Neil Armstrong has passed away, the first known human to set foot on the Moon.
Let's just take a second to appreciate the extraordinary effort it took to send a trio of humans almost a quarter million miles into space, have a person walk on the (unknown composition) lunar surface, and return them safe and sound to Earth.
With 1960's technology.
In the middle of the Vietnam War.
So why did we stop? Been there, done that? Checked it off our humanity bucket list and moved on?
It was probably the last time humanity was united on anything.
It was a tremendous achievement, and one we should be proud of. So why aren't we doing more Great Things?
Oh, yeah, we'd rather kill each other and fight amongst ourselves.
In our own country, we savagely argue over which group of disaffected rich people will work for our destruction over the next few years. Instead of enacting public funding for elections, we allow monied interests to bribe their way in the lawmaking process, and all but a handful of us suffer as a result.
A great many people in this country profess to using the Bible as a guideline for life. Here's a quote all of us should start living by:
Mark 3:25
And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.
Our greatest President, Abraham Lincoln, used this idea in an address given in 1858, in Springfield, Illinois, upon accepting his party nomination as that state's United States senator. This became one of the best-known speeches of his career (one that included the magnificent Gettysburg Address and his inaugural addresses).
But he lost that election. Didn't stop him, though, because he had a country to save, one that he felt so important that it was worth a bloody (un)civil war against itself to keep whole.
And now look at us. Instead of building a great nation and bettering life for its citizens (and all the people of the world), we waste our resources and moral outrage to needlessly butcher people (including many innocents) and blow up piles of sand in places few Americans can even find on a map.
What the Hell is wrong with us? Do we no longer deserve to last?
If we remain divided, we will not survive. Pretty pathetic ending for a people that managed to get to the Moon and back.
Showing posts with label Political. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Political. Show all posts
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Working
July's been a bear of a month, and was so busy, didn't get much writing done. Did plot out a couple of new stories, and set a schedule for getting other things done, but didn't get enough words on paper.
August will be different. I'm going to get at least 31,000 words done, average at least 1000 words a day. Not an easy task with a day job, family, and other committments, but I am driven, and have some goals that need to be met.
It's work. Hard brain sweat. Not digging ditches, but work nonetheless.
Did you see the opening of the Olympics, and the pageant about the workers? Ironic, considering the overwhelming corporate overseeing of everything to do with the games.
And how about that celebration of National Health Care? What an idea-- having a country where people can get seen by doctors without going broke. If only our government would embrace that concept. But they won't-- as long as they have guaranteed health care, paid for by the very people they deny it to. I say they should only get what everyone gets-- that would turn them around fast.
But we have a country where a minimum-wage worker at 40 hours a week cannot afford a 2-bedroom unit rental. In Washington, DC, you'd have to work 140 hours a week. And 2007 was the last time the rich lawmakers in DC raised the minimum wage.
The only jobs are in the cities-- where someone starting out cannot afford to live.
Here's some interesting data on the subject:
http://www.mybanktracker.com/bank-news/2012/05/31/maps-show-grads-screwed/
August will be different. I'm going to get at least 31,000 words done, average at least 1000 words a day. Not an easy task with a day job, family, and other committments, but I am driven, and have some goals that need to be met.
It's work. Hard brain sweat. Not digging ditches, but work nonetheless.
Did you see the opening of the Olympics, and the pageant about the workers? Ironic, considering the overwhelming corporate overseeing of everything to do with the games.
And how about that celebration of National Health Care? What an idea-- having a country where people can get seen by doctors without going broke. If only our government would embrace that concept. But they won't-- as long as they have guaranteed health care, paid for by the very people they deny it to. I say they should only get what everyone gets-- that would turn them around fast.
But we have a country where a minimum-wage worker at 40 hours a week cannot afford a 2-bedroom unit rental. In Washington, DC, you'd have to work 140 hours a week. And 2007 was the last time the rich lawmakers in DC raised the minimum wage.
The only jobs are in the cities-- where someone starting out cannot afford to live.
Here's some interesting data on the subject:
http://www.mybanktracker.com/bank-news/2012/05/31/maps-show-grads-screwed/
Monday, August 1, 2011
Benefit to Help a Writer, Spineless Pols
Joe Konrath, the self-publishing powerhouse, once again shows his mensch creds. His recent blog posting is a notice about the plight of writer L.A. Banks, who has cancer and a mountain of medical bills:
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/07/benefit-to-help-author-la-banks.html
Once again, it is disgusting that our country has neither the will or brainpower to enact decent healthcare legislation. The spinelessness of politicians can be seen in our current "financial crisis," all because this bunch of crooks can't agree on how to divvy up the money they steal from us, so they can waste billions for wars on the other side of the planet.
Because stupid, pointless, expensive wars are WAY more important than healthcare, safe roads, good schools, food inspection, and real safety, right?
Next election time, remember how they sold out the country-- and vote for ANY third-party candidate. Get rid of all the gutless bastards and incumbent thieves-- replace them with someone not affiliated with big-money machines.
Have you had enough yet? When will you? When the country is bankrupt and you can't feed your kids?
Some days I shouldn't watch the news.
http://jakonrath.blogspot.com/2011/07/benefit-to-help-author-la-banks.html
Once again, it is disgusting that our country has neither the will or brainpower to enact decent healthcare legislation. The spinelessness of politicians can be seen in our current "financial crisis," all because this bunch of crooks can't agree on how to divvy up the money they steal from us, so they can waste billions for wars on the other side of the planet.
Because stupid, pointless, expensive wars are WAY more important than healthcare, safe roads, good schools, food inspection, and real safety, right?
Next election time, remember how they sold out the country-- and vote for ANY third-party candidate. Get rid of all the gutless bastards and incumbent thieves-- replace them with someone not affiliated with big-money machines.
Have you had enough yet? When will you? When the country is bankrupt and you can't feed your kids?
Some days I shouldn't watch the news.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Reposting Political Sunday
Hadn't meant to get all political and be a downer. It's actually been a good day, as my 13-year-old daughter cleaned up at her first Kempo karate tournament. She won first place in all three events she entered, over a good Brown Belt each time.
http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/02/transocean-bonuses-deepwater-horizon-gulf-spill/
I was trolling my social media sites, and people had posted such good links, I had to share.
This first is where Thom Hartmann gives us a much-need history lesson, explaining how the Real, Actual, Boston Tea Party was a protest by the common man against a giant obscene corporation. A real eye-opener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UiLZk2TE8k
Second is a columnist who gives us the hard news that we're in the tough economic situation we're in because we really didn't work very hard to avoid it. Tough stuff, but true: http://www.hollandsentinel.com/opinions/x13292164/COLUMN-American-workers-got-what-they-deserved
Lastly, this should show you what you need to know about the modern corporation and how little they care about human life or anything apart from profit. Transocean Ltd., owner of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, awarded millions of dollars in bonuses to its executives after “the best year in safety performance in our company’s history,” according to an annual report and proxy statement released yesterday. Eleven people were killed, including nine Transocean employees, in the April 20 explosion and collapse of the rig, which gushed crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 86 days.
http://blogs.forbes.com/jeffmcmahon/2011/04/02/transocean-bonuses-deepwater-horizon-gulf-spill/
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Murderers
Today's entry is going to sound a bit harsh. Sorry about being a downer on St. Patrick's Day.
Today in the newspaper there are two stories about American murderers.
Both of them have escaped justice, because we don't seem to grasp that concept, to our everlasting shame.
One murderer is a CIA contractor who killed two people in Pakistan.
He got off because someone threw money at the families of the butchered people.
Way to show the world what America is all about.
Another was a Marine, who gunned down an unarmed person. Apparently, he hasn't even shown remorse over taking the life of a human being. This happened years ago, and he still hasn't been convicted.
Yup, real American values.
So the next time some jingoistic dimbulb asks why people in other countries hate us, you can tell them. Because the American people allow our leaders to send killers to other countries, butcher civilians, and get away with it.
And it's all using our tax dollars, fully supported by us. So tell those angry idiots to stop complaining about how high taxes are, until they protest how their money is used to massacre people.
Oh, yeah, and what do you think would happen if soldiers from some other country came over here, shot down a few people and then skipped off? We'd be calling for war.
Just remember kids-- murder, kidnapping, and torture are all okay if Americans do it. If someone does it who's not American, then it's EVIL and must be stopped at all costs.
What a bubble we live in.
Today in the newspaper there are two stories about American murderers.
Both of them have escaped justice, because we don't seem to grasp that concept, to our everlasting shame.
One murderer is a CIA contractor who killed two people in Pakistan.
He got off because someone threw money at the families of the butchered people.
Way to show the world what America is all about.
Another was a Marine, who gunned down an unarmed person. Apparently, he hasn't even shown remorse over taking the life of a human being. This happened years ago, and he still hasn't been convicted.
Yup, real American values.
So the next time some jingoistic dimbulb asks why people in other countries hate us, you can tell them. Because the American people allow our leaders to send killers to other countries, butcher civilians, and get away with it.
And it's all using our tax dollars, fully supported by us. So tell those angry idiots to stop complaining about how high taxes are, until they protest how their money is used to massacre people.
Oh, yeah, and what do you think would happen if soldiers from some other country came over here, shot down a few people and then skipped off? We'd be calling for war.
Just remember kids-- murder, kidnapping, and torture are all okay if Americans do it. If someone does it who's not American, then it's EVIL and must be stopped at all costs.
What a bubble we live in.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Backwards into the Future
Especially since the year 2000, the governemnt of the United States seems intent on dragging us backwards into the future. None of this is good, and it is all done in the name of getting even more control over us.
When the Cold War ended, we were unopposed as a global superpower, and it was a chance for a real peace, with a peace dividend. Without the need for such a military prescence, we could use the money wasted in nuclear proliferation to create a better country, and a better world. But the ones in charge invented a new boogeyman, and replaced Communist with Terrorist- even better, since it was less-defined, scarier, multinational, and irrational. Remember, fear is more effective if people are vague on what they're afraid of.
And so they reached into the evil old past and brought back the Crusades, and are waging an ever-escalating war on all things Islamic. Considering the hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world and the millions in this country, it would seem an insane and self-destructive course. It is. Keep attacking someone long enough and they'll respond in kind, or worse. Treat people with murderous hate, and they'll learn to hate you back. Our leaders slaughter innocent civilians by the thousands and ignore the blowback.
But that madness wasn't enough, and so they brought back the Inquisition. They now torture at will, to anyone they say opposes them. Innocent or not, doesn't really matter. That judge who just gave his sanction to the illegal kidnapping and torture (http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html) should get a lesson in "do unto others". Wonder how he'll spend his thirty pieces of silver.
They tossed out the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and they're revoking human rights to pre-Magna Carta days. This is utter fascism and tyranny, and a violation of everything this country claims to stand for. Why don't we just rebrand ourselves "Communist Russia," since we now have as official State policy for every bad thing we ever said they were doing. Our government now rountinely does deeds that are war crimes, things that people were hung for after World War II.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When you propose murder, kidnapping, and torture, don't be surprised and don't complain when it's done to you and your people.
And let us hope those evil bastards who participate in these crimes will someday be brought to account.
When the Cold War ended, we were unopposed as a global superpower, and it was a chance for a real peace, with a peace dividend. Without the need for such a military prescence, we could use the money wasted in nuclear proliferation to create a better country, and a better world. But the ones in charge invented a new boogeyman, and replaced Communist with Terrorist- even better, since it was less-defined, scarier, multinational, and irrational. Remember, fear is more effective if people are vague on what they're afraid of.
And so they reached into the evil old past and brought back the Crusades, and are waging an ever-escalating war on all things Islamic. Considering the hundreds of millions of Muslims across the world and the millions in this country, it would seem an insane and self-destructive course. It is. Keep attacking someone long enough and they'll respond in kind, or worse. Treat people with murderous hate, and they'll learn to hate you back. Our leaders slaughter innocent civilians by the thousands and ignore the blowback.
But that madness wasn't enough, and so they brought back the Inquisition. They now torture at will, to anyone they say opposes them. Innocent or not, doesn't really matter. That judge who just gave his sanction to the illegal kidnapping and torture (http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/index.html) should get a lesson in "do unto others". Wonder how he'll spend his thirty pieces of silver.
They tossed out the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, and they're revoking human rights to pre-Magna Carta days. This is utter fascism and tyranny, and a violation of everything this country claims to stand for. Why don't we just rebrand ourselves "Communist Russia," since we now have as official State policy for every bad thing we ever said they were doing. Our government now rountinely does deeds that are war crimes, things that people were hung for after World War II.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. When you propose murder, kidnapping, and torture, don't be surprised and don't complain when it's done to you and your people.
And let us hope those evil bastards who participate in these crimes will someday be brought to account.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Conspiracies
Throughout history, those in power meet to talk and plot of how to increase their power and wealth. They manipulate events to their benefit, often involving criminal acts, which unfold to the detriment of the rest of us. There are proven power groups doing anything to consolidate and expand their power and money. And yet, brainless shills of The Powers That Be (TPTB) often pose this question in various media: "Why do so many people believe in conspiracies?"
Well, duh. Because those in power lie to us. They're so terrified of anything resembling the truth, and so contemptuous of the common folk, that they'll push any load of reeking manure as "The Official Version." Usually, this is so transparently idiotic, and so easily disproved, it's a wonder why they bother. But they follow the Goebbels maxim, "Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth."
So TPTB have their flunkies promote a distorted meme and wonder why anyone with a brain doesn't swallow it. Then they work very hard to cover up or discredit anything contradicting the official version. You know, when a group acts together in this way, it is, by nature, a conspiracy. That's why we believe in so many-- because they're happening! If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks, sounds, smells, and feels like a duck, has the dimensions and DNA of a duck, with a big sign around its neck saying DUCK, we're told we are unhinged if we call it a duck.
People who question the whitewashing coverup are called crazy, paranoid, nutbags who wear tinfoil hats and believe in all kind of crazy things. Their detractors sometimes go too far, as one who complained about people believing in a conspiracy to kill Lincoln. Uh, it happened, dumbass, and people were hung for it. Sorry we're not as stupid as you think we are.
People use their emotions to make beliefs more often than they use facts. Sure, some people will believe anything, but when vast numbers of rational people doubt the word of our government, we have a crisis. We doubt them because they refuse to tell us the truth about anything that matters.
A conspiracy is just a group of people acting in their own interests to screw the rest of us.
So let's play The Conspiracy Game! See if you can guess these common kooky conspiracies!
1. The leader of a nation is assassinated by a supposed lone gunman, with numerous shadowy ties to multiple criminal organizations opposed to the slain leader. Days later, the alleged assassin is in turn slain, despite being "guarded" by numerous armed law-enforcement officers. This SECOND convenient "lone gunman" also has numerous ties to these organizations, and can offer no convincing motivation for his deed. TPTB convene a show commission, spend months of toil and millions of dollars, to produce a multi-volume fairy story that puts the Brothers Grimm to shame. This ludicrous farce awakens the country to the fact that they will never again get the truth from their government.
2. A country that believes in voting to elect its leaders has an election that is close. Rather than going through the bother of actually counting the votes cast, a group of people with amazing power decide that they will pick the winner, and so they appoint their chosen buddy. Somehow, the country agrees to let this happen, and the world is plunged into a nightmare. When those votes are finally counted, they show conclusively that the opponent won the election, by thousands of votes. This bloodless coup of treason goes unpunished.
3. After a horrendous act of violence against its populace, a nation retaliates by declaring war against a third party with no ties to the incident (like invading Mexico for the attack on Pearl Harbor). To prop up this illegal activity, TPTB spread the lie for years that there was a connection, until finally admitting it was not true. Yet they are so efficient that a significant portion of the populace still believes the lie, and supports the criminals and their efforts. The conspirators, some of whom had been planning this path for 20 years, are rewarded lavishly.
4. A huge worldwide organization with unlimited wealth and power discover that thousands of their officials routinely engage in the sexual abuse of children. Their response is continued public denial, and the transfer of the predators to new pastures, where they continue to rape and abuse children. The organization does nothing to halt the criminal activity and continues business as usual, which keeps them comfy and secure, amidst a world of poverty and oppression. The predators and their protectors continue to go unpunished.
5. A patriotic man with a career as a professional athlete enlists in the armed forces to serve his country. He is shipped to a foreign country, where he becomes disillusioned with his "mission," of being a target/cannon fodder/bullet sponge. He is slain by members of his own unit, yet his death is rearranged and retold as a noble tale of heroism and sacrifice in the face of the enemy. TPTB move swiftly to bury the truth, brutally lying to the man's family and the world. The coverup conspiracy is deep and wide, yet the truth sneaks out. A low-level scapegoat or two are tossed to the crowd as sacrifices, yet the organization goes on with business as usual, with no punishment for those who crafted the conspiracy.
6. Oh, yeah, and this, from a recent Washington Post:http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/articles/a-hidden-world-growing-beyond-control/
Crazy stuff, huh? Just imagine if any of it were true! Remember, conspiracies don't exist!
Insert Jedi mind trick here...
Well, duh. Because those in power lie to us. They're so terrified of anything resembling the truth, and so contemptuous of the common folk, that they'll push any load of reeking manure as "The Official Version." Usually, this is so transparently idiotic, and so easily disproved, it's a wonder why they bother. But they follow the Goebbels maxim, "Repeat a lie often enough, and it becomes the truth."
So TPTB have their flunkies promote a distorted meme and wonder why anyone with a brain doesn't swallow it. Then they work very hard to cover up or discredit anything contradicting the official version. You know, when a group acts together in this way, it is, by nature, a conspiracy. That's why we believe in so many-- because they're happening! If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks, sounds, smells, and feels like a duck, has the dimensions and DNA of a duck, with a big sign around its neck saying DUCK, we're told we are unhinged if we call it a duck.
People who question the whitewashing coverup are called crazy, paranoid, nutbags who wear tinfoil hats and believe in all kind of crazy things. Their detractors sometimes go too far, as one who complained about people believing in a conspiracy to kill Lincoln. Uh, it happened, dumbass, and people were hung for it. Sorry we're not as stupid as you think we are.
People use their emotions to make beliefs more often than they use facts. Sure, some people will believe anything, but when vast numbers of rational people doubt the word of our government, we have a crisis. We doubt them because they refuse to tell us the truth about anything that matters.
A conspiracy is just a group of people acting in their own interests to screw the rest of us.
So let's play The Conspiracy Game! See if you can guess these common kooky conspiracies!
1. The leader of a nation is assassinated by a supposed lone gunman, with numerous shadowy ties to multiple criminal organizations opposed to the slain leader. Days later, the alleged assassin is in turn slain, despite being "guarded" by numerous armed law-enforcement officers. This SECOND convenient "lone gunman" also has numerous ties to these organizations, and can offer no convincing motivation for his deed. TPTB convene a show commission, spend months of toil and millions of dollars, to produce a multi-volume fairy story that puts the Brothers Grimm to shame. This ludicrous farce awakens the country to the fact that they will never again get the truth from their government.
2. A country that believes in voting to elect its leaders has an election that is close. Rather than going through the bother of actually counting the votes cast, a group of people with amazing power decide that they will pick the winner, and so they appoint their chosen buddy. Somehow, the country agrees to let this happen, and the world is plunged into a nightmare. When those votes are finally counted, they show conclusively that the opponent won the election, by thousands of votes. This bloodless coup of treason goes unpunished.
3. After a horrendous act of violence against its populace, a nation retaliates by declaring war against a third party with no ties to the incident (like invading Mexico for the attack on Pearl Harbor). To prop up this illegal activity, TPTB spread the lie for years that there was a connection, until finally admitting it was not true. Yet they are so efficient that a significant portion of the populace still believes the lie, and supports the criminals and their efforts. The conspirators, some of whom had been planning this path for 20 years, are rewarded lavishly.
4. A huge worldwide organization with unlimited wealth and power discover that thousands of their officials routinely engage in the sexual abuse of children. Their response is continued public denial, and the transfer of the predators to new pastures, where they continue to rape and abuse children. The organization does nothing to halt the criminal activity and continues business as usual, which keeps them comfy and secure, amidst a world of poverty and oppression. The predators and their protectors continue to go unpunished.
5. A patriotic man with a career as a professional athlete enlists in the armed forces to serve his country. He is shipped to a foreign country, where he becomes disillusioned with his "mission," of being a target/cannon fodder/bullet sponge. He is slain by members of his own unit, yet his death is rearranged and retold as a noble tale of heroism and sacrifice in the face of the enemy. TPTB move swiftly to bury the truth, brutally lying to the man's family and the world. The coverup conspiracy is deep and wide, yet the truth sneaks out. A low-level scapegoat or two are tossed to the crowd as sacrifices, yet the organization goes on with business as usual, with no punishment for those who crafted the conspiracy.
6. Oh, yeah, and this, from a recent Washington Post:http://projects.washingtonpost.com/top-secret-america/articles/a-hidden-world-growing-beyond-control/
Crazy stuff, huh? Just imagine if any of it were true! Remember, conspiracies don't exist!
Insert Jedi mind trick here...
Friday, January 1, 2010
Things for the New Year
There are many things I'd like to see in the new year for the people of the world. Let's start with some important issues for our country, things we all should see:
Proper and affordable health care for the citizens of this nation. Almost every other industrialized country has it, why are we the noncaring, dumbass exception?
Gooder education. Yeah, we're behind everyone else in this, too. Probably because we don't value intelligence in this country, and instead of spending money for teachers and strong, effective schools, we spend it on bombs overseas.
A robust economy-- uh, this doesn't mean giving millions of taxpayer dollars to rich people and banks.
A healthy infrastructure-- we need safe bridges, good roads, improved rail and public transport systems, among other things. Seems like a no-brainer.
Clean air, water, and food. Each year, thousands of Americans are killed because we have an apathetic lack of inspection and regulation of our food supply. More people are killed by dirty food each year than died in all the terror attacks combined. Where's the outrage?
An abatement of the slaughter and mayhem inflicted on human beings. Life is short enough, we don't need to prematurely end it.
A wake-up call for the American public, whose “leaders” do not represent the people, but are bribed by large corporations. Time to enable clean elections and stop voting for either “party” and support somebody else, someone that's not R or D.
A dose of reality for anyone who thinks we will win a “War on Terror.” (See the War on Poverty, the War on Drugs, War on Crime, etc. Last we checked, those are still flourishing, despite billions spent in the “War”.) Fighting for peace is like screwing for chastity. Every time we massacre a group of civilians in hopes of getting a few bad guys, we create more opponents than we killed. All those dead men, women, and children have relatives, friends, and vengeful sympathizers, in a homicidal rage against the folks that did the killing. And so it never, ever ends. Just from a numbers sense, when you create millions of opponents, who will do anything and everything to hurt you, chances are they're going to get a few good shots in. It's not “collateral damage”, it's the senseless slaughter of human beings, and yeah, those millions of people are outraged when we kill their countrymen. Duh. Oh, and by the way, this country is the biggest arms dealer in the world, selling weapons to people who often turn them back on us. How frigging stupid is that?
Another dose of reality for those who support unlimited wars, and yet who complain about their taxes (usually the same group). This country has over 750 military bases around the world, and we spend countless billions on them. So if you're all for that, shut your whining, hypocritical piehole about how high your taxes are. You want the Pax Americana, pony up and shut up. Some of us think that money could be better spent making us safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous. Geez, imagine.
Affordable, reasonable college educations. The middle class is getting crushed, and when the middle class goes down, this country is gone.
Golly, does that all seem like crazy stuff? Why are we choosing to make the world crappy, full of fear and murder? Why do we have millions without a job, millions more without healthcare? Are we too stupid to do better?
Another writer says some good things:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-wright/new-years-wish-getting-my_b_405900.html
Proper and affordable health care for the citizens of this nation. Almost every other industrialized country has it, why are we the noncaring, dumbass exception?
Gooder education. Yeah, we're behind everyone else in this, too. Probably because we don't value intelligence in this country, and instead of spending money for teachers and strong, effective schools, we spend it on bombs overseas.
A robust economy-- uh, this doesn't mean giving millions of taxpayer dollars to rich people and banks.
A healthy infrastructure-- we need safe bridges, good roads, improved rail and public transport systems, among other things. Seems like a no-brainer.
Clean air, water, and food. Each year, thousands of Americans are killed because we have an apathetic lack of inspection and regulation of our food supply. More people are killed by dirty food each year than died in all the terror attacks combined. Where's the outrage?
An abatement of the slaughter and mayhem inflicted on human beings. Life is short enough, we don't need to prematurely end it.
A wake-up call for the American public, whose “leaders” do not represent the people, but are bribed by large corporations. Time to enable clean elections and stop voting for either “party” and support somebody else, someone that's not R or D.
A dose of reality for anyone who thinks we will win a “War on Terror.” (See the War on Poverty, the War on Drugs, War on Crime, etc. Last we checked, those are still flourishing, despite billions spent in the “War”.) Fighting for peace is like screwing for chastity. Every time we massacre a group of civilians in hopes of getting a few bad guys, we create more opponents than we killed. All those dead men, women, and children have relatives, friends, and vengeful sympathizers, in a homicidal rage against the folks that did the killing. And so it never, ever ends. Just from a numbers sense, when you create millions of opponents, who will do anything and everything to hurt you, chances are they're going to get a few good shots in. It's not “collateral damage”, it's the senseless slaughter of human beings, and yeah, those millions of people are outraged when we kill their countrymen. Duh. Oh, and by the way, this country is the biggest arms dealer in the world, selling weapons to people who often turn them back on us. How frigging stupid is that?
Another dose of reality for those who support unlimited wars, and yet who complain about their taxes (usually the same group). This country has over 750 military bases around the world, and we spend countless billions on them. So if you're all for that, shut your whining, hypocritical piehole about how high your taxes are. You want the Pax Americana, pony up and shut up. Some of us think that money could be better spent making us safe, happy, healthy, and prosperous. Geez, imagine.
Affordable, reasonable college educations. The middle class is getting crushed, and when the middle class goes down, this country is gone.
Golly, does that all seem like crazy stuff? Why are we choosing to make the world crappy, full of fear and murder? Why do we have millions without a job, millions more without healthcare? Are we too stupid to do better?
Another writer says some good things:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-wright/new-years-wish-getting-my_b_405900.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)