Yawnnnnnnnnnn

I guess I’ve been a little lax on posting this blog, what with the Democratic convention and McCain selecting Sarah Palin as his V.P. running mate. I guess everyone jumped all over this and just really beat me to the punch – Yawnnnnnn – ’scuse me, my bad.

As far as the Republican convention is concerned, even with everybody canceling speaking assignments because of hurricane Gustav, its still alittle tight in there. As a matter of fact, there’s not enough room for everyone. So if you feel a little left out, Ron Paul’s got a little soiree going on down the street. Not sayin’ he’s right or wrong, but trying to silence the voice of dissent (reason) says a lot about a party, especially one with speaking slots to fill. I do look forward to lotsa of balloons though.

As for Governor Palin. Who’s gonna be payin’ attention to Joe Bidden during the V.P. debate? It’s funny that out of the 4 of ‘um (Obama/McCain/Bidden/Palin) she’s the only one with any “executive experience.” Besides, she’s a “babe” (I believe that’s politically correct terminology) that hunts, fishes, rides snowmobiles, balances a budget and takes on big oil – and is a married (sorry guys) mother of five…so why does she need McCain again? She’s locked up the Redneck, blue collar, working mother, NRA, middle-aged male, disenfranchised democratic female, and anti-big oil voters. What’s McCain done? Oh yeah, he’s working the VFW and pro-amnesty for illegal alien voters.

As for Barak Hussein Obama’s coronation, well frankly, I missed the togas. It will still probably win an academy award for best cinematography though, and that’s cool. I’ll give him credit though, he didn’t silence the voice of dissent, although after the first hundred Bill and Hilliary moments, acknowledgements, mentions, speeches, photo-ops etc. I wished he had, I guess I’m just fickled. I suppose after Al Gore the dems are still having trouble dealing with this whole majority of votes -vs- magority of delegates thing. Can’t have it both ways…but, in the end, he delivered a fine democratic speech, except - 

- excuse me for a minute, I feel a rant coming on -

I’m not just pinning this one on Barak, he’s just the latest in to long a list of dems to do it and not be called for it. Katrina. If your going to take the high road, and claim the moral high ground then just tell the truth and own up and take some responsibility. It’s not like a hurricane never hit New Orleans before, even without global warming. The people responsible for overseeing and maintaining those levees, Hello? The people who had the ability to get out but chose to stay, Hello? The people responsible for emergency management for those who didn’t have a way out, Hello? The “excuse my french” democratic Mayor of New Orleans – who was re-elected and vowed to make New Orleans a “chocolate city” once again (who’s playing the race card?). The democratic governor who…(well, she’s gone now, I guess she took some responsibility).  Let’s just say if someone showed up at your door and said, “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help” you’d naturally hide your daughters and get your gun (unless your in the anti-gun lobby). Any sane political leader – or citizen, that thinks the feds will be there tomorrow with help obiviously inhales. Yes, everything that could go wrong, did go wrong – everyone’s hands are dirty – republicans/democrats/independents/citizens – everyone. O.k.?

I’m feelin’ better now.

Obama is a powerful speaker. Oration is an art and he’s working on becoming a master. My greatest fear is that Lenin knew whereof he spoke when he said, “The goal of socialism is communism.” This nation is broke. We can’t afford entitlements and war or entitlements without war. The socialism started by F.D.R. has come back to haunt the grandchildren and great grandchildren of that day. Yeah, I know, blame Bush. Yeah, that’s easy and that’s right but he’s only driving the stake into the heart of a country that was already on life support. Sadly, I genuinely fear for a country led by Obama, Pelosi, and Reid. Why? Because it’s a little too tight. There’s not enough room for everyone, if there’s no room for the voice of dissent…just ask Joe Lieberman.

I’m glad Obama is eloquent and earnest, McCain’s a straight talker and a war hero, Biden’s a talker and Palin’s an unknown quantity. My question to Barak and John is, “What EXACTLY are you planning to do about: the war, energy, banking, the economy.” They’re all interlinked, and secondly, civilizations have been described as going through ten cycles (Gov. Palin may have to help John keep this one straight in his mind) so where is America today?:

1. Bondage. Civilization always begins with bondage.

2. Faith. Out of bondage, comes faith in God.

3. Courage. Out of faith in God comes courage.

4. Liberty. With courage, men acquire liberty.

5. Abundance. This comes with liberty.

6. Selfishness. This follows abundance.

7. Complacency. This comes with selfishness.

8. Apathy. This comes after complacency.

9. Dependency. The”gimme” stage when we put more emphasis on security than we do on opportunity and challenge.

10. Then bondage again. Weakness under dependency leads to bondage.

Well, that’s my take. Time to roll over and finish taking my nap. Wake me November 5th…

The Byrds – Turn! Turn! Turn!

War: Does nuclear tonnage out weigh an ounce of morality?

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Fortunate Son – Music Video

“I do not know with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.” 

Albert Einstein

DOOMSDAY CLOCK - IT IS 5 MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
2007: The world stands at the brink of a second nuclear age. The United States and Russia remain ready to stage a nuclear attack within minutes, North Korea conducts a nuclear test, and many in the international community worry that Iran plans to acquire the Bomb. Climate change also presents a dire challenge to humanity. Damage to ecosystems is already taking place; flooding, destructive storms, increased drought, and polar ice melt are causing loss of life and property. (www.thebulletin.org)

 

 

  

 

 Two years after the bombing plants growing at ground zero presaged the frightening genetic aberrations in humans that were to come: sesame stalks produced 33 percent more seeds but 90 percent of them were sterile. For decades abnormally high amounts of cancer, birth defects, and tumors haunted victims.

 

Does nuclear tonnage out weigh an ounce of morality?

The expendability factor has increased by being transferred from the specialised, scarce and expensively trained military personnel to the amorphous civilian population.  American strategists have calculated the proportion of civilians killed in this century’s major wars.  In the First World War 5 per cent of those killed were civilians, in the Second World War 48 per cent, while in a Third World War 90-95 per cent would be civilians.

~Colin Ward, Anarchy in Action

This fascinating insight leads one to ponder why we developed the neutron bomb, a bomb that killed with radiation but left structures intact – besides the fact that we could. Who needs a city if you only have the population left for a village?

The release of atom power has changed everything except our way of thinking… the solution to this problem lies in the heart of mankind.  If only I had known, I should have become a watchmaker. 

~Albert Einstein

 

M.A.D. or Mutually Assured Destruction leads one to the obvious conclusion that there’s never been a philosophy put forth but some fool should try it. This truth upon sober reflection shows M.A.D. to be an epitaph about our mental state rather than a philosophy.

The world has achieved brilliance without wisdom, power without conscience.  Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants.  We know more about war than we know about peace, more about killing than we know about living.

~Omar Bradley

 There cannot long be a weapon but it shall be used. And the first shot fired – knowing the human race as we do, one can hope for restraint but must expect the barrage. This being true, it’s history that at the dawn of the nuclear arms race the government set up fall-out shelters and stocked them with food or we built our own shelters in our yards. Where have the shelters gone? Where is the food stock? If there is a barrage, whoever’s left to awake to the aftermath will have a long fast…

If all the money poured into nuclear programs had been spent on education, medical research, stamping out hunger, we might have a paradise today instead of a paradox – M.A.D.

Nena- 99luft Balons

Nena – 99luftballoons(english version)

If you have some time for me
Then I’ll sing a song for you
About 99 balloons
On their way to the horizon
Perhaps you’re just thinking of me
Then I’ll sing a song for you
About 99 balloons
And that such a thing (like the war)
comes from such a thing
(the balloons)

99 balloons
On their way to the horizon
they took for UFOs from space
So a general sent
A flying squad to follow them
To raise the alarm if it was true
Yet there on the horizon were
Only 99 balloons

99 jet pilots (jet fighters)
Each one was a great warrior
Thought that they were Captain Kirk
This led to great fireworks
The neighbors didn’t get anything
And felt at once provoked
Yet on the horizon they shot
At 99 balloons

99 war ministers
Match and petrol cans
Thought that they were clever people
Already smelled greasy loot
Shouted “War” and wanted power
Man, who would have thought about that
That one day it would come to this
Because of 99 balloons
Because of 99 balloons
99 balloons

99 years of war
didn’t leave a place for winners
There are no war ministers any more
and no jet fighters either
Today I’m doing my rounds
See the world lying in ruins
Have found a balloon
Think of you and let it fly

 

 

Who’d a Thunk It?

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Higher Ground – Live at woodstock 94

“Nations have recently been led to borrow billions for war; no nation has ever borrowed largely for education.  Probably, no nation is rich enough to pay for both war and civilization.  We must make our choice; we cannot have both.” 

~Abraham Flexner  

Who’d a thunk it? I mean, at almost $5.5 billion (August 2008 ) and counting the Iraq War ain’t cheap. From the National Priorities Project  http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home we get the following numbers:

• $4,681 per household.
• $1,721 per person.
• $341.4 million per day.

You know, it looks like I wouldn’t have needed a stimulus check this year. I mean, I’m glad they printed up some new money without raising taxes. What’s a couple of billion deeper in the hole when the national deficit is $9 trillion? My great-grand kids ain’t afraid of no stinking deficit! However, I realize the stimulus check wasn’t for me, it was supposed to be spent at Walmart (the U.S. Company Store) to keep the communist Chinese economy going, ‘cause we were going to need them to bail out our banking system. After all, we wouldn’t want to have to competently manage our banks on our own, would we?  But I digress.

That’s cool. I mean, let’s look at this objectively. The Iraq war is costing us over 340 million a day. So, for example, lets just check in on the state of the state I’m living in.

For FY 2008-2009, over $3.3 billion, or 49.5% of the General Fund, is appropriated for educational initiatives in South Carolina.

The K-12 education General Fund appropriation is $2,441,044,733 for FY 2008-2009. In addition to the General Fund appropriation, one cent of South Carolina’s sale tax (or $644,714,375) is earmarked for K-12 education.

The FY 2008-2009 General Fund appropriation for South Carolina’s colleges and universities totals $891,429,884.

Other educational agencies in South Carolina are appropriated $75,648,395 from the General Fund.

(I didn’t include the state lottery which I consider to basically be a tax on the poor, and we already have too many under educated poor people around here.)

The S. Carolina school budget is $3.3 billion. If Uncle Sam would give S.C. just 10 days worth of Iraq War funding we could double our school budget this year. It’s not like we need it, considering:

 

 

 

   • One-third of South Carolina students reading below state standards in eighth grade (in 2002).

   • The third-highest adult illiteracy rate in the United States.

   • Illiteracy rates higher than 40 percent in five counties — Allendale, McCormick, Williamsburg, Clarendon and Lee.

In South Carolina in 1999, 6.5 percent of the population for whom poverty status is determined was severly poor, with incomes below one half of their poverty threshold (a ratio below 0.5).

While 14.1 percent of the population in South Carolina was below poverty in 1999, and additional 4.6 percent were classified as near poor, with incomes at or above their poverty threshold, but below 125 percent of their threshold (a ratio of 1.00 to 1.24).

In other words about 1 in 5 South Carloinians are poor, but since I can’t find more current numbers I just have to believe things are just getting better and better around here. Especially since unemployment hit 7% last month (July). 

With sales taxes down South Carolina’s State Comptroller Richard Eckstrom said the state ended the last fiscal year with a $250.4 million budget deficit. It’s been bad, it is bad and the forecast is for it to continue to be bad. the Budget and Control Board voted 3-2 to order all state agencies to cut their spending plans by 3 percent, for a total of $188 million. So like, we could use alittle help here.

Now imagine this going on in states all over this country. 

You know, I like Ike. He’s sorta forgotten now except in old war movies, but there was a time – back before the dinosaurs maybe, when almost everyone liked Ike. Eisenhower said something very true and very profound:

 

“Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired signifies in the final sense, a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.  This world in arms is not spending money alone.  It is spending the sweat of its laborers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of its children.  This is not a way of life at all in any true sense.  Under the clouds of war, it is humanity hanging on a cross of iron.” 

Dwight D. Eisenhower, speech, American Society of Newspaper Editors, 16 April 1953

 

Do I have any idea where this train wreak of thot is going? Not a clue, but I do have a couple last thots for you.

 

People have said the Gulf War and Iraq War were/are necessary. Perhaps since we’ve forfeited our initiative and allowed other countries to dictate our foreign policy to us they were/are necessary, but we didn’t have to go. Ever since the oil embargo in the 70’s, like a shot fired across our bow, we knew that oil would be the ring through our nose hostile nations would use to lead us around.

The government knew about wind power back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

The government knew about solar power back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

The government knew about tidal power back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

The government knew about nuclear power back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

The government knew about electric motors back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

The government knew about ethanol back then, what did they do? What have they done since?

Because the government – and We the People are the government, because we did nothing to correct course after the oil embargo our children fought in the Gulf War over oil and our grandchildren are fighting in Iraq over oil. If that sounds a little blunt, then ask yourselves what are – We the People – doing so our great grand children won’t be fighting over oil?

What are we doing about that $9 trillion dollar deficit? Are we leaving that for our great grandchildren too?

I.O.U.S.A. Movie Trailer

 

“Where there is no vision, the people perish,” Proverbs 29:18

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.gasbuddy.com/gb_retail_price_chart.aspx