March 31, 2005
Another shot of the same
Is anyone reading this concerned about keeping their first amendment rights? Read the latest in the government's assault on freedom. Evidentally terrorists are now identifying themselves by placing incriminating slogans on bumperstickers.
» Continue reading "Another shot of the same"March 30, 2005
A Warm, Fuzzy Security Story
Nothing quite like being kidnapped by the US Government, shipped to Syria and tortured for 10 months to make you feel nice and safe at home.
» Continue reading "A Warm, Fuzzy Security Story"March 29, 2005
Americans awaking to Jekyll - Hyde President
Al Hubbard, Director of the Whitehouse National Economic Council appeared in an interview on CNBC's Street Signs this afternoon. The disinformation he provided runs counter to all empirical and objective data applicable. A war against truth is underway and President Bush is calling the shots.
» Continue reading "Americans awaking to Jekyll - Hyde President"March 28, 2005
Marriage: How Both Sides Have It Wrong
Now that my home state of Indiana has decided to go down the sad path of "shielding the sanctity of marriage from activist judges" and opponents of the measure decried it as "singling out gays and lesbians for discrimination" I felt it was time to examine how both sides of the issue are both right and wrong. And unfortunately it doesn't look like either's deep felt beliefs will allow them to see the common ground that exists and could result in a compromise that would be both legal and proper.
» Continue reading "Marriage: How Both Sides Have It Wrong"Why do they care?
Something that has been bugging me for a while and I have finally realized why: Why are the hard core anti-abortion activists bankrolling the Schindlers and using all of their political clout to pressure politicians? It comes down to this: how is 'viability' defined. If someone who is in a persistent vegetative state can be considered 'viable' then so can a 6 week old fetus. The majority of the anti-abortion crowd could not possibly care less about Terry Schiavo; they only care what a decision of her 'right to life' could do for their political cause. The fact that they are entirely willing to ally themselves with convicted child molesters should be a fair indicator of how blind they are to any actual moral issue.
» Continue reading "Why do they care?"Security Continues to Trump Privacy
This report, by Dept of Homeland Security Investigator Richard Skinner, sheds some light on the incredible job the Government does of protecting private personal information. The report outlines the mishandling of personal information by the TSA, including its distribution to third parties without monitoring the uses of that information. But the invasion of our privacy doesn't stop there...
» Continue reading "Security Continues to Trump Privacy"March 27, 2005
Ignorance Not Bliss, Just Stupid
Was a time not too long ago, when leaders and citizens of a society enjoyed making, buying, and selling their own goods; when trade and economy depended largely on what people provided and purchased from each other within their society's borders. What happened elsewhere in the world was of little concern, and troubling news from abroad did little to no damage to blissful prosperity and self reliance at home. Ignorance of what happened overseas could ordinarily enhance bliss at home. But, as WWII, the Viet Nam War, and Alvin Toeffler's book 'Future Shock' warned, those days were coming to an end.
» Continue reading "Ignorance Not Bliss, Just Stupid"March 26, 2005
What Was Bush Thinking?
The Whitehouse, with President Bush's explicit consent, has agreed to sell nuclear bomb carrying capable F-16 jets to Pakistan. In just 48 hours after that announcement comes a related story by Reuters News, which tells of a U.S. - India agreement "to a series of steps to boost defense and energy ties..." Given that the military dictator of Pakistan refused to adhere to his promise to relinquish his position as head of the military, where does Bush's trust in this dictator come from?
» Continue reading "What Was Bush Thinking?"March 22, 2005
Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances
Bob Barr (R), was on C-span today supporting a bi-partisan organization called by this article's title. Their goal is to move legislation over the next two years to revise the Patriot Act on certain key provisions in an attempt to restore civil liberties potentially lost under the act. Barr said the Whitehouse was the only primary the voice in enacting the Patriot Act, and it is time the American people's voice was incorporated into the Patriot Act since the Act has consequences to the civil liberties of American citizens.
» Continue reading "Patriots to Restore Checks and Balances"March 20, 2005
Congress Has Embarrassed Itself Again
This week saw one of the most shameless displays of grandstanding by politicians that I can recall. Charged under our Constitution to protect our vital interests in the field of limited enumerated powers, the House of Represenatives decided it had nothing better to do than to find out if a group of both retired and still active major league baseball players had taken steroids.
» Continue reading "Congress Has Embarrassed Itself Again"March 19, 2005
Schiavo and Lunsford
Terri Schiavo's feeding tube was removed yesterday clearing the way for her alleged wish to die rather then be kept alive in a dependent state. Should the federal government and the Republicans really be seeking to use the power of the federal government to override State laws on such issues? Jessica Lunsford's body has been found after a pedophile living across the street admitted killing her. Is it time to bring back the mental hospitals where individuals are, due to mental incapacity, kept indefinitely from harming society again?
» Continue reading "Schiavo and Lunsford"March 17, 2005
News: Good, Bad, & Ugly 2
The last few days have generated a huge number of political stories which should not go unnoticed. Following are highlights and links to those stories by category of Good, Bad, and Ugly. A couple of the biggies are "Bush inadvertantly defends Democrats not offering Soc.Sec. plan", "1/3 of Americans overworked", "Senate to Block Bush's Medicare cuts", and "Undermining American democracy and informed consent, our government is becoming ever more secretive."
» Continue reading "News: Good, Bad, & Ugly 2"March 15, 2005
California Gay-Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
In what is another battle won on the same-sex marriage front (yes I support same-sex marriage--albeit a temporary victory--a state court in the nation's most populous state, California, has ruled that a law banning same sex marriage is unconstitutional. San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer stated in his opinion that "It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite-sex partners."
» Continue reading "California Gay-Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional"March 14, 2005
Teaching Biblical Script as Science; Is it Any Wonder Johnny Can't Compete?
You have to hand it to the Christian Right, they are nothing if not determined to force their narrow-minded views informed by the Bible and faith on us all; believers and non-believers alike. Their latest front is really an old front closed, but reopened on a different vista, but it is the same old battle: to get creationism into the public schools.
» Continue reading "Teaching Biblical Script as Science; Is it Any Wonder Johnny Can't Compete?"GOP Lawmakers Concerned That Delay's Woes Could Taint The Party
Seems I am not the only one concerned about the underhanded nature of Tom Delay's unethical operation in the House of Representatives. Now GOP Congressman are expressing their concern that Delay is increasingly looking like damaged goods.
» Continue reading "GOP Lawmakers Concerned That Delay's Woes Could Taint The Party"Orwell and Huxley: Prophets still.
In the middle of the last century a pair of writers wrote monumental novels about government's worst potential. The author's were George Orwell and Aldous Huxley. Their novels respectively were "1984" and "Brave New World". These two books were required reading in elementary and high school social studies classes in a large number of schools around the country in the early 1960's. At the time, given the conclusion of WWII and the Cold War with Russia already underway with its dictatorial type of government, the books were viewed as indictments of authoritarian regimes.
» Continue reading "Orwell and Huxley: Prophets still."March 11, 2005
It Is Past Time For Tom Delay to Go!
Does anyone but me get a bad taste in their mouth whenever they utter the words Tom Delay? This man could be the poster child for all that is wrong in the halls of Congress. And one has to ask: at this point is Tom Delay really representing the people of his district, or following his own purulent self interests?
» Continue reading "It Is Past Time For Tom Delay to Go!"March 08, 2005
Who Needs a Minimum Wage Anyway?
Yes, it is time for the Republicans to show us (Americans) the true meaning of family values by once again denying the working poor even the promise of a decent wage from which to raise their families. Can a family of three, let alone a family of four or five survive on $824.00 a month? Can a single person for that matter?
» Continue reading "Who Needs a Minimum Wage Anyway?"March 07, 2005
Can The U.S. Claim Sole Credit For Democratic Movement Sweeping the Middle East?
Is Bush right when he announces that "freedom is on the march"across the Middle East? It certainly appears as though there has been an attitude shift in and among the people of the Middle East of late that seems to embrace the tenants of democratic principles.
March 02, 2005
News: The Good, Bad, & Ugly
The last few days have generated a huge number of political news stories. Following are the biggies in the categories of Good, Bad, and Ugly from an Independent's point of view. Topics include a philosopher candidate for the World Bank President, drilling in ANWR to be sneaked by in Congress on budget bill, and Republicans pull out hammer and nails for Bush's Soc. Sec. Reform coffin.
» Continue reading "News: The Good, Bad, & Ugly"March 01, 2005
Federal Court Orders Padilla Set Free Failing Criminal Charges by the Government
Oh how slowly the wheels of American justice turn, but turn they do. In a ruling yesterday afternoon U.S. District Judge Henry Floyd, sitting of South Carolina, ordered the government to charge Padilla with a crime within 45 days or let him go.
» Continue reading "Federal Court Orders Padilla Set Free Failing Criminal Charges by the Government"
