Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Dancing around the Gorilla: Why We're There—an open letter to journalists
To U.S. Journalists:
Why are we all dancing around the real motivations for our invasion and occupation of Iraq and our whole new "foreign policy"?
Some time back I read Helen Thomas’ article, “Bush's Iraq Rationalization is Lame”. In it, I like the way she reminds fellow journalists that they have some objective things to take care of, and sets an example of doggedness and fight that is all but gone from the press corps.
Yet...I still don't really hear anyone, Helen included, talking DAILY about a DAILY realities: WHY we are REALLY there!
Enough talking about "mistakes": should there have been more troops, fewer troops, fight them over there, fight them here, spread democracy, etc.—writing about those things just buys—lock, stock and barrel—into the phony premises put forward by this Selected Administration in the first place—that they took us there with Our Blood and Our Gold to Do Good. If you swallow that, you've swallowed the whole thing.
What on EARTH does it take for a few courageous writers to start from a clean slate and say the reason we are there in Iraq, is for the 14 permanent bases, the megaEmbassy, and all that that means in terms of regional control (and beyond) capability. Nothing else!! All the rest is crochet work, pretty and noble words to make those paying for this misadventure feel good—or at least unsure enough of themselves not to say anything to the contrary. THAT is why Iran is next. Who CARES who lives or dies—it's a long-term fight for endless US/corporate domination of resources in many regions in a time of scarcity.
C'mon! They are not building "democracy" in Iraq—anyone with half a brain knows that, yet look at all the debate and intense TV scrutiny over their armed "elections." Purple fingers, indeed. They exist to distract, to create a warm feeling, but mostly to buy time—building (construction) time. Hell, they don't know how to "build democracy" here, much less there! They do know how to tear it apart, though. That being said, however, incompetence never was their problem. Take notice—they do well only those things they CARE about (y’know: profits, control, ownership, snooping, punishment). The rest...well, you've seen Katrina, our public schools, health care, our railroads, port security....
The only thing that counts in Iraq for those NeoCons who occupied America in 2000 are the Bases. Get it? That is the ONLY reason there are that many (or few) troops on the ground there. They calculated what would be enough to protect the contractors at work, until the base-building job is done. That's all. All on our nickel (middle class America’s nickel, that is, with largely lower class and immigrant cannon fodder). Iraqis? Screw them! Civil war, schmivil war, the more they die, the less we have to kill them to keep our bases strong.
We torture men, women and children; we blow up whole families or melt them with white phosphorus. Why should we care if they get to participate in their own government? Officials in Ohio don't seem to care if people here do.
Stop and think about that. If your only goal and objective was to set up Fortress America in Iraq, then, when asked "Do we have enough troops?", sure, the answer is "Yeah!" Enough for the intended job.
Of course, that story they could never sell to a Congress that is still more or less elected, nor sell to an American public that just wants to feel either good or safe, preferably both. So they told us this was to protect us. Ha! But...first we had to be scared enough to believe them. Hmmm,...can anyone say 911?
There is no reason to believe any one of the so-called "justifications" (WMD's, Saddam, al Qaeda, etc)—nor for journalists and politicians to waste too many more precious words using available evidence to disprove them. With THEIR control of the media, they aren't at all worried about facts, proof or making sense—they just repeat, ad nauseum, their own make-believe cover-up "story".
We all knew that this Plan existed years prior to 911, and that that attack served as a catalyst to get popular domestic support (and to start the free-for-all free-fall in our Treasury). Al Capone must be yukkin' it up, looking down on his prodigies at work.
So why not tackle that REAL geopolitical gorilla sitting on top of the Empire State Building—the one no one seems to notice. We KNOW why BushCo took us there—it exists in maps and blueprints, plans and timelines. You can see it on the web! It's part of our secret "Energy Policy." All the rest is distraction. The main topic that has occupied nearly all mainstream US journalism for the past five years...is the very nature of the Distraction!!!!
So, decent, good, honest, perceptive journalists—and others—need to FOCUS ON and REPEAT the One and Only Story there is: the geopolitical reasons proposed in the Project for the New American Century (PNAC). AAAALLL the rest is a WASTE of time—and besides the NeoCons just keep refuting it—incessantly, on over 90% of the airwaves.
PNAC is there for all to see: anyone can read about their objectives and many of their intended means. That IS their goal. The rest are fairy tales. It is not hard to prove, either. Just look at ONLY those things which have succeeded so far in our so-called Mid East policy: the establishment and protection of a permanent US military and intelligence presence in Iraq and elsewhere. THAT'S where they put their expertise, their boldness, and OUR resources. That is the only part going more or less according to plan.
PNAC even spells out the need for 911 in order for the plan to work ("a new Pearl Harbor" was needed, they said).
And—why isn't this obvious—THAT is the reason there is no Plan to leave soon. It's not about Iraqi Police or Army readiness. It's about Base Readiness. We can't leave now—the 52nd state isn't ready yet.
It has nothing to do with Iraqis taking over their own defense. It has nothing to with any of the material of countless editorials and letters to the editors, not the insurgency, nor Valerie Plame, yellow-cake, aluminum tubes, nor gassing people,...NADA!
You know, if NeoCons were really the courageous tough guys they'd like us to believe they are, they'd lay this whole thing out in the open for discussion and debate. They would work hard to convince us of their positions, and let Americans decide if this is what they want to do. But noooo...they could never take such a chance. As Cheney aptly puts it, they work "in the shadows." THEY know what is right for us and won't let a little thing like democracy get in the way.
Soooo...EXPOSE this, already!! Journalists, Congresspeople, someone!!
This is actually happening to us. People in the tens of thousands are dying, being maimed, poisoned. We are destroying our Constitution and losing our most basic rights and are accepting theater instead of elections. PLEASE, it is time to talk ONLY of what they are VERIFIABLY trying to do, and none of that other...stuff.
This dancing around the Truth is only an enabling and collaborative act, and speeds up the full takeover of what once was a Noble Experiment of a nation.
JOURNALISTS' #1 TASK: Talk about the Bases, the Bases, the Bases: the money going in—and out. Who is building them? Who is profiting? How much is this costing? Where is the money trail? Where are the "missing" billions? Where is the investigation and TRIALS about those holding the missing billions? How does base construction compare ($$, time, energy) with Iraqi infrastructure construction? How does the "Downing Street Memo" notion of shaping the facts to the plan fit into all of this? Why aren't they putting Iraqis to work on those projects? Why do the bases and embassy resemble the Mall of the Americas? Who's going to live there? How will this be paid for? NOW, talk about 911! WERE there war games going on at the time? Yes or No. Where were NORAD, the planes and that training and preparedness that were supposed to protect us? Why was no one fired? Why were we so quick to dispose of evidence in New York and Washington? And so on. YOU'RE the journalists. YOU think of the questions!!
This IS your story. And if it is not, then PROVE that it's not—by investigating ALL of these questions and denying in fact and figure that the above are NOT the real and only underlying reasons for all the treasons in Iraq.
Tell your colleagues, "Enough of Jon Benet, Paris Hilton, and the like—there's this gorilla out there waiting for you." Go get 'im! This is a story America desperately needs to know about, if it is to survive.
Yours,
inspired1
Miami
Why are we all dancing around the real motivations for our invasion and occupation of Iraq and our whole new "foreign policy"?
Some time back I read Helen Thomas’ article, “Bush's Iraq Rationalization is Lame”. In it, I like the way she reminds fellow journalists that they have some objective things to take care of, and sets an example of doggedness and fight that is all but gone from the press corps.
Yet...I still don't really hear anyone, Helen included, talking DAILY about a DAILY realities: WHY we are REALLY there!
Enough talking about "mistakes": should there have been more troops, fewer troops, fight them over there, fight them here, spread democracy, etc.—writing about those things just buys—lock, stock and barrel—into the phony premises put forward by this Selected Administration in the first place—that they took us there with Our Blood and Our Gold to Do Good. If you swallow that, you've swallowed the whole thing.
What on EARTH does it take for a few courageous writers to start from a clean slate and say the reason we are there in Iraq, is for the 14 permanent bases, the megaEmbassy, and all that that means in terms of regional control (and beyond) capability. Nothing else!! All the rest is crochet work, pretty and noble words to make those paying for this misadventure feel good—or at least unsure enough of themselves not to say anything to the contrary. THAT is why Iran is next. Who CARES who lives or dies—it's a long-term fight for endless US/corporate domination of resources in many regions in a time of scarcity.
C'mon! They are not building "democracy" in Iraq—anyone with half a brain knows that, yet look at all the debate and intense TV scrutiny over their armed "elections." Purple fingers, indeed. They exist to distract, to create a warm feeling, but mostly to buy time—building (construction) time. Hell, they don't know how to "build democracy" here, much less there! They do know how to tear it apart, though. That being said, however, incompetence never was their problem. Take notice—they do well only those things they CARE about (y’know: profits, control, ownership, snooping, punishment). The rest...well, you've seen Katrina, our public schools, health care, our railroads, port security....
The only thing that counts in Iraq for those NeoCons who occupied America in 2000 are the Bases. Get it? That is the ONLY reason there are that many (or few) troops on the ground there. They calculated what would be enough to protect the contractors at work, until the base-building job is done. That's all. All on our nickel (middle class America’s nickel, that is, with largely lower class and immigrant cannon fodder). Iraqis? Screw them! Civil war, schmivil war, the more they die, the less we have to kill them to keep our bases strong.
We torture men, women and children; we blow up whole families or melt them with white phosphorus. Why should we care if they get to participate in their own government? Officials in Ohio don't seem to care if people here do.
Stop and think about that. If your only goal and objective was to set up Fortress America in Iraq, then, when asked "Do we have enough troops?", sure, the answer is "Yeah!" Enough for the intended job.
Of course, that story they could never sell to a Congress that is still more or less elected, nor sell to an American public that just wants to feel either good or safe, preferably both. So they told us this was to protect us. Ha! But...first we had to be scared enough to believe them. Hmmm,...can anyone say 911?
There is no reason to believe any one of the so-called "justifications" (WMD's, Saddam, al Qaeda, etc)—nor for journalists and politicians to waste too many more precious words using available evidence to disprove them. With THEIR control of the media, they aren't at all worried about facts, proof or making sense—they just repeat, ad nauseum, their own make-believe cover-up "story".
We all knew that this Plan existed years prior to 911, and that that attack served as a catalyst to get popular domestic support (and to start the free-for-all free-fall in our Treasury). Al Capone must be yukkin' it up, looking down on his prodigies at work.
So why not tackle that REAL geopolitical gorilla sitting on top of the Empire State Building—the one no one seems to notice. We KNOW why BushCo took us there—it exists in maps and blueprints, plans and timelines. You can see it on the web! It's part of our secret "Energy Policy." All the rest is distraction. The main topic that has occupied nearly all mainstream US journalism for the past five years...is the very nature of the Distraction!!!!
So, decent, good, honest, perceptive journalists—and others—need to FOCUS ON and REPEAT the One and Only Story there is: the geopolitical reasons proposed in the Project for the New American Century (PNAC). AAAALLL the rest is a WASTE of time—and besides the NeoCons just keep refuting it—incessantly, on over 90% of the airwaves.
PNAC is there for all to see: anyone can read about their objectives and many of their intended means. That IS their goal. The rest are fairy tales. It is not hard to prove, either. Just look at ONLY those things which have succeeded so far in our so-called Mid East policy: the establishment and protection of a permanent US military and intelligence presence in Iraq and elsewhere. THAT'S where they put their expertise, their boldness, and OUR resources. That is the only part going more or less according to plan.
PNAC even spells out the need for 911 in order for the plan to work ("a new Pearl Harbor" was needed, they said).
And—why isn't this obvious—THAT is the reason there is no Plan to leave soon. It's not about Iraqi Police or Army readiness. It's about Base Readiness. We can't leave now—the 52nd state isn't ready yet.
It has nothing to do with Iraqis taking over their own defense. It has nothing to with any of the material of countless editorials and letters to the editors, not the insurgency, nor Valerie Plame, yellow-cake, aluminum tubes, nor gassing people,...NADA!
You know, if NeoCons were really the courageous tough guys they'd like us to believe they are, they'd lay this whole thing out in the open for discussion and debate. They would work hard to convince us of their positions, and let Americans decide if this is what they want to do. But noooo...they could never take such a chance. As Cheney aptly puts it, they work "in the shadows." THEY know what is right for us and won't let a little thing like democracy get in the way.
Soooo...EXPOSE this, already!! Journalists, Congresspeople, someone!!
This is actually happening to us. People in the tens of thousands are dying, being maimed, poisoned. We are destroying our Constitution and losing our most basic rights and are accepting theater instead of elections. PLEASE, it is time to talk ONLY of what they are VERIFIABLY trying to do, and none of that other...stuff.
This dancing around the Truth is only an enabling and collaborative act, and speeds up the full takeover of what once was a Noble Experiment of a nation.
JOURNALISTS' #1 TASK: Talk about the Bases, the Bases, the Bases: the money going in—and out. Who is building them? Who is profiting? How much is this costing? Where is the money trail? Where are the "missing" billions? Where is the investigation and TRIALS about those holding the missing billions? How does base construction compare ($$, time, energy) with Iraqi infrastructure construction? How does the "Downing Street Memo" notion of shaping the facts to the plan fit into all of this? Why aren't they putting Iraqis to work on those projects? Why do the bases and embassy resemble the Mall of the Americas? Who's going to live there? How will this be paid for? NOW, talk about 911! WERE there war games going on at the time? Yes or No. Where were NORAD, the planes and that training and preparedness that were supposed to protect us? Why was no one fired? Why were we so quick to dispose of evidence in New York and Washington? And so on. YOU'RE the journalists. YOU think of the questions!!
This IS your story. And if it is not, then PROVE that it's not—by investigating ALL of these questions and denying in fact and figure that the above are NOT the real and only underlying reasons for all the treasons in Iraq.
Tell your colleagues, "Enough of Jon Benet, Paris Hilton, and the like—there's this gorilla out there waiting for you." Go get 'im! This is a story America desperately needs to know about, if it is to survive.
Yours,
inspired1
Miami
What Will It Take To Impeach?
Impeachment ought NOT to be debated on the grounds of whether it is politically viable or not (although this is likely to be the knee-jerk reaction of all too many who have been spoon-fed the pablum of our times). It SHOULD be done, however, because it is the appropriate legally prescribed remedy for the situation we find ourselves in of perceived crimes committed at the highest levels. Not an "option." By NOT doing it, members of Congress would have to be considered accomplices in the crimes. For if they see it, have the power to act upon it, but decline to do so, they allow the crime and the conditions created by it to continue in effect, further eroding our already weakened Constitution.
We are very close to Constitutional crisis and perhaps even violence if we try to sweep, once again, this situation under the rug, as, alas, America is wont to do. We have really become rather addicted to comfort and convenience and don't want to trouble our pretty minds with reality, power games and such. We'd much rather sip a few and watch the game. Why do you think professional athletes, movie stars and entertainers get paid such huge sums. It's not just that they sell stuff. It's that they serve a SOCIAL FUNCTION that is valuable to those paying. Everyone's eyes OFF the prize.
Well, the nation has been hijacked (of course we've been told that it's OTHERS that have threatened us), and we're faced with WHAT, if anything, the People can and will do about it. We don't have a great history in this direction, and a massive MISinformation scheme of media conglomerates kinda filters the public's access to information and therefore, its view on things.
In any case, the courage to push ahead, to finally CALL this Administration on its dismal, dangerous record and CHALLENGE it to do the bidding of the American public--as it was designed to do--in Congress, in town halls, in workplaces, in the media (alternative and wherever else possible), in classroom, and on the streets, will require consistent and growing vocal pressure from those of us on the short end of this stick. Without such growing pressure--and visibility--this Congress is unlikely to find the political will to do its assigned job. They need us, and we need them to do the right thing. Full court press, my friends.
Apropos of this, there is an online PETITION (what--another? No, this is the real deal) on Sen. Edward Kennedy's site (tedkennedy.com)--"It's Not His Decision; it's OURS"-- to tell Bush in no uncertain terms that he does not have the right to make his life or death decisions alone or just with his buddies. It is public acts like this which can engender courage and just possibly a sea change that not even this repugnant regime can handle. We must never underestimate their hatred and power to do harm to those who disagree with them. But even they have limits--their belief that force can create New Realities from whole cloth (while on some levels seems to work quite well) is nothing more than a sick delusion. Reality is moved by millions of little things.
Let's start working on the little things, moving always in the right direction of telling truth to power, and we may even surprise ourselves.
We are very close to Constitutional crisis and perhaps even violence if we try to sweep, once again, this situation under the rug, as, alas, America is wont to do. We have really become rather addicted to comfort and convenience and don't want to trouble our pretty minds with reality, power games and such. We'd much rather sip a few and watch the game. Why do you think professional athletes, movie stars and entertainers get paid such huge sums. It's not just that they sell stuff. It's that they serve a SOCIAL FUNCTION that is valuable to those paying. Everyone's eyes OFF the prize.
Well, the nation has been hijacked (of course we've been told that it's OTHERS that have threatened us), and we're faced with WHAT, if anything, the People can and will do about it. We don't have a great history in this direction, and a massive MISinformation scheme of media conglomerates kinda filters the public's access to information and therefore, its view on things.
In any case, the courage to push ahead, to finally CALL this Administration on its dismal, dangerous record and CHALLENGE it to do the bidding of the American public--as it was designed to do--in Congress, in town halls, in workplaces, in the media (alternative and wherever else possible), in classroom, and on the streets, will require consistent and growing vocal pressure from those of us on the short end of this stick. Without such growing pressure--and visibility--this Congress is unlikely to find the political will to do its assigned job. They need us, and we need them to do the right thing. Full court press, my friends.
Apropos of this, there is an online PETITION (what--another? No, this is the real deal) on Sen. Edward Kennedy's site (tedkennedy.com)--"It's Not His Decision; it's OURS"-- to tell Bush in no uncertain terms that he does not have the right to make his life or death decisions alone or just with his buddies. It is public acts like this which can engender courage and just possibly a sea change that not even this repugnant regime can handle. We must never underestimate their hatred and power to do harm to those who disagree with them. But even they have limits--their belief that force can create New Realities from whole cloth (while on some levels seems to work quite well) is nothing more than a sick delusion. Reality is moved by millions of little things.
Let's start working on the little things, moving always in the right direction of telling truth to power, and we may even surprise ourselves.
Labels: Bush, Constitution, crimes, crisis, Impeachment, Kennedy, public pressure
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Signs of American fascism—here or on the way?
The comments that follow, resulted from an online discussion relating to a Salon.com interview with former New York Times correspondent Chris Hedges, author of the book “American Fascists.”
The major element of fascism seems to have been missed in all this discussion: the marriage of corporations with the state.
Who can say today that our system of "representatives" (from either party) really represents the people who voted for them? The Congress long has been swayed in its decision-making by corporate money through lobbyists, personal favors and corporate-funded "experts" and pressure groups.
This already anti-democratic practice was worsened when the foxes were brought in to protect the hen house as many of those with corporate connections began getting invited to sit on those regulatory panels which were created to represent and protect citizens. That's how we have an FCC not protecting our freedom to use the airwaves for public communication, but rather protecting media conglomerates' "rights" to grow ever more powerful and determine what America shall hear and see—effectively becoming SuperCitizens with special rights and enormous influence.
Now, ratcheting up further, this already anti-democratic environment has evolved to the unbelievable state of taking those corporate representatives and putting them into the Cabinet and higher. The People's access to their government and government "by and for the People" has been lost—and is now practically irretrievable because neither Republicans nor Democrats either publicly recognize the above history or are perfectly happy with it.
In the meantime over the last four or five decades, nearly all other possible institutions that might also represent ordinary citizens' voices and therefore help defend them against these onslaughts have been systematically weakened, twisted or have faded away: independent farmers, unions, free and fair election practices, solid public education, fully-funded public libraries. a relevant public health system, decent public housing.
Decision about every major facet of Americans' lives are made in board rooms not in town halls or Congress. You name it: jobs, wages, outsourcing, the air we breathe, the water we drink, healthcare and healthcare access, education, radio, TV, newspapers, elections, food sources, commerce and trade, sports, entertainment, and on and on.
Tell me, just what do everyday American citizens get to say on ANY of this?? What? Through their "elected representatives” who, with few exceptions, never saw a lobbyist they couldn't love?
The most major decisions any society could make have been made without the input of the American People. We have turned our entire economy from an industrial, exporting one to a service economy with millions of jobs being lost or exported without ever asking American citizens: "Is that what you want?" All debate and opinions are controlled from the top down in a powerfully controlled but seemingly "open" system.
How about going to war—on phony pretenses—decided basically by corporate interests (in this case largely the petroleum industry) not only in the Cabinet but in the White House itself, taking all of our resources, buying Congressional compliance, paying out enormous sums in no-bid contracts for friends, losing (!?!) billions of dollars and thousands of arms, along the way, putting our grandchildren into massive debt, killing, maiming, and exiling millions, listening to our phones, reading our mail, peeling away our civil liberties and rights—manipulating media here and abroad with false information (pressures, psy-ops and more)—just because they CAN?
And the whole country sits around waiting for the decisions on such crucial matters as war and peace to be pronounced by one C-student who may or may not have been elected.
That, my friends, is a picture of fascism—either in development, or very well on its way.
Oh, yeah, We the People have places for "input" and to "let off steam,” but to really participate in the major decisions that affect our lives? Mainly here on these blogs.
We are "free" to say whatever we want—until we start to be effective in challenging, much less changing the status quo. Then watch out for someone protecting others from your words and ideas. Remember the "Miami Model" and the FTAA in 2003. Eight million dollars of Iraq-earmarked money to equip troops to intimidate thousands of concerned citizens (largely union, many elderly) from discussing and expressing legitimate (and widespread) opposition to the corporate "free trade" proposal which ignored environment, salaries, and safety. Eight millions, and they got perhaps one possibly legitimate arrest for minor infractions? Who is making those decisions?
Forget concentrating all that attention on judges, etc. as it is nearly peripheral to the Big Picture painted above. That being said, judges do have certain powers to sway our approximation to, or flight from, constitutional government. Overall, it is about Power alone and who has appropriated the right to exercise it, and in whose name. The Constitution has become a rapidly shredded fig leaf for this corporate grab of power in the US.
When corporations were given "personhood", it all started going downhill.
Only the return of institutions representing people in a more direct way—new parties, new or resurgent organizations—can restore any semblance of real democracy to this land.
The major element of fascism seems to have been missed in all this discussion: the marriage of corporations with the state.
Who can say today that our system of "representatives" (from either party) really represents the people who voted for them? The Congress long has been swayed in its decision-making by corporate money through lobbyists, personal favors and corporate-funded "experts" and pressure groups.
This already anti-democratic practice was worsened when the foxes were brought in to protect the hen house as many of those with corporate connections began getting invited to sit on those regulatory panels which were created to represent and protect citizens. That's how we have an FCC not protecting our freedom to use the airwaves for public communication, but rather protecting media conglomerates' "rights" to grow ever more powerful and determine what America shall hear and see—effectively becoming SuperCitizens with special rights and enormous influence.
Now, ratcheting up further, this already anti-democratic environment has evolved to the unbelievable state of taking those corporate representatives and putting them into the Cabinet and higher. The People's access to their government and government "by and for the People" has been lost—and is now practically irretrievable because neither Republicans nor Democrats either publicly recognize the above history or are perfectly happy with it.
In the meantime over the last four or five decades, nearly all other possible institutions that might also represent ordinary citizens' voices and therefore help defend them against these onslaughts have been systematically weakened, twisted or have faded away: independent farmers, unions, free and fair election practices, solid public education, fully-funded public libraries. a relevant public health system, decent public housing.
Decision about every major facet of Americans' lives are made in board rooms not in town halls or Congress. You name it: jobs, wages, outsourcing, the air we breathe, the water we drink, healthcare and healthcare access, education, radio, TV, newspapers, elections, food sources, commerce and trade, sports, entertainment, and on and on.
Tell me, just what do everyday American citizens get to say on ANY of this?? What? Through their "elected representatives” who, with few exceptions, never saw a lobbyist they couldn't love?
The most major decisions any society could make have been made without the input of the American People. We have turned our entire economy from an industrial, exporting one to a service economy with millions of jobs being lost or exported without ever asking American citizens: "Is that what you want?" All debate and opinions are controlled from the top down in a powerfully controlled but seemingly "open" system.
How about going to war—on phony pretenses—decided basically by corporate interests (in this case largely the petroleum industry) not only in the Cabinet but in the White House itself, taking all of our resources, buying Congressional compliance, paying out enormous sums in no-bid contracts for friends, losing (!?!) billions of dollars and thousands of arms, along the way, putting our grandchildren into massive debt, killing, maiming, and exiling millions, listening to our phones, reading our mail, peeling away our civil liberties and rights—manipulating media here and abroad with false information (pressures, psy-ops and more)—just because they CAN?
And the whole country sits around waiting for the decisions on such crucial matters as war and peace to be pronounced by one C-student who may or may not have been elected.
That, my friends, is a picture of fascism—either in development, or very well on its way.
Oh, yeah, We the People have places for "input" and to "let off steam,” but to really participate in the major decisions that affect our lives? Mainly here on these blogs.
We are "free" to say whatever we want—until we start to be effective in challenging, much less changing the status quo. Then watch out for someone protecting others from your words and ideas. Remember the "Miami Model" and the FTAA in 2003. Eight million dollars of Iraq-earmarked money to equip troops to intimidate thousands of concerned citizens (largely union, many elderly) from discussing and expressing legitimate (and widespread) opposition to the corporate "free trade" proposal which ignored environment, salaries, and safety. Eight millions, and they got perhaps one possibly legitimate arrest for minor infractions? Who is making those decisions?
Forget concentrating all that attention on judges, etc. as it is nearly peripheral to the Big Picture painted above. That being said, judges do have certain powers to sway our approximation to, or flight from, constitutional government. Overall, it is about Power alone and who has appropriated the right to exercise it, and in whose name. The Constitution has become a rapidly shredded fig leaf for this corporate grab of power in the US.
When corporations were given "personhood", it all started going downhill.
Only the return of institutions representing people in a more direct way—new parties, new or resurgent organizations—can restore any semblance of real democracy to this land.
Labels: corporate personhood, fascism, power, public decision, representative democracy, war
What the deaths of Saddam and Ford have in common
What do the deaths of Saddam and Ford have in common?
They both sweep under the rug unresolved issues and crimes. They are the the willful ANTITHESES of the Truth Commissions seen in South Africa and elsewhere. Seemingly derived from the same power and control mentality of mafiosos, they are the historical "cement boots" of society's access to the truth.
Gerald Ford, who set the foxes to guard the hen house, was a set-up puppet much like Saddam Hussein was. Both put in place and supported by powerful energy lobbies. If you pay attentions to detail, you may recall that Ford, the first UNelected president in the US, achieved his nomination to the White House by stating in hearings that he would NOT pardon Richard Nixon if appointed. A lie which spawned many other Lies. Of course he is their hero.
Much to the contrary of "healing the Nation" as mainstream television and papers would have us believe, Gerald Ford's pardon of Nixon's crimes leave only scars and still-festering wounds. Only those who were the perpetrators actively wounding our nation benefitted from that pardon which effectively was a home-free card for all tho
se who took our Constitution lightly back then.
There is no doubt that those who today further disrespect our democracy and render meaningless our Constitution would take this moment to gloat and to praise the man (and forces) who paved the way for their hijacking of our society.
Richard Nixon was never tried, and the depths and breadth of his machinations (as well as the full role and identity of co-conspirators) were never uncovered because of that pardon. Let us not forget that it was Gerald Ford who put together the Cheney-Rumsfeld team who worked hard in those days for greater secrecy, as they tried to defeat the Freedom of Information Act and further reduce the public's right to know what goes on in government.
Cheney's closed-door "Energy Policy" meetings which basically was the divvying up of Iraq's oil supply by energy giants, was part of this legacy, and this war its inevitable consequence.
With Saddam publicly swinging on death's noose, we lost any reasonable chance to delve further into the untried larger offenses he was said to have committed. The people of this world have thus been relieved of the opportunity to hear details of how Saddam's regime came to and stayed in power. This is very convenient for the very same people who now laud Gerald Ford's role in the Watergate aftermath.
Let us not forget that the very first act of George Bush as he entered the White House was to seal the records of his father's administration which would have shed light on the misty connections between previous administrations' dealings with both Iraq and Iran. With that information at hand, perhaps we would today understand better the zeal with which this rogue White House has endeavored to "take out" both regimes.
With full and unfettered Watergate and Irangate investigations, many of those now holding power and calling the shots on peace, war, healthcare, laws, the economy, our treasury, and your life would be serving stiff prison sentences instead.
Labels: Bush, Gerald Ford, injustice, Irangate, Nixon, politics, Saddam, secrecy, truth, war, Watergate
