Who are the real Terrorists?

“The Illinois State Senate has passed a resolution calling for the withdrawal of all US troops from Afghanistan instead of Obama’s plans to increase the occupation.”

“Less than a week after US air strikes killed over a hundred Afghan civilians, President Obama’s top security adviser, General James Jones, said Sunday that the US will continue its strikes in Afghanistan, despite sharp criticism about rising civilian casualties from Afghan President Hamid Karzai.”   

“Zinn says Obama had Obama heeded the lessons of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., he wouldn’t be escalating US attacks abroad and increasing the size of the US military budget.”

              -DemocracyNow.org

Since, for now, we retain our right to freedom of speech, I believe we should speak about foreign policy.  What harm is a little bit of dialogue between slaves?

I believe Americans are witnessing the scam of the century.  Kudos to the Obama Administration on behalf of the criminal community, for your blatant misuse of your power.  The empire appears to be coming along as they typically do, at the expense of innocent lives and with the consent of a poorly informed, complacent voter base.  The rest of the world has grown weary of our war-mongering aggression, but who gives a damn?  We boast the most powerful and influential military in the world.  We may not have democracy at home, but how could we?  Our president’s plans for this country are far too ambitions for the will of his constituents to interfere.  We are well on our way to collapse; I believe President Obama deserves a round of applause. 

For over a year now I have walked through parking lots seeing cars proudly displaying Obama ’08 stickers on the very same bumper as an “Endlessthis War” (or similarly purposed) sticker.  I grow sick to my stomach every time I witness this perverted spectacle because I know that the driver of each of these vehicles probably genuinely believed that they were about to be a part of a new, reasonable, foreign policy.  I am sure that they expected to wake up in their beds upon President Obama’s inauguration as part of a better country, not a more aggressive war-machine.  How wrong they were.

Should I not speak out against our military?  Support the troops, right?  Well, I believe that the conversation about “moral hazard” needs to span beyond the American corporate environment and focus on the difficult topic of the way in which our troops are employed.  Troops being stationed overseas (147 countries and counting) is certainly a delicate subject.  Not only are these men soldiers, but they are husbands, brothers, fathers, etc.  However, the administration can and certainly should  shoulder some extreme scrutiny for the way in which they employ our soldiers.  Most citizens’ fundamental acceptance of the conflicts we are waging overseas stems from the tragedy of 9/11.  However, we are fast encroaching on a decade from 9/11 and Osama Bin-Laden is still alive, as far as the public knows.  9/11 has very little to do with the majority of our military actions abroad.  Fear of this single event, tragic as it may have been, has caused Americans to fear for their well being so that they accept the subsequent tragedies committed by American soldiers without blinking an eye. 

How often do we hear the words, “America is the greatest country in the world?”  With such advantage as that which we supposedly have, why are we not at some sort of ethical advantage?  Iraqi and Afghan people rise to resist the occupation of American soldiers and we label them “insurgent?”  When the United States declared independence from the British, I have a feeling that patriot colonists were called insurgent by the public in Britain as well.  I am sure the dramatic lengths that American patriots went to in order to retain their independence as a people were considered as horrific as suicide bombings are to us today.  I do not pretend to justify the actions of those involved in violence towards innocent people, but imagine, if you will, a time following the inevitable collapse of the American dollar and the destruction of the individualism of the American people (those things should not be too difficult to imagine).  What would we have our soldiers, our fathers and our brothers, do, if a more stable government determined that our system of government was unacceptable (it is) and that we needed the help of THEIR superior occupying force?  Would we as citizens of what we assume to be our own country open our arms to a government organized by a foreign people and enforced by their armed military?  I am a believer in peace, but no sooner would I surrender my individuality to an invading force than I would to this government.  No one should.  We are nothing but animals without our beliefs and our customs.  The oppression that we now accept from our government is disgraceful indeed, but occupation like that which we impose on some countries is simply unacceptable.  

Of course the Middle-East has terrorists, but so does the United States.  Our administration is full of them.  Why does the American public support the various occupations that the United States is engaged in?  They support them because they are afraid of what might happen if our soldiers were not stationed around the globe.  We are ruled by the collective fear of the citizenship of this country which is caused by the actions and words of our own government.  I think it is fair to say that we are ruled by the same sort of people we are supposed to believe our nation is fighting.

In the following excerpt Theodore Roosevelt discussed foreign policy using an often quoted proverb to support his ideas.  I do not believe that President Roosevelt properly interpreted the proverb in practice, but in his words and the proverb itself I believe we might find a wise message: 

“Right here let me make as vigorous a plea as I know how in favor of saying nothing that we do not mean, and of acting without hesitation up to whatever we say. A good many of you are probably acquainted with the old proverb, “Speak softly and carry a big stick — you will go far.” If a man continually blusters, if he lacks civility, a big stick will not save him from trouble, and neither will speaking softly avail, if back of the softness there does not lie strength, power. In private life there are few beings more obnoxious than the man who is always loudly boasting, and if the boaster is not prepared to back up his words, his position becomes absolutely contemptible. So it is with the nation. It is both foolish and undignified to indulge in undue self-glorification, and, above all, in loose-tongued denunciation of other peoples. Whenever on any point we come in contact with a foreign power, I hope that we shall always strive to speak courteously and respectfully of that foreign power.”

I believe the intent of this message should not necessarily be confined to our words, but in our respect for the dignity of other people.  We simply cannot expect to have a peaceful relationship with the governments or citizens of other nations if we do not treat them with some sort of dignity, and having our soldiers marching in their streets proposing to fight the enemies of said nations and citizens (the majority of whom are capable and should be responsible for fighting those enemies themselves) is not a recognition of dignity.  The terrorists who financed and carried out the attacks of 9/11 did not come from nations unaffected by the United States; they came from countries that we OCCUPY.  Again, I do not pretend to defend or justify the murders that took place on that day, but as I have said many times, the myth that we are expected to believe, that we are hated because we are “free and prosperous,” has never before been more false. 

If we feel that we have a reason to fear our neighbors in the Middle-East, perhaps we should.  Could we blame fundamentalism or religious-misunderstanding?  Surely some harbor ill-will toward others that disagree with them and might act on those feelings, but those dangerous groups and individuals are the responsibility of the nations in which they reside.  The real danger is our reckless interventionist policies that have not changed much since the inauguration of our new president.  One might make the argument that they have accelerated in fact.  Dr. Ron Paul stated the following (in regards to former Vice President Dick Cheney’s claims that the United States is less safe because of a lack of the government’s authority to torture prisoners for information and the “new” Obama administration policies):  

“…but I do think that we’re less safe today, but I think we’re less safe because we haven’t changed our foreign policy. We still have a foreign policy of massive intervention over in the Middle East and as long as we continue with troops in Iraq, occupying and killing people in Afghanistan, and now spreading this war and chasing the Taliban over into Pakistan, there are going to be a lot of people involved that want to do us harm, so yes, I do feel less secure.”

Fighting terrorists?  The sad truth is that our troops are currently being employed in a manner which encourages terrorism.  We are doubtlessly unsafe, but the United States Federal Government is more at fault than any other force in the world.  Americans should not stand for this.  If we indeed intend to be safe, then we should demand a foreign policy that ensures our safety.  If we intend to be represented by this government, we must voice to our representatives that we will not be a part of a war-machine.  We do not need an empire to prosper.  We should not accept the condition we are in.  We cannot divorce ourselves as individuals from the actions of this government, because whether we recognize this government’s authority or not, this is the country that we live in.  We drive on the roads built by this government; we spend its currency.  So long as we accept these benefits (which I do not begin to call necessities, but every time we utilize them, we accept them) we accept the actions of the government, and we are defacto supporters of this conflict unless we speak out and demand change, not Obama Administration “change,” but REAL change.

Tax Day?

Americans today are raised with a gross fundamental misunderstanding of what constitutes ownership and how that ownership relates to the government we are subservient to.  As far as we know, we are legally obligated to yield a portion of our earnings to the United States Government, and this is acceptable to the majority of people.  Of course many people complain, but typically the complaint is over the inconvenience, not the principle.  April 15th symbolizes this condition, but it passes yearly and no true public protest is heard.  Our representatives do not squabble over whether or not the Federal Income tax is acceptable anymore.  The reason for this is simple, people accept the tax they are charged because they believe they owe that money to the government for whatever benefit they believe they receive from it.

Americans need to understand something:  we owe the government nothing.

Government should generally be a combining of people’s resources, but the government we are all familiar with is nothing more than a front for the single greatest heist of the history of mankind.  Mankind has been robbed of its resources and individuality for centuries.  We restrain ourselves by submitting to governments that do not have our best interests in consideration.  “We the people” have surrendered control of our commerce, our international relations, our currency, etc. to our government as long as that government has existed, and “WE” are bankrupt because of it.  Our currency is worthless.  We have many foreign enemies, and are expected to believe that those “enemies” would do us harm without the protection of our military.  We are a debtor nation, our debt and deficit are both extensive.  Our support permits this travesty that OUR government has created.  WE do not benefit at all from the financial and intangible support we give to our government, but we have been told for our entire lives to trust the government and that it is our duty to support it.

With that in mind, we give a gross portion of everything we earn to this machine to squander and devalue.  April the 15th is a wretched day.  It is a day that we observe to commemorate our slavery.  That we are.  We are slaves.  This country is not and has not for decades been about its people.  Our government is nothing but politics.  Voices of reason and reform are discouraged, and individualism is being suffocated with social programs designed to “help” people (accomplishing little more than enabling unhealthy life-styles).  Our tax dollars contribute to this nonsense.  This is absolute slavery.  The American people should not stand for this.  Never in history have Americans been so similar to sheep.  Our fore-fathers fought and many of them died so that American citizens would not be subject to just the sort of oppression that we now face.

Some Americans no longer accept this status-quo.  Some do not pay taxes to this counterproductive machine.  Many would call this refusal to contribute criminal activity, or even thievery.  That is foolishness.  Thievery is the United States Government imposing taxes that do not benefit those who pay them.  We are no safer because of our government, in fact one might argue we are in danger because of it.  We are certainly no richer; our currency is worthless, and how worthless it is will become painfully apparent in the coming months and years.  We are no wiser or healthier.  We are no more prosperous because of this taxation.  The thieves are those that support the Federal Income Tax.  Those are the criminals.

The American people must demand a more fair system of taxation along with a more responsible government.  If indeed we intend to remain united under our current government, we must express our desire for more responsible policies, and as long as the government refuses to be responsible with our money, we should not feel any obligation to fund the activities that endanger our well-being and way of life.  We must remember that the debt our government accumulates, it accumulates in our name, for it is our government after all.  Every enemy our government makes, every dollar they borrow, every irresponsible action they commit, every poor habit or condition our government subsidizes, etc. it does in our name.  The American people should no longer give their consent to this behavior.  Not one of us benefits from this slavery.  We can break free peacefully, but we must no longer acquiesce to this horrendous condition.  Now is the time that we tell our representatives that we will not stand for this oppression any longer.

Three if by Congress

How to get the attention of the Iraqi people?

Last week a disturbing headline found its way onto the front page of CNN.com.  The long and short of the article is that during a routine traffic stop, United States soldiers fired warning shots to gain the attention of an approaching driver.  The result of this “warning shot” was the tragic killing of an Iraqi civilian, specifically a female child. 

The irony in the term “warning shot” stands out greatly to me.  The American people should hear this “warning shot” and realize that our government is not overseas fighting “the good fight.”  They are fighting against

Our Economic Future?

I sincerely recommend that you, whoever you are, watch the entirety of this video series.  I believe it portrays a frightening, but candid future of our economic future.

President Obama’s Plan for our Future?

This week, our new president, Barack Obama, publicly addressed a joint session of Congress.

He made sure to remind us all that we are facing hard times. Probably the most interesting statement of his entire speech can be found right towards the beginning. “It is only by understanding how we arrived at this moment that we’ll be able to lift ourselves out of this predicament.”

The million dollar question is, “how is Barack Obama’s plan any different than conditions that have landed us in a crisis?” The “day of reckoning” has arrived, but what does that mean? The United States of America has a long rich history of governmental intervention. Our new president is quick to remind us of the collapse of the Real-estate market, and of the short-comings of the banking industry. He mentioned the gutting of regulations, even though regulations on the banking and lending industries are strict and numerous. Rest assured, President Obama’s economic agenda is designed to promote economic growth while bringing the deficit down, starting with a stimulus package with a modest price tag of $789 Billion Dollars.

The Fed Caused the Crisis.

Stimulus?

P.S. interestingly enough, I posted the two above videos after I wrote this article.  The comments (one in the second video and one later in my article) about the Patriot Act are purely coincidental.

Barack Obama’s Stimulus Package:

Before I continue, I would like to encourage readers to please respond with your thoughts below.

Here President Obama defends his plan.

I bid you view President Obama’s very emotional speech before you continue reading.  The end of his speech is what I will focus on first:

I share the opinion that President Obama is so vehemently against.  However, “half measures and tinkering” is absolutely not what I or the economists and legislators that I respect suggest.  They (economists who suggest de-regulation, smaller government, a free-market, etc.) suggest the opposite.  They suggest major action; like attacking the real sources of the problem.  The “Federal Reserve” certainly deserves a large amount of the blame (for a case against “The Fed” I recommend

Peace

I haven’t beaten the “Peace Drum” in a while, but tonight I feel it appropriate.  Why?  Has the government suddenly straightened out it’s foreign policy making?  No such luck.  Tonight was the first meeting of the University of Mississippi chapter of CAN (Campus Anti-War Network).

See Facebook Site

I will not waste your time making my case for peace.  I merely want to bring your attention to this group, because I am inspired by the mere presence of a group of people that are willing to stand up for peace.  Far too many people are willing to get wrapped up in the virtually non-existent rationale we are afforded by our government for waging this war(s) that we are currently waging.  If you happen to reside in the Oxford area of Mississippi or attend Ole Miss, let me encourage you to attend one of our meetings on Monday afternoons.  If you are a supporter of the war in Iraq or Afghanistan, please come anyway, we would love to hear your opinion.

In the mean time, here are some statistics to chew on.

Proposed 2009 Department of Defense Budget:  $518,300,000,000

Military Recruitment’s share of proposed 2009 Budget:  $20,500,000,000

The United States military is responsible for 48% of the World’s military spending.

I am excited about CAN, and I hope you will get involved or visit one of our meetings soon.

I apologize for my lack of material lately.  I have been busy with school, and I promise to get back writing as soon as possible.  In the mean time, I encourage anyone who happens to read my blog to see my links located on the right hand column of the page.  Specifically, I encourage you to check out “Free Talk Live Radio.”  I believe that it is a good source of information/entertainment for those who would like to hear a Libertarian perspective on government.

America the Invincible?

A few days ago I was walking around campus posting fliers for a campus organization with a friend.  When we passed the library we encountered an individual that my friend knew, so we stopped and began talking to him.  Since the organization we were posting fliers for is political in nature, the conversation quickly found its way to politics and, subsequently, the “bailout.”

This was not my first conversation with a supporter of the bailout, but I was surprised by the fact that (unlike the folks I have previously encountered in support of that ridiculous legislation and the many that followed just like it) this guy actually knew a little bit about what is happening to our economy and why those things are happening.  We had a pretty reasonable discussion, but one of the last things he said to me is what really got my attention.

He shrugged his shoulders and said, “…the economy is going to recover,” as if what happens and how the government responds to it is somehow irrelevant.  A perfectly intelligent individual, who was fairly well informed, simply dismissed the current situation as if it is hardly worth discussing, much less considering in our voting and decision-making.  Of course, this was not the first time I had heard someone say it, but at that moment it occurred to me that Americans clearly have no idea how serious the situation our economy is in really is.

I realize we cannot all be economic experts.  As any economy, ours is far too complex to be entirely familiar with (especially for the average citizen), and considering that objective information is so difficult to come by, Americans can only do so much to stay informed.  What is striking to me, though, is how few people take advantage of what resources are available to them through education, Internet publications, printed publications, etc.  What is disturbing to me is that beyond not staying informed, most people choose to believe that a few foolish bits of legislation are of no consequence because “the economy is going to recover.”

There is absolutely no guarantee that America will survive this crisis (this is a crisis).  People seem to suffer under this delusion which tells them that America is of some sort of divine quality and cannot “go out of business” or be forced to reorganize in some way that is not advantageous to the “American” way of life.  In other words, I am afraid that many people believe words like debt, inflation, and recession are nothing but unpleasant terms without much practical meaning.  I understand this thinking; everyone wants to feel safe in his home and rightfully so, but the only way to have a safe home is to take the necessary precautions to keep it safe.  For the American that means careful (informed) voting, and it means not treating the current economic condition with a dismissive attitude.

The result of thinking described earlier in the preceding paragraph is a people that seems to think that being forced to choose between voting for either of two lousy candidates (not that anyone is stopping anyone from voting third-party) is not a particularly big deal.  For anyone reading this that believes this way, I am sorry to be the one to tell you, but it is a very big deal.  Let me also tell you that, whether you like to hear this or not, John McCain and Barack Obama have both promised the same thing:  a “band-aid.”  They have promised to patch the economy, or rather the symptoms ailing it, but neither has addressed the source of the problem, and neither has promised you one bit of progress (or change, for the liberals among you).  The problems our nation is facing are not the result of eight years with George Bush in office.  The problems facing our nation are the result of decades of administrations that have ignored (or carelessly amended) our country’s constitution with their legislation and have lost faith in capitalism and democracy (neither of which strongly manifest themselves in our present government).  The problems facing our economy are the result of businesses that do not value ethical integrity or careful spending.  Furthermore, if the government would stop “bailing” out companies and let the market bury them for their inadequacy, I promise we would see more favorable reforms than we will see from that (or should I say those) damn bailout(s).  Businesses would not need to be bailed out if they had functioned properly in the first place.

The point of saying all this is not to point an accusatory finger at the government for the mistakes it has made (or will make), and it is certainly not to blame shift because I am well aware that I have a lot to learn about how this country works and how I can best relate to it.  The point is to suggest that people be aware that the consequences of economic hardship are not to be taken lightly.  Nations have collapsed countless times in history, and America is no less subject to the repercussions of its actions than the nations that have collapsed in the past were subject to theirs’.

Believe it or not the economy might not recover, and that is why it is important for people to stay informed, vote wisely, and hold their representatives accountable.

-William

Proud to be an American?

I have never voted in a Presidential Election before.  All I can say is, “wow.”  Is this what being a true American is all about?

I realize that it’s time to pick a candidate, so I inform myself on all of my options on “both” sides during primary time.  I select Ron Paul.  Ron Paul is crazy, or so I am told my all of my “American” peers.  I vote for him anyway because I believe in his ideas, and I challenge you to find a more consistent voting record among America’s politicians.

I do not believe I can express to you how disappointed I am that Dr. Paul did not even come close to having a fair shot at presidency.  All it took was CNN, FOX, (whatever news you watch or don’t watch), etc. ignoring him, and people choosing not to know anything about him.  “He is not what this country needs.”  One has his democratic right to that opinion, but the funny thing about that statement is that I rarely heard it followed by a reason (unless he’s old or he’s crazy qualifies for reason in your book).

Primaries come and go, and the debates begin.  I decide that Barack Obama and John McCain are not worthy candidates, so I select Bob Barr.  I am “wasting my vote,” or in the eyes of my (so-called) conservative friends “I am voting for Barack Obama, by not voting for John McCain.”  I select Bob Barr anyway.  I will go to the voting booth and vote for someone that cannot win the election.  I don’t imagine you saw Bob Barr at any of the “debates,” and I bet I could find quite a few people who do not know who he is.  Do you know what a Libertarian or a Constitutionalist is?  Any time I mention voting for Bob Barr (and you better believe I will) I can count on being told that I have certainly made the wrong choice.

To anyone who is not wholly satisfied with John McCain or Barack Obama, but is voting for one of them anyway, I would like to thank you for being a part of the distorted, faux-democracy that we have inherited from our parents and that they inherited from theirs.  I want to thank you for being a part of the problem and not a part of the solution.  When the candidate opposite of yours wins the election, I cannot wait to see you point your finger with that un-deserved sense of satisfaction as if your candidate would have done better (aftermath of 2004 election comes to mind).  I cannot wait to see you fumble for words when your candidate makes the bad decisions or neglects the true problems he has promised to make/neglect during the recent campaign like you will when the finger gets pointed at you.  If you are voting for one of the two and you really believe in his message, I don’t imagine I have much to say to you, other than thanks for at least voting your conscience.  If you are voting for McCain or Obama because you don’t know what the other options are, if you are voting for one to keep the other out of office, if you are voting for one because you do not want to “waste your vote,” I want to thank you for the state of this country.  Enjoy your war.  Enjoy your taxes.  Enjoy your debt that make those taxes seem necessary.  Enjoy your social-reform policies that exacerbate the problems they supposedly “fix.”  Hell, enjoy your socialism.  But, when the time comes to complain, over the next four years, as the country grows worse, don’t.

I hear a lot of people say how discontent they are with George Bush, and I can understand that.  What I can’t understand is that the sort of people that are so critical of President Bush are the same people that would tell a good Constitutionalist or Libertarian (and to be clear, if you vote for McCain or Obama, YOU ARE NEITHER) that he is somehow doing this country a disservice with his vote.

I love this country because the potential it has to be great is limitless.  However, I am ashamed of my fellow Americans because many (or most) of them refuse to take advantage of the opportunity this country affords them.

Vote for McCain or Obama; I guess you better, because that has become the American way.

One more day until yesterday?

Barring a post-election entry, this will be my last commentary on the current election.  As promised, I voted for Libertarian, attorney, and former Georgia Congressman, Bob Bar.  I cannot imagine why I should have to explain my reasoning behind this, but then again, I do live in America.  Should you feel off-put by this comment I challenge you to tell me who the six candidates for president appearing on the ballot will be WITHOUT using the Internet to look real quick because you really don’t know do you?  No worries, you are in good company, most people don’t appear to know what their options are.  Only an idealist would vote for a non-Republican/Democrat candidate right?

In past elections my parents have always informed me that my vote is no one’s business.  I have never much subscribed to this idea because I felt like a person who cannot bear their vote with pride, should carefully consider the obvious implication of not being able to simply state their political opinion.

In a perfect world I believe that the above-stated opinion would be true, but I have learned a valuable lesson:  those who perpetuate the strictly two-party voting system with their milksop “voting against the other party,” do not much like hearing that another person actually educated him/herself about all of the options and voted in a way that is actually conducive to progress.

Story time:  the day after I cast my vote, I sat at McDonalds, the paragon of the American forum, sipping a coke (that I somehow got for free, apologies for the aside) and discussing the political scene today.  A lady sitting next to my friend and me over-heard the conversation and with her typical, American selective-hearing weeded out all of the specifics of our conversation, and she asked me who I voted for.  Upon telling her I was greeted by a blank stare.  Long story short, this lady had no idea who Bob Barr is, even though he is fairly old and was most likely more politically active in HER younger years than he has been in mine (again, he is a practicing attorney presently).  Amused, I informed this lady that six candidates appear on the ballot this year, not just two.  I left, glad that I actually made some effort to be informed before I voted this year.

Upon arriving home, I laughed and began telling my mother the above story (thinking she would also find the humor in it despite our political differences).  When I was done I was greeted by a blank stare.  Long story short, my mom was ALSO unaware of what her options were this year.  She quickly told me that I had not in fact voted for the right candidate, but that I had somehow voted for Barack Obama by matter of not having voted for John McCain.  Amused, I started rattling off reasons for what I’d done.  When I asked for ONE difference between John McCain and Barack Obama, I was told that if I couldn’t distinguish the difference between the two, I didn’t deserve the justice of being notified.  When I started rattling off similarities, my mom ended the conversation.  [One more aside:  I love my mother and without her I would not be the man I am today, and it is by virtue of her mothering that I know right-from-wrong and know better than to do something ridiculous like voting without researching.  We have since reconciled our differences illustrated in the above conversation, and she has redacted her hasty accusation that I wasted my vote.]

As I have said many times, someone with absolute faith in McCain or Obama should absolutely vote for him (whichever one that is).  I do not personally care for either, but each has a democratic right to his opinion, and I respect that opinion whoever you might be.  However, I feel the need to tell any person that would dare criticize a third-party voter of wasting his or her vote that you are a damn coward.  That you would somehow look someone in the face and tell him that John McCain or Barack Obama, two strikingly similar candidates whether or not you would like to admit it (their voting records and platforms speak to me much louder than you possibly could, so I suggest you do a little research and abandon that point of view, should you hold it) are the only two options for a realistic individual is absolutely disgusting.  You are a coward because you lack the tenacity to make real change happen.  You’re right, my candidate does not have a snowflake’s chance in hell of winning this election, but if I threw my hands in the air and voted for a running candidate that I like significantly less, what kind of man am I?  What kind of democracy is this, that I am only entitled to my opinion if CNN says they approve of my choice?  I chose a candidate:

• who did not support the bailout
• whose primary contributors were NOT companies recently dealt money in the bailout
• who does not support continually funding foreign wars (Obama voters, your candidate does, which I know a lot of you don’t seem to be aware of)
• who does not support our troops’ presence in 147 countries
• who does not support wasting money on counter-productive entitlement programs (McCain voters, your candidate does, don’t act like yours is any better in that department, he’s not)
• who voted consistently during his political career, and only changes his position on an issue after careful, public explanation
• who supports serious reconsideration of things like income-tax
• ETC., I could really keep this up all night, but by now I imagine you get the point

No Obama supporter or McCain supporter can boast any of the above.  If you support one or the other and believe that you can, I recommend you quit reading this article and start finding out what your candidate is actually about because you are severely confused.  I was telling a McCain supporter who some of McCain’s top contributors are (thinking that she didn’t already know; surprisingly, she did).  Her emphatic response was, “the SAME ones as Obama” (suggesting that this fact somehow defeated the irony of who those contributors are).  I thought to myself, “what does that say about YOUR candidate?”

I am disappointed beyond words at what I have learned over the course of this “election” (the quotation marks express sarcasm, my sarcasm expresses how ridiculous I think it is to call what is going on an actual election).

My thanks go to all of those who I have had civil political conversations with over the past few months (I’ve discovered that Republicans typically find it necessary to inform me of my incorrect choice by raising their voice).   My thanks go to Dr. Ron Paul because before I discovered Dr. Paul I was unaware that a politician existed that believed in real change (not Obama change, but actual change).

I’ll quote Chuck Baldwin (who’s that?) in closing:  “If there is a wasted vote, it is the one cast futilely against the candidate you dislike in an attempt to swing the national election.”  I extend my condolences to Chuck Baldwin, Bob Barr, and Ron Paul for each being slighted the chance to truly reform this nation and make it truly great and respectable again.

–William

Remember what I said about Peace?

The Post Game Wrap Up

What an interesting election.  I never expected that my first opportunity to vote would be such a mammoth disappointment.  I could have never imagined that democracy was so meaningless.

Over the past several months I have seen several great candidates, well qualified to lead this country out of its shoddy present state, get brushed aside, as if not worth consideration. The generation I belong to has neglected the sea of resources available to it, abandoned reason, and elected to repeat the mistakes of our parent generation.  I do not know which is worse:  Democrats celebrating the upcoming “change” that this country will supposedly experience, or Republicans complaining as if their candidate were far better.  Also of notable interest, I am hearing a lot of people touting “socialism” as the future for its country.  I am hearing that Obama is going to “fix the economy.”  I am hearing that John McCain could have done it better.  I am hearing that Barack Obama is going to get us out of the war.  I am hearing that John McCain would have won it.

Open your eyes America. We didn’t just usher in Socialism.  Our parents did; our grandparents did; their parents did.  I heard a news reporter last night say “FDR got us Socialism, Obama might can get us Universal Healthcare.”  What on earth would cause a man to say such a thing?  Those are terrible things.  America is just like every other country right now:  we long ago abandoned the gold-standard, FDR “got us” Social Security, the American Government is meddling in the business of other countries, it is meddling in the business of its own people. Our dollar is a stone’s-throw from worthless.  We are in an economic recession.  The unethical and inadequate practices of “American” corporations is running them into the ground, and because “we have to do something,” our government has rewarded those inadequate companies with tangible funds from a pocketbook full of I-Owe-Yous.  In 2001 America was desperate for justice, and in 2008 we are not one step closer to having it. The “War on Terror” hasn’t provided security for our country at all, it has provided uncertainty for Americans, and consequently it seems that it has provided some shape form or fashion of terror for the other countries it effects.  We have military presence all over the globe.  The Federal Government has assumed authority expressly given only to the states.  With that authority it manages aspects of life that are not the government’s business.  Socialism is just a word, of debatable meaning, but this faux-democracy is despicable at best, and if not socialistic this country is something far worse.

Barack Obama is not going to get us out of the war.  I have never heard him say he will, and he votes for war-funding at almost every opportunity.  In the first debate he explained his plans for Iran, and made no mention of removing America from the other conflicts it is currently stirring up.  John McCain couldn’t have won this war; we lost when we followed the example of the 9/11 terrorists.  We lose it every time an innocent person dies at the hands of American military action.  We lose it every time an American soldier kills a man who believes he is defending his country or his way of life.  Neither candidate promised to prevent any of those things from happening, and the candidates that did are likely unknown to most Americans.

This country is full of finger-pointers.  If something goes wrong, the opposite party (again, as if there are only two) did it.  If something positive occurs, both parties happily take credit for it.  Even sadder perhaps, as mentioned above, some happily take credit for actions that are counter-productive, as if the consequences aren’t right in front of their faces.  You know who should be pointing fingers?..Americans who voted against the travesty that is our current condition.  And let’s be honest here, if you voted for John McCain or Barack Obama, you certainly didn’t. You contributed to it.  You may fancy that your vote was somehow strategically superior to that of the third-party voter.  That thought sickens me.  What a spineless accusation:  “well, you wasted your vote if you didn’t vote for a candidate that has a chance.”  That sort of nonsense is what perpetuates this two-party system that so many people emptily claim they don’t care for.  You know what I would do if I wanted to maintain the two-party system?  I would vote for a Republican or a Democrat in 2012 when they inevitably nominate candidates similar to the ones they nominated this year.  John McCain stood on a stage next to Dr. Ron Paul, who was clearly a superior candidate, and was chosen anyway.  Furthermore, America has made a mockery of Dr. Paul to such a degree that most people don’t even know what he stands for.  The Democrats didn’t have much option, but good grief Republicans.

Yesterday I watched and listened as many of my friends and acquaintances, embarrassed themselves by being sore losers/winners.  I don’t have it in me to blame them to be honest.  I am terribly disappointed too.  I want to believe in this country.  We have so much going for us.  Our fore-fathers afforded us advantages that no other young country has had available to it.  They chose not to impose their wisdom or lack of wisdom on us, but instead conceived a system of government that would ideally interfere in our lives very little.  What happened to democracy?  What happened to capitalism?  Why should I ever hear someone say that their candidate is going to “fix” the economy?  You know what would fix the economy?  The United States Government getting its fingers out of the economy would be a great start.  Of course our economy is  failing; it’s so full of governmental interference, I can’t imagine how it could possibly operate efficiently.

I heard on television that, “we are making history.”  If the events of this year’s election constitute, “making history,” I want no part of it.  So what if Barack Obama is a “black man?”  You know what I would be proud of?  I would be proud of America electing a candidate that is willing to enact real change.  I don’t mean Barack Obama “change.”  That isn’t change.  I mean I would be proud to live in a country that remembers its founding principles.  I would be proud of a candidate that would get the government’s hands out of my pocketbook, out of the economy, and out of the lives of its citizens.

For the past eight years I have listened to unnappreciative Americans tear down President George Bush.  Right or wrong, he has had a difficult job.  Whether or not he did an exemplary job, he has served this country as its president, and I believe we owe him our gratitude.  For at least the next four years we will have a lousy president.  Allow me to point out that complaining didn’t make President Bush ideal, nor will it make Barack Obama ideal.  I suggest Americans support President Obama with our prayers and well wishes.  I do not suggest we align ourselves with him, but I suggest we respect him.  Instead of complaining for four more years, I suggest we learn.  I suggest we discover what is truly in the best interest of this country, and come 2012, I recommend we find a candidate who will make that happen.

Convoluted though it may be, we are still technically a democracy, and so we are allowed to vote.  We have a voice, and I say it’s definitely time we stop wasting it.  Let’s have no more bailouts, no more Patriot Act, no more government dispensed entitlements, no more war, no more unnecessary economic intervention, no more gobbling up personal freedoms and state authoritites; let’s have no more faux-democracy.  Americans, let’s demand real democracy.

Next election, I will survey my options, I will become informed, and I will “waste my vote” on a candidate that will truly address the problems our country is facing.  That likely won’t be a Republican or a Democrat.  Will you “waste your vote” with me?

Don’t like the two-party system?  Vote against it.

Peace is for Hippies?

Disclaimer:  This message applies to Oxford residents only in terms of the event in consideration, but I hope the underlying theme provides food for thought for whoever might read this.

On November 13, The University of Mississippi Constitutionalists will host a Peace Rally event to raise awareness of the catastrophe that is this nation’s foreign policy.  Speakers will include Adam Kokesh, an American war veteran who courageously seeks to better this country as a speaker and an activist.  Darrell Castle, the running-mate of former Presidential Candidate Chuck Baldwin (Constitutionalist Party), will speak as well on the history of American military conflicts.  We are very excited about this event; the campus has responded in a fairly positive fashion, and after weeks of diligent preparation, we believe that the “Rally for Peace” will be a success.

Not long ago I heard a person ask, “what would you all consider to be a success for this event?”  I did not really not how to respond.  Of course we would like some local media attention, and if the event attracts enough people I would certainly hope that some national media would notice.  I firmly believe that based on the feedback that we’ve received, we can accomplish that.  The idea is to encourage a newer sort of activism and to encourage discussion regarding our nation’s foreign policies.

Something I have noticed about our message of peace is that it is often greeted by a snicker of some sort.  I’ve heard the word “hippy” thrown around a good bit.  Sometimes people just offer a glance that suggests our message is not welcome.  I have noticed a sense of disapproval coming from members of ROTC on campus (taking down and defacing our advertisements qualifies as disapproval I believe).  When telling a friend about the event she offered that she believed that she owed “our troops” her support, regardless of what happens overseas.

Addressing the disapproval of some individuals in my mind I often think, “what sort of person doesn’t support peace?”  I have wondered at times if that oversimplifies the situation that this nation is in, but I cannot help but conclude that America would have a much larger fan club if it would stay out of the affairs of other countries’.  Most nations don’t appear to want our “help.”  Nations like Israel that do want our support have taken advantage of our support for decades as if they don’t have the means to take care of themselves, and even if Israel didn’t have the means to take care of itself, why would it continue to stir up trouble with its neighbors?  Like many of the nations America supports, Israel is a diplomatic nightmare, and I bet our support of that country does make enemies for us because by associating with them without condemning their hostility to other nations, America in essence condones their juvenile/dangerous behaviors.  I believe it is time that Americans start demanding more responsibility of our government, and that is what the “Rally for Peace” is about.  We will gather together and hopefully educate people on our nation’s disastrous foreign policy.  Speaking of which:

A U.S. coalition airstrike and clashes with the Taliban militants in southern Afghanistan earlier this week killed 37 civilians and 26 insurgents, according to an Afghan government report released Friday.

The report also accused the Taliban militants of seeking shelter near a wedding party in the Kandahar province’s Shah Wali Kot district shortly after ambushing a coalition patrol on Monday, according to the findings compiled by the governor of Kandahar province.

The report said that another 27 civilians were wounded in the strike. It added that the government has already paid $2,000 to families of each victim, and $100 to those who were wounded — a standard practice in these cases.

The majority of the civilians killed were woman and children, the report said.

http://antiwar.com/

Believe me, if you aren’t already aware; the above excerpt is not a description of an isolated incident.  It is our duty as Americans to examine our consciences and decide if situations like that (which are occurring more and more frequently) should be tolerated.  To some, occurrences like this are just the cost of progress, but I say they are the consequence of irresponsible behavior.  I notice that more innocents were killed than insurgents.  I am sure by many people’s figuring those insurgents deserved to die regardless of the innocents, but I wonder what those insurgents would be doing if our nation wasn’t giving them a reason to be militants.  Americans should not sit back and allow their government to partake in violent activities in countries that are likely militant because of things that OUR military has done.

Addressing my friend’s comment about supporting “our troops,” all I have to say is that I feel convicted to do the same.  Two important facts justify the “Rally for Peace” in that regard.  First of all, the “war” that we are currently involved in (a war with the product or our nation’s recent history of irresponsible military behavior), is un-constitutional.  What sort of person supports our nation’s decision to involve soldiers, who have given their lives to protect this country, in an un-constitutional conflict?  That does not sound like genuine support to me.  Secondly, and more obviously, by committing our soldiers to conflict we are endangering their lives.  Calling it a defensive war is cowardice on the part of our administration.  The United States government is making tools out of our troops for its foolish endeavors.  By supporting “peace” I believe that I am supporting our troops.  By holding the “Rally for Peace” the UofM Constitutionalists, Adam Kokesh, and Darrell Castle together with whoever we can attract to this event, will be exhibiting the courage and compassion that we desire to see the rest of our country exhibit on behalf of our country’s soldiers.

Make no mistake, November 13 is not about condemning “our troops,” it’s about making Americans aware of the abuse of “our troops’” loyalty.

In the past, peace has been the primary focus of a less desirable crowd.  We are updating the image.  Instead of wearing tie-dye t-shirts, we’re suggesting people dress in business-casual attire.  We are not picketing.  Our goal is to avoid being a nuisance.  We hope to encourage discussion.  We hope that attenants will join us for the entirety of our rally, first for speakers and later to enjoy each-other’s company at Jubilee with our musical guests.  We are not gathering as hippies, we are gathering as Americans.  We are coming together to suggest a foreign policy that we believe will work, a foreign policy that other nations will observe and employ as well.

Peace is not an over-simplified intellectual cop-out.  Peace, freedom from cessation and war, is an absolute that I cannot imagine one would not seek to pursue.  Peace is the reward of diligent peace-seeking behavior.  What we hear in the news, the catastrophic events occurring in other countries, are not the result of a peace-seeking nation.  They are the result of irresponsibility, and November 13th is about Americans demanding more of their government, and WE WILL.  We hope that you (whoever you are) will join us, and if you are unable we hope that you will support us with your prayers and well-wishes.

Peace, it’s not just for hippies anymore.

Protest the Fed?

That’s correct.  This Saturday, at 2p.m. I will be joining my friends from the UM Constitutionalists in protesting the United States Federal Reserve Bank.  Our protest will take place in Houston Texas, but similar ones will be held at all of the major institutions of “the Fed” around the country.

Why?  Far be it from me to tell you what to or not to be complacent about, but I can’t help but feel like the Fed possesses qualities you might be unaware of.  Why protest an institution that has stood the test of time, that has been with this country since it’s conception?  I wouldn’t either; the truth is that this (the third manifestation since our nation came into being) Federal Reserve doesn’t even pre-date the house that I live in, in Laurel, Mississippi.  The “Federal Reserve Act” of 1913 thrust this institution upon Americans.

To avoid the risk of mis-stating what I am about to mention, I am going to borrow (you know the way the government borrows our tax-money without asking and does what it pleases with it) the numerated purposes of the United States Federal Reserve from Wikipedia (these are cited, so I believe them to be valid).

1. To address the problem of banking panics
2. To serve as the central bank for the United States
3. To strike a balance between private interests of banks and the centralized responsibility of government
   • To supervise and regulate banking institutions
   • To protect the credit rights of consumers
4. To manage the nation’s money supply through monetary policy to achieve the sometimes conflicting goals of
   • maximum employment
   • stable prices
   • moderate long-term interest rates
5. To maintain the stability of the financial system and contain systemic risk in financial markets
6. To provide financial services to depository institutions, the U.S. government, and foreign official institutions, including playing a major role in operating the nation’s payments system
   • To facilitate the exchange of payments among regions
   • To respond to local liquidity needs
7. To strengthen U.S. standing in the world economy

This country is home to many men far wiser than myself that could explain to you the irony in each of these points much better than I can.  However I think I should at least point out that none of these purposes is being accomplished, currently, by “the Fed” or any other institution.  I believe that Americans suffer under the dillusion that the Federal Reserve simply serves as a printing press.  The Federal Reserve has actual power.  How much power?  Again I’m going to slack on my intellectual duties a little bit and take the easy way out.  We don’t know.  You don’t.  I don’t.  Wikipedia doesn’t.  We do not know exactly how much liberty “the Fed” takes with its work.  We know what it is SUPPOSED to do.  But judging by the state of our economy I don’t believe anyone should consider taking that bait anymore.

Should we not at LEAST know what our central bank, the bank of banks, if you will, does?  Of course we should, and if you find my lack of evidence here to be suggestion of my case being weak, I challenge you to bring evidence of the Federal Reserve’s success, or transparency to the table by way of a comment below.  The United States of America has thrice done without a central bank, which means it has twice done away with this system.  I say the burden of proof is on those who would have Americans believe that “the Fed” is effective, transparent, or a good idea at all.

By the way, what do audits of “the Fed” tell us?  They don’t tell us anything because they don’t occur.  No legal body exists that can audit “the Fed.”  Many laws exist in fact preventing disclosure of information on the part of “the Fed.”  To me, this fact is disturbing.  I give my thanks to Ron Paul for opening my eyes to this particular flaw in the system.

I am no financial genius.  My argument here is very short, and it lacks the mountain of evidence that I am sure a reading dissenter would expect to respect my argument, but the truth is, what is there to say about an organization that discloses so little information to the public.  My point is this, this central bank has more control over the financial workings of this country than one might imagine.  Information about it is difficult to come by (sort of like specifics on the workings of government in general).  I as an American am concerned about such things, and if a central bank (an idea which I am not particularly enchanted by anyway) must indeed exist in this country, then damnit I want to know something about it.

Saturday, I’ll join in the protest against the United States Federal Reserve Bank system.  Consider the state of our economy, and learn what you can about “the Fed.”  What you find (or don’t find) may shock you.

Protest the Fed? Here’s a reason.

In spite of the lack of my ability to support my argument against the Federal Reserve, I have posted this.  I believe it better argues my point than I can.

Special thanks to Dan Blazo for indirectly bringing this to my attention.

IVAW Letter to Barack Obama

An open letter to President-elect Obama

Dear President-elect Obama,

Members of Iraq Veterans Against the War congratulate you on your victory, and we admire and respect both Senator John McCain and you for your strong, patriotic dedication and desire to fix the deep problems our country now faces.

We appreciate your inspiring words spoken at Grant Park in Chicago on Tuesday night – words which should give all Americans hope for our future. But we also remember the hope your words gave to many Americans in an August 2007 speech – especially those serving in our military: “Ending this war will be my first priority when I take office. There is no military solution in Iraq. Only Iraq’s leaders can settle the grievances at the heart of Iraq’s civil war.”

Much has changed in our country since that speech, and the prevailing sentiment among Americans is that our faltering economy must now be your first priority. We understand and share their concern, but we believe that our faltering economy cannot be corrected if we continue the costly occupation of Iraq – an immense financial cost which is simply unsustainable. The American people are giving billions of dollars every week to continue an occupation that is draining our wallets, our respect, our security, and the lives of thousands of U.S. and Iraqi men, women, and children.

We fervently ask you to use all possible political and diplomatic pressure to quickly and completely end the occupation of Iraq. Though none of us know what the future will bring, we do know this: our service members are tired of an occupation seemingly without end, and they want to return home to their families.

And when our brave men and women return home, they need to be given full benefits, and adequate healthcare (including mental health) to repair their physical and emotional wounds. They deserve no less, and we as a country owe that care to them.

We also call on you not to ignore the humanitarian crises of enormous proportion that the Iraqi people continue to endure. Over four million Iraqis have been displaced or become refugees since the U.S. invasion of their country. Iraqi deaths are most accurately estimated at over 600,000 people, with many hundreds of thousands more having suffered physical and emotional injuries. The Iraqi people will be coping with the aftermath of our unjustifiable invasion and occupation of their country for generations to come. IVAW believes that it is the duty of our country to pay reparations to the Iraqi people for the damage we have caused to their lives, infrastructure, and culture.

We acknowledge the shift in focus from the war in Iraq to the war in Afghanistan. At the same time, Afghan President Karzai is calling for a change in strategy and Afghan families are mourning the deaths of their loved ones who have been killed in U.S. air strikes. We encourage you to listen to the Afghan people and U.S. veterans of that conflict before making any decision to escalate military force there.

We call on you to end the occupation of Iraq and repair our economy, and by doing so you will demonstrate that a “new dawn of American leadership” has arrived, a “defining moment of change” that will benefit and give hope to all Americans – young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled.

You once said that “change won’t come from the top. Change will come from a mobilized grass roots.” We agree, which is why Iraq Veterans Against the War will continue organizing for an end to the occupation of Iraq, health care and benefits for returning veterans, and reparations for the Iraqi people. We hope that these are areas we can work together with you to address.

Respectfully,
Iraq Veterans Against the War

On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank God for the Iraq Veterans Against the War.

No?

A few years a go a piece of controversial legislation called the “Patriot Act” was passed.  I heard many people debate the legitimacy of this legislation on the grounds that it violates our civil liberties, etc.  Upon hearing this my young “patriotic” mind automatically responded the way I am sure it was supposed to:  “If I have nothing to hide, I have no reason to fear or reject this legislation.”  For those of you who still believe the way I once did, God help you.

The “Patriot Act” (H.R.  3162) begins innocently enough enumerating it’s extremely vague purposes.  One might argue that these are noble purposes.  It is for the individual to decide whether this is so.  What is certainly not so, is that this act is harmless.

Imagine for a moment

“Zeitgeist”

DO not watch this unless you plan to commit the full two-hours and watch the entire thing.

GM and Chrysler Rescue Disaster

You have likely heard that the auto-industry is sharing the struggle that has become the American economy. If you were crossing your fingers hoping that “big-brother” would step in and save the day, your wish has been granted. The United States Government has promised 17.4 Billion dollars to General Motors and Chrysler to help them get through these troubling times. George W. Bush stated,

Happy New Year from the UofM Constitutionalists

Today marks the first day of what will hopefully be a year of progress and prosperity for America. As we reflect on the year past, we see a year that will certainly be remembered. The question Americans should ask themselves is, “will we learn from this year of disappointments, or will we continue down the slippery slope of surrendering our liberties to what has certainly become an oppressive and irresponsible federal government?”

Will we demand of our new president the “Change” he promised? Will we continue to tolerate an aggressive and impractical foreign policy? Will we continue to accept the paper debt that we now carry very little of in our wallets thanks to our critically suffering commerce in the stead of something of true value? Will we begin to involve ourselves in and strengthen our local governments, or will we continue to accept oppression handed down from our federal government? Will we continue to pay excessive tax money to our government so that it may continue to spend irresponsibly?

Our nation was founded by patriots. Let us be like them. Let us vote responsibly. Let us hold our representatives accountable. Let us demand reform from Republicans and Democrats, and if they will not see the err of their ways, let us remove power from them. No one is stopping us from voting for third party candidates, no one is stopping us from participating in demonstrations, and no one is stopping us from writing letters to those who represent us. Not yet. Like I said above (I believe 2008 will support my saying so), we are on a slippery slope. We have gotten into the business of electing officials that do not have our interests in mind; this year, in 2009, let’s get out of that business.

There is but one special interest that we should be working for, and that would solve just about all of our problems, and that is our liberty.

-Dr. Ron Paul

If we free ourselves that we might meet our potential as human beings our country will flourish. Let us heed the words of Dr. Paul before our government takes away our ability to pursue our own interests.

I hold it, that a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical.

-Thomas Jefferson

This 2009, let us rebel, so that we may enter 2010 better than we are today. In 2009 let us rid ourselves of financial hardship by shedding the shackles of economic intervention on the part of our government. Let us reject our current militaristic foreign policy and promote peace around the globe. Let us demand that our government respect its constitution. In 2008 we were promised change. In 2009, let’s have it. The UM Constitutionalists wish you a very happy new year, and we wish that you would join us in our efforts to improve this nation.