Two of the shuttles disintegrated and exploded killing their occupants.
Mike Griffin is a rocket scientist and has an MBA, which is a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
That may be why his new plan is to use rockets to replace the poorly designed shuttles. It may also be why approval was given without any figures or information on how to pay for it.
Mike Griffin?s new fleet of rockets will be a rework of rockets used during the moon shots in the 1960?s. There will be a large rocket for sending cargo into space that will tower 350 feet off the launch pad. A smaller rocket will speed humans into space.
The rockets will draw on design information and experience the United States has had in building and deploying nuclear weapons.
Mike Griffin served as CEO of In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is described by it?s first CEO Gilman Louie as being formed "...to ensure that the CIA remains at the cutting edge of information technology advances and capabilities."
Space planes and lighter than air craft that can lift loads faster and far heavier than those planned for by the obsolete rockets have been sidelined as Mike Griffin takes NASA ?Back to the Past?.
Several board members of In-Q-Tel have connections with Lockheed-Martin Corporation.
Expect most of Mike Griffin?s ?new? old rockets to be produced by Lockheed-Martin.
He walked into the White House on 9/15/2005 and presented his plan to replace the dangerous space shuttles. Two of the shuttles disintegrated and exploded killing their occupants.
Mike Griffin is a rocket scientist and has an MBA, which is a Masters Degree in Business Administration.
That may be why his new plan is to use rockets to replace the poorly designed shuttles. It may also be why approval was given without any figures or information on how to pay for it.
Mike Griffin?s new fleet of rockets will be a rework of rockets used during the moon shots in the 1960?s. There will be a large rocket for sending cargo into space that will tower 350 feet off the launch pad. A smaller rocket will speed humans into space.
The rockets will draw on design information and experience the United States has had in building and deploying nuclear weapons.
Mike Griffin served as CEO of In-Q-Tel. In-Q-Tel is described by it?s first CEO Gilman Louie as being formed "...to ensure that the CIA remains at the cutting edge of information technology advances and capabilities."
Space planes and lighter than air craft that can lift loads faster and far heavier than those planned for by the obsolete rockets have been sidelined as Mike Griffin takes NASA ?Back to the Past?.
Several board members of In-Q-Tel have connections with Lockheed-Martin Corporation.
Expect most of Mike Griffin?s ?new? old rockets to be produced by Lockheed-Martin.
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Darkest America
The Nairobi Museum in Nairobi, Kenya is closing for renovation and houses art and science exhibits.
Included are fossils that the Leakey’s dug up in the Rift Valley.
The Great Rift Valley extends from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in East Africa. It was created by the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates beginning about 35 million years.
While Kenya strides forward the United States continues to slip back into the Dark Ages.
One American roadside attraction displays dinosaurs with Adam and Eve.
Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis has been quoted as saying, "We're putting evolutionists on notice: We're taking the dinosaurs back.” He has built a $25-million creationist museum in Petersburg, Ky.
In Pensacola, Florida tourists can stop at Dinosaur Adventure Land whose slogan is, "Where Dinosaurs and the Bible meet!"
According to their account, God created the world in six days and dinosaurs were vegetarians until Adam and Eve sinned. That is when they started being meat eaters.
Thousands of evangelical preachers insist that 4,500 years after Adam and Eve arrived dinosaurs entered Noah's Ark, later repopulated earth and were killed off by Christian knights.
Unlike the Nairobi Museum which hunts down fossils the Creation Evidence Museum in Glen Rose, Texas hunts living pterodactyls in Papua New Guinea.
The director of the Creation Evidence Museum said five of his friends spotted the flying dinosaurs, "but all the sightings were made after dark, and we were not able to capture the creatures."
Included are fossils that the Leakey’s dug up in the Rift Valley.
The Great Rift Valley extends from northern Syria in Southwest Asia to central Mozambique in East Africa. It was created by the separation of the African and Arabian tectonic plates beginning about 35 million years.
While Kenya strides forward the United States continues to slip back into the Dark Ages.
One American roadside attraction displays dinosaurs with Adam and Eve.
Ken Ham, president of Answers in Genesis has been quoted as saying, "We're putting evolutionists on notice: We're taking the dinosaurs back.” He has built a $25-million creationist museum in Petersburg, Ky.
In Pensacola, Florida tourists can stop at Dinosaur Adventure Land whose slogan is, "Where Dinosaurs and the Bible meet!"
According to their account, God created the world in six days and dinosaurs were vegetarians until Adam and Eve sinned. That is when they started being meat eaters.
Thousands of evangelical preachers insist that 4,500 years after Adam and Eve arrived dinosaurs entered Noah's Ark, later repopulated earth and were killed off by Christian knights.
Unlike the Nairobi Museum which hunts down fossils the Creation Evidence Museum in Glen Rose, Texas hunts living pterodactyls in Papua New Guinea.
The director of the Creation Evidence Museum said five of his friends spotted the flying dinosaurs, "but all the sightings were made after dark, and we were not able to capture the creatures."
Monday, September 12, 2005
Profiteering from Katrina
Haley Barbour is the Governor of Mississippi.
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina left the state of Mississippi in a shambles Haley Barbour flew along the coast in a helicopter and viewed the devastated casinos.
His plans have included tax give-aways to casinos and Toyota which runs a large auto plant near Canton, Mississippi.
He encouraged gambling casinos into becoming the main breadwinner in coastal areas. Halliburton, the company Vice President Dick Cheney use to be in charge of is going to help rebuild Mississippi.
Federal contracts for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina have pushed Halliburton’s stock price to a new high.
Haley founded Barbour, Griffith and Rogers around 1991. They say "our firm is actively involved in the shaping of public policy issues that dominate the American political and corporate agenda. We serve as advocates in federal government relations, a vital link to state governments, and an ally in business development anywhere in the U.S. and in markets around the world."
Joseph Allbaugh, who was President Bush’s campaign manager and the director of FEMA set up two companies with the help of Haley Barbour. One is New Bridge Strategies and assists companies secure contracts in Iraq while Blackwell Fairbanks works for Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin maintains facilities in :
New Orleans, Louisiana, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, Pascagoula, Mississippi, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi, Meridian, Mississippi, Enterprise, Alabama, Anniston, Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama, Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
Joseph Allbaugh’s wife, Diane, previously worked at Haley Barbour’s firm and lobbied on behalf of Native American tribes and casinos.
Ask yourself this question – how much money would the friends of Dick Cheney, George Bush, Joe Allbaugh and Haley Barbour have lost if the Gulf Coast had been adequately prepared for Hurricane Katrina?
Shortly after Hurricane Katrina left the state of Mississippi in a shambles Haley Barbour flew along the coast in a helicopter and viewed the devastated casinos.
His plans have included tax give-aways to casinos and Toyota which runs a large auto plant near Canton, Mississippi.
He encouraged gambling casinos into becoming the main breadwinner in coastal areas. Halliburton, the company Vice President Dick Cheney use to be in charge of is going to help rebuild Mississippi.
Federal contracts for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina have pushed Halliburton’s stock price to a new high.
Haley founded Barbour, Griffith and Rogers around 1991. They say "our firm is actively involved in the shaping of public policy issues that dominate the American political and corporate agenda. We serve as advocates in federal government relations, a vital link to state governments, and an ally in business development anywhere in the U.S. and in markets around the world."
Joseph Allbaugh, who was President Bush’s campaign manager and the director of FEMA set up two companies with the help of Haley Barbour. One is New Bridge Strategies and assists companies secure contracts in Iraq while Blackwell Fairbanks works for Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin maintains facilities in :
New Orleans, Louisiana, Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, Pascagoula, Mississippi, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, Mississippi, Meridian, Mississippi, Enterprise, Alabama, Anniston, Alabama, Huntsville, Alabama, Ponchatoula, Louisiana.
Joseph Allbaugh’s wife, Diane, previously worked at Haley Barbour’s firm and lobbied on behalf of Native American tribes and casinos.
Ask yourself this question – how much money would the friends of Dick Cheney, George Bush, Joe Allbaugh and Haley Barbour have lost if the Gulf Coast had been adequately prepared for Hurricane Katrina?
Information Floating Around
President Bush went through New Orleans.
First of all he had his ‘Blame Game’ phrase changed to ‘The storm didn’t discriminate and neither will the recover effort.’
When asked about what he thought went wrong with the disaster response he said, ‘Well, there’s a lot of information floating around out there.’
Get it?
‘A lot of information floating around out there.’
Other notable figures had things to say.
"It makes me think of what my friend Rev. Goat just told me: 'Let me say this before it goes any further; New Orleans didn't die of natural causes, she was murdered.'", said Dr. John.
The President’s mother, Barbara Bush, was memorable with this gushing of weak kneed, blue blood gibberish, “"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas."
Ex-FEMA Director Michael Brown said, ‘"This story's not about me. This story's about the worst disaster of the history of our country that stretched every government to its limit. And now we have to help these victims. " He apparently helped Lockheed Martin through Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and his old boss man Joe Allbaugh.
Al Sharpton said, "No one in America should feel comfortable sleeping, unless we know that plans are in place that will protect the cities of this country, because it could have been us."
Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader said, "The president said he's going to lead the investigation into what went wrong. He needs to look only in the mirror."
First of all he had his ‘Blame Game’ phrase changed to ‘The storm didn’t discriminate and neither will the recover effort.’
When asked about what he thought went wrong with the disaster response he said, ‘Well, there’s a lot of information floating around out there.’
Get it?
‘A lot of information floating around out there.’
Other notable figures had things to say.
"It makes me think of what my friend Rev. Goat just told me: 'Let me say this before it goes any further; New Orleans didn't die of natural causes, she was murdered.'", said Dr. John.
The President’s mother, Barbara Bush, was memorable with this gushing of weak kneed, blue blood gibberish, “"What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas."
Ex-FEMA Director Michael Brown said, ‘"This story's not about me. This story's about the worst disaster of the history of our country that stretched every government to its limit. And now we have to help these victims. " He apparently helped Lockheed Martin through Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and his old boss man Joe Allbaugh.
Al Sharpton said, "No one in America should feel comfortable sleeping, unless we know that plans are in place that will protect the cities of this country, because it could have been us."
Nancy Pelosi, House Democratic leader said, "The president said he's going to lead the investigation into what went wrong. He needs to look only in the mirror."
Friday, September 09, 2005
Smokey the Bear Showed Up, where was Uncle Sam?
Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow piloted H-3 helicopters out of Pensacola, Fla., having been ordered to deliver emergency food, water and other supplies to Stennis Space Center in Mississippi on Tuesday, August 30, the day after Katrina.
After dropping their loads they picked up a Coast Guard call for helicopter assistance in New Orleans. They rescued 110 people.
When they returned to base they were reprimanded.
I think their superior should be stripped of his rank and they should both be promoted.
What do you think? Why don’t you let your government representatives know how you feel?
Why not question why the vast resources of the American military (which has been held in reserve because the National Guard was sent to invade and occupy Iraq) were not put in use to assist in the immediate aftermath of the Hurricane disaster?
Advantages to the nation would have been an exercise for the military which is presently pretty much sitting around doing nothing and it would also have shown to the world the ability of the United States to respond effectively anywhere anytime in a compassionate manner. Did you know that the Mexican military has entered the United States and is bringing aid to the Gulf Coast?
It is a fact that within three days a very effective force of helicopters from as far away as Camp LeJeune could have reached the stricken areas and swooped thousands of people out with mind numbing swiftness. It is also a fact that the Navy helicopter ships that were sent from the east coast could have launched their helicopters to fly over Florida, refuel and arrive at the disaster area a week before their ships did. Instead their helicopters remained secured and they still have not been put into the field.
I am afraid that what happened in the Gulf Coast is a direct result of the political ideals of what this Administration feels is the role of the Federal Government in such cases. This might have been fine had the three stricken states (and their neighbors) had their National Guard units at full strength rather than occupying and rebuilding a foreign nation and if more than 10,000 Americans had not lost their lives.
Now they tell us it might not be 10,000. It could be much less. They have also forbidden photographers. It is a foolish set of circumstances.
If this is a failure of their ideals what will they do to us next?
More information about the role of the military for peacekeeping duties inside our borders is at :
globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/SLP.htm
It is written by Major Stawicki of the United States Marine Corps.
I wonder what use George Washington would have put our military to following Hurricane Katrina considering he invaded Pennsylvania because a bunch of backwoodsmen didn’t want to pay tax. I also wonder what President James Madison would have done to repay the action on behalf of the United States by the ancestors of these people who have been so devastated by this natural disaster. I also wonder what President Andrew Jackson would have done had he known that President George Bush was going to abandon the men and women who helped him secure victory during the war of 1812.
Finally – the cities. Mobile, Biloxi and New Orleans. I can’t believe some of the chatter about New Orleans. I remember being taught in elementary school that New Orleans was important as a shipping port and because it guards the mouth of the Mississippi. Grocery prices are inching up now because imports have been halted or redirected. Natural gas prices are spiking and fuel oil and gasoline have been affected. The drought on the Mississippi has caused massive problems this year because the soybean, corn, wheat and other crops can’t be moved properly but after Katrina, now that the harvest is coming on there is going to be a bigger problem if New Orleans port is not operational. There will be starvation and hardship around the world because of the slow down.
I don’t think the enormity of what is happening has settled in yet. I am horrified by the lack of response. Did you know that it appears that the Louisiana Fish and Wildlife service saved more people than any other group? They brought people in from as far away as Kentucky and they just did everything they could. The Forest Service was called in to put out the fires and they did their job.
Smokey the Bear showed up but where was Uncle Sam?
What will happen if North Carolina needs help? There have been hurricanes so fierce through there that islands were moved around and the coastline changed. (see Oregon inlet)
What will happen if California needs help? Or Kansas? Florida? - oh, sorry, Florida is okay. The President’s brother is the governor. They were already settling insurance claims there as Katrina raged through the Gulf Coast.
I myself called the Red Cross and about eight other relief agencies on behalf of my company looking for ways to help. The people here wanted to volunteer and help out the volunteers that were being overwhelmed. You know what I was told? Either the agencies rejected the offer outright or they rejected it and asked for cash.
But it doesn’t end there. One my co-workers located 200 families near our company and another 3 in another town. After talking with local representatives we found out that those folks needed EVERYTHING domestic we could give them. So now we have things going there and I am trying to find out if they need other services we could render.
As I consider what is happening and what I have seen (a lady I know was at two hotels in Arkansas and the only people that came around were local churches to see about the families and kids) I am beginning to believe that the reality of this bungled mess has been driven by a high level racism or some kind of sick and out dated class division where the rich not only refuse to help the poor they refuse to acknowledge that they exist at all.
I have heard and read and talked with people that have said that New Orleans was 80 percent black. As if that makes it okay. As if that makes it alright to ignore them. As if the plight of these Americans stuck in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were not deserving of immediate action because of the color of their skin.
When I have not heard the stink of racism raised I hear some sort of American Apartheid argument whereby they are judged unworthy of aid because they had no money. Their pocket books were not green enough to warrant concern.
Some of these people had no money, sure. Others did. Why did they stay? Things happen. I am sure that not all who stayed intended on staying. They had a short time to get out. The people going out on Highway 10 missed a massacre by 4 to 6 hours when the massive traffic jam was finally broken up (by private citizens using cell phones).
Some of these people had no cars. Some of my friends have no car. Does that mean they are less entitled to common human decency and the effective action of our expensive and mighty military forces?
What happened there? What happened?
I am so outraged myself that if I could raise my voice to a hurricane wind I would blow this nation clean.
As for the ethnic makeup. It was an American city. It was all mixed up and everyone was there. Generally living in peace. Generally good and decent people. :
Wikipedia tells us this about New Orleans :
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 484,674 people, 188,251 households, and 112,950 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,036.4/km² (2,684.3/mi²). There were 215,091 housing units at an average density of 459.9/km² (1,191.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.25% African American, 28.05% White, 0.20% Native American, 2.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 3.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
After dropping their loads they picked up a Coast Guard call for helicopter assistance in New Orleans. They rescued 110 people.
When they returned to base they were reprimanded.
I think their superior should be stripped of his rank and they should both be promoted.
What do you think? Why don’t you let your government representatives know how you feel?
Why not question why the vast resources of the American military (which has been held in reserve because the National Guard was sent to invade and occupy Iraq) were not put in use to assist in the immediate aftermath of the Hurricane disaster?
Advantages to the nation would have been an exercise for the military which is presently pretty much sitting around doing nothing and it would also have shown to the world the ability of the United States to respond effectively anywhere anytime in a compassionate manner. Did you know that the Mexican military has entered the United States and is bringing aid to the Gulf Coast?
It is a fact that within three days a very effective force of helicopters from as far away as Camp LeJeune could have reached the stricken areas and swooped thousands of people out with mind numbing swiftness. It is also a fact that the Navy helicopter ships that were sent from the east coast could have launched their helicopters to fly over Florida, refuel and arrive at the disaster area a week before their ships did. Instead their helicopters remained secured and they still have not been put into the field.
I am afraid that what happened in the Gulf Coast is a direct result of the political ideals of what this Administration feels is the role of the Federal Government in such cases. This might have been fine had the three stricken states (and their neighbors) had their National Guard units at full strength rather than occupying and rebuilding a foreign nation and if more than 10,000 Americans had not lost their lives.
Now they tell us it might not be 10,000. It could be much less. They have also forbidden photographers. It is a foolish set of circumstances.
If this is a failure of their ideals what will they do to us next?
More information about the role of the military for peacekeeping duties inside our borders is at :
globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1995/SLP.htm
It is written by Major Stawicki of the United States Marine Corps.
I wonder what use George Washington would have put our military to following Hurricane Katrina considering he invaded Pennsylvania because a bunch of backwoodsmen didn’t want to pay tax. I also wonder what President James Madison would have done to repay the action on behalf of the United States by the ancestors of these people who have been so devastated by this natural disaster. I also wonder what President Andrew Jackson would have done had he known that President George Bush was going to abandon the men and women who helped him secure victory during the war of 1812.
Finally – the cities. Mobile, Biloxi and New Orleans. I can’t believe some of the chatter about New Orleans. I remember being taught in elementary school that New Orleans was important as a shipping port and because it guards the mouth of the Mississippi. Grocery prices are inching up now because imports have been halted or redirected. Natural gas prices are spiking and fuel oil and gasoline have been affected. The drought on the Mississippi has caused massive problems this year because the soybean, corn, wheat and other crops can’t be moved properly but after Katrina, now that the harvest is coming on there is going to be a bigger problem if New Orleans port is not operational. There will be starvation and hardship around the world because of the slow down.
I don’t think the enormity of what is happening has settled in yet. I am horrified by the lack of response. Did you know that it appears that the Louisiana Fish and Wildlife service saved more people than any other group? They brought people in from as far away as Kentucky and they just did everything they could. The Forest Service was called in to put out the fires and they did their job.
Smokey the Bear showed up but where was Uncle Sam?
What will happen if North Carolina needs help? There have been hurricanes so fierce through there that islands were moved around and the coastline changed. (see Oregon inlet)
What will happen if California needs help? Or Kansas? Florida? - oh, sorry, Florida is okay. The President’s brother is the governor. They were already settling insurance claims there as Katrina raged through the Gulf Coast.
I myself called the Red Cross and about eight other relief agencies on behalf of my company looking for ways to help. The people here wanted to volunteer and help out the volunteers that were being overwhelmed. You know what I was told? Either the agencies rejected the offer outright or they rejected it and asked for cash.
But it doesn’t end there. One my co-workers located 200 families near our company and another 3 in another town. After talking with local representatives we found out that those folks needed EVERYTHING domestic we could give them. So now we have things going there and I am trying to find out if they need other services we could render.
As I consider what is happening and what I have seen (a lady I know was at two hotels in Arkansas and the only people that came around were local churches to see about the families and kids) I am beginning to believe that the reality of this bungled mess has been driven by a high level racism or some kind of sick and out dated class division where the rich not only refuse to help the poor they refuse to acknowledge that they exist at all.
I have heard and read and talked with people that have said that New Orleans was 80 percent black. As if that makes it okay. As if that makes it alright to ignore them. As if the plight of these Americans stuck in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana were not deserving of immediate action because of the color of their skin.
When I have not heard the stink of racism raised I hear some sort of American Apartheid argument whereby they are judged unworthy of aid because they had no money. Their pocket books were not green enough to warrant concern.
Some of these people had no money, sure. Others did. Why did they stay? Things happen. I am sure that not all who stayed intended on staying. They had a short time to get out. The people going out on Highway 10 missed a massacre by 4 to 6 hours when the massive traffic jam was finally broken up (by private citizens using cell phones).
Some of these people had no cars. Some of my friends have no car. Does that mean they are less entitled to common human decency and the effective action of our expensive and mighty military forces?
What happened there? What happened?
I am so outraged myself that if I could raise my voice to a hurricane wind I would blow this nation clean.
As for the ethnic makeup. It was an American city. It was all mixed up and everyone was there. Generally living in peace. Generally good and decent people. :
Wikipedia tells us this about New Orleans :
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 484,674 people, 188,251 households, and 112,950 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,036.4/km² (2,684.3/mi²). There were 215,091 housing units at an average density of 459.9/km² (1,191.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.25% African American, 28.05% White, 0.20% Native American, 2.26% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. 3.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Thursday, September 08, 2005
Starvation and Loss Follow Katrina
The American harvest season for wheat, soybeans, cotton, corn and other major commodities begins shortly. The farmers that will be pulling in this year’s harvest in the central states rely on barges to carry their corn, soybeans and wheat down the Mississippi River to the Port of New Orleans.
New Orleans is a crucial link to export markets but was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Local officials are hopping mad from Minnesota all the way down to Mississippi.
The Midwest has experienced the worst drought in 20 years.
The storm destroyed sugar cane and rice fields across the southeast.
As a result of the damage to pipelines, oil platforms and refineries in the Gulf Coast farmers are forced to pay more for fuel to harvest and transport crops. This has impacted their profits and the financial markets.
Commodity exports and imports are slowed. Bananas, orange juice, apple juice and other materials imported from Central and South America are delayed in pick up or delivery. The ships are turned away because the secondary ports cannot accommodate the ships. Prices are already rising in supermarkets.
Midwestern farms have been shipping stored corn and soybeans to make room for this year's harvest but damaged waterways and grain handling facilities have left the barges stuck on the river.
Secondary markets and aid shipments of grains and beans will not be moving any time soon and will worsen the hunger crisis in Africa and southeast Asia.
There has been no response from the White House.
New Orleans is a crucial link to export markets but was badly damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Local officials are hopping mad from Minnesota all the way down to Mississippi.
The Midwest has experienced the worst drought in 20 years.
The storm destroyed sugar cane and rice fields across the southeast.
As a result of the damage to pipelines, oil platforms and refineries in the Gulf Coast farmers are forced to pay more for fuel to harvest and transport crops. This has impacted their profits and the financial markets.
Commodity exports and imports are slowed. Bananas, orange juice, apple juice and other materials imported from Central and South America are delayed in pick up or delivery. The ships are turned away because the secondary ports cannot accommodate the ships. Prices are already rising in supermarkets.
Midwestern farms have been shipping stored corn and soybeans to make room for this year's harvest but damaged waterways and grain handling facilities have left the barges stuck on the river.
Secondary markets and aid shipments of grains and beans will not be moving any time soon and will worsen the hunger crisis in Africa and southeast Asia.
There has been no response from the White House.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
American Apartheid
American Apartheid
“Hello? I’d like to volunteer to work for the American Red Cross and help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.”
“Sorry, we have all the people we need. You can send cash, though.”
This exchange and many others like them take place frequently in the United States.
My friend works at a large international company. Hundreds of her co-workers want to do something to help the victims and our neighbors.
These feelings of neighborly love and patriotism however are cast aside with alarming frequency.
She contacted several different national agencies.
All of them without fail either rejected her offers of assistance or rejected the offers and asked for money.
Meanwhile public calls from Mississippi and Louisiana and some parts of Alabama continue to be sent out to the nation.
Why aren’t offers of assistance and aid getting through?
Why was the American military ordered not to help?
Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow are Navy pilots. After using their multi-million dollar helicopter to drop off food and water to a damaged base in Mississippi they answered a call for help from the Coast Guard in New Orleans and rescued 110 people.
They were reprimanded by their commander.
Why did so many Americans die?
They were living under American apartheid.
The racism that America used to swear by has given way to economic racism.
Whether you live or die, enjoy life or suffer is determined by how green your wallet is.
The bodies are appearing above the waters now.
“Hello? I’d like to volunteer to work for the American Red Cross and help the victims of Hurricane Katrina.”
“Sorry, we have all the people we need. You can send cash, though.”
This exchange and many others like them take place frequently in the United States.
My friend works at a large international company. Hundreds of her co-workers want to do something to help the victims and our neighbors.
These feelings of neighborly love and patriotism however are cast aside with alarming frequency.
She contacted several different national agencies.
All of them without fail either rejected her offers of assistance or rejected the offers and asked for money.
Meanwhile public calls from Mississippi and Louisiana and some parts of Alabama continue to be sent out to the nation.
Why aren’t offers of assistance and aid getting through?
Why was the American military ordered not to help?
Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow are Navy pilots. After using their multi-million dollar helicopter to drop off food and water to a damaged base in Mississippi they answered a call for help from the Coast Guard in New Orleans and rescued 110 people.
They were reprimanded by their commander.
Why did so many Americans die?
They were living under American apartheid.
The racism that America used to swear by has given way to economic racism.
Whether you live or die, enjoy life or suffer is determined by how green your wallet is.
The bodies are appearing above the waters now.
Tom Delay Afraid
Tom Delay, representative from Texas, has been complaining about local officials in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.
He says Hurricane Katrina is their fault.
Why is Tom Delay saying these things?
He is afraid.
Across the nation phone calls offering support and volunteers to national organizations like the Red Cross are met with this response : ‘No thanks, we don’t need any help, but we’ll take money.’
Donations pour in and Americans are still being evacuated from the Gulf Coast and resettled around the nation. The local officials in Louisiana have put out a call for assistance and goods. Why are national agencies not helping?
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are helping their neighbors Tom Delay and the Bush Administration don’t seem to be among them.
Just after the storm passed two Navy pilots brought food and water to a damaged base in Mississippi and then answered a Coast Guard call for help in New Orleans. They labored over 14 hours and rescued 110 people. When they arrived back at base they were reprimanded.
Back to those local officials – Tom Delay has led the effort by the Bush Administration to keep money away from engineering projects in New Orleans for years while showering federal money on bus stops in Alaska. The Bush Administration has most of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama National Guard in Iraq getting shot at.
Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow are American heroes.
Tom Delay and President Bush do not deserve the respect due their office.
He says Hurricane Katrina is their fault.
Why is Tom Delay saying these things?
He is afraid.
Across the nation phone calls offering support and volunteers to national organizations like the Red Cross are met with this response : ‘No thanks, we don’t need any help, but we’ll take money.’
Donations pour in and Americans are still being evacuated from the Gulf Coast and resettled around the nation. The local officials in Louisiana have put out a call for assistance and goods. Why are national agencies not helping?
Hundreds of thousands of Americans are helping their neighbors Tom Delay and the Bush Administration don’t seem to be among them.
Just after the storm passed two Navy pilots brought food and water to a damaged base in Mississippi and then answered a Coast Guard call for help in New Orleans. They labored over 14 hours and rescued 110 people. When they arrived back at base they were reprimanded.
Back to those local officials – Tom Delay has led the effort by the Bush Administration to keep money away from engineering projects in New Orleans for years while showering federal money on bus stops in Alaska. The Bush Administration has most of the Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama National Guard in Iraq getting shot at.
Lt. David Shand and Lt. Matt Udkow are American heroes.
Tom Delay and President Bush do not deserve the respect due their office.
Hooray for John Roberts
When John Roberts is made the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States there will be a great reason to celebrate.
Finally there will be four Catholics on the Supreme Court at the same time. If everything proceeds normally President Bush will nominate a fifth Catholic to the position vacated by Sandra Day O’Connor.
That will mean that there will be a majority of Catholics on the Supreme Court.
This will finally break the evil Protestant stranglehold that has been dragging down the United States for nearly a century and a half.
With the cool considered experience of the Catholic Church behind them these justices will be able to clear away the evil webs of abortion and corruption that the Protestants have filled this nation up with.
The evil protestant influence has given American abortion on demand, leisure drugs, organized crime and legalized gambling.
The evil Protestant influence has allowed our government to deteriorate and lose the power to protect our citizens. Guns have become commonplace and even welcomed in Protestant churches.
Our borders have been abandoned and remain unguarded as Protestant judges and politicians continue to sell the land out from under our feet.
The protection of the Holy Roman Catholic Church can now descend upon the people the United States. The people can now turn their eyes away from the Protestant abominations. They can now hear the voice of reason and close their ears to the Protestant lies.
Finally John Roberts will set us free.
Finally there will be four Catholics on the Supreme Court at the same time. If everything proceeds normally President Bush will nominate a fifth Catholic to the position vacated by Sandra Day O’Connor.
That will mean that there will be a majority of Catholics on the Supreme Court.
This will finally break the evil Protestant stranglehold that has been dragging down the United States for nearly a century and a half.
With the cool considered experience of the Catholic Church behind them these justices will be able to clear away the evil webs of abortion and corruption that the Protestants have filled this nation up with.
The evil protestant influence has given American abortion on demand, leisure drugs, organized crime and legalized gambling.
The evil Protestant influence has allowed our government to deteriorate and lose the power to protect our citizens. Guns have become commonplace and even welcomed in Protestant churches.
Our borders have been abandoned and remain unguarded as Protestant judges and politicians continue to sell the land out from under our feet.
The protection of the Holy Roman Catholic Church can now descend upon the people the United States. The people can now turn their eyes away from the Protestant abominations. They can now hear the voice of reason and close their ears to the Protestant lies.
Finally John Roberts will set us free.
Tuesday, September 06, 2005
Underprivileged Anyway - Barbara Bush
The last I heard the reverend George W. Bush had refused offers of international aid to help with relief effort following Hurricane Katrina.
He turned down offers of assistance from Germany and Venezuela as soon as they were made – so the story goes.
Apparently Pastor Bush hasn’t been as honest with the American people as he has led many of them to believe or he didn’t have any concept of what was going on in his own country.
As of this writing the United States government has requested aid from Europe and NATO.
The Vatican is preparing to coordinate Catholic aid.
The president of Jefferson Parish in Louisiana had this to say, “We have been abandoned by our own country.”
Great Britain is sending 500,000 military ration packs. Over the past 2 decades British companies have extracted tens of billions of dollars from Louisiana in oil and gas.
Germany and Italy prepared military shipments of their own that can help alleviate the crisis.
The United States, which is occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, has requested blankets, first-aid kits, water trucks and food.
Condoleezza Rice, who was raised in Alabama stated, "Nobody, especially the president, would have left people unattended on the basis of race."
The response to Ms. Rice : Truly, many times in history people have been slaughtered based on race. In this case it seems that some people were left unattended on the basis of race, but the vast majority were left unattended on the basis of income and wealth.
Barbara Bush, former first lady and mother of the President said that the relocation for those Americans forced out of Louisiana is "working very well" in Texas. She said many of the people at the Astrodome were "underprivileged anyway."
There is no response for Ms. Bush.
He turned down offers of assistance from Germany and Venezuela as soon as they were made – so the story goes.
Apparently Pastor Bush hasn’t been as honest with the American people as he has led many of them to believe or he didn’t have any concept of what was going on in his own country.
As of this writing the United States government has requested aid from Europe and NATO.
The Vatican is preparing to coordinate Catholic aid.
The president of Jefferson Parish in Louisiana had this to say, “We have been abandoned by our own country.”
Great Britain is sending 500,000 military ration packs. Over the past 2 decades British companies have extracted tens of billions of dollars from Louisiana in oil and gas.
Germany and Italy prepared military shipments of their own that can help alleviate the crisis.
The United States, which is occupying Iraq and Afghanistan, has requested blankets, first-aid kits, water trucks and food.
Condoleezza Rice, who was raised in Alabama stated, "Nobody, especially the president, would have left people unattended on the basis of race."
The response to Ms. Rice : Truly, many times in history people have been slaughtered based on race. In this case it seems that some people were left unattended on the basis of race, but the vast majority were left unattended on the basis of income and wealth.
Barbara Bush, former first lady and mother of the President said that the relocation for those Americans forced out of Louisiana is "working very well" in Texas. She said many of the people at the Astrodome were "underprivileged anyway."
There is no response for Ms. Bush.
Friday, September 02, 2005
High Tone Bush
Hurricane Katrina ran through Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
It left tragedy and horror behind.
President Bush flew over the disaster area.
He flew in at a very high altitude.
He said, "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground."
His next action as Commander-in-Chief was to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" to discuss the tragedy and recovery efforts.
Not long ago he said, ‘I am optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington, D.C."
What tone was he talking about?
The other day George Will wrote in the Washington Post about the ‘shrill’ voice of the Democratic Party. It seems people like George Will, were under the impression that George Bush intended to lower the tone. George Will has offered little in the form of news for some time - he’s Rush Limbaugh with a typewriter.
Bush was born with a silver spoon in his mouth though. Americans didn’t notice this one came with a top hat and cane.
Bush is what is known as high toned. That is, for all of you high-brow conservatives, affectedly stylish or genteel.
For everybody else we get an idea of what high-toned is from Hank Williams (Sr). from his song ‘Mind Your Own Business’.
‘Mindin' other people's business seems to be high-toned, I got all that I can do just to mind my own. Why don't you mind your own business. If you mind your own business, you'll stay busy all the time.’
It left tragedy and horror behind.
President Bush flew over the disaster area.
He flew in at a very high altitude.
He said, "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground."
His next action as Commander-in-Chief was to appear on ABC's "Good Morning America" to discuss the tragedy and recovery efforts.
Not long ago he said, ‘I am optimistic that we can change the tone in Washington, D.C."
What tone was he talking about?
The other day George Will wrote in the Washington Post about the ‘shrill’ voice of the Democratic Party. It seems people like George Will, were under the impression that George Bush intended to lower the tone. George Will has offered little in the form of news for some time - he’s Rush Limbaugh with a typewriter.
Bush was born with a silver spoon in his mouth though. Americans didn’t notice this one came with a top hat and cane.
Bush is what is known as high toned. That is, for all of you high-brow conservatives, affectedly stylish or genteel.
For everybody else we get an idea of what high-toned is from Hank Williams (Sr). from his song ‘Mind Your Own Business’.
‘Mindin' other people's business seems to be high-toned, I got all that I can do just to mind my own. Why don't you mind your own business. If you mind your own business, you'll stay busy all the time.’
Thursday, September 01, 2005
Hastert Wants to Bulldoze New Orleans
Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the House of Representatives, just said that it makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to rebuild a city that's seven feet under sea level.
"It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said to The Daily Herald of Arlington, Ill.
Hastert said, "We ought to take a second look at it. But you know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild too. Stubbornness."
He didn’t mention the fact that legislation that he had sponsored and signed had given money to the Army Corps of Engineers to build the ‘Industrial Canal’ in the center of the city.
The Industrial Canal was the first structure to fail.
He also did not mention that other legislation he has sponsored and signed helped to cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineer by nearly 40% over the past two years.
Maintenance of the levees, pumps and other systems has been neglected.
Loss of coastal areas that usually reduce the impact of such storms was due in no small part to legislation that Hastert sponsored and signed that loosened development rules along the Gulf Coast.
Hastert said nothing as thousands of technicians and engineers were sent to rebuild the entire country of Iraq.
It seems to me that Dennis Hastert makes no sense.
He also assisted this President in sending over 245,000 National Guard troops out of the country.
Instead of chipping in to help he has hindered. What‘s with Hastert?
"It looks like a lot of that place could be bulldozed," the Illinois Republican said to The Daily Herald of Arlington, Ill.
Hastert said, "We ought to take a second look at it. But you know we build Los Angeles and San Francisco on top of earthquake fissures and they rebuild too. Stubbornness."
He didn’t mention the fact that legislation that he had sponsored and signed had given money to the Army Corps of Engineers to build the ‘Industrial Canal’ in the center of the city.
The Industrial Canal was the first structure to fail.
He also did not mention that other legislation he has sponsored and signed helped to cut funding to the Army Corps of Engineer by nearly 40% over the past two years.
Maintenance of the levees, pumps and other systems has been neglected.
Loss of coastal areas that usually reduce the impact of such storms was due in no small part to legislation that Hastert sponsored and signed that loosened development rules along the Gulf Coast.
Hastert said nothing as thousands of technicians and engineers were sent to rebuild the entire country of Iraq.
It seems to me that Dennis Hastert makes no sense.
He also assisted this President in sending over 245,000 National Guard troops out of the country.
Instead of chipping in to help he has hindered. What‘s with Hastert?
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Katrina and Money
Apparently there have been racial differences in police searches around American according to a report published by the Justice Department.
The results were apparently going to be tampered with but the author, a Mr. Greenfield, refused to change the data or censor the report to make the politicians in charge happy.
The report noted that it had "uncovered evidence of black drivers having worse experiences - more likely to be arrested, more likely to be searched, more likely to be have force used against them - during traffic stops than white drivers."
Mr. Greenfield has been forced to move to another job as a result of his refusal to cover this information up.
At this time Hurricane Katrina has devastated large parts of the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines.
Most not ably it has nearly destroyed New Orleans.
New Orleans is a predominately black city.
The response from Washington has been agonizingly slow. Even though nearly 18 percent of American oil production has been impacted and nearly 25 percent of American refining capacity has been affected by the disaster the response has been lackluster.
The levees in the center of the city have failed and due to no small coincidence that money to maintain them has been reduced in recent years.
Millions of Americans have seen their lives disrupted and the nation’s fuel supply has been threatened. The response has been slow and fraught with incompetence already.
Where hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and equipment and personnel were made nearly immediately available to the predominantly white and Cuban neighborhoods impacted in Florida (where the President’s brother is governor) the process for relief and action has stagnated in the Gulf Coast region and predominantly black and lower class neighborhoods.
The results were apparently going to be tampered with but the author, a Mr. Greenfield, refused to change the data or censor the report to make the politicians in charge happy.
The report noted that it had "uncovered evidence of black drivers having worse experiences - more likely to be arrested, more likely to be searched, more likely to be have force used against them - during traffic stops than white drivers."
Mr. Greenfield has been forced to move to another job as a result of his refusal to cover this information up.
At this time Hurricane Katrina has devastated large parts of the Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana coastlines.
Most not ably it has nearly destroyed New Orleans.
New Orleans is a predominately black city.
The response from Washington has been agonizingly slow. Even though nearly 18 percent of American oil production has been impacted and nearly 25 percent of American refining capacity has been affected by the disaster the response has been lackluster.
The levees in the center of the city have failed and due to no small coincidence that money to maintain them has been reduced in recent years.
Millions of Americans have seen their lives disrupted and the nation’s fuel supply has been threatened. The response has been slow and fraught with incompetence already.
Where hundreds of millions of dollars in aid and equipment and personnel were made nearly immediately available to the predominantly white and Cuban neighborhoods impacted in Florida (where the President’s brother is governor) the process for relief and action has stagnated in the Gulf Coast region and predominantly black and lower class neighborhoods.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Billy Sunday
"Our Lord Jesus Christ does not stand for peace at any price. . .Every true American would rather see this land face war than see her flag lowered in dishonor. . .I wish to say that, not only from the standpoint of a citizen, but from the standpoint of a minister of religion. . .I believe there is nothing that would be of such great practical benefit to us as universal military training for the men of our land." -Rev. Dr. William T. Manning, Rector of Trinity Parish, New York City.
Up until that point in time that Billy Sunday began actively deriding Christians that believed in peace and not war Christians would go to war with a heavy heart. They knew that they were doing wrong but they knew they had a job to do that had to be done. When those soldiers and sailors returned from some such duties, their churches and their neighbors would open their arms and doors to them and welcome them back.
They would be congratulated and loved and honored for what they had done –what they had given up and sacrificed in order to preserve our union, our strength and our gallant nation.
When Billy Sunday began his vicious oratory and actually had military recruiting stations set up outside his tabernacles where he was preaching the line between church and state was crossed.
Billy Sunday once had a 16 year old Billy Graham in his audience – Sunday’s shrieking paranoia frightened the young Billy Graham – frightened him so much that the scared young boy has turned into a frightened old man. He is churning out the same message of hatred and anger and militarism disguised as faith that Sunday did.
It is time to rip up the line of hatred that was sown during World War I. It is time to rip up the clinging and grasping association of evangelical churches to our government. It is time to rip up the regimentation provided by the military which turns men into killing machines but is not able to turn them back into men.
A Christian can never be a soldier first.
Sometimes a Christian needs to suspend Christian beliefs and take up soldierly duties – but a Christian will never do those things willingly that a soldier needs to do.
When a man or woman returns to home – and this has happened more often since Korea and Vietnam – they never really come home. They are always in battle. There is no harbor for them to find shelter from the blasting winds of guilt or from the raging fires of fear.
They were sent off from their churches – who ‘remember’ them, and who ‘support’ them and who pretend they never really left and that all is well in the world.
It is time to rip up the paranoia and the shrill hatred that sends these men off to war and has no means of bringing them back.
The way things are now these men and women in Iraq will come back with their minds and souls shredded and many Christians will want to help them but they will find it to be impossible – because after all – they are Christian soldiers and can take care of themselves – all they need do is accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Men and women that joined the National Guard to find something interesting to do in their boring lives or to earn money for school were sent into the military and accepted there as doing their Christian duty.
Your Christian duty is to be a good Christian – not to earn money for school or fill in your spare time playing with guns.
So – there is a big job ahead of us.
This field of ours is filled with weeds – the weeds of hatred, and neglect, and sorrow, deceit and lies.
We must clear this field in the manner that we know in our hearts is the correct way.
We must clear out these noxious weeds and plant and let grow kindness, sincerity, forgiveness, patience, charity and love.
Else we shall all die of starvation and our churches will fall to the earth like so much powder – to be taken up by the mighty and the violent and stuffed into cannons that they will turn upon us in our homes.
There is a great work to do.
Up until that point in time that Billy Sunday began actively deriding Christians that believed in peace and not war Christians would go to war with a heavy heart. They knew that they were doing wrong but they knew they had a job to do that had to be done. When those soldiers and sailors returned from some such duties, their churches and their neighbors would open their arms and doors to them and welcome them back.
They would be congratulated and loved and honored for what they had done –what they had given up and sacrificed in order to preserve our union, our strength and our gallant nation.
When Billy Sunday began his vicious oratory and actually had military recruiting stations set up outside his tabernacles where he was preaching the line between church and state was crossed.
Billy Sunday once had a 16 year old Billy Graham in his audience – Sunday’s shrieking paranoia frightened the young Billy Graham – frightened him so much that the scared young boy has turned into a frightened old man. He is churning out the same message of hatred and anger and militarism disguised as faith that Sunday did.
It is time to rip up the line of hatred that was sown during World War I. It is time to rip up the clinging and grasping association of evangelical churches to our government. It is time to rip up the regimentation provided by the military which turns men into killing machines but is not able to turn them back into men.
A Christian can never be a soldier first.
Sometimes a Christian needs to suspend Christian beliefs and take up soldierly duties – but a Christian will never do those things willingly that a soldier needs to do.
When a man or woman returns to home – and this has happened more often since Korea and Vietnam – they never really come home. They are always in battle. There is no harbor for them to find shelter from the blasting winds of guilt or from the raging fires of fear.
They were sent off from their churches – who ‘remember’ them, and who ‘support’ them and who pretend they never really left and that all is well in the world.
It is time to rip up the paranoia and the shrill hatred that sends these men off to war and has no means of bringing them back.
The way things are now these men and women in Iraq will come back with their minds and souls shredded and many Christians will want to help them but they will find it to be impossible – because after all – they are Christian soldiers and can take care of themselves – all they need do is accept Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Men and women that joined the National Guard to find something interesting to do in their boring lives or to earn money for school were sent into the military and accepted there as doing their Christian duty.
Your Christian duty is to be a good Christian – not to earn money for school or fill in your spare time playing with guns.
So – there is a big job ahead of us.
This field of ours is filled with weeds – the weeds of hatred, and neglect, and sorrow, deceit and lies.
We must clear this field in the manner that we know in our hearts is the correct way.
We must clear out these noxious weeds and plant and let grow kindness, sincerity, forgiveness, patience, charity and love.
Else we shall all die of starvation and our churches will fall to the earth like so much powder – to be taken up by the mighty and the violent and stuffed into cannons that they will turn upon us in our homes.
There is a great work to do.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
Sir Cyril and the Arabs
I read recently a long winded complaint by Sir Cyril Townsend.
He wrote about the situation in Sudan and came down heavily on the side of his
Arab friends in Khartoum.
At one point he accused John Garang of using child soldiers and then stated that the Lord’s Resistance Army was glad to be rid of him.
Sir Cyril Townsend then blamed the United States for problems in Sudan because of ignorance and prejudice and that there were rumors of American ‘Special Forces’ operating in southern Sudan.
Sir Cyril Townsend made an attack on Africans by stating that the nation of Sudan must be put before the tribe and the region.
I got the feeling he believes everything could be put right by handing out some beads and chocolates to the Sudanese Africans on behalf of his Arab masters.
Cyril is the Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding and has loudly denounced Israel on several occasions. He says nothing about his own countries strong ties with the backward Arab rulers that have been causing grief and strife in Africa for centuries now.
Sir Cyril is one of those stuff shirts who believes that an active diplomacy is an effective diplomacy.
Where does he get his support?
CAABU was founded in 1967.
Their website tells us this : “In 1998, CAABU came near to closure due to dwindling funds. After appeals for help in the Arab press in particular, we were saved mainly through two very generous and anonymous donations.”
He wrote about the situation in Sudan and came down heavily on the side of his
Arab friends in Khartoum.
At one point he accused John Garang of using child soldiers and then stated that the Lord’s Resistance Army was glad to be rid of him.
Sir Cyril Townsend then blamed the United States for problems in Sudan because of ignorance and prejudice and that there were rumors of American ‘Special Forces’ operating in southern Sudan.
Sir Cyril Townsend made an attack on Africans by stating that the nation of Sudan must be put before the tribe and the region.
I got the feeling he believes everything could be put right by handing out some beads and chocolates to the Sudanese Africans on behalf of his Arab masters.
Cyril is the Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding and has loudly denounced Israel on several occasions. He says nothing about his own countries strong ties with the backward Arab rulers that have been causing grief and strife in Africa for centuries now.
Sir Cyril is one of those stuff shirts who believes that an active diplomacy is an effective diplomacy.
Where does he get his support?
CAABU was founded in 1967.
Their website tells us this : “In 1998, CAABU came near to closure due to dwindling funds. After appeals for help in the Arab press in particular, we were saved mainly through two very generous and anonymous donations.”
Saturday, August 27, 2005
Crawford Texas
The County Board of McLennan Country has been asked to extend an ordinance that does not allow parking a few hundred feet from President Bush’s ranch.
It’s clear to everyone that he is not officially on ‘vacation’ and is, indeed, carrying on business and government activity at the ranch. He has been leaving the ranch to attend political fundraisers, has had his working assistants visit him and has even, apparently went for a walk holding hands with the King of Saudi Arabia.
Please consider that he should be in Washington DC doing his job and that your ordinance would be a waste of the time and money of McLennan County.
Perhaps prior to extending the ordinance and making more laws for yourself you might ask the President why he is running the government from his ranch in Crawford rather than from the lawfully designated area located at Washington in the District of Columbia.
The McLennan County Commissioners will be doing themselves, McLennan County, the State of Texas and the United States of America a disservice by making laws as a result of whim and mob rule.
Several people have asked that he return to Washington in the District of Columbia to carry out his duties but he has apparently either been afraid or unwilling to go stay there.
It is the right and duty of all American citizens to be involved in their government and when the President decides to hide someone should ask him to knock it off.
It’s clear to everyone that he is not officially on ‘vacation’ and is, indeed, carrying on business and government activity at the ranch. He has been leaving the ranch to attend political fundraisers, has had his working assistants visit him and has even, apparently went for a walk holding hands with the King of Saudi Arabia.
Please consider that he should be in Washington DC doing his job and that your ordinance would be a waste of the time and money of McLennan County.
Perhaps prior to extending the ordinance and making more laws for yourself you might ask the President why he is running the government from his ranch in Crawford rather than from the lawfully designated area located at Washington in the District of Columbia.
The McLennan County Commissioners will be doing themselves, McLennan County, the State of Texas and the United States of America a disservice by making laws as a result of whim and mob rule.
Several people have asked that he return to Washington in the District of Columbia to carry out his duties but he has apparently either been afraid or unwilling to go stay there.
It is the right and duty of all American citizens to be involved in their government and when the President decides to hide someone should ask him to knock it off.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Streamlined Sales Tax Project
I understand that in the name of simplification, a group of cash-strapped states is proposing the Streamlined Sales Tax Project (SSTP).
The goal of the SSTP is supposed to be simplification but it does not succeed in simplifying state and local tax laws sufficiently to ease the collection burden on internet or eBay sellers.
The State Simplification Tax Project (SSTP) is a crime against logic. It does not reduce the 7,600 different state, county and city taxing jurisdictions.
The SSTP allows for a different rate for each zip code. Nearly 49,000 different jurisdictions. Does that sound streamlined to you?
Small business owners will be disadvantaged by a distant sales tax collection regime that forces them (and me) to comply with thousands of different tax rates, local laws, filing instructions, and audit
procedures.
Offline competitors being only required to collect and remit taxes in one jurisdiction would then be awarded unfair advantages. This could force tens of thousands of Internet businesses to shut down.
The Congress is being asked to subsidize the Sears and JC Penney catalog business.
There should be no increased tax burden on small business.
Now is definitely not the time to impose new tax burdens on American consumers and small business owners, or do anything to hamper the growth of e-commerce.
Tax administrators and State Senators and Representatives from around the nation are involved in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Don’t they have enough work to do without having to try to throw Americans out of work?
The goal of the SSTP is supposed to be simplification but it does not succeed in simplifying state and local tax laws sufficiently to ease the collection burden on internet or eBay sellers.
The State Simplification Tax Project (SSTP) is a crime against logic. It does not reduce the 7,600 different state, county and city taxing jurisdictions.
The SSTP allows for a different rate for each zip code. Nearly 49,000 different jurisdictions. Does that sound streamlined to you?
Small business owners will be disadvantaged by a distant sales tax collection regime that forces them (and me) to comply with thousands of different tax rates, local laws, filing instructions, and audit
procedures.
Offline competitors being only required to collect and remit taxes in one jurisdiction would then be awarded unfair advantages. This could force tens of thousands of Internet businesses to shut down.
The Congress is being asked to subsidize the Sears and JC Penney catalog business.
There should be no increased tax burden on small business.
Now is definitely not the time to impose new tax burdens on American consumers and small business owners, or do anything to hamper the growth of e-commerce.
Tax administrators and State Senators and Representatives from around the nation are involved in the Streamlined Sales Tax Project. Don’t they have enough work to do without having to try to throw Americans out of work?
Saturday, August 20, 2005
John Birch Society
A group of people calling themselves ‘Move America Forward’ has recently been in the forefront of attacks on Cindy Sheehan and her very simple question for the president.
A woman identifying herself as the group founder, Deborah Johns, has a son in the Marines and is featured in an attack ad on Cindy Sheehan and her very simple question.
Deborah Johns says that Cindy Sheehan’s very simple question discredits the soldiers serving in Iraq.
Deborah Johns says, "Cindy Sheehan certainly doesn't speak for me, our military families or our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan."
The ‘Move America Forward’ website at http://www.moveamericaforward.org/ doesn’t confine itself to attacking Cindy Sheehan and her very simple question. It also features attacks on the United Nations and various activists that have involved themselves in the recall of California Governor Gray Davis and an organization known as the ‘Defend Reagan Organization’ which sells bumper stickers of the ‘Gipper’.
Their attacks on the United Nations are interesting as they resemble the same materials and positions that are posted on the John Birch Society website at http://www.getusout.org/ .
The John Birch Society claims to strenuously defend the original intention of the U. S. Constitution. The group believes America is founded on Christian principles. It has a conspiratorialist view of history. It is anti-globalization and for immigration reform. They advocate the abolition of income tax, and the repeal of civil rights legislation, which it sees as being communist.
Sounds like John Roberts’ resume, doesn’t it?
A woman identifying herself as the group founder, Deborah Johns, has a son in the Marines and is featured in an attack ad on Cindy Sheehan and her very simple question.
Deborah Johns says that Cindy Sheehan’s very simple question discredits the soldiers serving in Iraq.
Deborah Johns says, "Cindy Sheehan certainly doesn't speak for me, our military families or our men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan."
The ‘Move America Forward’ website at http://www.moveamericaforward.org/ doesn’t confine itself to attacking Cindy Sheehan and her very simple question. It also features attacks on the United Nations and various activists that have involved themselves in the recall of California Governor Gray Davis and an organization known as the ‘Defend Reagan Organization’ which sells bumper stickers of the ‘Gipper’.
Their attacks on the United Nations are interesting as they resemble the same materials and positions that are posted on the John Birch Society website at http://www.getusout.org/ .
The John Birch Society claims to strenuously defend the original intention of the U. S. Constitution. The group believes America is founded on Christian principles. It has a conspiratorialist view of history. It is anti-globalization and for immigration reform. They advocate the abolition of income tax, and the repeal of civil rights legislation, which it sees as being communist.
Sounds like John Roberts’ resume, doesn’t it?
Thursday, August 18, 2005
No One Wants to be an Iraqi
The Iraqi problem seems to be that no one in Iraq wants to be an Iraqi.
With an independent Kurdistan and Shiastan the United States will get the oil it wants and the Kurds and Shiites that have suffered in poverty will get a piece of the action. As for the Sunnis, after their brutal collusion with the Turks and the British they deserve to get a desert kingdom. They will need to learn to cooperate in order to prosper. They will no longer be able to rely on weapons, violence and intimidation to get their way.
The area known as Iraq has been under foreign control for a long, long time. Much longer than the United States has been in existence.
In the north are the Kurds. In the south are the Shiites. In the west are the Sunnis.
The Kurds want to declare independence and form Kurdistan.
The Shiites think that is a great idea and want to form Shiastan.
The Sunnis used to run Iraq and they are hopping mad about being invaded – they aren’t clear about what they want but if they ended up with their own country they would have nothing to complain about.
Why not let them have their own nations? Why insist on pasting a constitution on them that is offensive to them and to the rest of the world. I think everyone will agree that a national constitution that enshrines allowing a man to have 4 wives is offensive. It’s offensive to everyone who believes in ‘one man, one woman’ as being a marriage and it is offensive to everyone that would like to have more than 4 wives.
The United States is a country composed of 50 states. States as in countries or nations. If the other 49 were removed the last one around would be a country.
Why not have a union of Kurdistan, Shiastan and Sunnistan? Dedicated to their common defense in the event that Iran decides to attack. It would essentially stay out of the way of the activities of the three nations that make up the country.
It is a ridiculous proposition to have Great Britain and the United States impose a democracy based on common experiences between them that the Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites have never experienced.
Iraq was cobbled together from provinces that had been included in the Ottoman Empire when the British turned out to be victors in World War I. The British then treated Iraq as a province and strongly put down any hint of independence the people might have had. Winston Churchill even advised using gas against the rebels. That is, if you can call people fighting for independence from a brutal empire rebels.
In the end when independence was granted Iraq was the result. A nation containing three little nations.
The only reason the United States does not support independence for Kurdistan is because of interference from Turkey. The United States is afraid of Turkey. The Kurds are not. The United States is imposing its will on Kurdistan, Shiastan and Sunnistan because of a lack of understanding of the situation.
The backwoods boys from Texas are little interested in the realities in Iraq. They just want the oil.
Iran will be contained by a bunch of greedy and wealthy Kurds and Shiites and the United States can truly say that Iraq has been liberated and our troops can leave.
All it will need is a new name.
Iraq is dead. Long live the KSSA. Kurdish-Shia-Sunni Alliance.
With an independent Kurdistan and Shiastan the United States will get the oil it wants and the Kurds and Shiites that have suffered in poverty will get a piece of the action. As for the Sunnis, after their brutal collusion with the Turks and the British they deserve to get a desert kingdom. They will need to learn to cooperate in order to prosper. They will no longer be able to rely on weapons, violence and intimidation to get their way.
The area known as Iraq has been under foreign control for a long, long time. Much longer than the United States has been in existence.
In the north are the Kurds. In the south are the Shiites. In the west are the Sunnis.
The Kurds want to declare independence and form Kurdistan.
The Shiites think that is a great idea and want to form Shiastan.
The Sunnis used to run Iraq and they are hopping mad about being invaded – they aren’t clear about what they want but if they ended up with their own country they would have nothing to complain about.
Why not let them have their own nations? Why insist on pasting a constitution on them that is offensive to them and to the rest of the world. I think everyone will agree that a national constitution that enshrines allowing a man to have 4 wives is offensive. It’s offensive to everyone who believes in ‘one man, one woman’ as being a marriage and it is offensive to everyone that would like to have more than 4 wives.
The United States is a country composed of 50 states. States as in countries or nations. If the other 49 were removed the last one around would be a country.
Why not have a union of Kurdistan, Shiastan and Sunnistan? Dedicated to their common defense in the event that Iran decides to attack. It would essentially stay out of the way of the activities of the three nations that make up the country.
It is a ridiculous proposition to have Great Britain and the United States impose a democracy based on common experiences between them that the Kurds, Sunnis and Shiites have never experienced.
Iraq was cobbled together from provinces that had been included in the Ottoman Empire when the British turned out to be victors in World War I. The British then treated Iraq as a province and strongly put down any hint of independence the people might have had. Winston Churchill even advised using gas against the rebels. That is, if you can call people fighting for independence from a brutal empire rebels.
In the end when independence was granted Iraq was the result. A nation containing three little nations.
The only reason the United States does not support independence for Kurdistan is because of interference from Turkey. The United States is afraid of Turkey. The Kurds are not. The United States is imposing its will on Kurdistan, Shiastan and Sunnistan because of a lack of understanding of the situation.
The backwoods boys from Texas are little interested in the realities in Iraq. They just want the oil.
Iran will be contained by a bunch of greedy and wealthy Kurds and Shiites and the United States can truly say that Iraq has been liberated and our troops can leave.
All it will need is a new name.
Iraq is dead. Long live the KSSA. Kurdish-Shia-Sunni Alliance.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Rep Cox and the SEC
Here comes Representative Cox from California jumping into the Securities and Exchange Commission with both feet.
Who is this guy and what background does he have?
In the 108th Congress Christopher Cox sponsored the following legislation :
Ending Discrimination Against Students Enrolled in ROTC. H.R. 3966
Allowing More Americans to Use EZ Tax Filing.
Commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. H.Res. 655
Restoring the Mission at San Juan Capistrano.
No Double Rail-Tracking Along Orange County Coast. H.R. 2165
Defending Freedom of Thought in Hong Kong. H.Res. 277
Death Tax Repeal.
Repeal the "Luxury Tax" on Beer.
Ensure the Continuity of Congress in Case of Terrorist Attack.
Ensure the Continuity of the Presidency in Case of Terrorist Attack. H.R. 2319 Bob Hope American Patriotism Award. H.R. 2087
Renewal of Successful ‘Smart Metric’ Law. authorizing the use of metric measurements for federal building construction that include both round numbers and fractions.
In the 107th Congress he sponsored :
Ensuring the Government Can Continue to Function in Case of Terrorist Attack.
Cleanup of Contaminated Groundwater at El Toro Base.
Death Tax Repeal.
Educational Use of El Toro Base. Worked with the Department of the Navy to permit Cal State Fullerton to open a satellite campus on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.
Restoring the Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Bob Hope Veterans Chapel.
No New Taxes on Toy Telescopes.
Recognizing the 90th Birthday of President Ronald Reagan.
Honoring the Anaheim Angels's Historic World Series Victory.
In the 106th Congress he sponsored :
Repeal of the “Spanish-American War” Tax.
Cleanup of Contaminated Groundwater at El Toro Base. (Again)
Death Tax Repeal. (Again)
Reduce Death Taxes for Leisure World Residents.
Restore the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. (Again)
Outlaw State Discrimination Against California Wine.
Continued Community Access to the El Toro Base Property.
Prevent Y2K Injuries.
Promote Democracy and Free Enterprise in Russia.
Protect Human Rights in Communist China.
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act.
Combat North Korean Nuclear Blackmail.
No Taxpayer Bailout of North Korea Nuclear Accidents.
In the 105th Congress (1997-98) he sponsored :
Iraq Liberation Act.
Policy for Freedom in China.
In the 104th Congress (1995-96) he sponsored :
Increased Deportation of Illegal Immigrants.
Demilitarization of Russian Troops in Kaliningrad.
Mexican Peso Bailout.
Boy Scout Land Swap.
Helium Reserve Privatization.
In the 103rd Congress (1993-94) he sponsored :
Abolishing the Government-Run Strategic Helium Reserve. (Again)
Reuse of the El Toro Marine Base. (Again)
Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Death Tax Repeal. (Again)
Make the Losing Party Pay the Winner's Attorneys' Fees. H.R. 2880
Promoting Iraqi Freedom.
Creation of Radio Free Asia.
Turbocharged Enterprise Zones.
Incentives for Earthquake Insurance. H.R. 3756
Retired FBI Agent Self-Defense Act. H.R. 3971
In the 102nd Congress (1991-92) he sponsored :
Helping Orange County Aid in the Reconstruction of Kuwait.
Commending Hungary on its Transition to Democracy.
Aid to Former Soviet Nations.
In the 101st Congress (1989-90) he sponsored :
Allow Local Control over John Wayne Airport Noise.
Aiding Lithuania's Transition to Democracy. H.Con.Res. 257
Encourage Private Capital Investment in Businesses in Hungary and Poland.
Who is this guy and what background does he have?
In the 108th Congress Christopher Cox sponsored the following legislation :
Ending Discrimination Against Students Enrolled in ROTC. H.R. 3966
Allowing More Americans to Use EZ Tax Filing.
Commemorating the 15th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre. H.Res. 655
Restoring the Mission at San Juan Capistrano.
No Double Rail-Tracking Along Orange County Coast. H.R. 2165
Defending Freedom of Thought in Hong Kong. H.Res. 277
Death Tax Repeal.
Repeal the "Luxury Tax" on Beer.
Ensure the Continuity of Congress in Case of Terrorist Attack.
Ensure the Continuity of the Presidency in Case of Terrorist Attack. H.R. 2319 Bob Hope American Patriotism Award. H.R. 2087
Renewal of Successful ‘Smart Metric’ Law. authorizing the use of metric measurements for federal building construction that include both round numbers and fractions.
In the 107th Congress he sponsored :
Ensuring the Government Can Continue to Function in Case of Terrorist Attack.
Cleanup of Contaminated Groundwater at El Toro Base.
Death Tax Repeal.
Educational Use of El Toro Base. Worked with the Department of the Navy to permit Cal State Fullerton to open a satellite campus on the site of the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.
Restoring the Great Stone Church at Mission San Juan Capistrano.
Bob Hope Veterans Chapel.
No New Taxes on Toy Telescopes.
Recognizing the 90th Birthday of President Ronald Reagan.
Honoring the Anaheim Angels's Historic World Series Victory.
In the 106th Congress he sponsored :
Repeal of the “Spanish-American War” Tax.
Cleanup of Contaminated Groundwater at El Toro Base. (Again)
Death Tax Repeal. (Again)
Reduce Death Taxes for Leisure World Residents.
Restore the Mission at San Juan Capistrano. (Again)
Outlaw State Discrimination Against California Wine.
Continued Community Access to the El Toro Base Property.
Prevent Y2K Injuries.
Promote Democracy and Free Enterprise in Russia.
Protect Human Rights in Communist China.
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act.
Combat North Korean Nuclear Blackmail.
No Taxpayer Bailout of North Korea Nuclear Accidents.
In the 105th Congress (1997-98) he sponsored :
Iraq Liberation Act.
Policy for Freedom in China.
In the 104th Congress (1995-96) he sponsored :
Increased Deportation of Illegal Immigrants.
Demilitarization of Russian Troops in Kaliningrad.
Mexican Peso Bailout.
Boy Scout Land Swap.
Helium Reserve Privatization.
In the 103rd Congress (1993-94) he sponsored :
Abolishing the Government-Run Strategic Helium Reserve. (Again)
Reuse of the El Toro Marine Base. (Again)
Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Death Tax Repeal. (Again)
Make the Losing Party Pay the Winner's Attorneys' Fees. H.R. 2880
Promoting Iraqi Freedom.
Creation of Radio Free Asia.
Turbocharged Enterprise Zones.
Incentives for Earthquake Insurance. H.R. 3756
Retired FBI Agent Self-Defense Act. H.R. 3971
In the 102nd Congress (1991-92) he sponsored :
Helping Orange County Aid in the Reconstruction of Kuwait.
Commending Hungary on its Transition to Democracy.
Aid to Former Soviet Nations.
In the 101st Congress (1989-90) he sponsored :
Allow Local Control over John Wayne Airport Noise.
Aiding Lithuania's Transition to Democracy. H.Con.Res. 257
Encourage Private Capital Investment in Businesses in Hungary and Poland.
Wednesday, June 01, 2005
Working on the Railroad
Phil Anschutz is on the Board of Directors of the Union Pacific Railway.
His company operates the Los Angeles Lakers and many other sports teams.
AEG will take over the Millenium Dome in London and turn it into a pleasure palace.
AEG is the second largest concert promotion and tour company in the US. They also own many of the American soccer teams.
The deal is with Meridian Delta Ltd. - a consortium between Lend Lease and Quintain. Anschutz has bought many newspapers around the country.
One story you probably won’t see in those newspapers is that Lend Lease is an Australian company.
In January, 2005 the U.S. Department Of The Navy chose Actus Lend Lease for the Marine Corps Military Housing Project.
In February, 2005 The United States Air Force as Actus Lend Lease LLC concluded financial closing and operational commencement of the Phase 1 Privatization of family housing.
In May, 2005 Actus Lend Lease and the U.S. Army reached financial close on family housing projects in Hawaii and Fort Drum, New York as part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative.
They are to develop family housing and communities for a period of 50 years the Marine Corps.
Ron Oakley was appointed to the Board of Lend Lease in 2003. He worked at Fluor Corporation since 1979. (Fluor has billions in contracts in Iraq.)
Lend Lease is named in a lawsuit by workers at the 9/11 cleanup site that claims workers were unnecessarily exposed to asbestos and other toxins.
Just last spring Union Pacific slipped $25,000 to the political committee that is promoting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "People's Reform Program."
Back when the Union Pacific was just beginning to move across the nation like a giant octopus and snuffing out the fires of competition a man by the name of E.H. Harriman ran the Union Pacific Railroad.
Prescott Bush, George Bush’s grandfather, did business with Brown, Harriman especially regarding coal mines and other concerns in Europe owned by the Nazis and run with slave labor.
During the Civil War Brown Brothers (later joining with Harriman) handled 75 percent of the cotton sent to England through blockades which enabled the south to get arms and money and prolong the conflict.
Plenty of problems.
Time to fix them.
His company operates the Los Angeles Lakers and many other sports teams.
AEG will take over the Millenium Dome in London and turn it into a pleasure palace.
AEG is the second largest concert promotion and tour company in the US. They also own many of the American soccer teams.
The deal is with Meridian Delta Ltd. - a consortium between Lend Lease and Quintain. Anschutz has bought many newspapers around the country.
One story you probably won’t see in those newspapers is that Lend Lease is an Australian company.
In January, 2005 the U.S. Department Of The Navy chose Actus Lend Lease for the Marine Corps Military Housing Project.
In February, 2005 The United States Air Force as Actus Lend Lease LLC concluded financial closing and operational commencement of the Phase 1 Privatization of family housing.
In May, 2005 Actus Lend Lease and the U.S. Army reached financial close on family housing projects in Hawaii and Fort Drum, New York as part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative.
They are to develop family housing and communities for a period of 50 years the Marine Corps.
Ron Oakley was appointed to the Board of Lend Lease in 2003. He worked at Fluor Corporation since 1979. (Fluor has billions in contracts in Iraq.)
Lend Lease is named in a lawsuit by workers at the 9/11 cleanup site that claims workers were unnecessarily exposed to asbestos and other toxins.
Just last spring Union Pacific slipped $25,000 to the political committee that is promoting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's "People's Reform Program."
Back when the Union Pacific was just beginning to move across the nation like a giant octopus and snuffing out the fires of competition a man by the name of E.H. Harriman ran the Union Pacific Railroad.
Prescott Bush, George Bush’s grandfather, did business with Brown, Harriman especially regarding coal mines and other concerns in Europe owned by the Nazis and run with slave labor.
During the Civil War Brown Brothers (later joining with Harriman) handled 75 percent of the cotton sent to England through blockades which enabled the south to get arms and money and prolong the conflict.
Plenty of problems.
Time to fix them.
Bush Quacks Early
President Bush had a 50 minute press conference.
He claimed it is important for the US to reform the United Nations for corruption in its oil-for-food program for Iraq and abusive behavior by some of its peacekeepers in Africa.
The oil-for-food program was corrupted by American oil companies who brought oil to the United States of America.
As for the abuses of the peacekeepers in Africa – it’s long been acknowledged that the United Nations under the insistence of the United States has employed as ‘peacekeepers’ soldiers from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan. These countries are ‘preferred’ for the duty because it is an indirect way for the US to provide them with aid and also get them to buy weapons.
In any case – a country that sponsored Abu Ghraib, the prisons in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has no moral voice to correct others.
He said, "It's an organization that is beginning to lose the trust of the American people, if it hasn't already, and it's important to restore that trust."
Was he talking about his administration or the UN? I trust Kofi Annan more than I trust Dick Cheney.
He went on, "The reason I picked Bolton is he's a no-nonsense kind of fellow who can get things done."
When speaking about Iraq, Bush blamed the violence on "a group of frustrated and desperate people who kill innocent life."
Was he was reading off the same cue cards Billy Graham and Tom DeLay use to describe America’s judicial system?
He claimed it is important for the US to reform the United Nations for corruption in its oil-for-food program for Iraq and abusive behavior by some of its peacekeepers in Africa.
The oil-for-food program was corrupted by American oil companies who brought oil to the United States of America.
As for the abuses of the peacekeepers in Africa – it’s long been acknowledged that the United Nations under the insistence of the United States has employed as ‘peacekeepers’ soldiers from countries like Bangladesh and Pakistan. These countries are ‘preferred’ for the duty because it is an indirect way for the US to provide them with aid and also get them to buy weapons.
In any case – a country that sponsored Abu Ghraib, the prisons in Afghanistan and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba has no moral voice to correct others.
He said, "It's an organization that is beginning to lose the trust of the American people, if it hasn't already, and it's important to restore that trust."
Was he talking about his administration or the UN? I trust Kofi Annan more than I trust Dick Cheney.
He went on, "The reason I picked Bolton is he's a no-nonsense kind of fellow who can get things done."
When speaking about Iraq, Bush blamed the violence on "a group of frustrated and desperate people who kill innocent life."
Was he was reading off the same cue cards Billy Graham and Tom DeLay use to describe America’s judicial system?
Monday, May 30, 2005
Combat Mommy
It’s questionable at least to send men over to combat if they have children at home that they should be caring for and raising.
It’s unforgivable and offensive to send women into combat areas when they have children at home they should be caring for and raising.
For all the arguments of equality and opportunity there is a serious question of the mental fitness of any individual that would abandon their children in order to go to a foreign land and help kill people.
The example these mothers and fathers give to their children is bad enough without adding to it the cult of death that they spread throughout our entire nation while away and upon their ‘triumphant’ return.
What exactly are these mommies and daddies doing over there? We got an idea of what they have been up to when the stories about Abu Ghraib surfaced. Little Miss England was apparently acting quite the pervert and unlike other mommies that started their families at home she did so out of wedlock in a disease ridden prison. The daddy of her child is marrying another woman who also ‘served’ in the prison.
When I see a picture of a woman in uniform holding her child in her arms and smiling for the camera and I read the story underneath telling me that she is in Iraq or Afghanistan I am not filled with patriotic fervor. I am filled with disgust.
The same goes for any parent that leaves their children.
It’s unforgivable and offensive to send women into combat areas when they have children at home they should be caring for and raising.
For all the arguments of equality and opportunity there is a serious question of the mental fitness of any individual that would abandon their children in order to go to a foreign land and help kill people.
The example these mothers and fathers give to their children is bad enough without adding to it the cult of death that they spread throughout our entire nation while away and upon their ‘triumphant’ return.
What exactly are these mommies and daddies doing over there? We got an idea of what they have been up to when the stories about Abu Ghraib surfaced. Little Miss England was apparently acting quite the pervert and unlike other mommies that started their families at home she did so out of wedlock in a disease ridden prison. The daddy of her child is marrying another woman who also ‘served’ in the prison.
When I see a picture of a woman in uniform holding her child in her arms and smiling for the camera and I read the story underneath telling me that she is in Iraq or Afghanistan I am not filled with patriotic fervor. I am filled with disgust.
The same goes for any parent that leaves their children.
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Declaration of Independence
The Declaration of Independence of the Citizens of the United Nations
The Declaration of Independence of the Citizens of the United Nations
The Declaration of the Citizens of the United Nations,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that people are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. It is also their right to call upon the protections and assistance of the United Nations in order to make right these securities.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present rule of nations is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over some States, inadequate or incompetent rule over others, false rule over still others and general anarchy mixed with militarism over others. Where nations do exist which are stable and do not offer offense to their people they are often unable or unwilling to provide aid and succor to their neighbors who may be put to toil for starvation wages or used cruelly in or for wars of conquest or control.
It is therefore necessary to declare to all people the coverage and guarantee of the United Nations in face of the fact of some nations having been governed in an unfit manner to which their citizens have no means or right to complain.
It is To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world and all the peoples living upon it no matter what nation they may be in now or whatever race they may cling to or whatever religion they may worship or not.
Several of these governments have refused Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good and have ruled by the whim and caprice of their rulers or day to day in a way that is nothing short of anarchy.
Some of these nations have completely forbidden and others partially forbidden representatives of the people to freely pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till the Assent of the tyrant or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners should be obtained; and when so suspended, they have utterly neglected to attend to them allowing in some instances wholesale slaughter of their inhabitants through purpose or neglect.
Some of these nations have refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
Some of these nations have called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with the measures put forth by their particular tyrant or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners.
Some of these nations have dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with inhuman firmness trampling on the rights of the people.
Some of these nations have refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within including but not limited to starvation, genocide, slaughter, war and disease.
Some of these states have endeavored to prevent the population of these nations or their neighbors; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands in order to keep from the natural order of people those rights they have been provided.
Some of these nations have obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing their Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
Some of these nations have made Judges dependent on the Will of tyrants or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
Some of these nations have erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass their people, and eat out their substance.
Some of these nations have kept among the people, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of their legislatures.
Some of these nations have affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
Some of these nations have combined with others to subject their inhabitants to a jurisdiction foreign to their constitution and unacknowledged by their laws; giving a perversion of Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among them:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these nations:
Some of these nations by caprice alone cut off Trade with certain parts of the world:
Some impose Taxes without Consent:
Some nations deprive their inhabitants of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
Some nations transport their inhabitants beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
Some take away Charters, abolishing valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of local Governments:
Some of the nations declare Protection of another and wage war against them..
Some nations plunder our seas, ravage Coasts, burn towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
Some nations have wantonly stolen or otherwise contrived to acquire the raw materials of other nations without due process of law and for wages and prices well below market value.
Some nations at this time are transporting large Armies to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy a nation wishing to call itself a civilized nation.
Some nations have interfered with other nations and have excited domestic insurrections, and endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of their frontiers in an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Be it known that wherever people have gathered and in every stage of these Oppressions the people have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms that their repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. Nations whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people and its free people must therefore maintain for themselves and independent and public office to which they may call for support and relief - that office being the United Nations.
Nor have these people been wanting in attentions to our international brethren. They have warned them from time to time of attempts by their illegal governments to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over people. They have been reminded of the circumstances of the migration of people and settlement throughout the world. The despots, tyrants and greedy nations have been appealed to for their native justice and magnanimity, and have been conjured them by the ties of our common kindred in humankind to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence and disrupt the normal business of the world and cause harm to our children. For too long they have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. Therefore be it declared that human kind must acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold any of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of humanity, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of this world, solemnly publish and declare, That this humanity is, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent individuals and that all governments are subject to their inhabitants and the citizens of the world joined in the United Nations; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the present government unless it is providing for the common good, and that all political connection between them and the states which they inhabit, is and ought to be secondary to their union as members of humanity and citizens of the United Nations; and that as Free and Independent people, they have full Power to call on and expect relief and support from the United Nations and its forces and all departments for whatever reason presents itself. No nation at any time may secure its borders from the United Nations and hereby take their secondary position to the rights of humanity in order that all people may be free from want and war.
For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
This document now declares the reader and all known to that person the title of ‘Citizen of the United Nations’.
The Declaration of Independence of the Citizens of the United Nations
The Declaration of the Citizens of the United Nations,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all people are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown, that people are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. It is also their right to call upon the protections and assistance of the United Nations in order to make right these securities.
Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present rule of nations is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over some States, inadequate or incompetent rule over others, false rule over still others and general anarchy mixed with militarism over others. Where nations do exist which are stable and do not offer offense to their people they are often unable or unwilling to provide aid and succor to their neighbors who may be put to toil for starvation wages or used cruelly in or for wars of conquest or control.
It is therefore necessary to declare to all people the coverage and guarantee of the United Nations in face of the fact of some nations having been governed in an unfit manner to which their citizens have no means or right to complain.
It is To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world and all the peoples living upon it no matter what nation they may be in now or whatever race they may cling to or whatever religion they may worship or not.
Several of these governments have refused Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good and have ruled by the whim and caprice of their rulers or day to day in a way that is nothing short of anarchy.
Some of these nations have completely forbidden and others partially forbidden representatives of the people to freely pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till the Assent of the tyrant or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners should be obtained; and when so suspended, they have utterly neglected to attend to them allowing in some instances wholesale slaughter of their inhabitants through purpose or neglect.
Some of these nations have refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
Some of these nations have called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with the measures put forth by their particular tyrant or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners.
Some of these nations have dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with inhuman firmness trampling on the rights of the people.
Some of these nations have refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within including but not limited to starvation, genocide, slaughter, war and disease.
Some of these states have endeavored to prevent the population of these nations or their neighbors; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands in order to keep from the natural order of people those rights they have been provided.
Some of these nations have obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing their Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
Some of these nations have made Judges dependent on the Will of tyrants or the nation’s powerful neighbors or trading partners alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
Some of these nations have erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass their people, and eat out their substance.
Some of these nations have kept among the people, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the consent of their legislatures.
Some of these nations have affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
Some of these nations have combined with others to subject their inhabitants to a jurisdiction foreign to their constitution and unacknowledged by their laws; giving a perversion of Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among them:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these nations:
Some of these nations by caprice alone cut off Trade with certain parts of the world:
Some impose Taxes without Consent:
Some nations deprive their inhabitants of the benefits of Trial by Jury:
Some nations transport their inhabitants beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
Some take away Charters, abolishing valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of local Governments:
Some of the nations declare Protection of another and wage war against them..
Some nations plunder our seas, ravage Coasts, burn towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
Some nations have wantonly stolen or otherwise contrived to acquire the raw materials of other nations without due process of law and for wages and prices well below market value.
Some nations at this time are transporting large Armies to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy a nation wishing to call itself a civilized nation.
Some nations have interfered with other nations and have excited domestic insurrections, and endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of their frontiers in an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
Be it known that wherever people have gathered and in every stage of these Oppressions the people have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms that their repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. Nations whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people and its free people must therefore maintain for themselves and independent and public office to which they may call for support and relief - that office being the United Nations.
Nor have these people been wanting in attentions to our international brethren. They have warned them from time to time of attempts by their illegal governments to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over people. They have been reminded of the circumstances of the migration of people and settlement throughout the world. The despots, tyrants and greedy nations have been appealed to for their native justice and magnanimity, and have been conjured them by the ties of our common kindred in humankind to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence and disrupt the normal business of the world and cause harm to our children. For too long they have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. Therefore be it declared that human kind must acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold any of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of humanity, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of this world, solemnly publish and declare, That this humanity is, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent individuals and that all governments are subject to their inhabitants and the citizens of the world joined in the United Nations; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the present government unless it is providing for the common good, and that all political connection between them and the states which they inhabit, is and ought to be secondary to their union as members of humanity and citizens of the United Nations; and that as Free and Independent people, they have full Power to call on and expect relief and support from the United Nations and its forces and all departments for whatever reason presents itself. No nation at any time may secure its borders from the United Nations and hereby take their secondary position to the rights of humanity in order that all people may be free from want and war.
For the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
This document now declares the reader and all known to that person the title of ‘Citizen of the United Nations’.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
War on Terror
As time goes on and Bush echoes the words that spill from Dick Cheney, Tom DeLay, Dennis Hastert and even his brother John Ellis Bush (Jeb), governor of Florida. Instead of their losing their meaning we begin to lose the meaning of the men speaking them.
‘The War on Terror’.
A definition for terror is intense, overpowering fear. Are you experiencing intense, overpowering fear? I am not.
Do you go to bed at night believing that only President Bush and Supreme Court Justice Scalia are standing between you and intense, overpowering fear? I don’t.
Terror is as a title for one that instills intense fear such as a spoiled kid that became the terror of the neighborhood.
However – Bin Laden has been out of the loop for some time now but still the idea of terror is reflected over and over on television, the radio and newspapers – but the source is always the same. The messages of terror and fear and anger are in my opinion coming from President Bush, the Vice President and several members of the House of Representatives (and a couple in the Senate).
Now there we come to the meaning of the word terror that we live with every day. It is the ability to instill intense fear like the terror of exposed weapons or harping politicians. President Bush seems to take his pleasure attempting to instill intense fear into the heart of America.
When will he get back to work and out of our lives?
‘The War on Terror’.
A definition for terror is intense, overpowering fear. Are you experiencing intense, overpowering fear? I am not.
Do you go to bed at night believing that only President Bush and Supreme Court Justice Scalia are standing between you and intense, overpowering fear? I don’t.
Terror is as a title for one that instills intense fear such as a spoiled kid that became the terror of the neighborhood.
However – Bin Laden has been out of the loop for some time now but still the idea of terror is reflected over and over on television, the radio and newspapers – but the source is always the same. The messages of terror and fear and anger are in my opinion coming from President Bush, the Vice President and several members of the House of Representatives (and a couple in the Senate).
Now there we come to the meaning of the word terror that we live with every day. It is the ability to instill intense fear like the terror of exposed weapons or harping politicians. President Bush seems to take his pleasure attempting to instill intense fear into the heart of America.
When will he get back to work and out of our lives?
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
ILLfare
Let us take that next glorious step into the development of modern America and throw off the bondage of that class which has held us back and held us down for so long.
Let us slip the surly bonds of this welfare state and set in motion those processes and programs that lead us into the heavenly new democracy and make this republic strong.
Slide off the yoke of oppression that holds you and stock options down. We must push aside the weak and the weary and send the poor away so that we can hire more Mexicans at a lower rate.
We must no longer be asked to provide public schooling for our children – in fact let us kill two birds with one stone and turn the children over to the pastors and the ministers and shower them with tax money.
Then our life of ease and plenty and shopping at the mall can continue.
We can build a new monument to government and a new bureaucracy.
The Department of Illfare will rule over all and above the marbled hall’s entry we will carve the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not tell me of my obligation to all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent that I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong.”
Then maybe the Americans will wake up.
Let us slip the surly bonds of this welfare state and set in motion those processes and programs that lead us into the heavenly new democracy and make this republic strong.
Slide off the yoke of oppression that holds you and stock options down. We must push aside the weak and the weary and send the poor away so that we can hire more Mexicans at a lower rate.
We must no longer be asked to provide public schooling for our children – in fact let us kill two birds with one stone and turn the children over to the pastors and the ministers and shower them with tax money.
Then our life of ease and plenty and shopping at the mall can continue.
We can build a new monument to government and a new bureaucracy.
The Department of Illfare will rule over all and above the marbled hall’s entry we will carve the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, “Do not tell me of my obligation to all poor men in good situations. Are they my poor? I tell thee, thou foolish philanthropist, that I grudge the dollar, the dime, the cent that I give to such men as do not belong to me and to whom I do not belong.”
Then maybe the Americans will wake up.
GM and Africa
General Motors, in a tailspin of financial misdeeds and morality officially told the Kenyan government that anyone importing second-hand cars are ripping them off by under-valuing imports.
The senior General Motors official said further that besides denying the Government revenue, under-valuation also created unfair market competition.
"From the perspective of a vehicle manufacturer, the implementation of tariffs on used motor vehicles — mitumba — has many inconsistencies that can defeat their purpose," said Maureen Kempstone, head of GM operations in Africa and Latin America.
"Under-valuation, in particular, works against the objectives of the policies that have been put in place."
Things have been working out in Kenya where a scarcity of motor vehicles has led to shortages of food and medicine throughout the country.
As Kenya continues to grow and General Motors continues to shrink GM has tended to do what most bullies do – try to push the little guys around.
Kempstone’s remarks are typical of GM. In order to squeeze a few coins from the third world Kempstone brought the boot down on free trade in East Africa.
She said GM won’t advise the banning of used-car imports but wants the Government to level the playing field.
"We are concerned with the unconstrained importation of substandard, undervalued used products that hurt the environment, undermine local industries-and more often than not, fail to meet the needs and expectations of the consumer," she said.
Too bad they didn’t feel that way when they were advocating NAFTA and preparing to undermine the American economy.
The senior General Motors official said further that besides denying the Government revenue, under-valuation also created unfair market competition.
"From the perspective of a vehicle manufacturer, the implementation of tariffs on used motor vehicles — mitumba — has many inconsistencies that can defeat their purpose," said Maureen Kempstone, head of GM operations in Africa and Latin America.
"Under-valuation, in particular, works against the objectives of the policies that have been put in place."
Things have been working out in Kenya where a scarcity of motor vehicles has led to shortages of food and medicine throughout the country.
As Kenya continues to grow and General Motors continues to shrink GM has tended to do what most bullies do – try to push the little guys around.
Kempstone’s remarks are typical of GM. In order to squeeze a few coins from the third world Kempstone brought the boot down on free trade in East Africa.
She said GM won’t advise the banning of used-car imports but wants the Government to level the playing field.
"We are concerned with the unconstrained importation of substandard, undervalued used products that hurt the environment, undermine local industries-and more often than not, fail to meet the needs and expectations of the consumer," she said.
Too bad they didn’t feel that way when they were advocating NAFTA and preparing to undermine the American economy.
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Who Is Winning
There are soothing words coming out of Sudan. The Sudanese minister for humanitarian affairs, Ibrahim Mahmud Hamid, said that peace is slowly returning to Darfur.
As the United States continues to blunder through the occupation of Iraq it is becoming evident to Americans that news reports out of the middle east and muslim controlled north Africa aren’t really worth believing – excepts reports about the deaths.
Morocco says tha religious tolerance is their main goal even as non-Muslims are raped, beaten and murdered.
Libya has said that freedom is a most important goal even as they set up a tin colonel to run the place.
Sudan bleats about peace as their army attacks and kills African Sudanese in a continued effort to spread Islam by the sword (and the rocket propelled grenade).
In Afghanistan murderers talk about democracy as they mail out the largest crop of heroin the world has ever seen.
Pakistan talks about liberty under the oppressive regime of a power crazy general.
Saudi Arabia allows a King to marry anyone he wants and to commit atrocities in public squares every day.
Egypt prepares to hold ‘free’ elections where only one candidate will run.
Each war that America has brings home some influence from the enemy country. In this case despotism, lies, torture, corruption, perversion and waste seems to be coming home from Iraq.
Who is winning this war?
Three American soldiers were killed recently in Iraq and the largest Mosque in America was just opened in Dearborn, Michigan.
As the United States continues to blunder through the occupation of Iraq it is becoming evident to Americans that news reports out of the middle east and muslim controlled north Africa aren’t really worth believing – excepts reports about the deaths.
Morocco says tha religious tolerance is their main goal even as non-Muslims are raped, beaten and murdered.
Libya has said that freedom is a most important goal even as they set up a tin colonel to run the place.
Sudan bleats about peace as their army attacks and kills African Sudanese in a continued effort to spread Islam by the sword (and the rocket propelled grenade).
In Afghanistan murderers talk about democracy as they mail out the largest crop of heroin the world has ever seen.
Pakistan talks about liberty under the oppressive regime of a power crazy general.
Saudi Arabia allows a King to marry anyone he wants and to commit atrocities in public squares every day.
Egypt prepares to hold ‘free’ elections where only one candidate will run.
Each war that America has brings home some influence from the enemy country. In this case despotism, lies, torture, corruption, perversion and waste seems to be coming home from Iraq.
Who is winning this war?
Three American soldiers were killed recently in Iraq and the largest Mosque in America was just opened in Dearborn, Michigan.
Friday, May 20, 2005
Frist Malpractice
The Oil for Food Programme has been giving Washington, DC Senators like William Frist of Tennessee a bit of entertainment lately.
So much so, that he has seemed to forget what it is he is supposed to be doing in the Senate.
He gave his hand away recently however when on May 16, 2005 the following exchange took place in the Senate.
“Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 143, which was submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 143) to authorize Senate Legal Counsel to appear in legal proceedings in the name of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in connection with its investigation into the United Nations' ``Oil-For-Food'' Programme. “
What happened was that Senator Frist – unsure or unable about how to do his job – involved himself and the United States Senate in a spurious investigation of the United Nations.
The outcome of the investigation was that the United Nations filed a suit in the court of Washington, DC to silence a witness who had started to sing like a parakeet into Senator Frist’s ear.
Senator Frist, having a long history of listening to anyone who will talk to him (like certain corrupt murderers in Iraq) cheerfully gave the fellow his ear.
However – the words he was hearing weren’t for his ear.
So, about to be sued for malpractice, he hired a lawyer.
So much so, that he has seemed to forget what it is he is supposed to be doing in the Senate.
He gave his hand away recently however when on May 16, 2005 the following exchange took place in the Senate.
“Mr. FRIST. I ask unanimous consent the Senate now proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 143, which was submitted earlier today.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A resolution (S. Res. 143) to authorize Senate Legal Counsel to appear in legal proceedings in the name of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations in connection with its investigation into the United Nations' ``Oil-For-Food'' Programme. “
What happened was that Senator Frist – unsure or unable about how to do his job – involved himself and the United States Senate in a spurious investigation of the United Nations.
The outcome of the investigation was that the United Nations filed a suit in the court of Washington, DC to silence a witness who had started to sing like a parakeet into Senator Frist’s ear.
Senator Frist, having a long history of listening to anyone who will talk to him (like certain corrupt murderers in Iraq) cheerfully gave the fellow his ear.
However – the words he was hearing weren’t for his ear.
So, about to be sued for malpractice, he hired a lawyer.
Frist at Recess
On April 28, 2005 Senator William Frist from Tennessee rattles the walls of the Senate with these words :
“I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2 p.m. today.”
Not exactly the fiery rhetoric of past Senators or Representatives from the Great State of Tennessee but these days Tennessee isn’t what it used to be.
It used to be a land of patriots and American citizens you could count on to stand in on the side of good and righteousness – but these days it seems to have reverted back to those dark days around the time when they voted Davy Crockett out of office and ran him off to Texas.
That brave man was killed in the Alamo.
Senator Frist is intending no such ending for himself.
The slick haired Senator from Tennessee will spend his time out of office clawing at a chance to become our next President.
I hope to God that never becomes the case.
It seems he hasn’t paid a nickel’s worth of attention to his people back home in Tennessee and with a record like that you know he won’t be playing the tune for the nation but he will have us dancing for his whimsy.
This nation was made great by men and women who lived their lives to the fullest in the hopes and dreams of liberty and freedom.
Senator William Frist is turning the Republican Party into a lynching party to violently throw our glorious Lady Liberty over.
“I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2 p.m. today.”
Not exactly the fiery rhetoric of past Senators or Representatives from the Great State of Tennessee but these days Tennessee isn’t what it used to be.
It used to be a land of patriots and American citizens you could count on to stand in on the side of good and righteousness – but these days it seems to have reverted back to those dark days around the time when they voted Davy Crockett out of office and ran him off to Texas.
That brave man was killed in the Alamo.
Senator Frist is intending no such ending for himself.
The slick haired Senator from Tennessee will spend his time out of office clawing at a chance to become our next President.
I hope to God that never becomes the case.
It seems he hasn’t paid a nickel’s worth of attention to his people back home in Tennessee and with a record like that you know he won’t be playing the tune for the nation but he will have us dancing for his whimsy.
This nation was made great by men and women who lived their lives to the fullest in the hopes and dreams of liberty and freedom.
Senator William Frist is turning the Republican Party into a lynching party to violently throw our glorious Lady Liberty over.
Frist and the Portrait Gallery
On May 18, 2005 Senator Frist displayed his earnest wit and leadership ability in the United States Senate by taking up the weighty problem of what to do with the portraits of the Senators.
“Whereas the objective of the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection is to commemorate the distinguished service to the Senate and the Nation of those Senators who have served as Majority Leader, Minority Leader, or President pro tempore: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That (a) portraits in the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection may be displayed in the Senate Lobby at the direction of the Senate Commission on Art in accordance with guidelines prescribed pursuant to subsection (d).
(b) The Senate Leadership Portrait Collection shall consist of portraits selected by the Senate Commission on Art of Majority or Minority Leaders and Presidents pro tempore of the Senate.
(c) Any portrait for the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection that is acquired on or after the date of adoption of this resolution shall be of an appropriate size for display in the Senate Lobby, as determined by the Senate Commission on Art.
(d) The Senate Commission on Art shall prescribe such guidelines as it deems necessary, subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to carry out this resolution.”
Just as he speaks the word freedom but means slavery you can clearly see that the primping Tennessee Senator speaks with a double meaning and if he tells the whole Senate to go hang that’s not really what he’s saying.
“Whereas the objective of the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection is to commemorate the distinguished service to the Senate and the Nation of those Senators who have served as Majority Leader, Minority Leader, or President pro tempore: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That (a) portraits in the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection may be displayed in the Senate Lobby at the direction of the Senate Commission on Art in accordance with guidelines prescribed pursuant to subsection (d).
(b) The Senate Leadership Portrait Collection shall consist of portraits selected by the Senate Commission on Art of Majority or Minority Leaders and Presidents pro tempore of the Senate.
(c) Any portrait for the Senate Leadership Portrait Collection that is acquired on or after the date of adoption of this resolution shall be of an appropriate size for display in the Senate Lobby, as determined by the Senate Commission on Art.
(d) The Senate Commission on Art shall prescribe such guidelines as it deems necessary, subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration, to carry out this resolution.”
Just as he speaks the word freedom but means slavery you can clearly see that the primping Tennessee Senator speaks with a double meaning and if he tells the whole Senate to go hang that’s not really what he’s saying.
Frist and State Mediation
On April 21, 2005 Senator William Frist of Tennessee did put forth in the Senate a bill to reauthorize State mediation programs.
This program is a secretive and highly volatile program which destroys the rights of farmers from coast to coast.
He had it quietly read into the record three times and passed back into law after it had expired.
As if this nation does not have enough laws and interference Senator William Frist is taking his line of business a little too far and is breathing life back into dangerous laws.
I guess the families of those spared his particular type of carving may be happy is in the Senate and not the operating room but for thousands of farmers across the country he has cut the heart out of their rights as farmers and business operators.
Senator Frist in one swift move of his legislative knife has sliced away any hope farmers have of opposing the tyrannical and bureaucratic decisions of the USDA or the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
In public he cries out against a welfare state but when he is hidden in the cloak rooms of the Senate he is quick to build a wall of government interference that no farmer can climb or get around.
This program intrudes on many different areas of agricultural disputes, including farm loans, wetland determinations, conservation compliance, and pesticides.
Once the process starts the farmer cannot get out. The secrecy extends to mediation documents which drive farmers into the earth.
This program is a secretive and highly volatile program which destroys the rights of farmers from coast to coast.
He had it quietly read into the record three times and passed back into law after it had expired.
As if this nation does not have enough laws and interference Senator William Frist is taking his line of business a little too far and is breathing life back into dangerous laws.
I guess the families of those spared his particular type of carving may be happy is in the Senate and not the operating room but for thousands of farmers across the country he has cut the heart out of their rights as farmers and business operators.
Senator Frist in one swift move of his legislative knife has sliced away any hope farmers have of opposing the tyrannical and bureaucratic decisions of the USDA or the Farm Service Agency (FSA).
In public he cries out against a welfare state but when he is hidden in the cloak rooms of the Senate he is quick to build a wall of government interference that no farmer can climb or get around.
This program intrudes on many different areas of agricultural disputes, including farm loans, wetland determinations, conservation compliance, and pesticides.
Once the process starts the farmer cannot get out. The secrecy extends to mediation documents which drive farmers into the earth.
Santorum and Hitler
Republican Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania recently said this about changing the Senate rules to outlaw the filibuster, "The audacity of some members to stand up and say 'How dare you break this rule. It's the equivalent of Adolf Hitler in 1942 saying, 'I'm in Paris. How dare you invade me. How dare you bomb my city? It's mine.' "
What was Senator Santorum talking about?
The filibuster is a debating technique that is arguably unique to the United States Senate. Senator Frist doesn’t like it because it takes up time and he is on his way out of the Senate.
For an example of what it really is you can watch ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ starring Jimmy Stewart.
For an example of what World War II was about you can visit any of the Holocaust Museums in the United States or stop off at the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Clearly Senator Santorum can’t tell the difference between a debating technique used in civil and democratic societies and the war which involved nearly 80 percent of all mankind alive at the time.
Perhaps now we can see how it is that Senator Santorum would believe that spreading democracy is done through war and spreading liberty is done by being friendly with tyrants like the Saudi Arabian King and his many wives.
It seems Senator Santorum’s behavior is more fitting to a drinking house tavern rather than the halls of justice and liberty.
What’s his problem?
What was Senator Santorum talking about?
The filibuster is a debating technique that is arguably unique to the United States Senate. Senator Frist doesn’t like it because it takes up time and he is on his way out of the Senate.
For an example of what it really is you can watch ‘Mr. Smith Goes To Washington’ starring Jimmy Stewart.
For an example of what World War II was about you can visit any of the Holocaust Museums in the United States or stop off at the World War II Museum in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Clearly Senator Santorum can’t tell the difference between a debating technique used in civil and democratic societies and the war which involved nearly 80 percent of all mankind alive at the time.
Perhaps now we can see how it is that Senator Santorum would believe that spreading democracy is done through war and spreading liberty is done by being friendly with tyrants like the Saudi Arabian King and his many wives.
It seems Senator Santorum’s behavior is more fitting to a drinking house tavern rather than the halls of justice and liberty.
What’s his problem?
Lasers in the Darkness
On May 21, 2005 a new system of laser beams will be operational in Washington, DC. Bright red and green lights will beam up into the sky warning pilots to ‘stay away’.
Recently a small plane flew within three miles of the White House and politicians went scurrying in every direction. Tens of thousands of people rushed around in circles. President Bush was bicycling in the country. Dick Cheney took charge and ran away in a escort of limousines leaving first lady Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan in the White House basement.
F-16’s eventually showed up.
Cost for scrambling just one fighter jet is between $30,000 and $50,000.
Currently airplanes are not allowed to fly in the Air Defense Identification Zone - an area of about 2,000 square miles unless they have a special code (on most commercial airlines) and maintain radio contact with the FAA.
They are barred within the Flight Restricted Zone, about a 16-mile radius around the Washington Monument.
Airliners fly at about 500 miles per hour.
Smaller jets not much slower and some even faster.
An area of 2000 square miles might be about 45 miles by 45 miles.
Travelling at 500 mph an airliner is moving at about 8.3 miles per minute. It would be able to get to the center of the restricted zone within 3 minutes.
It took nearly 15 minutes to get a plane into the air to intercept the most recent stray towards the White House.
What are we paying for?
Recently a small plane flew within three miles of the White House and politicians went scurrying in every direction. Tens of thousands of people rushed around in circles. President Bush was bicycling in the country. Dick Cheney took charge and ran away in a escort of limousines leaving first lady Laura Bush and Nancy Reagan in the White House basement.
F-16’s eventually showed up.
Cost for scrambling just one fighter jet is between $30,000 and $50,000.
Currently airplanes are not allowed to fly in the Air Defense Identification Zone - an area of about 2,000 square miles unless they have a special code (on most commercial airlines) and maintain radio contact with the FAA.
They are barred within the Flight Restricted Zone, about a 16-mile radius around the Washington Monument.
Airliners fly at about 500 miles per hour.
Smaller jets not much slower and some even faster.
An area of 2000 square miles might be about 45 miles by 45 miles.
Travelling at 500 mph an airliner is moving at about 8.3 miles per minute. It would be able to get to the center of the restricted zone within 3 minutes.
It took nearly 15 minutes to get a plane into the air to intercept the most recent stray towards the White House.
What are we paying for?
Wolfowitz in Lamb's Clothing
Dr. Geoffrey Lamb, vice-president for concessional finance and global partnerships of the World Bank appeared before an audience of Pennsylvania High School students at the ‘World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh’ hosted at a Ramada Inn.
Look at what he told the kids, “By 2015, most of Asia and Latin America are going to be OK. Bangladesh is going to be OK." He said most of Africa will remain mired in despair with dire effects for the rest of the world.
He also gave this rousing speech to a bunch of kids over at North Hills High School in Ross, Pennsylvania and took a step up by rattling the cages of some college kids at La Roche College in McCandless, Pa.
The good doctor went on with, "There are 700 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. There will be a billion in 20 years.”
Doctor Lamb roared on, “If you think you can leave a billion people out of a functioning world economy, you're mistaken."
Who were these world shapers that Dr. Lamb was shaking up? La Roche College was founded in 1963 by the Sisters of Divine Providence as an independent, private, Catholic college for religious sisters.
Lamb told them that extreme poverty and political chaos are breeding grounds for the al-Qaida terror network and international drug rings.
He didn’t mention the West African Oil Wars financed chiefly by America’s largest oil companies and World Bank loans
He commented on health issues. "Malaria is the biggest killer of children in Africa and it has gotten worse in the last 10 to 15 years."
He didn’t seem to mention anything about the interest on loans from the World Bank eating up money African governments have to spend on malarial and AIDS medicine. His statement about malaria seems wrong as well.
What is the World Bank going to do about these problems?
One topic for conversation on their web site is “How to Tackle the Problem of Rising Informality?”
Look at what he told the kids, “By 2015, most of Asia and Latin America are going to be OK. Bangladesh is going to be OK." He said most of Africa will remain mired in despair with dire effects for the rest of the world.
He also gave this rousing speech to a bunch of kids over at North Hills High School in Ross, Pennsylvania and took a step up by rattling the cages of some college kids at La Roche College in McCandless, Pa.
The good doctor went on with, "There are 700 million people in sub-Saharan Africa. There will be a billion in 20 years.”
Doctor Lamb roared on, “If you think you can leave a billion people out of a functioning world economy, you're mistaken."
Who were these world shapers that Dr. Lamb was shaking up? La Roche College was founded in 1963 by the Sisters of Divine Providence as an independent, private, Catholic college for religious sisters.
Lamb told them that extreme poverty and political chaos are breeding grounds for the al-Qaida terror network and international drug rings.
He didn’t mention the West African Oil Wars financed chiefly by America’s largest oil companies and World Bank loans
He commented on health issues. "Malaria is the biggest killer of children in Africa and it has gotten worse in the last 10 to 15 years."
He didn’t seem to mention anything about the interest on loans from the World Bank eating up money African governments have to spend on malarial and AIDS medicine. His statement about malaria seems wrong as well.
What is the World Bank going to do about these problems?
One topic for conversation on their web site is “How to Tackle the Problem of Rising Informality?”
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Red Republicans
If you didn’t think the short-sighted Texas-Maine connection wasn’t selling the nation out from under your feet you don’t have to look any further than your local bank to see the truth.
Somebody in the Bush administration finally got up on their back legs and issued a warning to Communist China today saying that its currency policy were "highly distortionary".
In fact Communist China is affecting world trade. The Bush Administration pretended to threaten retaliation if the Chinese Communists did not change their ways within the next year.
Bush has turned the paper tiger into a reality.
It was only pretend because they stopped short of outright stating that the Communist Chinese are manipulating their currency. You see – it’s too late for Bush. He’s in up to his neck. He wouldn’t even give them a sock in the jaw when they downed one of our planes and took the crew hostage.
That yellow rose in Texas is really yellow. If he had actually called a spade a spade that would have started direct negotiations with the Communist Chinese and assured retaliation if those talks failed.
International relations are just not one of Bush’s strong points.
His weak response to the Communist bullies doesn’t sit well with manufacturing companies getting driven out of business by China's foreign-exchange policies. The Communists are subsidizing their exports on purpose.
The Communist Chinese trade surplus with the United States soared above $162 billion last year.
To make matters worse and the reason I am writing at this time is that the Communist Chinese central bank has bought more than $250 billion in dollar-denominated securities in just the last year and holds more than $600 billion in total.
The Chinese Communists aren’t afraid of any paper rattling from Bush – they warned the United States of America on Monday that they would not be pushed into decisions by other governments.
It that is all not bad enough the Republicans have shown their true Red color this year by pushing through a $295 billion highway bill, arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways.
The highways and roads of the United States of America are being funded by the Communists.
Somebody in the Bush administration finally got up on their back legs and issued a warning to Communist China today saying that its currency policy were "highly distortionary".
In fact Communist China is affecting world trade. The Bush Administration pretended to threaten retaliation if the Chinese Communists did not change their ways within the next year.
Bush has turned the paper tiger into a reality.
It was only pretend because they stopped short of outright stating that the Communist Chinese are manipulating their currency. You see – it’s too late for Bush. He’s in up to his neck. He wouldn’t even give them a sock in the jaw when they downed one of our planes and took the crew hostage.
That yellow rose in Texas is really yellow. If he had actually called a spade a spade that would have started direct negotiations with the Communist Chinese and assured retaliation if those talks failed.
International relations are just not one of Bush’s strong points.
His weak response to the Communist bullies doesn’t sit well with manufacturing companies getting driven out of business by China's foreign-exchange policies. The Communists are subsidizing their exports on purpose.
The Communist Chinese trade surplus with the United States soared above $162 billion last year.
To make matters worse and the reason I am writing at this time is that the Communist Chinese central bank has bought more than $250 billion in dollar-denominated securities in just the last year and holds more than $600 billion in total.
The Chinese Communists aren’t afraid of any paper rattling from Bush – they warned the United States of America on Monday that they would not be pushed into decisions by other governments.
It that is all not bad enough the Republicans have shown their true Red color this year by pushing through a $295 billion highway bill, arguing that massive spending on bigger and better roads was necessary to fight congestion and unsafe roadways.
The highways and roads of the United States of America are being funded by the Communists.
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