America: A Dream In Distress

As a disillusioned political observer I have come to the conclusion that The American Dream is a web of carefully nurtured deceptions that is unravelling at an accelerated rate.

Until 2000 I was too busy with my life, career, and raising a family to notice. I was lulled by my successes into, naively, believing that everything was alright, unaware of the titanic struggle for power and control of America's soul. I woke up too late.

I've seen the men behind the curtain who manipulate peoples emotions for power. The "man" behind the curtain is actually a group of rich powerful men who are running a Ponsi scheme where they own everything and we suckers chase after "the reality" they have created.

Some of you are light years ahead of me in coming to the same conclusion. Some are far behind me. Some will never wake up. Never the less the hard cold truth is, we have traded our away our lives in pursuit of "el dorado", that mythical place of untold wealth and self indulgent excess, where if we buy enough of something we will achieve bliss. It is a lie, told and retold so many times, by so many people, including myself, that we live in a stupor of "reality" that is artificially contrived.

The plain truth is that we cannot sustain the American Dream and we should not try. It is utterly irresponsible to future generations. The American landscape is littered with devalued "McMansions" nobody can afford, this failure of the real estate market, where most Americans' "wealth" lies, was the first crack in the foundation of these lies and self deception. That artificially, over-inflated market brought about the the collapse of Wall street. The bubble burst and lives were changed dramatically. Bernie Madoff went from genius Wall Street guru to goat, from a 5th Avenue penthouse to a 6x9 foot cell. And the victims of the Madoff's uber-sociopathic personality, were forced into poverty and some into homelessness. AGI went from a solid international financial giant to an example of American hubris, greed, and retched executive excess. Masters of the universe undone. America went from being, the grandiose, self proclaimed, "wealthiest nation in the world" to a worldwide financial pariah. The biggest dead beat on the planet.

Until recently I still believed that the fundamental expression of equality and freedom of the founding fathers was still in play. And still worth the struggle. Another self deception. The plain truth is we can't effect change because the oligarchy own and control everything including, Congress, the Courts, and the mass media. The problem with people like me is we that we think that by speaking out we can effect a change in the ultimate direction and course of the game.

But the message is drowned out by false messiahs like Hannity, O'Rielly, Limbaugh and their legion of "dittoheads", who are too stupid to have an original thought, and are unintelligent enough to actually self-proclaim the pejorative, that "dittoheads" implies, as in, mindless repeaters of sophistic nonsense.

These shills, are the well paid Judas goats who lead many to a false sense of security with a smug arrogance of outright deception, the ultimate insiders playing everyone else for suckers. A prime example are members of the Tea Party that invade town-hall meetings to shout down anyone they disagree with, about Health Care. Just like at the Peace Rallies of the sixties, that were invaded by provocateurs, paid stooges, who incited violence to give police an excuse to break bones and curtail our fundamental right, to peacefully assemble and petition our government for a redress of grievances, which led to unarmed students being murdered at Kent State.

Reason is a noble pursuit, but, ultimately futile, which it is why men's conflicts so often degenerate into war and the needless deaths of those who have no stake in, "the game", getting and controlling real wealth, the natural resources that every human being relies on for their existence.

This is my last post about American politics. My final advice is: if you can, get a piece of land, grow your own food and live a simpler life, one that has sustained the human race for thousands of generations. I am taking my own advice and I am unplugging from the matrix.

Who knows if the mood strikes me my next post maybe: How to grow your own food and raise chickens in rural Minnesota.

Hasta la vista!

A Pox On Both Their Houses

I've been on a hiatus during the month of June, but the loop-sided MSM coverage of the recent deaths of Michael Jackson and Farah Faucet have eclipsed almost every news worthy story in the world, including the pending withdrawal of US troops from Iraqi cities. Granted the coverage of Iran's farcical "elections" was almost adequate, but the hysteria surrounding Michael Jackson is symptomatic of the dribble that passes for news in this country.

Incredulous!

Of course what could be more important in the American psyche than a dead fifty year old pop star. Who nobody has heard from in ten years. The non-stop 24/7 coverage of such a inane subject is a bitter irony when put in perspective of the hundreds of thousands of deaths caused by the unjust and criminal Iraqi war.

Its three card monty watch the Jackson saga of a self destructive, drug abusing, overindulged, fatally flawed man-child, until a stupor sets in, while Health Care, Energy Policies, the War in Iraq and the torture memos fade in to the putrid morass of American Media and lobbying dominated Washington politics produces a no-win situation for the chronically under employed, energy poor, and uninsured.

Once again, we've been out maneuvered and sold out! Not only by the the Republicans, although they haven't given up sabotaging Obama, but by the Democrats we sent in overwhelming numbers to restore the promise of America are a bunch of gutless, spineless, mealy mouthed, carpetbaggers.

A pox on both parties!

In Memoriam

A Simple Soldier
Author unknown

He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast,

And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.
Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.
But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Jerry has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer For a Soldier died today.

He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.
He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Soldier died today.

When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.
Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young
But the passing of a Soldier Goes unnoticed, and unsung.

Is the greatest contribution To the welfare of our land,
Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.
While the ordinary Soldier, Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small.

It's so easy to forget them, For it is so many times
That our Jerrys and Jims and Johnnys, Went to battle, but we know,
It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys.

Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever waffling stand?
Or would you want a Soldier-- His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Soldier, Who would fight until the end.

He was just a common Soldier, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us We may need his like again.
For when countries are in conflict, We find the Soldier's part
Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start.

If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simply headline In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A SOLDIER DIED TODAY."

This Memorial Day post is dedicated to all who are serving or who have served.

Especially my father-in-law the late, Jerome B. Gale. Jerry, served in the 103rd Infantry Regiment, Company G, of the 43rd Division that fought on the island of New Georgia during WWII. Jerry was awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart. I considered him to be a hero, though I am certain he never thought of himself in those terms. In fact, I know he didn't. He was part of the" Greatest Generation" of young American men and women who were willing to die to preserve freedom in the world. At the time I am sure he was not aware that, that was what he was doing, but, its exactly what he did along with hundreds of thousands of other young Americans.*

From my post of Monday, January 21, 2008
Local Boy Helps Save The World*

Nancy Pelosi: Human Shield In The Torture Debate

The Republican's have adopted a "human shield defense" tactic, to forestall the prying eyes of public debate on torture. They're threatening to politically assassinate Nancy Pelosi.

It reminds me of the black and white, overacted, grade B , gangster movies of the 1940's.

A small time gangster, and three time loser, is on the lamb with the last member of his gang and his girlfriend, usually a dull witted platinum blonde, who has been his unwitting accomplice in the enactment of numerous crimes.

After a botched bank heist, where Bugsy has killed a heroic bank guard, the only support of his ailing invalid mother, and some innocent bystanders, he and his gang are shot up and bleeding, they have escaped to their hideaway somewhere in the hills. It's midnight and pitch black. It's a stand off. They are surrounded by cops.

The scene inside the cabin builds to a crescendo, as the gangster realizes he's been betrayed and that he's done for.

He suspects that he's been betrayed by his second in command, the last of his gang still alive. He confronts him and in a fit of rage, shots him. The dying man gasps out: "It was Nancy boss!" "She knew all along I swear". Now realizing that she was the one that double-crossed him. His stone cold stare burns through her with contempt.

Suddenly a bull horn from outside breaks the tension as a voice rings out: "Dick, you're surrounded, throw out your guns and come out with your hands up!" You've got three minutes and then we'll open up! Three minutes!"

Panic sets in, beads of sweat pours from his face, his eyes dart back and forth, his mind racing—He'll get the chair this time for sure. In panic and, desperation he dramatically grabs the moll around the neck from behind. He forces her to a window.

He aims a gun at her head and in close up, says in his best bad impersonation of Jimmy Cagney: "You'se coppers had better back off, ya see or I'll blow her brains out, ya see! She's a "dirty rat' ya see! I'm not foolin around, ya hear me coppers? If you'se com a step closer I'll plug her. She's done for! Ya hear me out dere, coppers?!

A piercing shaft of light cuts through the darkness and exposes the two last survivors of the gang, framed in the window. He, and the gun moll die in a hail of lead spewing forth from a fusillade of "tommy guns" welded by G-men. His last words "I didn't think ya'd shoot a dame!

Like the gangster, the Republican tactic of threatening to politically assassinate Nancy Pelosi is about to backfire. Because, unfortunately the human shield they have chosen is Nancy Pelosi. Like the double crossing schemer of a gun moll in the movie if she dies she dies, so what? If she is exposed, the Republicans, like the cornered gangster will have no where to hide.

What did she know and when did she know it? Who cares?

So Newt keep pushing, because the sooner Pelosi goes down the sooner we get to the real "dirty rats in this whole sorted mess, let the chips fall where they may.

The Hilarious Aspects Of Torture

Clowns of the Right find torture funny! Which begs the question: If these torture techniques are so laughable, why did over 100 people die while being tortured?

Ignoring the fact, that 100 people died, during "enhanced interrogation", the seriously psychopathic response of the right wing's Conservative media leaders, laughing at the idea of torture, as outlined in the recently released "torture memos", shows how far the right has fallen. These bloviating demagogues lack any sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. They are sociopaths, of the highest order.

Selective amnesia aside, if the techniques are so useless, as to make these clowns laugh at the pain of others, then the techniques are ineffective any way so why use them? Yet in the next breath these same clowns, point to, the dubious claim that these techniques saved Los Angeles from a devastating attack. Never mind that the Bush administration had already thwarted the Library Tower attack in February 2002 -- more than a year before Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was captured in March 2003. What did they gain? Information that Mohammed knew they already had anyway!

So, are these methods of torture, serious tools to extract life saving information from recalcitrant terrorists prisoners? Or are these methods of torture, as harmless and laughable as a fraternity hazing ritual?

If their are not deadly serious, useless and laughable, as Limbaugh, Beck, Liddy and others claim, because, they worked, and saved Los angeles, then they are torture and are illegal.

And if they're as harmless—again the 100 deaths aside—as a frat boys hazing then they are useless so why bother with them at all? Which all of these afore mentioned clowns have said, (torture) should be used.

According to Peter Finn and Joby Warrick of the Washington Post, In 2002, "The military agency that provided advice on harsh interrogation techniques for use against terrorism suspects referred to the application of extreme duress as "torture" in a July 2002 document sent to the Pentagon's chief lawyer and warned that it would produce "unreliable information."

"The unintended consequence of a U.S. policy that provides for the torture of prisoners is that it could be used by our adversaries as justification for the torture of captured U.S. personnel."

Even House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) dropped the widely used euphemisms such as "harsh interrogation tactics"and used a more succinct term: "torture", to describe waterboarding and slamming detainees into walls, the Bush administration used for intelligence gathering. His only regret seemed to be that we are exposing our dirty laundry before the world and giving our enemies knowledge of the techniques, which is laughable to suppose that they don't already know how we treat captured terrorists.

The Right wing has repeatedly excoriated the left as, "moral relativists", on the issue of gay rights and abortion. They have pontificated for decades, about how the fabric of this Nations "values" have been shredded by an assault of "Moral Relativism". So what is their response to the abrogation of the Constitution and America's long standing defense of "human rights"? Mockery, laughter and distain.

These phony patriots are beneath contempt. Crybaby, born again, Glenn Beck wails his crocodile tears of rage at tax hikes and the decline of America, who he claims to love so much it hurts, and laughs at the infliction of real pain on defenseless human beings, which violates the Constitution, which, is the foundational document of this nation. Will the real Glenn Beck please stand up?

These hypocrites who call themselves born again, "evangelical Christians" are the new Pharisees so bloated with their own sense of self righteousness they are blinded to the hollowness of their own reprehensible pomposity.

So let's be clear, these so called, "enhanced interrogation methods", are torture according to the Constitution, International law, the U.S. Army, and the majority of humane and civilized nations. And if you have one shred of humanity, like U.S. Army Spfc. Alyssa Peterson they are decidedly not funny.

Commentary: This post is dedicated to the memory of Alyssa Peterson who refused to participate in the torture of Iraqi prisoners and was one of the first female soldiers to die in Iraq. Peterson, 27, a Flagstaff, Ariz., native, served with C Company, 311th Military Intelligence BN, 101st Airborne. Peterson was an Arabic-speaking interrogator assigned to the prison at our air base in troubled Tal Afar in northwestern Iraq. According to, "official records", she died on Sept. 15, 2003, from a "non-hostile weapons discharge." Read her full story, U.S. Soldier Kills Herself -- After Refusing to Take Part in Torture at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-mitchell/us-soldier-killed-herself_b_190517.html

Let the DOJ know your views about appointing a Special Prosecutor to investigate the authors of torture at: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov.

The Chilling Effect of Torture On The Constitution

The Republicans are falling all over themselves about the recently released Torture Memos. Their claims range from: these were policy issues, and prosecution of policy differences will set a bad legal precedence. To: releasing the memos has informed our enemies as to the limits of our depravity. To: they worked. Murder works to rid oneself of an antagonist, but it is still illegal. Robbery works to alleviate one's stressed financial circumstances, but it is still illegal. Many things that work and may be expedient are not allowed by a lawful, civilized society. What is at stake is our Republic and the rule of law.

Even anti-torture stalwart John McCain has said: "that prosecution of lawyers who wrote the memos will have a "chilling effect" on the legal advice given the President". John, how about the "chilling effect" on the Constitution if these law breakers go unprosecuted?

No where among their sophistic arguments have any of them bothered to mention that, torture is illegal. It was illegal when the memos were written and its illegal now, according to our Constitution and according to International law. None of them have bothered to mention that this nation was founded to protect "human rights" not trample them, which is what we are supposedly defending in Iraq.

The fact is, "legal opinions" contrary to established law, are not law. These memos are at best, rationales to circumvent the law. At worst they are the deliberate contrivance of the power hungry to impose their views as law and trample the Constitution and international law.

As for the idea that these were junior lawyers running amok writing these memos to lead the administration astray is absurd on its face. Just as absurd as the 12 soldiers who were hung out to dry as "bad seed" running amok at Abu Gharib without direction. Which in retrospect, points to the reprehensible lack of moral courage on the part of the authors of these "policies" who permitted those twelve to take the full brunt of punishment, to cover themselves and their culpability. As a matter of fact a newly declassified narrative shows that the small group of Justice Department lawyers who wrote memos were not operating on their own but, at the direction from top administration officials, including Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice.

It was the same arrogance of superior thinking that led us into an ill advised war that has bankrupted this country both morally and financially. These were not legitimate "policy decisions" these were deliberate attempts to circumvent the law. Just like the lies about Iraq were the means used to justify the invasion of a sovereign nation. The memos were the means to ignore the law.

John McCain is right about one thing--if America exhibits the moral courage and conviction to refocus and prosecute those who have broken our laws with impunity, it will have a chilling effect on future law breakers.

But then, isn't that why we punish those that break the law?

To make them think twice.

Commentary: For decades the Republicans have said that government doesn't work and every time they gain power have set out to prove the point by sabotaging it with their policy decisions.

Keep the pressure on to appoint a Special Prosecutor at the DOJ.

I am afraid if the Senate forms a "truth commission" it will wither in the morass of the political inaction. I lay the blame on Republicans often, but the Democrats are just as culpable by virtue of their acquiescence.

Let the DOJ know your views about appointing a Special Prosecutor to investigate the authors of torture at: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov.

Obama Sends A Terrible Signal To Dictators

Photo: The AP











The far right's Newt Gingrich, ex professor of history, and Speaker of the House under Ronald Reagan, saw fit to pontificate on a handshake between two heads of state saying, "I think it sends a terrible signal to all of Latin America, and a terrible signal about how the new administration regards dictators."

Excuse me? A terrible signal to dictators? Whose dictators are we talking about?

Newt, perhaps you've forgotten how the US, through the CIA has helped to overthrow numerous democratically elected Latin American governments and helped install military dictatorships that in turn slaughtered their own people. How about the U.S. sanctioned assassination of Salvador Allende in Chile. Remember who we put in his place? Agusto Pinochet, who imprisoned well over a hundred thousand Chileans and used torture and rape as methods of interrogation, and terminated civil liberties, abolished unions.

Newt, for the record, US interventions date back as far as 1846, but here are a few of the more recent interventions, you might personally remember, since they happened on your watch and you being such a history buff and all. Remember?

1980
U.S., seeking a stable base for its actions in El Salvador and Nicaragua, tells the Honduran military to clean up its act and hold elections. The U.S. starts pouring in $100 million of aid a year and basing the contras on Honduran territory.
Death squads are also active in Honduras, and the contras tend to act as a state within a state.

1981
The CIA steps in to organize the contras in Nicaragua, who started the previous year as a group of 60 ex-National Guardsmen; by 1985 there are about 12,000 of them. 46 of the 48 top military leaders are ex-Guardsmen. The U.S. also sets up an economic embargo of Nicaragua and pressures the IMF and the World Bank to limit or halt loans to Nicaragua.

1981
Gen. Torrijos of Panama is killed in a plane crash. There is a suspicion of CIA involvement, due to Torrijos' nationalism and friendly relations with Cuba.

1982
A coup brings Gen. Efraín Ríos Montt to power in Guatemala, and gives the Reagan administration the opportunity to increase military aid. Ríos Montt's evangelical beliefs do not prevent him from accelerating the counterinsurgency campaign.

1983
Another coup in Guatemala replaces Ríos Montt. The new President, Oscar Mejía Víctores, was trained by the U.S. and seems to have cleared his coup beforehand with U.S. authorities.

1983
U.S. troops take over tiny Granada. Rather oddly, it intervenes shortly after a coup has overthrown the previous, socialist leader. One of the justifications for the action is the building of a new airport with Cuban help, which Granada claimed was for tourism and Reagan argued was for Soviet use. Later the U.S. announces plans to finish the airport... to develop tourism.

1983
Boland Amendment prohibits CIA and Defense Dept. from spending money to overthrow the government of Nicaragua-- a law the Reagan administration cheerfully violates.

1984
CIA mines three Nicaraguan harbors. Nicaragua takes this action to the World Court, which brings an $18 billion judgment against the U.S. The U.S. refuses to recognize the Court's jurisdiction in the case.

1984
U.S. spends $10 million to orchestrate elections in El Salvador-- something of a farce, since left-wing parties are under heavy repression, and the military has already declared that it will not answer to the elected president.
Source http://www.zompist.com/latam.html

Finally Newt, what more terrible signal could this country send than the fact that this nation engaged in torture under the "dictatorship of George W Bush and the Dick, Cheney? Now every two bit dictator can just point to America and say; "see they do it too".

It's hard to tell whether Newt's revisionist history is just his memory gone bad, or another far right, in your face, assault on our intelligence, as for me I say the latter.

Latin American dictators, Newt? You should know, you helped establish enough of them. Or as they say: "One man's dictator is another man's military junta".