CULTURE OF LIFE?

President Bush and his Neo-Con, self-proclaimed Christian politicos claim to live by a code of respect for life, all life. Yet, to them abortion, end of life, and stem cell research are the only life issues that appear to demand high profile attention.

In truth there is more to life and death than these three issues. Crime, capital punishment, war, drug wars, inadequate healthcare, AIDS, suicide, hopelessness, homelessness, dirty air and water, intolerance, racism, and economic uncertainty impact the lives and quality of life of real Americans.

If all life is valuable and respected, one may legitimately ask the following questions: What happened to the war on poverty? What happened to America's commitment to human rights at home and abroad? Does abortion trump all other issues?

How is an elective war, based upon a neo-con democracy domino theory, consistent with a culture of life? It is sadly ironic that the President who preaches respect for life has now presided over the deaths of 2,000 American service people in Iraq.


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"Religion has no place in public policy!" Barry Goldwater

It is fascinating to watch how the religious right and the out-maneuvered left have framed the debate around Bush's latest move to provide legal cover for himself and his cronies. The Harriet Miers nomination is a signal that credentials and expertise do not matter to W. What matters to Bush is blind obedience and like minded adherence to a narrow interpretation of Christianity exemplified by this woman.

That George W. Bush had the nerve to point to Ms. Miers church membership and evangelical resume, in an attempt to calm the fears of his base, signals that we may be in danger of becoming a religious fundamentalist theocracy.

One of the fathers of modern conservatism envisioned this time and warned strongly against it. Barry Goldwater stated, "Religious factions will go on imposing their will on others unless the decent people connected to them recognize that religion has no place in public policy." Mr. Goldwater is probably turning over in his grave as I write this installment.

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QUESTIONS

Children ...
why do you cry?

Parents ...
What will you find?

Lawyers ...
What is the Law?

Politicians ...
Who Do You Serve?

Preachers ...
Whom is Your Master?

Secrets hidden under stone.
Answers buried in time.

Will Any reveal the Truth?
Where is the Truth Found?

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A Patriotic Call to Action

On 9/23/05 Whaler - one of our most prolific contributors - delivered a call to action to the American people. Following is a somewhat edited version of Whalers comments (the original text accompanies the 9/20/05 post "What is the New Progressive Platform?")

In response to the REB 84 post on the challenge of the progressive, I see things that are important to everyone not just progressives.

But all these things have been talked about adnauseum by every candidate who runs for any federal office. And once they get elected they do-nothing except maintain the status quo. Both parties are guilty of not delivering effective government.

But more to blame than them, are the voters, or lack of voters, or lack of knowledgeable voters. By this I mean people who understand the way a democratic system is supposed to work, not how much can they get from government. People are sadly clueless and vote only in such small special interests. Or single issues. So that being said, it appears we will always have this sort of stale mate between the right and left.

To make positive change, we have to take back or cities first, next the counties (or parishes) and then states. Once the people have a platform and a voice, it will be time to show the federal politicians we know what we are doing and understand better than them how to address American priorities and show Washington D.C. the way things should be done.

Too many beltway politicians talk to us like they are taking care of us. They act as though we can't survive without Washington. Well I know we can find a better way. We need to send the message that they can't count on our support until real measures are taken to right the ship of filled with bloated politicians feathering their nest and those of their campaign contributors while the rest of America pays the price.

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Another Chapter 11 and the Decline Of The US Auto Industry

Today, I am reading yet another article about the threat of bankruptcy at Delphi. I have also been reading all the articles, and blog posts about whose fault it is. Is it management, is it the unions or is it the policies of our government? But I think these are the wrong questions.

We live in a time when workers in China can do the same job American autoworkers do for less than $1.00 an hour. Are the Chinese workers being taken advantage of, Is this fair? Again these are the wrong questions.

I think the real question is what are Americans going to do about it. So far the response has been every man for himself. We close down plant after plant or we outsource work. This is a foolish no win game. To me the better response would be to stand together - management, union and government. Yes - Americans are going to lose jobs but are we retraining workers for new industries, are we providing healthcare so US companies will be more competitive, are we passing laws to support and grow the middle class.

I want my children to grow up in a country where people care about each other and work for the common good. That will only happen if we work together. So - what are you going to do about it?

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21st Century Politics - Who Will Emerge to Lead America Out of the Wilderness?

As I reflect on the onslaught of news and disturbing political trends in America today, I wonder when the tide will shift and leaders will focus on the needs of everyday Americans. The top 1% has been living fat and happy for far too long. Corruption and cronyism is rampant. Accountability is almost non-existent. Competent leaders are few and far between. People keep dying under our current leadership. Where is the outrage? Where is the commitment to positive change? Where is the courageous leadership?

Most of today's main-stream politicians seem more concerned with poll numbers and ensuring their re-election than taking chances and speaking up for what is right. Market driven media, with a few exceptions, is more concerned with sensationalism and the appealing to our primal attractions to sex and violence than with digging deep and getting to the root of the rampant corruption and abuses of power blatantly on display in Washington D.C.

So, what can we as Americans do? First, we can study the issues and learn what is going on in the world. We need to know what is being done in our name and with our money. We need to know what is being done to our environment. We need to know how the massive national debt will impact our future and our children's future. We need to find out where America stands in the world. Will we lead or will we follow other countries in the future?

Once we have an idea what is going on, we need to share our perspectives. We need to talk to each other. We can talk to those near us or people we don't even know through blogs and websites. We need to speak truth to power.

We also need to vote!!! Voting is a right that too many take for granted and far too many do not exercise. Figure out what is most important to you and vote for the person who most closely supports what you believe in. We the People can help the new leaders of America rise to the surface.

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Thomas Jefferson on Resistance to Government

"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it to be always kept alive. It will often be execised when wrong but better so than not to be exercised at all. I like a little rebellion now and then. It is like a storm in the atmosphere."

- Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Abilgail Adams

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