Stamp Act

Obama/Paul Ticket?

2008-01-13T14:10:00.001-05:00

I would vote for Obama if he picked Ron Paul as his VP. Why? I'm not sure I trust Obama. He hasn't been around long, and as far as one can tell he may just be pulling wool a la Kerry (as I considered in my last post). But if he brought in Paul as his running mate, now, that would be enough to sway me. It would prove he was in fact sincere about "Change". Andit would show that he is willing to cross the aisle to get things done, and, most importantly, that he actually has a clue about the serious situation our country is facing.

Is Obama the new Kerry?

2008-01-08T04:59:00.000-05:00

No doubt, there are some obvious similarities between Barack Obama and John Kerry. They are both tall lanky men with character features every American readily associates to Abraham Lincoln. As benefiting as this association by stature is, it is very likely not the most important similarity.

Over the last four years I've become increasingly convinced that Kerry sold his supporters out; that his campaign in the previous election was mere show in order to maintain the status quo. The first clue to this deception was his amazingly underwhelming response to the swift boat attacks. Kerry has never given a decent answer to that failure. Indeed, the last person to broach the important question to him was carried away yelling the now infamous "Don't tase me bro!". The next clue was his lack of contention with the election results themselves. There was clear indications of vote tampering in Ohio, one of the pivotal states in deciding the election. If you recall, Fox News (and ultimately the rest of the news outlets) found it necessary to repeatedly inform us that the exit polls were flawed. Which is ironic since in other countries the exit polls are what our monitoring teams use to ensure fair elections. You will also recall, that Kerry promised every vote would be counted regardless of outcome. It never happened. Some months later, a mathematically rigorous statistical analysis of the results vs. exit polls conclusively demonstrated the likelihood of Bush winning the Ohio election was on the order of being struck by lighting...twice. But did Kerry raise any further objection? No. In fact, what is even more disturbing is to learn that Kerry was one of the Senators that refused to authorize a congressional investigation into the Floridian voter disenfranchisement of the Al Gore's election four years prior (a scene clearly highlighted in Fahrenheit 9/11) And if all this weren't enough, the final blow came when I ran across an old interview of Kerry in which he admonished Ronald Regan for the Iran-contra affair. One would think that would reinforce him as a true Democrat, but the thing about it, he lacked all signs of conviction. It was as if Regan's selling arms to the Iranians was merely impolite. It became clear, Kerry was just playing the old game of "good cop, bad cop". He actually couldn't care less what Regan did. The important thing was that he could use it to maintain his senate seat.

So what does this have to do with Obama? Look carefully and you will see History repeating itself. Remember Kerry came out of nowhere to supplant Dean, just as Obama suddenly overturned Clinton last week in Iowa. Is it a coincidence? Or was this in fact the same play from the same playbook? You also might want to ask where Obama has been getting all his early financial support and media attention. He had millions well before the sweep of popularity came along and even Fox news showed an odd tendency of favor for him. Furthermore, if you study his positions on the issues, they really stands out as larely uninspired regurgitation of the common refrains. There is little originality, nor any deep significance --they are all "safe" answers. Worse yet, much of it sound like it came right from a Republican talking point. A reoccurring theme is yet-another-tax-cut. Who does that remind you of? In the end, there is about as much change here as a pet rock. Go to his web page and see or yourself. He's all shine and no spit.

So is it possible Obama is a setup? A ploy to unseat the Democrats once again? Given the Kerry fiasco of four years ago it certainly seems plausible. It would be quite a crafty tactic, and interestingly, unlike Kerry, Obama himself might not be fully aware of his situation --a gambit move for larger political players.

Now, I will readily admit, my worries may be unfounded. Such things are all but impossible to truly nail down. It's a gut feeling really. But I've learned to trust my gut over the years --especially when it starts to wrench this hard. And if it is true, I point out the worst thing of all is that the powers that be are using race to further their dubious agendas --as if a black man in the white house is change enough. You can't get any lower than that. I hope Barack is sincere; that he's not just an opportunist, or being used knowingly or not by pre-established powers. Unfortunately I'm just not seeing contrary evidence below the surface. That's too bad. What our country so desperately needs is someone to dismantle the current power structure, so new and honest blood can take over Washington and real change can take root.

Who helps who?

2007-10-25T21:02:00.000-04:00

If Rush Limbaugh can auction off a congressional smear letter for over $2 million to benefit the Marine Corps, surely this auction can raise a similar amount to help our citizens in greatest need. Can it not? Or have we become so myopic in our way of thinking that we support the troops at the expense of the very people they are meant to defend?

Well, I suppose we'll find out in 10 days.

Israel's Nuclear Surge

2007-01-07T11:23:00.000-05:00

Why a surge? The Iraq Study group recently put out it's list of recommendations, included among them a phased withdraw. So why is Bush taking us in the opposite direction? Might there be another reason?

Even if Israel attacks Iran's nuclear facilities, it remains doubtful that Iran would risk an all out war. But we can be certain they'll turn up the heat in Iraq. I can already hear Bush pushing for a "final push" to backup the "surge".

Whatever happened to good old Mutually Assured Destruction?

When did actions stop speaking louder than words?

2006-12-05T08:16:00.000-05:00

Why does it appear as if the Administration is purposefully allowing Iraq to go straight to hell? One would think they wanted a Civil War. Certainly refusing to call it as much prevents them from reacting appropriately. Is that the intention?

President Bush keeps touting the "success story", but his actions speak far louder than his words. He's not doing anything to ensure success. Few people, other than radical Republicans, take him seriously any longer. If he truly intended to obtain victory in Iraq he would have paid heed to his military advisors and sent the 400,000 soldiers they old him it would take. All this "lighter, meaner, modern" rhetoric Rumsfeld was forcing down the Generals throats was clearly naive at best, more likely it was derelict. Effectively having our soldiers fight with a hand tied behind their back. Why in the world would they do that? And lets not even mention equipment shortfalls. Even if it were an honest "experiment" at the beginning, it's been an obvious disaster for well over a year now. "Staying the course" becomes code speak for "taking the road to Hell".

In the mean time this war the camel's hair taking our nation into bankruptcy. Ignoring reciprocal costs such as higher energy prices, we've already spent nearly a half trillion dollars directly on the war. It's hardly possible to fathom such amounts. Perhaps some relative perspective can help. That kind of money could have bankrolled NASA for over 20 years. It's enough money to pay off every outstanding student loan in the U.S. 10 times over. Before the war there were an estimated 22 million Iraqis. We could have given each man, woman and child, more than $20,000 each. Does that help?

All that money, and what do we have to show for it? 3,000 dead soldiers and another 10,000 maimed beyond normalcy. Plus innumerable lives and wounds of innocent Iraqis. And a new world reputation of repugnance and disrespect. Money well spent?

And now here we are in the miserable end-game. The President won't commit the man power needed to win. And honestly, the situation is so bad now that on its own it would no longer be enough. Nor would he have the backing of the people --he's long spent his so-called "mandate". Nor will he commit to the only sensible plan still left to us. As presented by Senator Biden, to split the country into provinces and adjust the mission to one of border control. (Yes, I know. What do we know about maintaining borders?) And it's a shame. Right now we desperately need some leverage with Iran and Syria. Putting out an opportunity of participation in a divided Iraq, with Syria involvement in the Sunni province and Iranian involvement with the Shia province, could make an immeasurable difference in our regional and world relations.

Unfortunately, the powers that be, have no such plans. Actual solutions seem beyond them. Which is really quite amazing. Why would anyone continue down a course of ensured failure? Almost any course of action is better than no course in such circumstances. Dismissing alternative courses out of hand is pointless, even reckless.

Then again maybe it's not so amazing after all. Maybe it's actually "the plan". On retrospect, the whole thing starts to add up to one nasty con-job. Oil and War industries make out big. Economic pressures on the U.S. will ultimately lead to a collapse in social programs (a Republican wet-dream) and Israel will be stronger and safer as all her enemy neighbors are busy fighting civil strifes among themselves. Iran might seem the kink in the plan, but Israel's already planning to bomb them with our backing. All the present huff is just lead up to that. Clearly such a plan can work in the short run, but they are playing a very dangerous game for the long haul.

Sound crazy? I'll tell you what's crazy. A President who says one thing and does another. And a citizenry that takes his word for it. When did actions stop speaking louder than words?

Death Plan

2006-09-03T23:32:00.000-04:00

From the Daily KOS a thread on contigency plans for Civil War in Iraq. In the depths of the coorepsondence this message:

I finally heard from my son in Iraq (I hadn't for two weeks - I learned the true meaning of anxiety over this period of time) and what he told me mirrors very closely what the soldiers you've covered had to say.

He tells me the Iraqis fighting with our troops often have only a few bullets for their guns - when they run out, they die. They're also fighting in homemade sandals, because no one has actual boots. And that they mean well, they really do wish to defeat their enemies, but they really don't understand why they have to get up early in the morning to do it, or when they're tired, or when there's a soccer game shaping up. They say to our men, "Won't the enemy still be there when we're ready to get up?" If they are, then there's no hurry. And if not, we don't need to go at all."

I guess it's simply a cultural thing.

Also, morale is taking a sharp dip amongst our soldiers. They don't know who they're fighting, and it's like a huge game of whack-a-mole.
--sherlyle

Recall the 40 Iraqi soldiers who recently were executed when they ran out of ammo? One of the longer discussions in this thread is about resupply issues. How many more problems can we withstand?

Given all the mayhem, what can the REAL plan possibly be? Sickening and sad as it is, maybe Joe Weismann is closest to the truth when he jokes, "Stay the corpse. We're turning the Coroner."

Women in Iran, Before and After the Shah

2006-08-26T12:18:00.000-04:00

A question was posted on Chicago indymedia.

Under shah women had all the rights.
When Islam radicals took over they lost them.
How is that US imperialism?

Women4Peace.org had a very insighful answer: Women’s Rights in Iran If you don't have time to read it (although it is rather short) it ends with a very STRONG statement.

This is what Imperialism does. It supports the fundamentalist rule in Saudi Arabia, builds and arms the Taliban to overthrow a government friendly to the Soviet Union, arms and helps Saddam Hussein against the Iranian people for 8 years, supports the Turkish military massacre of the Kurdish people, assassinates democratically elected leaders in Latin America, and on and on. That is why US Imperialism has been and is the main impediment of peace and justice for people all over the world.

Gung-ho American's should really think about that.

Terror Is as Terror Does

2006-08-24T10:22:00.000-04:00

Bruce Schneier lays out the proper perspective on "Terror". His piece is a must read.

It's nice to see deep comprehension put so well. And I will go a step further. Imagine, if you will, the day after 9/11, rather than rush to weak conclusions and hasty actions, we just went about our business, acting as if nothing significant had transpired other than an unfortuate "accident" that now had to be cleaned up. I know I'm stretching things to the extreme here, but I want to make a point. If we had acted like this, what would the "terrorists" have achieved? Right. Absolutely Nothing. Yes, they managed to kill a number of people and knock down a few buildings, but that's just a tactic, not their strategy. Their strategy is to instill fear and foolish, costly behavior. Sadly, we have allowed them to achieve their goals.

But knowing is half the battle! At least now we can set a new course: "Courage, gentlemen."

Defeating Terror: The Word is Mightier than the Sword

2006-02-05T13:48:00.000-05:00

The fundamentalist Islamic riots against Danish and Norwergian embassies over political cartoons should a loud wake up call to the West. The riots clearly demonstrate a fundamental lack of understanding of the liberal democratic virtues of freedom of speech and the paramount importance of the separation of church and state. Without that right and that seperation, the beliefs of some will inevitably weigh heavy aginst the beliefs of others. But with the right and separation intact, a peaceful balance is maintained --and all for the reasonable price of a stiff upper lip against some things that we might find offensive. Isn't that the sacrifice asked of us in a liberal democracy?

And so I put the case to you that the "War on Terror" is really a war on ignorance. The only true way to bring the war to an end is through education. Despite how furiously some may wish to deny it, secular education was the very bread and butter of our Forebearers --of you, my dear Gentlemen. And as you certainly know, indeed since the time of Socrates himself we have known, that without such an eduction of the populace a democracy simply can not stand.

Secluar education is not wide spread in the Middle East. Instead theocratic schools dominate their cirriculum with the teachings of a single ideology.

From this basis then, I offer a long-term plan for true democratic liberation, and from it our own ensured secruity. It will take about 40 years to take deep effects on the region, at about which time the process will begin to snowball, and grow on its own.

Roughly spaking, this how it would work.

First we need to simplify security requirements in the region. There is an acient remedy for this need: city walls. Simple and effective. Afghanistan is the appropriate place to begin. Start with Kabul and work our way out to other towns. Within these walled "safe zones" establish secular education facilitates for all age levels. Enroll people living in the city but also bring volunteers in from outlying areas. Children can go to school full time, while parents attend part-time yet remaining gainfully employed. Train of these students to be teachers themselves, so they can eventually return to their home towns and carry on the important progress of modern education.

Let us not forget that this education is NOT against Islam. It was the Middle East peoples themesleves that preserved the cannon of this knowledge during the Wests own dark ages. It is their knowledge as much as it is ours. They have simple lost sight of it in a fashion much like we had, and now it is our task to return it. Islam will still remain, it is simply that the mid-east peoples will now find a purer, liberal Islam under the hard exterior of todays radical Islam. And it is this occurance alone that can save us all.

Change of Tender

2006-02-05T13:42:00.000-05:00

I've decided to take a new tact torward the entires I make to this blog. In the past I have generally made critisisms, or pointed out important, ususally troubling, events, but with little constructive advice. Instead of exclusively commenting on problems, for now on I will begin to offer solutions with explination as to why they are better than, or at least along the better lines, than other possibilities.

Our nation and our world needs help. I hope by giving my ideas this venue, they might have some tangible effect.

A Real Assbamador

2005-08-03T06:55:00.000-04:00

It's official, John Bolton is the new U.S. Assbamador to the United Nations. If if wasn't clear to us that the U.S. has notched it's way up to a Monarchy over the years, King George Jr. has put our doubts to rest by completely side stepping Senate approval. "But", I hear you say, "the Consititution allows for such recess appointments!". May I remind you, Gentlemen, that in the late 1700s, when the Constitution was written, Congress met barely one month a year. Recess was the norm. So such a Constitutional allowance was understandable at the time. Times have changed. Congress now meets almost year round. (That's the nature of Big Government, there's always more bullshit to do!) While they can cite the letter of the law, they are well aware the Spirit has gone straight to Hell.

Well, now at least Bolton can get down to work, further corupting the only liberal world organization around. Sorry, Iran, I think your bowling time is up.

The Politics of Joe's Deployment

2005-07-28T19:46:00.000-04:00

Have your heard the talk of scaling down in Iraq in spring/summer 2006? Consider the continuing news, are you wondering why? Let me explain. It's very simply. 2006 is a congressional election year! Yes, they'll bring home a few thousand troops, push the success stories endlessly as insurgent attacks ease up a bit and then, following the Republican run on the Senate, we'll go right back to the same old dismal situation (expect a upscaled replay in 2008).

Don't be fooled. Simply follow the money and power. It's just like water, but in reverse. They always run up.

Need Energy? Burn Money!

2005-07-27T08:20:00.000-04:00

The faux energy bill is finally set pass --the continuing signs of the U.S. downfall. Here's a summary of what it does.

Gives billions of dollars in tax breaks and useless grants to oil companies.

Erodes environmental laws, further reducing pollution safeguards.

Deregulates the utilities sector to allow large utility mergers.

It isn't enough that the oil companies are already bulging with record profits. We have to give them more.

So What should an energy big contain?

Provide grants for renewables research and subsidies for solar home upgrades.

Increase pollution safeguards, giving tax relief to corporations for early compliance.

Raise gasoline tax to encourage consumers to invest in fuel efficient vehicles.

This is a no-brainer and the fact that our government comes no where close to doing the right thing is a clear sign that corporations have hijacked the government and the people are powerless to effect change. It is an absolute shame. Americans should think very carefully about what ultimately brought down the Soviet Union, and then consider how those same principles are hard at work in the good old U.S. of A.

Vietnam 2.0 (beta)

2005-07-24T09:37:00.000-04:00

Iraq is going to hell
and the war on terror is escalating.

By the looks of it we're on the verge of loosing this war. Of course we'll never admit it. Hell, we've never admitted to loosing Vietnam. We just "withdrew". Sounds about right here too. Invading Iraq was such a blunder. Our image is now mud. Our only hope is to win the war, but these administrative buffoons haven't a clue what their doing. Is it any more painfully obvious that they are unread men? History is replete with these scenarios.

But perhaps Bush & Co. doesn't really care. And why should they? His presidency will end in three more years and he and daddy, Cheney and their buddies can walk away filthy rich from warring and oil profits with a "don't blame the good guy" exit strategy.

The situation is on the verge. One more big boom in the U.S.A. and things will start to look really bleak. After further tightening down the hatches, such that Freedom becomes the baby thrown out with the bath water, another big attack will... well, then real despair sets in. Of course that is if you believe the ultimate culprits are indeed radical Islamists. I have my doubts.

But the worse part is the effect on the war on war itself. It's being shot to hell. How will ever find peace?

Peak Oil's Alternative Doom

2005-07-22T20:39:00.000-04:00

Another excellent source of information on Peak Oil. I must admit that I waiver in my worries on this topic. You see I truly believe we have the technologies to replace oil, cleanly and cost effectively. In fact I also tend to believe that it is very likely that the technologies exist (at least in a rough state) to rival the energy potential of oil by orders of magnitude. So I think there is hope. Unfortunately, I further suspect that the powers-that-be are not interested in the availability of such "limitless" supplies. No, I think they actually want the Oil Wars to happen. Its profitable after all, and will rid the world of many "unwanteds". But perhaps I'm wrong. Perhaps we don't have the solutions to our energy problems stashed away under oligarchic guard. Alas in that case, we are even worse off. In that case we'd better get the R&D cash flowing pronto. But how likely is that? Somehow it seems the only real solution --the one that gets us effectively out of the dilemma and lifts up the entire world to a better place, is the very course of action least likely to unfold. Why? Because Man is simply, by His very nature, greedy. Isn't that singular problem with the world now?

Full Tilt Right

2005-07-20T11:44:00.000-04:00

And so now the tilt of power is on the threshold of full swing. With the confirmation of John Roberts to the Supreme Court all three branches of the government will be in the hands of the Republican party. Further solidification will come with the passing of Judge Rehnquist. The only measure fending the Republicans from complete takeover are five Senate seats and the filibuster. Should the Republican party succeed in taking these seats in 2006 and/or whittle away at the filibuster with their Nuclear Option, no recourse would be left to minorities.

Perhaps it not surprising that in this post-modern world when our Government, notably the right-wing, has "won" the Cold War and thus become the one world super-power, that She would now turn inward to further solidify one-party rule. History would teach us this to be the ultimate outcome of all power struggles. We may have hoped that our forefathers somehow stepped into a bold new History, leaving the old world behind for us to march confidently forward into an ever brightening future. But such seems not to be the truth. We are still balled-up in the tides on common treacheries.

What will soon come to pass: the endless erosion of our liberty.

Clean Coal, Dirty Lies

2004-07-28T18:36:00.000-04:00

Clean Coal. Is this how we will deal with the energy crisis? Not only Bush, but even John Kerry seems to think so. How small minded have we become? Clean Coal certainly is a worthy stop-gap measure as we gradually offline those facilities. But that's it. Putting the word "clean" in front of coal don't make it so. We need to be moving to fuels that are actually clean like Solar, Wind, Geothermal and Nuclear Fusion. Why is it that we all know this and yet somehow accept that is doesn't happen? If you are one of the many that have been convinced that it's because we lack the know-how, think again. Consider these working innovations:

Spherical Solar

Mad Genius from the Bottom of the Sea

Evidence Bubbles Over

U.S.S. Crisis, a Sinking Ship

2004-04-12T18:30:00.000-04:00

The major financial crisis facing the United Sates of America:

Housing Bubble

Peak Oil Crisis

Productivity Acceleration

Federal Budget Insolvency

Of course the only real problem is that the government is now largely corrupted and incompetent, so these issues are not being properly addressed.

The housing bubble is clear. Within a a few years, housing prices that have been artificially inflated (primarily to cure State'a budget solvency problems) will begin to deflate. A lot of poor shmucks are doing to loose their shirts on this one.

But the housing bubble pales in comparison to the Peal Oil crisis. You can expect the price of gas to break $5 a gallon around 2010. Oh, the places we will NOT go! And of course, as anyone familiar with the topic knows, transportation costs are just the tip of this iceberg.

Productivity Acceleration is one you don't often hear about. Well you will (if we manage these other problems) Soon there will be a Robot applying for Your job! Our Free-Markets system just isn;t design to deal with this kind of thing. Expect neo-ludite lashback and job creation through ever thicker government bureaucracy as the moronic counter weight.

And let us not forget the National Debt, which in itself might not be a problem except that 40% of it is now owned by foreign interests! Check out The Other Way to Deal with the National Debt. Of the many issues involved the one most in the mainstream these days is of course Social Security. Never mind that Medicare/Medicaid and the whole health industry is even worse shape. But, hey, this is America! We can afford anything. Right?

It Ain't Magic. You Paid For It!

2004-03-13T18:17:00.000-05:00

I have just had a very interesting realization. By and large, the majority of people accept the Argument From Design for the existence of an intelligent creator, but in contrast, when they consider the state of our world, its poverty and its war, they attribute no primary movers, and instead think of it a a chaotic jumble of unregulatable fractionary (and ungodly) forces. But this later view point at least is greatly nieve. For people to be truly impoverished means they lack the means to sustain themselves in a reasonable fashion. This means they either don't have the knowledge to do so, or they do not have enough land off of which to provide food and water, establish shelter and community. Men need little more than this to maintain diginified lives. Just ask the Amish. Yet billions do not have this. How is that possible? People have been existing without modern means for thousands upon thousands of years and now suddenly billions have no idea how to do so any more? Quite obviously, at some point in their heritage these people were deprived of their traditional way of life. they were discourged from learning the ways of there forefathers, or were dislocated from their lands. And examples of this abound. The most obvious are the American Indians, the African slaves, and the Palestinians. No matter how you slice it, that's the bottom line. When it suits them, the powerful displace the less powerful to gain their lands and/or destablize their traditional livelihoods for a cheap source of labor. How ironic it is then to consider Christian missionaries who sought to bring salvation, but who are in actuality the pawns of the powerful and hairbringers of social down fall. Yet who can blame them? Are they not like the the modern American tax payer? If you do not pay your taxes you are breaking the law, marked unpatriotic, and will go to jail. But if you do, then your tax dollars (not to mentoin you debt payments) are filling the cofers of the powerful and still spilling blood.

Riding Camels

2004-03-12T17:57:00.000-05:00

I have done a little research and by almost all accounts the oil and natural gas production of the world will peak sometime in this decade. Once this peak is straddled, oil and gas prices will begin to rise indefintely. Since the demand for oil continues to increase, prices will soon begin to rise rather rapidly. Then a drastic transition will begin to take place. Having not sufficiently pursued the development of alternatives we will have to turn to old standbys, mainly coal. Given increased demand for coal to offset the loss of oil and natural gas, we can expect about fifty more years worth of coal before the same phenomenon of peak production occurs to it. yet coal is is not as efficient, clean, or as versitle as oil. Therefore coal can only provide a partial offset. The bottom line? The global economy will suffer a major set back as transportation costs begin to sky rocket. Since no government power is willing to embrace this reality and actually prepare for the future, we can only expect a major world wide economic depression --a depression the likes of which we have never seen before. The Saudis have a saying:

My father rode a camel. I drive a car. My son flies a jet plane. His son will ride a camel.

Here's a sample of some of the shorter, but still informative, articles I read:

The True Cost of Oil

Fill'er up: The Hidden Cost of Oil

Government, Inc.

2004-03-10T17:41:00.000-05:00

The distinguished linguist Noam Chomsky has a good bit to offer in way of understanding the Current State of American Economics. This is a brief write-up on a presentation he has been giving.

Another short write-up, A Primer on Jobs and Joblessness, provides some fundemental information about economics that most persons, including government representitives, simply do not understand. Now, I will say that I think Mr. Block is taking things too far, as he seems to support a completely unchecked free-market. To the contrary, there do need to be some basic reigns on the free-market, least we all have our souls sold to the company store. But beyond such constraints protecting us from monopolistics servitude, he is fully correct. Government has climbed into bed with corporate interests, and it is imperitive that it be stopped.

2004-02-17T17:40:00.000-05:00

How soon we forget history ... Government is not reason. Government is not eloquence. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
--George Washington (1732-1799)

The Prophet Abraham... Lincoln

2004-02-16T17:37:00.000-05:00

Corporations have been enthroned. An era of corruption in high places will follow and the money power will endeavor to prolong its reign by working on the prejudices of the people until wealth is aggregated in a few hands and the Republic is destroyed.
--Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

White Nazi Filling in the Dark Capitalism-vs-Communism Cupcake

2004-02-05T17:12:00.000-05:00

It is interesting that we might consider Germany of the early 1900s as a contentious battle ground between the ideolgies of captialism and communism. Consider:

The communists turn their attention chiefly to Germany, because that country is on the eve of a bourgeois revolution that is bound to be carried out under more advanced conditions of European Civilization and with a much more developed proletariat than that of England was in the seventeenth, and France in the eighteenth century, and because the bourgeois revolution in Germany will be but the prelude to an immediately following proletarian revolution.
- Marx and Engels, Communist Manifesto, 1848

Due to of the economic conditions of Germany at the heights of the industrial revolution, the country was prime for prolitariat revolution. But the stronghand of bourgeois influence from the west, much of which was embodied in the minority Jewish population, kept the revolution at bay. but the prolitariat discontent continued to boil under the surface, the embers kept red from the east, and then brought to new a extreme due to poor treatments after the mostly unexpected and nationalistic 1st World War, until finally, althogether by passing any prolitariat insurgance, the nation exploded directly into a facist socialist state, falling directly into the hands of a new master, the Nazi party and her great catalyst, the wicked of the explosion itself, Adolf Hitler. honestly, I do not believe hitler would have been so frowned upon today, if it were not for his hell-bent drive to exterminate the Jews. If he were but satisfied to merely oust them from the nation and his outlaying conquests, he may very well have been looked upon, while not with love, at least with some manner of respectability, as is now done with histories other great conquerors, like Nepolean or Alexander. yet, it may just be that hitler could not have attained his position, nor catalyzed the event, without this very hatred for the jew. admist the powder keg of the surpressed prolitariat and the burgeoning jewish bourgeois, the eruption could be nothing less then the single most historical event of the era. a wall was built in germany after the war. The wall is really what that war was about. the germans and the jews? they just happend to be at her front lines.

Then again, there's this scatheing analysis:

Dying village? The hell with them. It's the government that's dying. They can take it and shove it. They're all fascists just like they were fascists before.
--Vladimir Bykov, 76, the Last Resident of Isupovo

What Alamo?

2004-02-03T17:03:00.000-05:00

This is not your typical "compassionate conservative".

"Where did this idea come from that everybody deserves free education, free medical care, free whatever? It comes from Moscow, from Russia. It comes from the pit of Hell." --Debbie Riddle, Texas Republican State Representative

What kind of rationality lives behind such attitudes? According to Paul Street in Deep Poverty, Deep Deception they are...

"The key players in the current rightwing beltway regime and their allies ... who can't shake the lingering specter of communism more than a decade after the end of the cold war."

X Marks the Spot

2004-01-25T17:01:00.000-05:00

Utopian Pharmacology. Although verbos, both long and detailed, this article is profoundly interesting and telling. An earnest investigation into the entactogen-empathogen drug MDMA, this paper shines a bright light on the realities of the world we live in, and the people that are (imho) so ignorantly bent on contolling it out of ego-fear.

Costa a Baseball

2004-01-24T22:33:00.000-05:00

Henry Ford would not be happy. Baseball craftsmen do not go to professional baseball games. Why? It's all about the Costa of a baseball.

Sheriff's Telemarketing Department Called

2004-01-22T02:11:00.000-05:00

Gentleman, do we not pay enough taxes? In your day the burden was so light. How can be so heavy today and yet there still not enough?

The sheriff's department called today asking for a small donatation of $10. Donating gets you one of those nifty little stickers for your car. Surely, you know the one. It's your "get out of jail free card". Okay, I'm overstating it. More like a "Go easy on me, I'm on your side" sticker. But discrimenatory executions of the law aside, what exactly do our tax dollars pay for if not law enforcement? Really, how can anyone feel good about the sheriff's department having to stoop to telemarketing for funds? Or perhaps they have alterior motives? Also, I wonder if they are exempt from the new National Do Not Call Registry? ... I've confirmed it. Yes, they are exempt.

Honorable patriots, have we sunk so low as to beg for funds to ensure our security?

Don't Buy It

2003-11-07T02:11:00.000-05:00

Gentleman, please! It may seem minor, but it just goes to show how interlinked commerical interests are intwined with, supposedly independent, journalism these days. Consider this additional proof that the massmedia is either corrupted or simply moronic. Examine this page closely, notice the fine detail and attention paid to propaganda. Ask yourself these simple questions: How could they know who deleted what off their computers? Are they polling people? Do you think, with the RIAA suing people left and right, anyone would tell the truth? How many people would really just delete all the files they spent so much time collecting over the many years? Please! This is a simple propaganda technique, Guilt by Association, trying to convince others to do the same.

Pass the Better, Please

2003-11-05T02:11:00.000-05:00

Sir, I introduce to you an distinguished fellow, though radical in some regards, he should no less be considered for the important insights he grants us.

"The good is often enemy to the best." --Norman D. Livergood, Completing the American Revolution.
Overstated, but nonetheless an interesting antiestablishment perspective with many kernels of truth.

Third World Nation

2003-10-23T14:11:00.000-04:00

Gentleman, I direct your attention toward the following.

Congress looks for ways to slow offshore hiring while America spirals downward.

"Thousands and thousands and thousands of white-collar jobs are going overseas, chasing the cheap dollar in India, China, Malaysia and the Philippines", Manzullo said. "That's the reason for this hearing, because of the incontrovertible evidence that the United States is on the verge of adopting the economies of Third World nations."

Does this sound serious enough for you, sirs? Of course nay sayers like to tout weak statistics on the strength of the U.S. job market, but they fail the larger picture of wage depreciation. From a global perspective, perhaps we should not be too upset. At least these other countries are advancing economically, which will strengthen our international alliances. Agree? And not to worry, all our I.T. workers can just become bankers (sic).

So do you imagine they found any of those "ways"? Myself, I would not place a bet on it.