"The war effort is always so planned as to eat up any surplus that might exist. . ." George Orwell - "1984"
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among men, deriving their powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of Government becomes destructive of those ends, it is the right of the People to alter or 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 mankind 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 -- 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 King of Great Britain [ George III ] is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
Declaration of Independence
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this. But in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate, we cannot consecrate, we cannot hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead who struggled here have consecrated it far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living rather to be dedicated to the great task remaining before us--that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation under God shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth.
The Gettysburg Address
Just a few statements and important historical documents to stir your mind to deeper thought.
Also, is it just me that notices the King of Great Britain at the time of the Declaration of Independence was named George? Coincidence?
Nearly 3,000,000 jobs lost in three years.
$600 increase per student at public (not private) colleges.
2.5 million more people without health insurance nationwide.
Premiom increases in health insurance over the past 3 years is more than the 4 year tax cut.
Wear do I begin? I cannot believe so many Americans believe what George W. Bush says. Can't they hear it, or better yet, can't they smell it. I must have a more finely turned crap detector than most people, except Ted Kennedy.
During his State of the Union Address, when George Bush expounded on making the Patriot Act permanent, (Permanent -- God help us), they panned the camera over to Ted Kennedy, and while others were applauding, Ted was sitting there scoffing and shaking his head. And never before have I seen half the Congress stay seated and NOT clap during the State of the Union Address.
ABC News ran a poll recently to see who would win a presicential election if it were held now. According to the poll, George W. Bush would lose to any UNKNOWN Democrat. So, basically, we could run Micky Mouse against him and we would win. Do you think that's a messege?
George says the economy is better. For whom? Since he took office (and I mean took literally), we've lost nearly 3 million jobs nationwide. This couldn't possibly be due to NAFTA could it? Maybe it's just mismanagement. This is more jobs lost than any president since Herbert Hoover.
Also, if there is a separation of church and state, why is the federal government funding religious charities?
If there is a Bill of Rights, why does the President of the United States continue to undermine it with his phobias.
First he fears terrorists and forces through legislation to "protect" us from all the "evildoers" which nullifies several amendments to the Constitution. Now he wants to force us as individuals to think and act as he feels "morally" correct.
This is, at the least, arrogant on Bush's part. At the worst, it is a blatant attempt to write discrimination back into the Constitution. We said when they introduced the Patriot Act: "If we allow this, what next?" Now we have the President of the United States calling for discrimination against a certain section of our population. United? We have to scream "WHAT NEXT"! Who will be his next target? The Jews? The African-Americans? Women?
When he was running for President the first time, George Bush kept saying he wanted to give power back to the states. He got in office and spent the next four years dictating how we should all live and taking as much power from the states as he can grab. All the states have gotten is a list of things he expects them to do and a bill to go along with it. He wants it, let him pay for it.
I have the perfect solution For George and his phobias: Tie him to a chair in a locked, sound proof room, and force him to watch a "Queer Eye For The Straight Guy" marathon. He'll either change his mind about Gays, or he'll be a blithering idiot and we can get rid of him.
Webster's New World Dictionary has this definition of Marriage: 1.) The state of being married. 2.) A wedding. 3.) A close union. And here is the definition of Wed: 1.) To marry. 2.) To unite or join. Nowhere does it mention a man and woman as being a marriage unit.
Only in theology do you see this distinction. And, THAT is where it belongs. Not in our laws. The Bible states that Christians should hold themselves above the laws of men, because the laws of men are corrupt. We are told to obey the laws of God NOT the laws of men. If George makes this same-sex marriage law stick, hasn't he set in motion what he fears the most. A TOTAL DISREGARD OF HIS LAWS?
George neither has the right or ability to regulate our morals. That's not his job. That is a job for our churches, synogogs, and masques. He needs to quit minding everyone elses business.
Forbidding something has always made it MORE appealing to the human psyche. It's going to have the same effect as telling your children not to drink.
A twelve year old in Ohio gets suspended for three days for taking the Sports Illustrated Swim Suit Issue to school. And George Bush wants to make same- sex marriages illegal. Could the message be any more mixed? They are telling our young boys they can't look at girls and they can't marry boys. I know I'm supposed to be Christian about this, but please forgive me when I say: "What the fuck?"
If it weren't for every news agency in the country making these marriages in San Francisco a big deal, half the population of the USA wouldn't care, because it doesn't concern them, and the other half that it does concern would be ecstatic because they'd be happy. Isn't the pursuit of happiness one of those inalienable right they talked about in the Declaration of Independence?
I for one, would like to thank George W. Bush, and encourage, nay, beg him to keep up the good work. We may win the election by default. Let him keep it up, he'll piss-off every minority in the country (the muslims and gays already don't like him) and they'll all vote Democrat. Wouldn't that be fun?
Also, according to the census, there are more women in the US than there are men. That would make them a majority wouldn't it? I'd leave working mothers and Roe v. Wade if I were him.
George, you are not responsible, nor should you be, for our morals. That is the domain of our religious beliefs. Not everyone has the same beliefs you do. That is why our forefathers came here. And, it is that freedom and that separation of church and state that this land was built upon. How dare you tear that down with your fears!
As I was getting ready to post this installment I caught a campaign ad for George W. Bush on the television. He talks about morals and doing the right thing, then uses images of the death and devastation wrought on 9/11/01 for personal gain. Doesn't anyone else see a moral dilemma here. Please tell me you do. I would hate to think I was the only sane person left on the face of the earth. That would make me insane. That's what you call ironic.