Let’s Turn Our Backs On Warring Attitudes

Ron Paul states we might have to get used to the idea of an Iran with nuclear power. Well, duh. I mean short of going in and taking away their nuclear capability what else are we going to do?

He points out that our current policies actually encourage Iran to pursue nukes. I agree, but the fault doesn’t lie only with the U.S. It’s basic human nature that when you don’t get along with your neighbor, who has the ability to wipe out your entire existence, you take action to defend yourself. Your choices are, you develop an equally powerful ability to wipe out his existence or you talk out your differences like the evolved and civilized adults we like to think we are.

It’s very clear that the method of sanctions the world community used in an attempt to prevent Iran from building nuclear power failed. It’s equally clear that given the history of animosity between Iran and the U.S. that Iran feels with 100% certainty that they need to defend itself. In this regard is where I agree with Ron Paul.

This mad cycle of one-upmanship of pursuing more threatening weapons than the other guy is foolish, childish and so preventable.

Thomas Jefferson: “The more you use your power the less you have.”

Do these words sound like those of anyone in power today. No. Why has America and, as a result, the world community, ‘progressed’ to the point that we view military power as the desired measure of security?

The U.S. has the attitude “You other nation’s live peacefully our we will kill you.”

Religious zealots follow the conviction “You believe as we do or we will kill you.”

Does any of this make any sense when we consider that every person on this planet wants to survive? A very small number of people within the world population subscribe to chaos for whatever reason, these people should be identified and locked away where they cannot do any harm. Other than that there is no sane reason why the any nation should direct its financial resources to the act of killing as opposed to the act of nurturing its fellow citizens.

The sooner the entire world adopts the idea that no one needs to ‘rule’ over anyone just for the sake of political power the better off this world ‘community’ will be.

Stop throwing money at destruction and start throwing it at more constructive purposes such as feeding the hungry, curing diseases, and education.

Oh, and how about stop idolizing individual financial wealth. Once we adopt the idea that we are all working towards the improvement of our one community and that every single person must contribute we will all be wealthier for it.

So they want to stick gruesome images on cigarette packs..??

Why not pictures of starving children on McDonald's packaging..?

Why not tortured animals on cosmetics products..?

Why not put the photos of the victims of drunken drivers, on beer and wine bottles..?

Why not pictures of dishonest, thieving Politicians enjoying our money, on tax returns..?

Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.

No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Fourth Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

Third Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.

No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.

Second Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.

As passed by the Congress:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

As ratified by the States:

A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

First Amendment to the Constitution of the U.S.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Ron Paul and Main Stream Media

The media is tasked with getting info out to the public, right? The public should expect that info to be accurate, clearly presented and as complete as is humanly possible. In other words we don’t want lies, slants, tweaks to make it sound better, and we don’t want the media to ignore news because the media ‘thinks’ we don’t want to hear it.

The media does not get to ‘shield’ us from the truth as if it were our guardian trying to protect us. Give us the news, all of the news.

So, why is main stream media ignoring Ron Paul?

The media is covering GOP candidates that are ranked lower than him in polls. Polls that clearly identify choices the public has made.

When the media can pick and choose to cover only the candidates it chooses to then ‘fair and balanced’ along with ethics is taking a back seat to what CorporAmerica wants.

American media today is bought and paid for by CorporAmerica. They show this to be true the coverage they give and the coverage they don’t give.

The Journalist’s Creed is a code of ethics written around 1906 by Walter Williams shortly after founding the Missouri School of Journalism.

One of the statements made in that creed is “I believe that suppression of the news, for any consideration other than the welfare of society, is indefensible.”

Has this creed been tossed onto yesterday’s trash pile? It would seem so.

Have professional journalist thrown their ethics out the window for a paycheck? It would seem so.

The very large vacuum that has been left today’s ‘professional journalists’ is being filled by everyday citizens who want to get what they feel is missing in journalism today. The full and accurate news can be found only by citizen news reporters.

We have to educate ourselves in order to make informed decisions about our world. Relying only on the slanted and clearly biased news as presented by CorporAmerica will only serve them.

Reawaken the natural curiosity that separates humans from sheep and lemmings. We are not bred to be followers. We are not on this planet to be good little consumers of the watered down and biased version of the ‘truth’ tailored to match the views of CorporAmerica.

We can think for ourselves. We can make our own decisions. But we need a more complete picture than what main stream media is giving us.

Seek the real truth by following multiple sources. Don’t stake your future on only one source simply because it is convenient and less time consuming. The truth as it affects our future is worth much more than being thrifty with our time.

Be better informed in order to make better decisions for the sake of our nation’s future.

BART Police Shooting – July 3

Charles Hill ‘allegedly’ threw a knife at a BART policeman on July 3 and was killed for it. Witnesses say Mr. Hill did throw the knife. But did he deserve to die for it?

Law and Order fanatics will no doubt respond with a loud and forceful ‘YES!”. I’m for law and order. But this man did not deserve to die at the hands of a public servant.

Police are trained to respond to an attack on them or the public with deadly force. I think they should be.

Police should also be trained to look deeper into the situation. After the knife was thrown Mr. Hill was now unarmed. So, the police officer now retaliated against an action taken towards him rather than defended his life and public safety. Retaliation is NOT an acceptable reason for a police officer to use deadly force.

Witnesses say the homeless Mr. Hill was drunk. I’m willing to bet that the unidentified police officer could see that Mr. Hill was drunk. Given that situation, the act of throwing the knife was most certainly an act of defiance. Had Mr. Hill pulled a gun I would be one of the first to applaud the officer for the shooting. But, this is not the case.

My use of the term ‘excessive use of force’ in this situation will no doubt be challenged by policemen everywhere. It was clearly unnecessary for this police officer to fire his weapon at Mr. Hill. This weapon was fired because the officer was pissed off at this civilian for having the ‘audacity’ to strike out at him. This type of behavior is unbecoming a peace officer.

This type of ‘split-second’, reactionary behavior breaks down the respect that the civilian population should have for its police force. This type of behavior breeds ‘fear’ from the civilian population. We should never ‘fear’ our public servants.

In the long history of ‘officer involved shooting’ investigations nearly 100% of the time the officer involved is found to be free of any wrong-doing. In the eyes of the public and especially eye witnesses to these shootings, the police have become a ‘government sanctioned street gang’ who will stand by each other no matter how atrocious and culpable their actions against the general public.

Our nation’s police forces need to start working WITH the public whom they are sworn to protect and check their ego and machismo at the door.

The retaliation killing of an unarmed, drunken individual is not acceptable.

Anonymous: Fighting the “Good Fight”

The group Anonymous is taking the leading role of fighting for all of us. You may not agree with their tactics but how do you stand up to a government’s armed force without being arrested for ‘interfering’ when you want to voice your displeasure with how they treat our fellow citizens?

Whenever there is a social injustice done to any one of us it is done to all of us. Why? Because it shows their general attitude towards us.

When police feel they have the right to beat to death an unarmed person, or shoot to death someone ‘wielding a cement trowel’ or other obviously non-life threatening instrument, they feel they are exercising their right to ‘power over all of us’.

There are too many police officers who get a thrill out of exercising power over other people. These individuals need to be identified and ‘reprogrammed’ back into society.

Anonymous is a loosely knit organization for a very good reason. Choosing not to follow the typical ‘corporate-think’ that says any organization has to have a leader to succeed is beneficial on several levels. Decentralization allows more of us citizens to take matters into our own hands to do our part instead of relying on leadership to do it for us. We each need to take an active role in standing up to social injustice.

The established mentality of the government is that anyone who opposes them are criminals. Is it criminal to stand up to them? Is it criminal to voice our displeasure when the police use excessive force?

Instead of focusing on the messenger they need to focus on the message. If that were to happen perhaps there would be no need for the messenger.

It is not okay for our government to block any means of speech to further their power over us. Blocking of cell phones, just like blocking of news media, goes directly against our constitutionally given right to free speech.

If you give any little bit of it up where will it end?

We have no need to view the group as a threat, they are the good guys. They are an ally in fighting against a self-serving, power-hungry structure that chooses to suppress our rights if doing so furthers their desires to become more and more powerful.

Standing up for each other is the best way to stand up for ourselves.

Iowa Straw Poll Indicates Radical Shift

The ultra-conservatives among the Republican presidential candidates seem to be gaining an upper hand. Michelle Bachmann took first place in Iowa’s Ames Straw Poll, an early unofficial vote to determine where the candidates stand.

• Michelle Bachmann 28%
• Ron Paul 27%
• Tim Pawlenty 13%
• Mitt Romney 3%
• Rick Perry 3%

The message of “no more Obama” can be heard loud and clear from every candidate but the most important message we tax payers wont to hear is HOW are things going to improve with one of these candidates as president?

Through all the rhetoric, I have not heard one solid hint at a plan to turn this nations woes around.

Anybody can get in front of a crowd of people who are demanding “Obama must go” and yell to the crowd that “Obama must go” and get cheers. But this does not result in anything to improve our situation.

So far the record of ‘accomplishments’ touted by each of these candidates have only been tested in very small scale arenas. It is doubtful that what they bring to the table will result in wide spread improvement for the country.

Rick Perry claims he holds the ‘magic key’ to put people back to work based on what has happened on his watch as Texas governor. But a close examination shows that the increase in  employment in his state has been in low-paying jobs, and have come as a result of deregulation and painful cuts in social spending. Put this on the national stage and his ‘plan’ will be to allow special interests to write their own rules, hire corporate lobbyists to oversee corporations, and cut funding for programs that would create opportunity for middle class families. How is this a real improvement to the US tax payer. This will result in more wealth going to the upper class which is the basically the same plan all of these candidates will follow.

We Americans have become the servant class to world corporations. Not one Republican will do anything to improve that situation.

Americans are not asking for a bigger federal government to ‘take care’ of our every need. We need the assistance of corporations working with the federal government – because this is where all the money is.

America has become so dependent on corporations that we have become a corporate nation with politicians unable to get anything done without their financial backing. Why should all of that financial backing go to only the upper class when the middle class workers helped those very corporations succeed?

I’m not asking to ‘give away the farm’, I’m asking to recognize the contribution that the American worker has given this country and not just throw them away after they have been used up.

History has shown that many, many Americans will stay away from the polls next year. If you want the wave of rapidly rising ultra-conservatism to wash over this country then do as you have in the past, stay home and let others decide your future for you. Every individual vote does count. Get out and vote for someone in what ever party most closely matches what you would like to see for our future. Each of us is voting for more than just ourselves, we are voting for everyone. Please, don’t let us down.

Police brutality in Fullerton CA catches the attention of Anonymous

Background: police were called due to a theft from a convenience store. When they arrived witnesses pointed to Kelly Thomas, 37 and homeless. He ran when they called out to him. Police up to him and six uniformed police officers beat him so badly that he slipped into a coma and five days later, died.

Police confiscated all cameras from witnesses and refuse to release them to their rightful owners.

The question begs to be asked, why did six police officers beat this man? Why did they feel it necessary to beat him past the point of submission?

It was later revealed that this homeless man suffers from schizophrenia, but that fact could not be known at the time of his brutal beating and therefore does not play into this scenario. The fact that does play into it is a very severe beating was brought down on this citizen by six uniformed, tax payer supported public servants.

It is outrageous that any citizen be beaten this badly. The fear that this behavior invokes in the rest of us is very real and I believe orchestrated. Each police office who ever participates in the beating of any suspect is seeing every law-breaker as their enemy and they using the situation to display their collective might.

This homeless man was not a threat to any of these officers nor was he a threat to the general public. So again I ask, why was he so severely beaten? There is a deep psychological problem with policemen who behave in this manner that needs to be addressed. And given the long history of police officers in these situations being cleared of all wrong-doing only adds to their belief that they can freely and with impunity work off their frustrations on any unsuspecting citizen.

The police resort to street gang tactics. Plain and simple. They are at times no better than the real criminals and social deviants they are sworn to protect us from.

Everyone knows you cannot walk up to a police officer and voice your anger over the brutality they display without being arrested on a trumped up charge of ‘interfering’ in police business. Which is why we believe we are living in a police state.

Whether you support the methods Anonymous uses or not, they are fighting back against this police state the only way they can without the fear of being beaten themselves. I for one support their actions. I for one wish the police would control their animalistic methods so that a group like Anonymous would not be needed.

Another Season of Mud-Slinging, Non-Substantive Presidential ‘Debates’ Begins

Last nights ‘debate’ revealed two things: the candidates are eager to perfect their talent for mud-slinging, and the press still lacks the knowledge of how to best serve the public.

Gingrich attacked the press, rightly so, for focusing on rivalries among the candidates instead of on what each candidate will offer the citizens as our president.

Even if the press did not play devil’s advocate the civil tone in this nation’s campaigns has been on a downhill slide for a long time.

Most people want to hear what they are going to do for us, some people want to hear them tear each other down. The press plays to the lowest common denominator actively seeking out that which shows the most drama and I am fed up with it.

The press is not serving the public well when they stoop to reporting on these schoolyard brawls. Find some maturity

Chris Wallace should be ashamed of himself for going for the juggler with the loaded inane questions he put forth.

Pawlenty said that Bachmann was just a loudmouth in a dress. His opinion of a fellow candidate has no place in this debate. We the public have our own opinion of each of these candidates, we want to learn why we should elevate our opinion of each candidate based on what they can offer us as president not on how well they can put each other down.

I for one am sick and tired of hearing candidates tell us how bad a choice the other candidate will be. I want to hear how good YOU will be.

To all candidates: Please put this nation’s best interests ahead of your ego. We don’t need another photogenic, smooth-talking, mud-slinging, mouthpiece who’s opinions only come from the teleprompter.

Where oh where can this candidate be?

Short Sighted and Stubborn, But Its Workable

I go to Twitter to try to catch up on the latest gossip and news around the web. It’s only one of several sources I frequent but too often it is becoming a waste of time.

Granted I do still learn a few things. Most of the time I just end up shaking my head at the ridiculous comments and ideas being tossed around out there. Still, it is entertaining.

I have now reached that ‘certain’ age where I can no longer be surprised at the idiocy and the ignorance of many of my fellow citizens. Twitter and the anonymity of the internet in general have been instrumental in allowing these two flaws of humankind to grow exponentially.

But it’s the short sightedness and unnecessary meanness that truly blows me away.

America is over 230 years old. While we are a young nation compared to almost all other countries, we are still experienced enough in how to run a country to know better than to do a lot of the things our representatives are doing. Hell, we have a track record that proves this nation knows how to be the most powerful country in the world. And I’m not just talking about military power.

We have been the leader in pretty much every arena we have ever been involved in. That is until the last 30-40 years.

People, we are losing it big time.

Our politicians, our corporate leaders, our mentors, are all quickly becoming second and third rate compared to the rest of the world. We are really only very good at one thing, we can blow the hell out of anyone and anything with a precision and ferocity that would make any military figure in history proud.

I personally, don’t think this achievement is much to be proud of. Now, I’m not putting down the men and women who serve our country. Many in are in the position they are in because there are no jobs in the US and the military was truly the only option they had. I know, I was once one of them. I back them all 100% in the task they have been trained to do. I truly wish the world was a place where military was not needed at all for any country. But that is a dream that will never come true.

The bottom line is that the United States is not number one in anything that really matters anymore. And it is a direct result of the American people. Honestly, we cannot blame anyone else for ending up in the situation we find ourselves in today.

Looking at the United States as a whole: we don’t have the class we used to have. We don’t have the pride we used to have. We don’t have what it takes to pull together as one nation to defeat our enemies. Our politicians have become a bunch of finger-pointing, ass-covering, second-guessers, who have dragged this once great nation to the brink of ruin.

Look at the economic situation we find ourselves in, our credit rating has fallen from the very top, pristine, most coveted position anyone can aspire to. Democrats and Republicans blame each other for our inability to hold on to this position. Citizens align themselves with one party of the other, step in line with the party rhetoric and draw battle lines. All of this finger pointing and condemnation consumes almost every tweet on twitter and every comment on every political webpage and blog.

We as a nation have a long history of having faced the same problems we face today and no one seems to want to look at the solutions that got us through those. Our leaders and representatives place more importance on posturing themselves for the next election, not so they can altruistically ‘better serve’ this nation, but so they can keep, what has turned out to be for many, the most lucrative financial position of their lives. The welfare of this nation and its citizens, it’s taxpayers, are no longer their number one priority.

The many problems this nation faces did not start with the most recent presidential election. All of these problems were present on inauguration day. Likewise, these problems existed on the previous inauguration day, and the one before that.

The many problems this nation faces become more and more compounded with each new president instead of being worked out. Yet many members of the political party that does not hold the presidential office will tell you in a heartbeat that it all started with the current president.

As I said, this nation has enough experience that we should be able to pull a solution out of the history books for every problem we face. And if Washington truly cared about the direction this nation is taking these problems would not be as daunting as they are.

We are a very stubborn nation. We are too accustomed to being number one in everything even despite the fact that every close examination of our position proves we have not been number one for a very long time.

I call it pride that prevents us from toning down our unsupportable lifestyle. I call it stubbornness that prevents us from reversing the destructive trend of always raising prices for every product in an attempt to make more money. We can prevent our downward economic spiral by declaring a moratorium on price increases, job wages, benefits packages, etc.

Sustained and collective sacrifice by all Americans will go a long way to reinforcing our foundation so that this nation can become solid again.

It is necessary for the sake and sanity of every member of this nation. We are all in this together. It is up to each and every one of us to get in our heads that saving this country is worth it and that it all begins with each of us.

Naturally, the Common People Don’t Want War

US Participating in Arms Race Against Civilian Population

The Pentagon and law enforcement agencies are clamoring all over themselves to obtain the absolute latest in what is being classified as non-lethal weapons. Like boys with new toys on Christmas morning our government (the very people who are charged with protecting us) is stockpiling weapons for the sole purpose of controlling us.

These “non-lethal” or “less-lethal” weapons are designed to control crowds, clear streets, subdue and restrain individuals and secure borders, they are the 21st century's version of the police baton, pepper spray and tear gas. The result is what appears to be the first arms race in which the opponent is the general population.

One can only surmise that our leaders are preparing for the backlash from the American population that is sure to result from the coming global economic collapse. Coupled with the unpredictable and increasingly catastrophic consequences of climate change and resource scarcity, along with a new era of austerity defined by rising unemployment and glaring inequality that have already led to massive protests in Spain, Greece, Egypt, and even Madison, Wisconsin, our elected officials are scared ‘shitless’ of the ‘common people’ that goes to make up these United States of America.

From the progressive era to the Great Depression to the civil rights movement, Americans have a rich history of taking to the streets to demand greater equality.

As a result of tens of millions of dollars invested in the research and development of more “media-friendly” weapons for everyday policing and crowd control, law enforcement and military personnel have traded-in old school weapons for more exotic and controversial technologies. The following are six of the most outrageous "non-lethal" weapons that will define the future of crowd control.

1. The Invisible Pain Ray: The 'Holy Grail of Crowd Control'

The Active Denial System, or ADS, works like an open-air microwave oven, projecting a focused beam of electromagnetic radiation to heat the skin of its targets to 130 degrees. This creates an intolerable burning sensation forcing those in its path to instinctively flee.

2. The Laser Blinding 'Dazzler'

The Personal Halting and Stimulation Response rifle, or PHaSR, is a massive laser shooter. PHaSR technology is being co-funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), Joint Non-Lethal Weapons Program (JNLWP), and the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and is being developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory. While JNLWP is interested in the technology for military applications, NIJ is focusing on its law enforcement use.

3. The Taser on Steroids 

The Albuquerque Police Department now has Taser shotguns in its arsenal. Most of us are familiar with hand-held Tasers and understand that they only work if the police are standing pretty close to you (about 20 feet).

4. Calmative Agents for Riot Control

Calmatives are chemical or biological agents with sedative, sleep-inducing or similar psychoactive effects. Although the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention prohibits the use of riot control agents in warfare, JNWLP and NIJ have long considered calmatives for both military and law enforcement applications, such as dispersing a crowd, controlling a riot or calming a noncompliant offender.

5. Screaming Microwaves That Pierce the Skull

Researchers are in the process of developing the Mob Excess Deterrent Using Silent Audio or MEDUSA (that's right, from Greek mythology), which uses a beam of microwaves to induce uncomfortable auditory sensations in the skull. The device exploits the microwave audio effect, in which short microwave pulses rapidly heat tissue, causing a shockwave inside the skull that can be detected by the ears.

6. Ear-Splitting Siren

The Long Range Acoustic Device, or LRAD, built by American Technology Corporation, focuses and broadcasts sound over ranges of up to hundreds of yards. LRAD has been around for years, but Americans first took notice when police used it in Pittsburgh to ward off protesters at the 2009 G-20 summit. It is generally used in two ways: as a megaphone to order protesters to disperse; or, if they disobey, as an “ear-splitting siren” to drive them away.

As a result of the creation of these “non-lethal” weapons we the people are in fact being warned that our right to protest for political change is being severely weakened. The intimidation factor of bearing these weapons against us is itself a “non-lethal” weapon.

This is our tax dollars at work here people. Take note and remember our rights are dissolving right before our very eyes.

Are You A Slave?

"If you are afraid to speak against tyranny, then you are already a slave."

 --author John "Birdman" Bryant (1943-2009)

Pentagon Fears Budget Cuts

It seems Pentagon money managers will need to blow the dust off their accounting principles and bring their ethics on how to effectively spend other people’s money out into the cold harsh light of day. Their long ‘fat’ run of having so much money thrown at them that they lose track of it and don’t even blink an eye is about to end. And it’s about freaking time.

I’m all for a strong efficient military but I sincerely believe we could have our current military strength on about 30% less than what we have paid for it.

In all fairness, the fault of allowing cost over runs and blithely paying exorbitant prices for everything from hammers and toilet seats to aircraft carriers and nuclear tipped missiles does not fall on Pentagon officials alone.

There exists in this nation a culture of over-charging the federal government that is so deeply ingrained that it may take an entire generation to get rid of the thieves that keep it alive.

Every part, every service that gets charged to the federal government carries a price tag that is higher than when that same part and service is charged to any other purchasing entity. It has been this way for decades. We tax payers are not blind to this fact.

Every person who participates in this organizational system of theft every person who turns a blind eye or otherwise allows this activity to continue and thrive should be held accountable for theft of tax payer dollars.

These dollars come out of workers paychecks, including the very workers who are participating in this crime.

There is no reason for our government to have to pay such exorbitant prices other than out of pure greed.

This practice needs to stop now.

Is there anyone with the balls to stand up and say they are not going to participate in this organized theft?

The very financial stability of our nation depends on everyone to suck it up and eliminate the excessive spending that the Pentagon has been both party to and victim of.

Please, find it in your conscience to tighten up the spending gaps wherever you find them.

We don’t need ‘pet projects’, we need a lean and cost effective military.

We don’t need the next generation modernization of weapon systems that are already more than capable of keeping our military effective.

We Are Dumbing Ourselves Down

Truly sad stats that explains why our society is dumbing down so rapidly.

• One-third of high school graduates never read another book for the rest of their lives.
• 42 percent of college graduates never read another book after college.
• 80 percent of U.S. families did not buy or read a book last year.
• 70 percent of U.S. adults have not been in a bookstore in the last five years.
• 57 percent of new books are not read to completion.

I have checked books out of the library that I have not finished. If they don’t hold your attention why should you finish it? But that stat about 42% of college grads never reading another book? That’s a little frightening. One thing I’m not certain about, and isn’t mentioned in these statistics, is how they stack up over time — but I’ll bet you money that more than 42% of college grads kept reading books in the 1950s, 60s, 70s.

So what’s to blame? A shift in popular entertainment? The dominance of the screen over the printed page? Are books just less interesting than they used to be? Or are we, as a society, getting … dumber?

What do you think?

Stop Whining, Cut Military Spending and Make America Stronger

Starting to hear whining from the Pentagon and war hawks everywhere about how we dare not cut military spending for fear America will be over run by everyone who hates us. I have one word for them shouted as loudly as I can “BULLSHIT”.

America is a super power due to prowess, cunning and talent not because we throw vast amounts of money at over priced unneeded equipment. The people crying the loudest are those defense contractors and suppliers who are deepest in the pockets of US Congress.

Stand up and be counted among those of us who want to help save this nation from debt by rejecting the idea that because it isn’t ‘your money’ you can waste it however you want. I got news for you tax money is ‘your money’ and we need to stop the waste in order to be keep ourselves lean and strong.

To any and every contractor who sells to any entitiy of our government at exorbitant prices becuase you can get away with it, knock it off. It is our money too.

To every person living off of the government in any capacity for 'free' because you can when you know you can get by without doing so, knock it off. It is my money you are stealing.

Damn it, we are all in this together. Stop being low life weasels and ethical a**holes and stop ripping off the US taxpayer.

Start putting the future of this great nation ahead of yourselves and we will ALL benefit.

Business or Federal Government?

Which entity will offer the greatest ability to rebuild this country? The federal government or business?

The federal government has done some good for building this country’s infrastructure. The federal government has the ability to raise enormous amounts of funding to back the continued maintenance of our nations infrastructure. This area is where the federal government should focus its attention. Everything else requires business. The act of creating product that can be sold overseas is the domain of business. The federal government should not be involved in this.

A free market will rebuild this nation into the tower of strength we once enjoyed. America is sinking fast under our heavy debt. Debt that has been created by backward thinking individuals and groups who believe that only the federal government and their habit of throwing money at every problem has created.

More taxes will not solve this nation’s debt problems. Allowing corporations to funnel their earnings into foreign banks without paying one cent in taxes will not solve this nation’s debt problems.

Only by loosing the regulatory stranglehold placed on small businesses across this nation will we again be allowed to keep this nation strong.

The federal government has been too deeply in our pockets for far too long. Taxation, yes it is necessary. Irresponsible spending of our tax dollars, has to stop.

Allow small business to do what it does best, raise currency. Allow consumers to do what they do best, buy product. Buying product is the engine that drives a successful and rich country. Taking money away from consumers through increased taxation shifts the burden of supporting the economy into the hands of politicians who have proven they cannot properly manage our money.

Why Does America Give Away So Much When Americans Are Suffering?

I read this stat on twitter: “Since World War II United States has spent nearly $1 trillion (in 1997 dollars) on foreign aid. The result is debt, dependency and poverty.” It got me to thinking about how America’s conscientiousness has cost the US taxpayer. I’m all for helping those less fortunate people, nations, etc, but when our good intentions are being taken advantage of, something needs to change.

Why should the US continue to give away so much when we are suffering ourselves due to the lack of so much? To continue down this path makes no sense to me.

The stat I quoted above has not been substantiated, the author did not offer any supporting documentation but I believe it just the same. One has only to read history to know that this figure is not outside the realm of believability.

Should the US continue being ‘big brother’ to the world when we Americans so ill afford it? Do we continue this out of some guilt to being so well-off?