As Fox blares its criticism of TV sex and nudity, it fills its shows with it and actively tries to titillate viewers. Hypocrisy? Duh!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Friday, November 09, 2007
Tom Delay Still Lying About Health Care - Big Time!
Tom Delay was bad enough when he was the Speaker of the House, now he is speaking on the road and he is still a lying sack of poo. At a recent engagement in the UK, Delay stated the following:
“By the way, there’s no one denied health care in America. There are 47 million people who don’t have health insurance, but no American is denied health care in America.”
The crowd laughed derisively at the ludicrous lie. And here is why:
"Observers estimate that anywhere from one to 18 percent of Americans are denied health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. These conditions can range from heart disease to high cholesterol to yeast infections to being too skinny. "
As a person who was recently denied insurance coverage because I had a slightly high reading on a glucose tolerance test. Not diabetes or pre-diabetes but just one elevated number was enough to throw me into the “High Risk Pool”. This means if I want to pay 3 times the rate of anyone else in the state I can get insurance. For me it would be approximately $1500 a month! Might as well just deny it, but no, in Texas we have this phony pool so the insurance companies can lie and pretend that they do have insurance available for everyone. If I could afford $1500 a month for health insurance I wouldn’t need it. I could self-insure and that is what I have to do.
Now back to Mr. Poo Sack. He began his speech by predicted that if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, he or she would seek to install a universal health care, similar to the system in Britain. The crown applauded thunderously!
So Mr. Delay, shut up and head back to Texas so you can be prosecuted for whatever charges Ron Earl can dig up on you!
“By the way, there’s no one denied health care in America. There are 47 million people who don’t have health insurance, but no American is denied health care in America.”
The crowd laughed derisively at the ludicrous lie. And here is why:
"Observers estimate that anywhere from one to 18 percent of Americans are denied health insurance because of pre-existing health conditions. These conditions can range from heart disease to high cholesterol to yeast infections to being too skinny. "
As a person who was recently denied insurance coverage because I had a slightly high reading on a glucose tolerance test. Not diabetes or pre-diabetes but just one elevated number was enough to throw me into the “High Risk Pool”. This means if I want to pay 3 times the rate of anyone else in the state I can get insurance. For me it would be approximately $1500 a month! Might as well just deny it, but no, in Texas we have this phony pool so the insurance companies can lie and pretend that they do have insurance available for everyone. If I could afford $1500 a month for health insurance I wouldn’t need it. I could self-insure and that is what I have to do.
Now back to Mr. Poo Sack. He began his speech by predicted that if a Democrat is elected president in 2008, he or she would seek to install a universal health care, similar to the system in Britain. The crown applauded thunderously!
So Mr. Delay, shut up and head back to Texas so you can be prosecuted for whatever charges Ron Earl can dig up on you!
Tom Harkin Derides "King" George Bush
Tom Harken (D-Iowa) made one of the best and most impassioned speeches about the confirmation of Mukasey and the disregard for the rule of law by Bush that I have ever heard. I only wish there had been Senators in the chamber to hear him. I suspect it was to a mostly empty chamber.
He is so far as to call Bush a “king” and makes the valid point that even the King of England was held to the writ of Habeas Corpus as delineated in the Magna Carta. Watch it on Raw Story, it should make you shudder
He is so far as to call Bush a “king” and makes the valid point that even the King of England was held to the writ of Habeas Corpus as delineated in the Magna Carta. Watch it on Raw Story, it should make you shudder
Democrats Cave In and Confirm Mukasey as Attorney General
So last night the Democrats caved in and confirmed Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. This is the man who didn’t know if waterboarding was torture, even though the US had prosecuted other countries for war crimes for the practice. This spirit of reconciliation would be a good thing if we were dealing with a reasonable President. Bush is not such a man. He is a driven and corrupt ideologue who will not give an inch on anything he wants.
By caving in to his nominee, the Democrats have sent a dangerous signal to a would-be despot. They have told him it’s a green light for most anything he wants to do, and though there is much talk of a victory in the form of an overridden veto on the Water Projects Bill, I see nothing that indicates Bush is ready to work together with anyone.
For the record, 6 Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm Mukasey. For their names, go here. If they are your representatives, write them a letter asking them why they are giving Bush a free hand in his choice for Attorney General.
Those Democrats in Congress who are heady with success on the veto over ride, need to wake up and smell the dictatorship.
By caving in to his nominee, the Democrats have sent a dangerous signal to a would-be despot. They have told him it’s a green light for most anything he wants to do, and though there is much talk of a victory in the form of an overridden veto on the Water Projects Bill, I see nothing that indicates Bush is ready to work together with anyone.
For the record, 6 Democrats voted with Republicans to confirm Mukasey. For their names, go here. If they are your representatives, write them a letter asking them why they are giving Bush a free hand in his choice for Attorney General.
Those Democrats in Congress who are heady with success on the veto over ride, need to wake up and smell the dictatorship.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
AT&T Whistleblower Admits Connecting All Traffic to NSA Spy Operation
Big Brother is really out there! According to a whistleblower on the AT&T – NSA illegal wiretapping scandal. He was interviewed on MSNBC’s Countdown program today. He told host Keith Olbermann that he installed the splitters that routed all internet traffic to a secret room in San Francisco where the NSA monitors everything that goes through it.
Legal? Not at all, yet AT&T and the government are doing it. The Bush administration at work to spy on you without your permission or without a warrant again!
Legal? Not at all, yet AT&T and the government are doing it. The Bush administration at work to spy on you without your permission or without a warrant again!
ENDA Impeachment & Failures of Congress
Significant things are happening in Congress, but they are not the kind of significance I want to see. First was the pathetic squashing of Kucinich’s resolution to impeach Dick Cheney. Kucinich showed he has the pulse of the American people and introduced a resolution that clearly outlines Cheney’s crimes and at the very least would put on official record the lies and deceptions that Dick Cheney has pushed to the American people.
Because of a gutless showing by Democrats and a sneaky and very predictable tactic by the Republicans the measure has “gone to committee”, or in plain English, “shit canned”. Face it, the Republicans still control the House. They can successfully intimidate the Democrats and get their way even though they are in the minority.
The second significant thing was the passage of ENDA. I agree it is a landmark that such a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not only needed, but long overdue. The problem is it will be a hollow gesture and end up vetoed by Bush. The second problem is that it was done at the expense of gender identity. That part of the legislation was stripped out partly at the suggestion of the White House which will not sign the bill in the first place, so why is it gone? Imagine a Civil Rights Bill for Hispanics and Asians only. Would that be hailed as a great advancement?
So yes I am glad they passed ENDA even without the Baldwin Amendment, but it is a hollow victory. So pardon me if I don’t dance in the street. We still are not protected under federal law and until a bill is passed that actually gets signed into law, I will differ my celebration.
Because of a gutless showing by Democrats and a sneaky and very predictable tactic by the Republicans the measure has “gone to committee”, or in plain English, “shit canned”. Face it, the Republicans still control the House. They can successfully intimidate the Democrats and get their way even though they are in the minority.
The second significant thing was the passage of ENDA. I agree it is a landmark that such a bill that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is not only needed, but long overdue. The problem is it will be a hollow gesture and end up vetoed by Bush. The second problem is that it was done at the expense of gender identity. That part of the legislation was stripped out partly at the suggestion of the White House which will not sign the bill in the first place, so why is it gone? Imagine a Civil Rights Bill for Hispanics and Asians only. Would that be hailed as a great advancement?
So yes I am glad they passed ENDA even without the Baldwin Amendment, but it is a hollow victory. So pardon me if I don’t dance in the street. We still are not protected under federal law and until a bill is passed that actually gets signed into law, I will differ my celebration.
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
House Passes ENDA!
Nancy Pelosi speaks prior to the passage of the Employment Non Discrimination Act H.R. 3685, by a vote of 235-184.
John Lewis, one of my heroes speaks in favor of ENDA.
John Lewis, one of my heroes speaks in favor of ENDA.
Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn Targets by Senate Committee
More news about the investigation of Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn, the local area televangelists. Senator Grassley’s committee has requested audited financial statements and information about executives' pay and benefits, including private jets. These television ministries claim exemption as churches and claim exemption not only from paying taxes but from providing basic financial data.
In a quote from the Dallas Morning News, Senator Grassley said, "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces."
I have no problem with ministers being well paid, but I do have a problem with them hiding their financial doings and claiming tax exempt status with no oversight. My church files the forms and goes through a financial audit on a regular basis, why not theirs?
For further reading I suggest this site, Trinity Foundation. They investigate and expose church tax scams and televangelist abuse.
In a quote from the Dallas Morning News, Senator Grassley said, "The allegations involve governing boards that aren't independent and allow generous salaries and housing allowances and amenities such as private jets and Rolls-Royces."
I have no problem with ministers being well paid, but I do have a problem with them hiding their financial doings and claiming tax exempt status with no oversight. My church files the forms and goes through a financial audit on a regular basis, why not theirs?
For further reading I suggest this site, Trinity Foundation. They investigate and expose church tax scams and televangelist abuse.
Lots Of Government Snooping on My Blog - Welcome Folks!
Funny how all of a sudden I have lots of hits from Virginia, and most of them from government organizations or contractors? Also, most of those hits are going to the article about the Cheney Impeachment measure that was recently blocked. Some hits even came from the Naval Research Lab, just down the street from Mr. Cheney’s abode at the Naval Observatory. I gotta wonder if there might be a connection.
So to all those snoopers form the government, I am not a threat. I am only expressing my opinions on the issues of the day. The last time I checked, this was still in the Constitution, at least for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me and ask. I am about as open and accessible as anyone.
To the folks at Homeland Security and the TSA, I would appreciate the items you stole from my luggage a few weeks ago. These were checked at the Tampa Airport and mysteriously disappeared before arriving in Dallas. One was a legal stungun, the kind that I use for kinky fun, and the other was a collapsible police baton, also used for the above mentioned fun. Both were in my checked luggage and legal to transport.
To anyone else reading this, sorry for the digression, but I had to let them know. I send a claim, but I doubt I will ever hear anything from them. A word of caution. TSA and the folks inspecting your bags apparently have sticky fingers. If it’s valuable, carry it with you and if it’s not legal to carry on a plane, ship it or leave it home.
So to all those snoopers form the government, I am not a threat. I am only expressing my opinions on the issues of the day. The last time I checked, this was still in the Constitution, at least for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me and ask. I am about as open and accessible as anyone.
To the folks at Homeland Security and the TSA, I would appreciate the items you stole from my luggage a few weeks ago. These were checked at the Tampa Airport and mysteriously disappeared before arriving in Dallas. One was a legal stungun, the kind that I use for kinky fun, and the other was a collapsible police baton, also used for the above mentioned fun. Both were in my checked luggage and legal to transport.
To anyone else reading this, sorry for the digression, but I had to let them know. I send a claim, but I doubt I will ever hear anything from them. A word of caution. TSA and the folks inspecting your bags apparently have sticky fingers. If it’s valuable, carry it with you and if it’s not legal to carry on a plane, ship it or leave it home.
Government Sex Education Programs Fail - Abstenence Only Doesn't Work
The government is spending vast amounts of our money on what it calls sex education. What they teach is abstinence only sex education. What does this mean? Well it means just say no to sex. Want to know how well that works?
When I was much younger I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At the time since the school was a Baptist university, there were strict rules of behavior for students, at least for female students. Women at Baylor had a curfew, men did not. I suspect this was to keep the sweet virginal Baptist girls safe at night, a form of forced abstinence. Baylor had at that time the greatest number of unwanted pregnancies of any school in the Southwest Conference. See how well that worked?
Today a non partisan group released findings that pretty much say the same thing as other studies, abstinence only sex education is ineffective. The words of the study are clear when it comes to teenagers, “At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners….”
So the Bush Administration, those same folks who allegedly are for fiscal responsibility are pouring many millions of dollars into sex education programs that have been proven to be ineffective. In other words we’ve been duped again! How many times will this happen before the American people figure out that Bush and his bunch are ideology driven at the expense of fiscal responsibility and common sense? Come on folks wake up and smell the reality!
When I was much younger I attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas. At the time since the school was a Baptist university, there were strict rules of behavior for students, at least for female students. Women at Baylor had a curfew, men did not. I suspect this was to keep the sweet virginal Baptist girls safe at night, a form of forced abstinence. Baylor had at that time the greatest number of unwanted pregnancies of any school in the Southwest Conference. See how well that worked?
Today a non partisan group released findings that pretty much say the same thing as other studies, abstinence only sex education is ineffective. The words of the study are clear when it comes to teenagers, “At present there does not exist any strong evidence that any abstinence program delays the initiation of sex, hastens the return to abstinence or reduces the number of sexual partners….”
So the Bush Administration, those same folks who allegedly are for fiscal responsibility are pouring many millions of dollars into sex education programs that have been proven to be ineffective. In other words we’ve been duped again! How many times will this happen before the American people figure out that Bush and his bunch are ideology driven at the expense of fiscal responsibility and common sense? Come on folks wake up and smell the reality!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Third Secret Torture Memo Surfaces!
And just as the Senate blindly prepares to approve another Bush toady as Attorney General another “secret memo” on torture activities is released by the ACLU. It is Gonzales handiwork and has been withheld in the investigation of illegal torture techniques used by the CIA.
Call or write your Senator and urge him to reconsider confirming Mukasey as AG.
Call or write your Senator and urge him to reconsider confirming Mukasey as AG.
Cheney Impeachment Vote Blocked By Democrats & GOP
Dennis Kucinich brought the measure to impeach Vice President Dick Cheney to the House today as promised. Surprisingly the GOP backed it at the last minute trying to force a floor vote. What they knew was the Democrats were spineless and feared debate as much as the GOP. Instead the measure was sent to committee and essentially trashed.
Dennis Kucinich may very well be the most honest and courageous man in Congress. His candidacy for President has been derided as a long shot. Mostly that would be because of the press. The media loves to burlesque people who are different, and Dennis is different. He is honest and liberal and unafraid to tell truth to power. Because of that the media has discounted him as unelectable. I wish the American people would prove them wrong, however I suspect that will not happen.
Cheney’s impeachment would have sent the kind of message that the American people sent the Democrats to Congress for. The problem is that once someone actually tells it like it is, the big forces behind the scenes squelch them for fear of changing the status quo.
I had hoped Barak Obama would be such a man, but his embrace of the homophobic singer Donnie McClurkin has left me speechless. Whoever Obama’s advisors are, they should be fired. In that one move he lost the LGBT vote while trying to pander to the African American community. The sad truth is that the African American community is behind Hillary more than Barak and so the effort is backfiring.
Some dismiss Kucinich as a wacko, but having met the man and listened to him speak, I think he has more sense than the rest of the Democratic and Republican field combined. Not to mention he has a smokin’ hot wife! (Yes even a gay man can appreciate that!) Give ‘em hell Dennis! You got my vote.
Dennis Kucinich may very well be the most honest and courageous man in Congress. His candidacy for President has been derided as a long shot. Mostly that would be because of the press. The media loves to burlesque people who are different, and Dennis is different. He is honest and liberal and unafraid to tell truth to power. Because of that the media has discounted him as unelectable. I wish the American people would prove them wrong, however I suspect that will not happen.
Cheney’s impeachment would have sent the kind of message that the American people sent the Democrats to Congress for. The problem is that once someone actually tells it like it is, the big forces behind the scenes squelch them for fear of changing the status quo.
I had hoped Barak Obama would be such a man, but his embrace of the homophobic singer Donnie McClurkin has left me speechless. Whoever Obama’s advisors are, they should be fired. In that one move he lost the LGBT vote while trying to pander to the African American community. The sad truth is that the African American community is behind Hillary more than Barak and so the effort is backfiring.
Some dismiss Kucinich as a wacko, but having met the man and listened to him speak, I think he has more sense than the rest of the Democratic and Republican field combined. Not to mention he has a smokin’ hot wife! (Yes even a gay man can appreciate that!) Give ‘em hell Dennis! You got my vote.
Televangelists Investigated by Senate Committee
Now it seems that the chickens are coming home to roost. The Senate is finally investigating the televangelism racket. Six prominent TV preachers are under scrutiny as to their tax exempt status. Among them Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long.
Senator Grassley, the Iowa Republican, is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to evade taxes and shield lavish lifestyles. Interesting that a Republican should lead this effort? Does this signal a turn away from the radical fundamentalists that have been the GOP base for so long?
I eagerly await their findings.
Senator Grassley, the Iowa Republican, is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to evade taxes and shield lavish lifestyles. Interesting that a Republican should lead this effort? Does this signal a turn away from the radical fundamentalists that have been the GOP base for so long?
I eagerly await their findings.
Homeland Security Visits My Blog
My post on the Homeland Security proposal "Secure Flight" apparently got the attention of Homeland Security. The HS folks spent a few minutes reading the post and my profile so who knows if I will be able to fly in the future?
To the HS folks, welcome to free speech in our country! The proposals, though I understand is intended to help make things more secure, has that backfire potential that makes it not worth the effort. The next step would lead to closing our borders and after that I don't even want to think about.
To the HS folks, welcome to free speech in our country! The proposals, though I understand is intended to help make things more secure, has that backfire potential that makes it not worth the effort. The next step would lead to closing our borders and after that I don't even want to think about.
Someone Stole My Book - Part 2
Well I sent a letter to Scribd notifying them that the material that was posted was copyrigted and not authorized to be on their site. I was plesantly surprised when the removed it within a few hours.
I appreciate their diligence, however there seems to be something wrong with this system. They have a site that has absolutely no requirement for copyright verification when was posted by "Annon" . Now come on folks, if you don't even track who posts the stuff it seems to me you are aiding in the problem. Would a check cashing place cash checks on accounts without insisting on ID? Not if they wanted to stay in business long. The problem here is Scribd has nothing to lose. The make the copyright owners police the site for infractions and then correct the matter if it is caught.
If it is caught is the key. Over 2000 people read my book online according to the Scribd log. That might mean 2000 potential sales and that costs me money. Now I don't make squat from these books anyway, but that doesn't mean I worked all that time for nothing. Additionally I paid a very skilled artist to make the illustrations in the book. These were online as well.
Well enough of the rant. My point is you can parse the words in the mission statement, but having no verification for material posted sucks.
I appreciate their diligence, however there seems to be something wrong with this system. They have a site that has absolutely no requirement for copyright verification when was posted by "Annon" . Now come on folks, if you don't even track who posts the stuff it seems to me you are aiding in the problem. Would a check cashing place cash checks on accounts without insisting on ID? Not if they wanted to stay in business long. The problem here is Scribd has nothing to lose. The make the copyright owners police the site for infractions and then correct the matter if it is caught.
If it is caught is the key. Over 2000 people read my book online according to the Scribd log. That might mean 2000 potential sales and that costs me money. Now I don't make squat from these books anyway, but that doesn't mean I worked all that time for nothing. Additionally I paid a very skilled artist to make the illustrations in the book. These were online as well.
Well enough of the rant. My point is you can parse the words in the mission statement, but having no verification for material posted sucks.
Monday, November 05, 2007
I Feel Violated - Someone Stole My Book!
I was surfing the net yesterday during a break in teaching a class at Kinky Kollege in Chicago when what to my wondering eyes appears, but the full text and illustrations from my book, “Family Jewels” online!
Now I am not a fat cat author who lollygags around all day dining at Spago and sipping mineral water. I am a poor sucker who works freelance and makes a slight, very slight income from the sale of my books. I found the site called http://www.scribd.com/. It is a site designed to steal intellectual property from the rightful owners and distribute it for free. Now I have as much angst toward “the man” as the next old burned out hippy, but come on folks! First Napster now this? For God sakes the book is available in some libraries, and if you can scrape together $13 bucks you can own a copy. Send it to me and I’ll even sign it, but don’t steal it!
This kind of crap, though it may be done in the name of “freedom of information” makes as much sense as “freedom of money” as a justification for robbing banks. I am pursuing legal remedies to persuade the misguided folks at scribed to remove the book, and I would encourage all authors to check the site for their works. Mine was posted with an intentional misspelling in the title to avoid search engines finding it, but I found it and I am not happy about it. I don’t have the funds to mount a big law suit and I sincerely hope they will remove it voluntarily.
To the folks at Scribd, give me a break! Authors toil for years in some cases to produce their work and they have a right to make a living from what they write. If I stole the code that runs the Scribid website, I suspect you would not be pleased.
To everyone else, don’t download stuff from this site that is in obvious violation of copyright law. Stealing is stealing weather it is done with a keyboard and a mouse or a gun and a mask. Enough already!
Now I am not a fat cat author who lollygags around all day dining at Spago and sipping mineral water. I am a poor sucker who works freelance and makes a slight, very slight income from the sale of my books. I found the site called http://www.scribd.com/. It is a site designed to steal intellectual property from the rightful owners and distribute it for free. Now I have as much angst toward “the man” as the next old burned out hippy, but come on folks! First Napster now this? For God sakes the book is available in some libraries, and if you can scrape together $13 bucks you can own a copy. Send it to me and I’ll even sign it, but don’t steal it!
This kind of crap, though it may be done in the name of “freedom of information” makes as much sense as “freedom of money” as a justification for robbing banks. I am pursuing legal remedies to persuade the misguided folks at scribed to remove the book, and I would encourage all authors to check the site for their works. Mine was posted with an intentional misspelling in the title to avoid search engines finding it, but I found it and I am not happy about it. I don’t have the funds to mount a big law suit and I sincerely hope they will remove it voluntarily.
To the folks at Scribd, give me a break! Authors toil for years in some cases to produce their work and they have a right to make a living from what they write. If I stole the code that runs the Scribid website, I suspect you would not be pleased.
To everyone else, don’t download stuff from this site that is in obvious violation of copyright law. Stealing is stealing weather it is done with a keyboard and a mouse or a gun and a mask. Enough already!
Airport Blogging - TSA & Our Freedoms
As I sit here stranded in Airport limbo, I hear the continuous announcements that blare over the PA system. “The Transportation Security Administration and Homeland Security remind you that any liquids of gels must be contained in a plastic bag…”
Now I am not a chemist, but I do know a little about the basics and there are a large number of binary or other substances that explode that can be mixed up in just a few minutes from small quantities of liquids or gels. So why does a plastic bag do anything to prevent this? The answer is that it does not. It’s just a security blanket for American travelers to feel safe. It also comes from the numerous complaints TSA and Homeland Security got after banning all liquids and gels.
Like the half-assed screenings that delay travelers and make flying absolutely no fun at all, these are for our minds, not our protection. If we see screening, we feel that the government is doing something. It is a seductive illusion, but it is nothing more than an illusion. OH sure the most clumsy bad guy or girl could be picked up by this technique, but someone really intent on doing harm is going to find a way through.
The “shoe bomber” tried to light the fuse of his bomb with a match. So lighters were eliminated. Now, however, I can buy a lighter in the airport gift shop. What changed? Well they screen your shoes now! Big deal! There are lots of other ways and that isn’t the problem. All this is a technique to keep us afraid. A fearful public is malleable and will consent to the loss of personal liberties at the expense of perceived security. In the end, we live in a state of terror…and isn’t that what the terrorists want?
So who is the winner and loser? Well the average American is the loser and those who seek more power and control over our lives are the winners. The new regulations proposed by TSA and Homeland Security that are scheduled to go into effect in February will make things for travelers even more difficult. We will have to have all our travel approved by the government. It makes driving a lot more attractive, but with the escalating gas prices, even that is tough.
I hate to make comparisons to folks like the Nazis, because when I use that word most people are conditioned to not take me seriously. How could we be like them? Well if you want to know exactly how, read some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer written during the 1930’s. You will find an erie similarity to today’s climate of fundamentalist madness. Then it was a “Germanic Religion” that was seeping into everything. A deadly combination of church and state. Today it’s faith based initiatives and pandering to the Radical Fundamental Christians. We have developed an American religion. A perverse blend of nationalism and apocalyptic nuttiness born from the fiction of Tim LaHay and the rantings of the Jerry Falwells of this country. A cross wrapped in a flag. It’s an image Jesus would be sickened by, but it is showing up in more and more places.
Now I am not a chemist, but I do know a little about the basics and there are a large number of binary or other substances that explode that can be mixed up in just a few minutes from small quantities of liquids or gels. So why does a plastic bag do anything to prevent this? The answer is that it does not. It’s just a security blanket for American travelers to feel safe. It also comes from the numerous complaints TSA and Homeland Security got after banning all liquids and gels.
Like the half-assed screenings that delay travelers and make flying absolutely no fun at all, these are for our minds, not our protection. If we see screening, we feel that the government is doing something. It is a seductive illusion, but it is nothing more than an illusion. OH sure the most clumsy bad guy or girl could be picked up by this technique, but someone really intent on doing harm is going to find a way through.
The “shoe bomber” tried to light the fuse of his bomb with a match. So lighters were eliminated. Now, however, I can buy a lighter in the airport gift shop. What changed? Well they screen your shoes now! Big deal! There are lots of other ways and that isn’t the problem. All this is a technique to keep us afraid. A fearful public is malleable and will consent to the loss of personal liberties at the expense of perceived security. In the end, we live in a state of terror…and isn’t that what the terrorists want?
So who is the winner and loser? Well the average American is the loser and those who seek more power and control over our lives are the winners. The new regulations proposed by TSA and Homeland Security that are scheduled to go into effect in February will make things for travelers even more difficult. We will have to have all our travel approved by the government. It makes driving a lot more attractive, but with the escalating gas prices, even that is tough.
I hate to make comparisons to folks like the Nazis, because when I use that word most people are conditioned to not take me seriously. How could we be like them? Well if you want to know exactly how, read some of the writings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer written during the 1930’s. You will find an erie similarity to today’s climate of fundamentalist madness. Then it was a “Germanic Religion” that was seeping into everything. A deadly combination of church and state. Today it’s faith based initiatives and pandering to the Radical Fundamental Christians. We have developed an American religion. A perverse blend of nationalism and apocalyptic nuttiness born from the fiction of Tim LaHay and the rantings of the Jerry Falwells of this country. A cross wrapped in a flag. It’s an image Jesus would be sickened by, but it is showing up in more and more places.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
TSA & "Secure Flight" - The Implementation of The Police State
OK time to get serious. This coming February, the TSA and Homeland Security will implement new regulations. They call it Secure Flight Plan. Most are hard to understand and cloaked in byzantine language, but here is the gist.
To travel overseas, American Citizens will have to be cleared by Homeland Security. Get it? You will need permission from the Government to leave the country or enter. Now in case you are younger than me, you may not have learned the history lesson taught when I was a child. It was the story of Germany in the 1930’s and that fatal day when the Nazis began controlling who left and entered Germany. It was the beginning of the “final solution” and that should be something you do know about.
I am not saying that the US government has any such plans for a “solution” but the idea of having to have all my travel cleared by the Government makes me angry and sad at the same time. How could our lawmakers, the people we elected do this to us? Easy, they are easy dupes for this kind of thing. Wrap a bad law in a patriotic name and the Congress will vote for it rather than to have to explain to their constituents what it means.
We have become a passive nation, where we blindly accept anything that is fed to us. I thank TV for that. As our collective asses grow wider from sitting and ingesting the junk food of TV news we have become sheep. Sheep serve a couple of purposes on a farm. They can be periodically sheered for wool and slaughtered for meat. So we are sheered by big corporations and slaughtered fighting wars to save those corporations money in the global marketplace.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but I do see a real problem with this new law, and it scares the hell out of me.
Please, please read the article on Daily Kos about this. If you are not upset by it, then line up for the guy with the sheers!
To travel overseas, American Citizens will have to be cleared by Homeland Security. Get it? You will need permission from the Government to leave the country or enter. Now in case you are younger than me, you may not have learned the history lesson taught when I was a child. It was the story of Germany in the 1930’s and that fatal day when the Nazis began controlling who left and entered Germany. It was the beginning of the “final solution” and that should be something you do know about.
I am not saying that the US government has any such plans for a “solution” but the idea of having to have all my travel cleared by the Government makes me angry and sad at the same time. How could our lawmakers, the people we elected do this to us? Easy, they are easy dupes for this kind of thing. Wrap a bad law in a patriotic name and the Congress will vote for it rather than to have to explain to their constituents what it means.
We have become a passive nation, where we blindly accept anything that is fed to us. I thank TV for that. As our collective asses grow wider from sitting and ingesting the junk food of TV news we have become sheep. Sheep serve a couple of purposes on a farm. They can be periodically sheered for wool and slaughtered for meat. So we are sheered by big corporations and slaughtered fighting wars to save those corporations money in the global marketplace.
I am not a conspiracy nut, but I do see a real problem with this new law, and it scares the hell out of me.
Please, please read the article on Daily Kos about this. If you are not upset by it, then line up for the guy with the sheers!
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