It might have been intended as a joke, but one of the most profound comments on this topic was made a while back by Bob and Ray Magliozzi, the car guys. On their radio program, while discussing how to solve the problems of world governance, they said that in order for any nation to function properly it must be small. In fact, they said that the only way for a government to work would be for the citizens to break up into groups of ten. Ten was the ideal number. That way everyone could be heard. Everyone’s rights could be honored. Every nation would consist of ten citizens.

Think about it. How many lives have been lost because of the size of the US Military. The size of the Pentagon Budget has created global harm. In addition, the size of the Black Budget is a major problem. It should be eliminated.

In a nation that is too big, there is no way that citizens can be informed on the complexities of the laws and regulations which impact their lives. Even legislators who vote on the laws are at a disadvantage when a bill is unnecessarily complicated and too lengthy. How many in Congress will have read the nearly 2000 page Health Care Bill before they vote on it? A Bill that is almost 2000 pages in length will most likely be read by Congressional staffers. They in turn will write up a brief — sort of a Cliff Notes for Congress. That’s not the way our forefathers meant for things to be. If the Ten Commandments can be written on an index card, the US should be able to write a health care bill in a few pages.

A perfect example of how complex regulations harm all of us was recently disclosed by Stan Brock during a C-Span interview. He made a shocking revelation. He said that free medical care would be more readily available in the US, if only it was not prohibited in all States except Tennessee. That was shocking — free medical care at no expense to the taxpayer or the patient. Free vision exams, free dental fillings, free medical procedures – unbelievable.

The need for medical services is of crisis proportions — sort of a Perfect Storm. Bad economy, lost jobs, home foreclosures. I started to do the research to prove that Stan Brock was wrong when he said that most States made it almost impossible for volunteer medical personnel from other States to donate their services. Tennessee was the only exception.

I owe Stan an apology. He was right. I was wrong. I had believed that no where in our nation would a doctor be prohibited from rendering free medical care to a sick person. Cause of death — lack of papers of the volunteering physician — sort of a Catch 22 in medical care.

Everyone should research the rules. They are different in each State. My research is not complete but so far this is what it looks like. State Regulatory Boards cave in to the pressure of special medical interest groups. Regulations are written to eliminate competition from out-of-state doctors. A licensed doctor from New York, Massachusetts, or New Hampshire is not permitted to cross the state line and practice in the adjoining Vermont town. In Vermont, the licensing of doctors is controlled by the State Medical Board.

On the other hand, to further complicate things, in Vermont, the licensing of dentists is not controlled by the State Medical Board. The licensing of dentists is regulated by the Office of Professional Regulation, a division of the Office of Secretary of State. The rules for doctors and dentists are different. Rule 4.8 provides for a Transient Practice Permit which allows an out-of-state or Canadian dentist to practice in Vermont for ten days per year. This rule applies only to dentists.

Figuring a way to fix this is not brain surgery, but it might allow a patient to get brain surgery if it is needed. The fix is easy. Medical licensing Boards should honor reciprocity. A licensed doctor from one State should be granted the right to practice in any other State. Red tape and bureaucratic loopholes should be eliminated. Licensing fees for humanitarian volunteers should be eliminated. The lack of reciprocity across State lines denies a patient’s right to choose. Worse, it sometimes denies a patient’s right to survive.

For those who are not familiar with the work of Stan Brock, he is founder of RAM — Remote Area Medical. The original plan was to serve those in remote, jungle areas. Now that the US has become a Third World country, RAM has held several free clinics in the US. News reports have shown people lining up in the dark of night with the hope of getting necessary medical care. Many have had to be turned away.

The need for a Single Payer system is urgent. Until we have a Single Payer system there will be a need for thousands of humanitarians like Stan Brock. On the downside, reliance on volunteer services such as RAM unfairly deprives others around the world of medical care.

In the meantime, the US bureaucracy needs to be downsized and simplified. Only then will heroes such as Stan Brock and the other volunteers be allowed to go about their work of saving lives.

Blogs that responded to the essay contain some interesting comments. Many bloggers blame poor parenting for the shootings. Many others describe a deep sense of compassion for Susan and show a greater level of understanding of the human condition.

Life can be complicated. Dave Pelzer is author of A Child Called It. He has never demonstrated any anti-social behavior. It appears that as a child, he was the victim of extreme abuse.

On the other hand, it appears that Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, had a normal, loving childhood. His brother, David, is a highly respected member of the community. They grew up in the same home. The causes of criminal/ anti-social behavior are complex and not completely understood.

There can be no greater pain than the death of a child, except maybe having a son who kills others and then himself. Susan Klebold is now a member of a very exclusive club of parents and other family members who have suffered that extreme horror. The family of the Virginia Tech Shooter, the mother and brother of the Unabomber, and many others have a loved one who has murdered. They are too often held responsible for the crimes of their loved ones. How much responsibility do these family members have for the actions of the offender? None – they are not to blame. They, too, are innocent victims. Often they had no way of predicting the criminal act. Sometimes, even if the family had recognized warning signs, they still could not have prevented the horrific act. HIPA and other limits in our health care system act as roadblocks to mental health care. The Virginia Tech shooter had a history of counseling for mental health problems. Parents often are not given access to the student’s academic records, let alone health records.

We have morphed into a culture of blame-the-other-guy. I didn’t mean to do it. It was a mistake. The dog ate my homework. My wife doesn’t understand me. My husband doesn’t pay enough attention to me. Buyer beware. My mother didn’t love me enough. My father didn’t talk to me enough. It was just a campaign promise. The media lied to me. Everybody else is doing it. The bad economy made me enlist. I was just following orders.

Wall Street Bankers hoard a large portion of the national wealth and blame it on their compensation boards. Congress has written the legislation that allows such greed. The members of Congress blame the lobbyists. The lobbyists say they are just doing their job. The voters say that they have been misled by the media. The media says that they have to put ratings first. We are witnessing the death of personal responsibility.

Capitalism is a big contributor to the problem; but, voters do not have to vote for capitalists. On my ballot there were eight candidates for president, plus a write-in option. Voting has consequences. Uninformed voting has disastrous consequences. Voters say blame someone else. They say that they do not have time to research the issues. An uninformed voter is dangerous and should stay home on election day. It is better to not vote at all, than to cast an uninformed ballot and cancel the vote of someone who has studied the issues.

The lack of personal responsibility and compassion are blocking real health care reform. We need Reform School for the compassionless. The every-man-for-himself culture was especially evident during the health care town meetings. It was common to hear comments such as, “I am insured – the hell with everybody else”. Raise-the-drawbridge syndrome — I am safe and you don’t count.

A pervasive lack of personal responsibility exists in local and national governments – also as a business model in the corporate world. Decisions are often made by committee in order to distance one from any singular responsibility. Temporary Experts are often hired for the sole purpose of relieving others from the consequences of a decision. Passing the buck has become a national pastime. It’s enough to make one wish for the end of the government system as we know it — to be replaced by a Benevolent Monarchy. No more hiding behind Experts and committee group decisions.

The culture of the Internet is not helping. Bloggers usually prefer anonymity when dropping comments. Why the failure to accept responsibility for the comment left on the blog? The civility of the blogosphere would be greatly improved if everyone gave an honest identification.

The brain is an organ – in some ways like a pancreas or a liver. It is affected by genetics, age, drugs, the environment, electrical currents, illness, and an unknown number of other influences. Where should the line between evil and madness be drawn? And who should make that determination?

Psychiatrists will continue to debate the ability of a patient to make ethical judgments. Philosophers will continue to debate Free Will versus Determinism. Lawyers will continue to argue for the guilt or innocence of the accused; but, the simple fact is that a society which is organized on any principle that does not include personal responsibility will not work.

The bottom line is that everyone must be held responsible for their own actions, and no one should ever be held responsible for the acts of another. What a revolutionary concept.

News reports are filled with senseless acts of violence. Today’s report is about a group of teens who set a 15 year old boy on fire and then laughed as they watched him burn. We must do better. We must find a way to develop empathy and compassion. The teens who set the fire must be held accountable for their act. You and I, as members of society, must be held responsible for the culture of violence that disables the youthful conscience.

Susan Klebold should be held responsible, and maybe praised, for her parenting. She should never be held responsible for the acts of Dylan.

Forty-three year old Edith Rodriguez lost on both of those counts. Her life was needlessly brought to a tragic end. She spent her last time on earth writhing in pain. Why? Was Edith in some desolate third world country? No, she was in the United States. Was Edith in an isolated location, far from medical help? No, she was in the Emergency Room of a California hospital. Was this tragedy caused by the fact that she might not have had health insurance? Maybe. Was the problem that she was sick while being Hispanic? Could be.

The news reports have painted a picture that is difficult to think about. Edith writhing in pain in the Emergency Room — falling out of the wheel chair, vomiting blood while lying on the cold Emergency Room floor, excruciating pain, a possible bowel perforation — the janitorial staff cleaning the floor around her limp body, while the medical staff ignored the pleas for help from her family. This is not meant to be a condemnation of all doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. It is meant to be a condemnation of the system, a system that has lost any hint of humanity.

Why did no one help Edith? What mistake did Edith make that caused this tragedy? Was this death-by-geography? If Edith had been almost anywhere else in the industrialized world, she probably would still be alive. She died because she was in the United States. Living in the US can be hazardous to your health. This is a nation that puts profits before patients; capitalism before compassion.

Sadly, Edith is not alone. In the United States 45,000 die every year from lack of medical care. That is like having fifteen 9/11s every year. It is worse than 9/11 because these are needless deaths that we are imposing on ourselves. These deaths will continue until there is a strong grassroots movement for a universal, single payer health care system.

Think that the Democrats or the Republicans will change things? Think again. Both political parties have been bought and paid for by the lobbyists. It is the lobbyists for the pharmaceutical companies, the HMOs, the insurance companies, and the for-profit medical centers who lurk through the halls of Congress and help write the legislation.

The US is in a crisis. Extortion by Insurance Company lobbyists must end. We need a Single Payer system immediately. Single Payer will save lives, and it also will save money. The exorbitant salaries of Insurance Company CEOs will be eliminated. The profit motive for investors will be eliminated. Administrative costs will be reduced because one single payer will replace a large number of insurance companies — all with different forms, different standards, and different requirements for an endless stream of confusing paper work. Single Payer will save money. Repeating, Single Payer will save money.

Health care by Wall Street standards does not work. Just ask the family of Edith Rodriguez.

In Vermont workers from other countries keep the dairy industry operating. These workers — in a xenophobic culture — often face discrimination but many Vermonters, including Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Pat Leahy, and Congressman Peter Welch have come to their defense. Some of the farm workers have the required legal documents — many others do not. Vermont dairy farmers have testified that without these workers the Vermont dairy industry could not survive.

Kevin O’Connor, Rutland Herald Staff Writer, has written about the plight of Vermont’s farm workers in an article titled “Of Milk and Mexicans.” published on March 9, 2009.

Workers from across the border, as well as native born workers, often experience hostility. They work on farms and in factories. They empty bed pans in nursing homes. They scrub toilets and make beds in the hotel industry. They work in retail outlets. They work in the construction industry as carpenters and roofers. They educate our children. They care for our elders. They have earned our respect and gratitude.

Below are typical statements made by bosses to their employees – workers who struggle for survival on the dark side of Capitalism.

1. Look, it doesn’t matter if the fumes are making you sick. OSHA says everything is OK.

2. I already told you that you couldn’t have the morning off. Your Father’s funeral can wait till the weekend.

3. Union, did I just hear somebody say, “Union”? Fire that damn Commie !

4. You want a raise……..hahhhhahhhahahahhhah. Who do you think you are, a Hedge Fund Manager!

5. If you want health insurance, move to Costa Rica. This is the USA. Love it, or leave it. Besides, we don’t have any sick people here. We fire them when they get sick.

6. You say you want paid maternity leave. If the corporation wanted you to have a baby we would have issued you one.

7. What’s the big deal – it’s just asbestos.

8. Next time that you want to go to the bathroom, ask for permission first. That’s the rule.

9. You say that the school called and told you that your child was just injured on the playground and needs to go to the hospital. Who gave you permission to use the phone? Get back to work.

10. A little bit of ionizing radiation never hurt anybody.

11. Think of it as an adventure. Nobody dies from black lung anymore.

12. You say you want a week of paid vacation — move to France, this is America.

13. Hell no, you can’t leave. Wait till your shift is over. I don’t care if your labor pains are just 3 minutes apart.

Doctor Gupta has a history of siding with the status quo. That is the opposite of what is needed. We need access to health care for everyone — pure and simple. Nothing less will do. This is not nuclear physics or brain surgery. It is politics.

Many of the 18,000 who die from lack of health care are children. On September 28, 2007 BBC reported:

… In February, there was an outcry over the case of Deamonte Driver, a 12-year-old boy who died because his family could not afford private dental treatment. “The thing about Deamonte was his smile, he was always smiling,” says Gina James, principal of The Foundation School in Maryland, where Deamonte was a popular and promising student.

It was while he was at school one Thursday in February that Deamonte complained of toothache. On the Saturday he had emergency surgery. An abscess had spread to his brain. A few weeks later he died.

“Everyone here was shocked,” says Ms James. “They couldn’t understand how he could have toothache and then die. We sometimes give the little kids candy as a reward; well, for a while they stopped taking it because they would say ‘if I get a cavity, will I die?’”

Deamonte’s mother, Alyce, could not afford private health insurance and in the US there is no state health service. For the poorest there is some free treatment, called Medicaid. But not all dentists or doctors accept Medicaid patients, and Alyce Driver could not afford to pay to have Deamonte’s tooth extracted. Some 45 million Americans are without health insurance, nine million of them children.

Many say it is America’s national scandal. …

The new Surgeon General should be someone who understands why the USA is the only developed nation in the industrialized world to have no health care for many citizens. Understanding the problem should be the number one qualification. Not only doctors, but also nurses, dentists, teachers, blue collar workers and those in many other professions qualify. The point is this — it is not necessary for the SG to be a medical doctor. Having an M.D. behind the name should neither qualify nor disqualify anyone. Lack of compassion and a lack of understanding of the real problem should be the disqualifying factors.

How about a Surgeon General nominee who needs a root canal but has no money? Extreme pain can sometimes fill a person with empathy. Dental care, eye care, prescription drug coverage, long term care (in and out of the home) should be included in a new Single Payer System.

Michael Moore made a major contribution with Sicko — one of the best documentaries of our generation. Mike Moore is a controversial guy, but that is irrelevant. The facts are the facts and Moore did a great job in presenting the facts in Sicko. He ‘gets’ it. He understands the suffering of those who face the calamity of a health crisis. He understands that the leading cause of bankruptcy has been major illness. He understands that it is the collusion between the Congress and the insurance companies that is responsible for the needless deaths — 18,000 every year. That is like having a 9/11 every sixty days — but worse. We are doing this to ourselves by continuing to allow the insurance companies to profiteer and deny care to those who have insurance. Those without insurance don’t stand a chance.

The powers that be, are tweaking around the ragged edges of health care. There is a movement to convert all paper medical records to an electronic form. Follow the money on that one. It will be a boondoggle for some companies. Will it compromise the privacy of patient records? Will it improve the quality of care or increase the number of people who have access to care? Unfortunately it will be a distraction from the real problem — lack of access to the care, not the records.

The bottom line is this. We can have insurance companies or we can have universal health care, but we can’t have both. Only a Single Payer System will work. Any plan that allows the insurance companies to continue to profiteer will fail to provide the care. Children, such as Deamonte Driver, will continue to die.

Good candidates for Surgeon General are Michael Moore, Ralph Nader, Dennis Kucinich, and many other lesser knowns. Ralph Nader is over-qualified for the job, but maybe that is exactly what is needed — someone with a long history as an advocate for the common man.

Now is the wrong time for a media star who does not understand what it feels like to have a loved one in need of health care that is not accessible. We need someone with compassion and the courage to go up against the power of the insurance companies — a fighter for the people.

The hedge fund managers and CEOs
Had told their tales of financial woes
Their stories were naughty – not very nice
They told of private jets and gluttonous vice

Meanwhile on Main Street the people were sad
No one could explain why things had gotten so bad
Some said the cause was market speculation
Others said Capitalism was the right explanation

Santa’s elves should create a People’s State
End all war, poverty, and hate
A Single Payer System would keep us healthy
Enough food for all – no need to be wealthy

At the shelter, the children were snuggled in their beds
As nightmares of foreclosure danced through their heads
A holiday miracle is what we need -
On second thought – we just might have to secede

Nowhere in the country has the problem with the Press been more serious than in the southern half of Vermont. Letters of support of non major Party candidates were not published. Campaign statements were not published. There was total news blackout in most of southern Vermont. Voters had almost no access to relevant candidate information.

This news blackout was so extreme that newspapers in the southern part of Vermont even refused to insert the Candidate Information Publication. This official, non-partisan publication had been authorized by the Vermont Legislature (17 V.S.A. 2810 b) and paid for by the taxpayers. As a contrast, newspapers in the central and northern parts of Vermont such as The Burlington Free Press, The Newport Daily News, The Rutland Herald, and The Times Argus inserted and distributed the publication. Those newspapers are to be commended for their public service.

The Office of Secretary of State is to be commended for sending more than a thousand copies of the publication to a private citizen in the southern part of the State. As a last resort, the citizen had volunteered to distribute the publication – a much less efficient system of distribution than insertion in the daily newspaper.

It is now necessary for the legislature to rewrite the law so that southern Vermont will have access to relevant information. Two amendments to the law (17 V.S.A. 2810b ) are recommended. First, set a publication date for the Candidate Information Publication that would precede the first day allowed for absentee voting. Becoming an informed voter after casting the ballot is not the proper sequence of events. Second, the law must provide for a plan of distribution in the southern part of the State.

In Vermont, and across the country, many have no access to the Internet. Some areas are not in a major media market; therefore, TV news is non existent. The newspaper is the only source of information – the lifeline of the community. It is that which transforms individuals into a community. In rural USA there is no voice that is more powerful than that of the local newspaper. When any newspaper fails in its sacred mission, the community is harmed.

The Vermont news blackout has had serious consequences. Not only were ordinary voters uninformed, but even campaign workers – usually a well-informed group of activists – were so lacking in information that it inspired an article, ‘Clueless at Campaign Headquarters’. It is published on this site. The article describes a phone call received from campaign headquarters in southern Vermont. The worker was not aware that there were any candidates on the ballot other than McCain and Obama. In Vermont there were eight candidates for president on the ballot. Many Vermonters were unprepared to see so many names on the ballot when they entered the voting booth.

Private companies that own newspapers have editorial rights. That right should be respected. Every newspaper has the right to print, or not print, anything it wants. That is not the issue. The issue is the lack of journalistic ethics. Ethics are not required by law – or are they? If any individual interfered with the electoral process in such an extreme way that it influenced the outcome of an election, would it be acceptable?

What occurred in Vermont was an extreme violation that resulted in many ripple effects on the outcome of the election. One such effect was that the Liberty Union/Socialist Party lost Major Party Status and all of the legal rights that accompany that status.

There can be no democracy where there is not a free-flow of political information.

Last night I received a phone call. It went something like this.

Caller: Hello, my name is Henry. I am calling from campaign headquarters and would like to ask you a few questions.

Me: Will it take very long?

Caller: No.

Me: OK.

Caller: I want to know if you are going to vote for Obama or the other guy.

Me: Which other guy? There are seven others on the ballot.

Caller: Ugh. Are you sure?

Me: Yes. Would you like me to give you their names?

Caller: Yes.

Me: Baldwin, Barr, Calero, Lariva, McCain, Moore, and Nader.

Long pause — silence on the other end of the phone line.

Caller: Hummmmm

Me: How can you be a campaign worker for one candidate if you don’t know the other candidates’ positions on the issues?

Caller: I like hanging out here.

Me: How do you feel about the 700 billion dollar bail out?

Caller: Oh, that was bad.

Me: Who are you going to vote for in the Congressional race?

Caller: The Democrat, of course.

Me: But he voted for the bailout.

Caller: Really?

Me: What do think about term limits?

Caller: Yes, that would be good.

Me: Then you should not be voting for an incumbent.

Caller: What’s an incumbent?

The conversation concluded with my recommendation that Henry visit some web sites and read some books. I suggested that he read Joshua Frank, Mickey Z, William Blum and some others.

The ultimate responsibility for the outcome of the election is the voter; but, in defense of Henry- the-Campaign-Worker, maybe he is not completely responsible for his lack of information. This phone conversation could have occurred anywhere in the country but it happened in Vermont. In Vermont some newspapers censor out information about some candidates. Being blacklisted by Vermont newspapers is so common that it has become a badge of honor. Many candidates have been ‘Naderized’ — denied access to the Press.

In addition, some newspapers in the southern part of the State have even refused to insert the Official State Candidates Information Publication. This publication is nonpartisan. It is authorized by Vermont Law (17 V.S.A. 2810-b) and has been paid for by the taxpayers. For many, this publication is the only source of voter information. A computer is a luxury that many cannot afford.

What is the difference between the Democratic-Republican Party and a gang in the hood? The gang in the hood usually limits its harm to the local area. The Dem-Repub Party causes global harm.

By now everyone has to admit that the US voter is about as informed on issues as a fruit fly is. Can anyone pretend that the average voter casts his ballot based on the economy, justice, or matters of war and peace? The two words that are the biggest threat to the sale of Ambien are “foreign policy”. Just mentioning those two words will clear a room faster than a skunk at a picnic. Think of how many democrats still believe that their Party is the anti-war Party.

The average US voter is so uninformed that he does not even vote in his own interest. How else can it be explained that 18,000 of our fellow citizens will continue to die every year because of the lack of access to health care. That is like having a 9/11 every 60 days, but worse. We are doing it to ourselves – and it is so unnecessary.

There is at least one candidate, Nader, who supports health care for all, while lowering the cost by eliminating the insurance companies. Both McCain and Obama support the insurance companies’ profits over health care for the people. A Single Payer system would save lives and also save taxpayer money. Why is there no national discussion about it — because both Parties have sold out to the insurance industry.

Take the hot issue of ‘experience’. Of course experience is important – the kind of experience that no Washington insider gets. How about the experience of having no health care, or having to cut back on groceries, or cutting the thermostat down to 55 in the winter and hoping that pipes don’t freeze. How about the experience of hoping that last year’s shoes will still fit the kids for this school year. How about the experience of not being able to take the family out for pizza, because that, too, is now a luxury that can no longer be afforded. How about the experience of facing foreclosure so some Hedge Fund manager can buy another yacht.

For years, many have wished for other ways of selecting a president. How about a national lottery. That would make it possible for ordinary people — truck drivers, teachers, nurses, farmers, and plumbers to hold the highest office. That won’t happen without changes in the Constitution.
This time around there are some choices for the voters. There is a list of candidates to chose from — Barr, McCain, McKinney, Moore, Nader, Obama and others. The electronic and the print media have all but excluded any candidate who is not a Democrat or Republican.

About Sarah Palin – yes, a brilliant political strategy. She will get the votes of the pro-war, pro-gun crowd. She can fire a weapon while wearing high heels. Biden, can you top that? And maybe most important of all, she will get the votes of all who envy those teeth. In a country where dental care is rapidly becoming a luxury – you have to admire those teeth. Beautiful teeth are becoming the ultimate status symbol. Oprah once said that you could determine persons’ economic class just by looking at their teeth. That just might be the most astute observation that Oprah has ever made.

US politics is all about fluff — personality and celebrity. Image over substance. Voters could change that by demanding that participation in the debates not be limited to Democratic and Republican candidates.

Here is a challenge for Governor Palin. How about refusing to participate in any debate which excludes the other VP candidates. Open the debates up to the top four or five candidates. That simple act would elevate Gov. Palin to the category of Statesperson. It would show that she places a higher value on the welfare of the nation than on Party affiliation. It would show a respect for the voters. The inclusion of VP candidate Matt Gonzalez and others would elevate the national discussion to include important issues such as foreign policy, health care, the economy, corporate welfare, and education.

The same voters, who would never tolerate a massive book burning, allow the media to pre-select the political messages allowed for public discussion. The media presents a virtual book burning every night with its exclusion of ideas that do not conform to the Republican/Democratic model. Shame on the media, more shame on the people who tolerate such censorship.

This election could be like a shining light, but unless voters become informed the bright light will just lead to another four-year dark tunnel.

In the quiet privacy of the voting booth will voters be thinking about the hundreds of thousands killed in our illegal, pre-emptive war, and the 18,000 who die every year because of lack of health care; or, will the voters’ minds wonder to those issues publicized by the media — lapel pins, age, pomp and ceremony — and don’t forget those teeth.

In the upcoming election, voters will have the opportunity to change the course of history. Across the country, the office of State Attorneys General will be more important during this election than at any time in the past. County Prosecutors and District Attorneys will also have a significant role to play. The time for War Crimes trials has finally come. We can stop holding our collective breath. The second shoe is about to drop.

The Bush Indictment Project has begun. The difference between Impeachment and Indictment is like the difference between night and day. The call for Impeachment looks like a Sunday School picnic by comparison. Impeachment has its flaws. It trivializes the war crimes. It is better than nothing, but not by much. Impeachment can result in removal from office. The criminal prosecution of George W. Bush could result in a life sentence or the death penalty.

The Bush Indictment Project is not perfect. One of the important criticisms is that it tends to place all of the responsibility for the war and the war crimes on the Executive Branch. That view exonerates the Congress. In fact, only the Congress has the power to declare and finance war. The complicity of the Congress is an important issue that should not be overlooked. The public has excused the Congressional crimes, and has focused only on the Bush Administration. Hopefully History will get it right and report that more Iraqi children were killed during the Clinton Administration than under both Bush Administrations and that always, the Congress has had Constitutional authority to wage or prevent war. Most complicit of all are the voters who put the accused war criminals in office in the first place.

Another deficiency of The Indictment Project is that the deaths of the Iraqis might be overlooked and find no justice in a US Court. Some predict that only US military deaths will be considered. What impression will that leave in the rest of the world? It has been estimated that possibly three million Iraqis have been killed by the US since the bombing started in 1991. Those deaths should not wait for justice in an International Court.

In spite of the obvious flaws, The Indictment Project is supported by many — former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and Vincent Bugliosi among others.

In his book, The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder, Bugliosi makes a strong case for the prosecution of Bush. Speaking in Venice, California on June 25, 2008, Bugliosi says, “…I am not going to be satisfied until I see George W. Bush in an American court being tried for first degree murder…” Bugliosi assures the audience that he has established jurisdiction in all fifty states.

In addition to laying out a convincing legal case, Bugliosi offered his services as a Special Prosecutor. That is important for two reasons. First, Bugliosi has an impressive record as a prosecutor. During his career, he prosecuted 106 felony jury trials, and lost only one of them. The second reason, is that voters across the country are concerned about diverting resources from the usual duties of the Offices of the State Attorneys General. With Bugliosi on board, the effect on other prosecutions would be minimized.

The ball is now in the voters’ court. No longer is it necessary to bow down to Congress and beg for action. Now the voters have the power. If the voters want justice for all who have died in the war their choice will be made clear at the polls. All voters must inform themselves on the position of the candidates for State Attorney General and District Attorney/Prosecutor in their voting districts.

Imagine Nuremberg. Imagine hundreds of indictments all across the country. Approximately one thousand public officials have the legal authorization to bring forth an indictment — fifty State Attorneys General, and nine hundred-fifty county prosecutors. No criminal action can be brought by a private citizen. The citizen’s power to act is limited to the voting booth; therefore, the most important vote cast in the upcoming election will be for the candidate who is authorized to take legal action — your State Attorney General.

It is really very simple. Get the facts which are clearly laid out in The Prosecution of George W. Bush for Murder. Find a candidate who supports your view. Pull the correct lever. Get the popcorn ready. The war crimes trials will be televised.

Brian Lamb interviewed Phil on C-Span on March 23. Phil is as edgy as ever. He has not lost any of his spunk or charm. For the past three years, Phil has been hard at work producing a documentary. This might possibly be the best depiction of the Iraq war yet to be filmed.

A complete review of the work will be forthcoming, but in the meantime all should be alerted. This project was funded by Donahue; therefore, the advertising campaign might not be competitive in today’s entertainment market. Unless there is a public demand, the film might not be shown in all locations. In order to see this film, a little persuasion at the local theater could be helpful. Often requesting a film to the theater management will bring results.

This is not just entertainment. It is history that has been recorded for current and future generations. The film should be shown in every classroom. Every mother who has a son or daughter should see the film. No one should sign up to enlist in the military without first seeing this film. Every voter who supports or opposes the war must see it.

The leading character in the documentary is Tomas Young, an injured Iraq War veteran, paralyzed from the chest down. Have you ever seen a mother catherize her adult son? Have you ever heard a young bride describe what is necessary for sexual activity with a husband who is paralyzed? The blue pills don’t work on someone with serious injuries. These difficult scenes were captured with perfection. Somehow they were filmed leaving nothing to the imagination but done in a sensitive and respectful way. Phil got it just right. The film editing was masterful. All who worked on the film are to be congratulated.

See this film and then go home and look at the war photos on the Robert Fisk War Photos website. The Fisk site photos show what we did to the civilian population in Iraq.

War is not glamorous; it is not romantic — and it is not necessary. In war there are no winners. War is hell. Just ask Tomas Young.

The name of the Documentary is Body of War — soon to be in a theater near you — but only if you request it.

No one automatically deserves a vote simply because of Party affiliation. Hillary and Obama will get the votes of the Party faithful. Other voters will cast their ballots based on issues. On the issues, is any candidate better than Nader? No major party candidate even compares. That is why they have refused to allow Nader to debate.

The Democrats had their chance, and once again they blew it. They started out with Kucinich who called for the immediate withdrawal from Iraq — not only withdrawal across the Iraq border — but Kucinich called for bringing all troops home now. He also supported a Single Payer Health care system. That would save the lives of 18,000 U.S. citizens every year.

The Democrats also had Edwards who had promised to fight the wave of corporate crime — a major problem. Would there be war if the corporations did not profit from the killing?

Instead of voting for Kucinich or Edwards, the Party faithful cast their votes for candidates with a questionable history of support for peace, health care, and economic justice. This has created a vacuum of ideas. Nader is now filling that vacuum. The Democrats could have had it all — a peace candidate and an easy win against a weakened Republican candidate. Instead, they will again blame Nader, while refusing to accept the inevitable results of the votes of the Party faithful. They have ignored one of the most fundamental lessons of politics — you get what you vote for.

The Democrats have turned their backs on a large segment of the population — the anti-war groups. No self-respecting peace advocate can vote for either Democratic candidate. One candidate wants to increase the size of the military. The other stood by in silence while the Clinton administration was responsible for the deaths of 500,000 Iraqi children. Both Democratic candidates have foreign policy positions that are to the far right of Republican Ron Paul.

Nader is not only correct on issues of Foreign Policy, but he is also the world’s greatest consumer advocate. His candidacy is perfect timing. We are all consumers — consumers of war and peace, consumers of public utilities, consumers of agricultural products, the list could go on and on.

How’s NAFTA working for you? Have you read the fine print on your credit card statement recently? Are you happy with your public utility company — what about your cable company, your Internet provider? What about health care insurers who try to maximize profits by denying medical care to the seriously ill? What is the salary of the CEO of your health insurance company?

Lack of vigilant consumer protection has led to a culture of distrust. We live in a red tape jungle. Only Nader can bring about the necessary changes so that consumers can develop a sense of trust and confidence in the corporations that provide essential goods and services.

Ralph Nader has been a national treasure for decades. He has worked quietly — without publicity or fanfare — helping ordinary citizens. I first met him many years ago. The public utility had a plan to build a floating nuclear power plant off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ralph came to Cape May. He met with the citizens. Because of his help, the floating power plant was not built.

Members of the Press have shown a lack of interest in, and knowledge of, the issues. Some TV interviewers are so uninformed that they avoid the real issues. Watching them is sometimes painful. The problem is not limited to FOX. Tim, Chris, and the others make me wish for a real journalist such as Helen Thomas.

Nader is not the only candidate who has been the victim here. Ron Paul and Mike Gravel have also been marginalized and disrespected. The voters are the ultimate victims. They never get to hear the platforms of all candidates. Cynthia McKinney has a powerful message that most voters have not heard. How about a Nader/McKinney team! Race, gender, and party affiliation barriers can be broken down with support for a Nader/McKinney candidacy.

The Democrats have a history of using unethical, strong-arm legal tactics to keep Nader off the ballots and out of the debates. Is there anything that they won’t try in order to silence an opposing candidate? Nader supporters will have to come up with a nation-wide network of Pro Bono lawyers to help with any assault from the Democrats. That’s not how democracy is supposed to work. Freedom of speech should not have to be purchased in a court room. Open the debates. Allow all candidates to be heard.

Nader’s announcement as a candidate has given an opportunity to demand the truth — but in the words of Jack Nicolson, maybe the voters “can’t stand the truth.”

I won’t say that Canadian farmer Percy Schmiester deserves support because of what Monsanto did to him. Schmiester was sued by Monsanto. In fact, so many farmers have been sued by Monsanto that a national hotline was set up to assist them.

I won’t say that Monsanto puts profits ahead of the health of all of us. I won’t say any of these things because I don’t have a legal defense fund sufficient to wage a battle against the giant Monsanto. In this land of free speech, sometimes only those with power and wealth have freedom of speech.

What I will say is that, in my opinion, what Monsanto is doing to Ben & Jerry’s is an udder disgrace. Monsanto, known for its strong-arm legal tactics, is opposing the labeling of ice cream. Why would Monsanto want information withheld from consumers? It’s all about money. Allowing consumers to have the facts could affect the corporation’s bottom line. BGH, otherwise known as Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone, is a drug developed to increase bovine milk production. Ben & Jerry’s is fighting for the right to continue to label ice cream that is made with milk from BGH-free cows.

The food chain is under worldwide assault by U.S. corporations. The Master Race of corporations has seized control of the very essence of life itself. We are now in the age of Genetically Modified Doomsday Seeds. Why has there been no public discussion on who should have control of the planetary gene pool?

I applaud vegans. They have reached a higher moral plane than the rest of us; but even they are at risk of Monsantoitis. They must be vigilant if they want to avoid GMOs and “Roundup Ready” soy products.

It must be emphasized that all in this article is just my opinion — no Monsanto Process Servers knocking on my door, please.

I vaguely remember, a few years back, Monsanto ran the most oppressive lobbying campaign in the history of the State of Vermont. The crux of the controversy was the labeling of milk – not exactly nuclear physics or brain surgery. Some citizens and members of the State Legislature thought that it was a good idea to indicate on the label if milk came from cows that had not been injected with Monsanto’s money-making BGH. This would allow consumers the freedom to make an informed choice in the super market. Monsanto’s position, which was supported by the USDA — no surprise there — was that consumers did not have the right to that information.

The milk labeling controversy — and other corporate practices of Monsanto — have been issues for years. For a while every time I saw my Senator, I would greet him with the same comment, “Hey Bernie, when are you going to do something about Monsanto?” Senator Bernie would shake his head and raise his hands in frustration.

I often heard him say that no matter how bad you think things are in Washington, they are really much worse. While the Congress is distracted with growth hormones taken by sports figures, our farm animals are being abused with other hormones. Baseball players have a free choice. Cows don’t.

The current attack by the giant Monsanto on our beloved Ben & Jerry’s shows the dark underside of the corporate culture. Monsanto should back off. They should keep their drugs out of our cows and keep their hands off our ice cream. Is there nothing sacred? Do they have no shame? This is the stuff of summer time picnics, church socials, and children’s birthday parties. Sometimes it is only ice cream that can put a smile on the face of Grandpa. Ice cream — the magic potion that was fed to kids in the old days to soothe painful throats after tonsillectomies.

Giant corporations intent on waging battles against the little guys should chill out. It’s time for those corporate execs to feast on some Chunky Monkey or maybe a little Cherry Garcia. It just might be the perfect medicine to soothe the savage beast inside their desolate corporate souls.

1. Hillary

2. John McCain

3. Seat belts

4. The abuse the Katrina victims by their insurance companies

5. 650,000+ dead Iraqi civilians

6. 3000+ dead U.S. military

7. The Black Budget

8. Torture

9. The CIA

10. Blackwater

11. Lack of access to Health care which causes the deaths of 18,000 US citizens every year.

12. CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, MSNBC

13. Factory farming and franken foods

14. Monsanto

15. The loss of family farms

16. The lack of regulations to restrict predatory practices by the banking and credit card industry

17. The mortgage crisis

18. Global warming

19. The loss of good will toward the U.S. around the world. Ralph could restore the status of the U.S.

20. He is not a Republican.

21. He is not a Democrat.

22. He is not an Empire builder.

23. He would not invade Iran, Cuba, Syria, Venezuela, Finland, Switzerland, Canada, Mexico, or New Zealand.

24. Ralph owes no favors to any corporation.

25. Ralph cannot be bought.

26. Ralph has a long history of quietly working behind the scene to help ordinary people in their struggles against the powerful — such as the time he helped a group of New Jersey citizens oppose the construction of a floating nuclear power plant off the coast of Atlantic City. Ralph quietly came to Cape May, no fan-fare, no political motives. He helped the people. The people won. The floating nuclear plant was not built.

27. Ralph is smart, incorruptible, and honest.

Ralph is not the only candidate who should be considered for the presidency. There are others who are also qualified, such as Dennis Kucinich, Angela Davis, Cynthia McKinney, Ward Churchill, William Blum, Cindy Sheehan, and many, many more.

It is just a matter of priorities. On a scale of one to ten, the importance of the holiday conundrum is less than zero. The debate of clear lights versus colored lights makes as much sense as arguing the virtues of vanilla versus chocolate ice cream.

The Christmas controversy gets even more intense for those who have children. Many parents find themselves in a no-win situation. Should your child be the only one in the class who does not get a pile of gifts. Will the mental health of children be affected if they are on the leading edge of the controversy; on the other hand, it might be an opportunity to teach a child that being part of the group is not always the best thing. Maybe it is better to minimize the influence of the culture on youthful minds. There is no better time of year to expose the negative side of consumerism.

Where do agnostics and atheists fit in — and others whose belief systems do not allow them to partake in the festivities. Often non-Christians feel abused during this season. It would help if everyone showed respect for everyone else’s beliefs and non-beliefs. Kindness and humility require that no one impose his belief system on another.

What about the Christmas story — the virgin birth — the bright star in the East. Some people love it; others are offended by it. No matter what your stand on this controversy, the fact is that the Christmas story has always been a story about a homeless family being bullied by their government. For those who are offended by other details of the events in Bethlehem, there is an updated version of the Holiday story.

Think about the fable of Jose’ and Maria. Forced out of their homeland by the trade policies of the powerful government to the north, Jose’ and Maria left their tiny village in search of a better life. They traveled in their old sputtering Buick, filled with the hope that they would get jobs and send money back to their families at home.

Jose’ and Maria successfully crossed the border but found that there were no jobs for “people like them” — people without the proper documents. Jose’ was an experienced carpenter. He had helped build the big new Wal-mart in his native village. Now, because of the mortgage meltdown, no builders in the United States were hiring.

Maria was a nurse. She had worked in a hospital. Now she hoped for a job — any kind of job. Her heart was set on getting a housekeeping job at a Holiday Inn — back breaking work, but the promise of a paycheck gave the young couple reason to hope.

Jose’ and Maria were running out of money. The transmission in their old car was making strange noises. The weather had turned cold. As they traveled north, they discussed their options. Should they try to make it to the Canadian border where they might be less likely to encounter ICE officials? They could cross into Canada at one of the unmanned border crossings in Vermont; but they would need a miracle to make it that far north.

Maybe they should head for Florida. With a little luck they could pass themselves off as Cubans. Immigrants from Cuba are welcomed in the United States. Jose’ and Maria often talked about how differently they were treated because they were Mexican and not Cuban. It wasn’t their fault that they were born in Nuevo Lorado rather than Havana.

It was getting dark and cold. Now to add to the distress, Maria was feeling the first pangs of labor pains. They knew that they could not go to a hospital. They did not have enough money for a motel. Jose’ made a sharp left hand turn and pulled into a truck stop.

He parked along side of one of the big rigs. A layer of snow now covered the ground. They had never seen snow before. Maria was fascinated by the peaceful beauty of the glittering flakes as they tumbled down in the beam of the large lights in the parking lot.

After a few hours, Maria’s pain was getting unbearable. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she moaned. Jose’ was trembling with fear. He got out of the car and pounded on the door of the rig. After what seemed to be a long time, the door flung open. The largest man that Jose’ had ever seen stood there. He was dressed in denim jeans and a rumpled plaid flannel shirt. His long gray beard seemed to be collecting snow flakes as he barked something that was unintelligible. Jose’ pointed to his car. Maria was now in the back seat. When the truck driver noticed the woman in the back of Jose’s car, his mood changed. He immediately understood the problem. His stern voice softened. He mumbled something about being a Grandpa.

Maria was helped into the cab of the truck. The bed in the sleeper section behind the driver’s seat was the site of the miracle. It was there that Maria gave birth to a beautiful baby. With the truck driver’s help, Jose’ swaddled the newborn in a blanket.

The young couple thanked their new friend for his help and they were on their way. No one is sure whether Jose’ headed for Florida or drove north to the Canadian border. It is rumored that on cold winter nights when the stars are just right, the shadow of an old Buick is sometimes seen crossing the Vermont border at Derby Line into Quebec.

…Now the US military directorate charged with developing non-lethal weapons, which has invested more than a decade developing the Active Denial System (ADS), has launched a concerted effort to convince both the public and its own bosses at the defence department of the device’s merits.

With brand new technology like this, perception is everything,” said Col Kirk Hymes, a former Marine artillery officer who heads the directorate.

He added that tests were almost complete and the first ADS, also known as the Silent Guardian, could be deployed early next year if the Pentagon allows. The decision is so sensitive that it is expected to be made personally by the defence secretary, Robert Gates, who sent senior representatives to the demonstrations…
– The Telegraph, November 19, 2007

Just when it seems that things cannot get any worse, we learn that U.S. military commanders in Iraq are seeking permission to use a new weapon system. This will be the ultimate torture weapon. Its purpose is to cause excruciating pain, but leave no evidence of wounds on the victim. Imagine this weapon at AbuGhraib or Guantanamo. Imagine this weapon at your local precinct. The Department of Defense has named this weapon system “Active Denial”.

Besides torture, this weapon can also be used for crowd control — a ray gun which could literally make blood boil. It is based on the same technology as a microwave oven. The human body is comprised mostly of water… think of the sensation of boiling blood. The purpose of this weapon system is to cause an unbearable level of pain so that the victim will submit to the will of the US military or police.

The gun produces a 95-gigahertz microwave beam that is designed to penetrate 1/64th of an inch. Hummmm, should the experts be trusted to achieve zero defects with a technology that requires so precise a tolerance?

Raytheon, with headquarters in Waltham, Mass. is listed as the prime contractor on this project. Raytheon reports sales of $20.3 billion in 2006. The development of torture devices brings high profits to the corporation. Profits before people seems to be the accepted practice in the United States.

This project brings to mind some questions. The Raytheon web site states that this weapon will be used for “civilian law enforcement”. Is this system being designed for domestic use against U.S. citizens? Will it be used for “crowd control” at sites of labor disputes and strikes? Will it be coming soon to a war protest near you? Will it be used at the borders to prevent immigration? Does International Law prohibit the use of this weapon on the battlefield? Will the government hide behind Sovereign Immunity when a citizen is injured or killed by this weapon? How will this weapon effect children? Will the NRA lobby for access to this weapon? How will it affect the performance of an implanted medical device, such as a pacemaker?

The bad news is that this weapon is now operational. The good news is that the weapon system has had some major design problems. The designers have failed to realize that a person is not a potato. Microwaving a human to the exact degree of doneness is proving to be problematic. Is there anyone out there who wants to volunteer as a subject for any further field tests that may be required? What they need is a test subject, with a pacemaker, contact lenses, a lot of amalgam dental fillings, and maybe a few metal surgical staples from an old appendectomy. Will they pay a bonus if the subject is pregnant? When the experiment is completed, if the subject is incapacitated, but still alive with no visible wounds, the field test is a success.

Fifty-one million dollars has already been spent on this weapon system. This gun has killed before the trigger was even pulled. In the U.S., 18,000 die each year because of the lack of health care. If that 51 million dollars had been used to provide health care to our fellow citizens many lives would have been saved. The real enemies of the American people are those whose priorities are so warped that they allocate money for ray guns while ignoring the humanitarian needs of the populace.

The design and production of redundant weapon systems is pushed by the lobbying efforts of the arms manufacturers who have been doing a land-office business. Somehow all of this seems to be OK with the employees of Raytheon. The argument that, “We need the jobs”, is an old one that has been used to justify the development of the most horrific weapons. It is puzzling that the psyche of so many U.S. workers allows them to be engaged in the design and manufacture of a weapon system designed to torture. As the U.S. economy disintegrates, more will be willing to sell their souls for the pay check at the end of the week.

Will those in the legal community speak out against this hi-tech torture system? Its legality under international law is questionable — but then compliance with international law is not a high priority in the US.

Will church leaders give sermons about hi-tech torture? It does not seem to be a hot topic among the clergy.

Will shareholders dump their Raytheon stock? Does Wall Street have a conscience — dumb question, I know.

Will US taxpayers object to having their money used to make weapons of torture? They don’t seem to object to cluster bombs, land mines, or nukes.

Will US citizens be duped by the spin of the Pentagon and State Department into thinking that this is just another “nice” weapon that we need to “protect our freedom”? The propaganda campaign has already begun. Col. Kirk Hymes is quoted as saying, “With brand new technology like this, perception is everything.”

Waterboarding is low-tech torture. Active Denial is hi-tech torture. Torture is torture no matter how it is done. Most people — with the exception of at least one Justice on the Supreme Court — understand that. Torture by any other name is still torture.

I don’t recall ever meeting him in person, but he told me that we had met once. He started to call me on the phone shortly after there were some news reports about my arrest for protesting the war. He continued to call me on a regular basis for several years. If I did not hear from him for a few weeks, I would make a check-up phone call to make sure that he was OK.

His gentleness was apparent even over the phone wires. His intelligence was also apparent. He spoke in a way that only a well-educated, well-traveled person could. I sometimes wondered if he had a secret past. Maybe he was a retired CIA operative, or more likely maybe he was a retired doctor or psychologist. He was usually too modest to talk much about himself.

He had lived in Washington during the Watergate era and had a passion for facts about the Watergate Break-in. He held on to his big dream. He was determined to find a publisher for a book about Watergate that he planned to write. I admired his willingness to hang on to an old dream even though the odds were stacked against him.

When finances made it necessary for him to give up his television set and his only contact with the outside world was a radio and a telephone, he remained optimistic. He never once complained. When I would ask him if he had eaten that day, he always said yes and then he would tell me not to worry about him.

I often planned to visit him, but something more urgent always came up and prevented it. The visit that I planned was never made. Last Friday I read Frank’s name in the Obituary Column. My friend on Valentine Street was dead. The newspaper listed his name as Celestine Velkas, but to me he was ‘Frank’. I assume that he died alone — just as he had lived in the last years of his life — alone in his tiny apartment.

When I called the funeral home to check on the arrangements, I was told that his body had already been cremated. Now, I would not even be able to place a single red rose in his casket.

There is sadness when any fellow human being dies alone. There is even greater sadness when so many in small towns and large cities live their final years in isolation. Some are virtually alone in nursing homes with no one to visit them even on special days. Some, like my friend, are invisible — hidden away in tiny apartments.

How ironic it is, that the nation that thinks of itself as the most compassionate, has so many who live in isolation. Other countries seem to be far more sensitive to the needs of the elderly — and the young. As a society, we in the United States have a lot to learn.

Chalmers Johnson reports that the US has 700+ bases in 130 foreign countries. Most of these bases were granted “permission” by the leaders of the sovereign nations to locate within their borders. Dirty deals were worked out with the foreign leaders, usually at the expense of the native population. When backroom diplomacy fails, bullying and bribery usually succeed.

The case of Diego Garcia is different. It is even more damning. The US, with the collusion of Great Britain, emptied the island of the people who had lived there for generations. The US has never paid fair compensation to the Chaggosian people who have been locked in a legal battle for justice for years. The expulsion of the native population by the US was an obvious case of genocide. The people who were living on Diego Garcia were forcibly expelled by the US military. When they refused to leave, US personnel killed the pets of the native population. The message was clear: either leave or you will be the next in the gun sights.

The message has been heard around the world — what the US wants, the US gets. It has just been a matter of time before the victims of US expansionism would begin to fight back. The most recent hero to stand against the US is Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.

Ecuador’s leftist President Rafael Correa said Washington must let him open a military base in Miami if the United States wants to keep using an air base on Ecuador’s Pacific coast.

Correa has refused to renew Washington’s lease on the Manta air base, set to expire in 2009. U.S. officials say it is vital for counter-narcotics surveillance operations on Pacific drug-running routes.

“We’ll renew the base on one condition: that they let us put a base in Miami — an Ecuadorean base,” Correa said in an interview during a trip to Italy.

“If there’s no problem having foreign soldiers on a country’s soil, surely they’ll let us have an Ecuadorean base in the United States.

The political will of the citizens of the US has been paralyzed by propaganda and a false sense of patriotism. If the rest of the world wants to be saved from US expansionism, outside intervention will be required. How many others will step up and close ranks with President Rafael Correa?

Now it is time for a reality check so we can finally end the denial. 9/11 was the result of blowback. They did it to us because of what we had been doing to them for decades. Sooner or later every school yard bully gets pay back. Serious and tragic as 9/11 was, the number of deaths does not even compare with the deaths that have resulted from U.S. interventions.

Author/historian William Blum states:

“Between 1945 and 2005 the United States has attempted to overthrow more than 40 foreign governments, and to crush more than 30 populist-nationalist movements struggling against intolerable regimes… In the process, the U.S. caused the end of life for several million people, and condemned many millions more to a life of agony and despair.” (Rogue State: A Guide to the World’s Only Superpower).

“No matter how paranoid or conspiracy-minded you are, what the government is actually doing is worse than you imagine” (ibid).

Many believe the 9/11 conspiracy theories — understandable, since it is so well known that this government is not above the killing of its own. Whether the government was the cause or not, it surely has taken full advantage of the tragedy. The main challenge to the conspiracy theorists comes from Osama Bin Laden. He explained why the attack occurred. Anybody remember his statement? He gave three reasons — the unfair treatment of the Israeli/Palestinian issue, the stationing of US troops in their holy land, and the sanctions which resulted in the deaths of a half million Iraqi children. Thank you for setting the record straight, Osama. Notice he did not say that they attacked us because of our “freedoms”. He did not say that they attacked us because of religious differences. Most of those who are informed about US foreign policy knew the reasons for the attack even before Osama made his statement.

The 9/11 Commission Report leaves a lot to be desired. It has raised the art of obfuscation to new heights. I confess — I have not read all 567 pages of the Report. After the first three pages, I ran out of NoDoz. I did watch the Congressional Hearings on C-Span. In her testimony before the Congressional Committee, Kristen Breitweiser said, “…The jigs up…” (C-Span2, Aug. 17, 2004, 10:45 a.m.). It would have been a move in the right direction if she had been referring to US actions around the world, but the context of her statement showed that she believes that the tragedy of 9/11 was a failure of Intelligence. The testimony of other family members of victims, Stephen Push and Mary Fetchet, indicated a greater willingness to recognize that 9/11 was a failure of US foreign policy and diplomacy. In Mary Fetchet’s testimony, she stated, “…Foreign policy is the core of the threat of terrorism…” Fetchet’s statement might be the single most important comment ever made about 9/11.

The most compassionate act, that any of us can do in support of the 9/11 families, is to inform others about the government’s international policies that led to 9/11. Has any member of Congress or any member of the commission mentioned the connection between US foreign policy and the 9/11 attacks? Yes, Ron Paul made the shocking 9/11-foreign policy connection during a recent Republican debate. Paul’s statement almost sent Giuliani into a seizure.

Ignoring the role that U.S. foreign policy played in causing the tragedy of 9/11 is like ignoring the elephant in the middle of the room. Authors have been predicting a 9/11 type of attack for many years. Chalmers Johnson wrote his book, Blowback, before the attack happened.

The CIA has been using the term “blowback” for decades because they knew that there would be a violent reaction to U.S. foreign policy. It was common knowledge. In view of this, how can it be that not one of our elected officials in Washington could foresee the event? There are two possibilities: none of our representatives was smart enough to think in terms of cause and effect. That is hard to believe. There is a better explanation. Some members of Congress did know. They did not know the time and place of the attack, but they had to know that an attack would be the inevitable result of U.S. foreign policy. If they didn’t know it before 9/11, they surely have to know it now, and that brings us up to today and the ongoing presidential campaign season.

Dennis Kucinich says that he is opposed to the US Mid-East policies and the war. Why are there no other candidates, with the possible exception of Ron Paul, suggesting that the time has come for a major change in U.S. foreign policy? Neither Kucinich or Paul stands much chance of winning the Primary. Both share a fatal flaw. They are members of the major political parties and that indicates an acceptance of what these two Parties have done in recent years. Any candidate who is not in agreement with the Party Platform, should run as an Independent. A vote for any Democrat or Republican signals an acceptance of the deadly policies that led to 9/11. It is time to think outside the box and look at candidates from alternative parties. It was during the Clinton administration that Madeleine Albright stated that the death of 500,000 children was worth it. It’s a toss-up when trying to decide which Party is more dangerous. Both Parties have betrayed the people in favor of the war profiteers who wander the halls of Congress.

The biggest flaw in the conspiracy theory is that it ignores the anger that has built up in the rest of the world — anger that is a direct result of U.S. actions. 9/11 was not acceptable but it was predictable and understandable — a simple application of the Law of Cause and Effect. Who caused 9/11? Well maybe it really was the government after all. Nineteen men hijacked the planes, but the ultimate cause was the policies of the government of the United States.

The provocative policies continue. The Pentagon has just released a list of 1200 targets to bomb in Iran. Was this announcement a well-planned, deliberate act designed to provoke another attack? A new 9/11 attack would further enrich the corporations that manufacture weapons. Just follow the money since the first 9/11. 9/11 is the goose that has laid the golden grenade.

Is there an ongoing conspiracy to create blowback? Maybe the conspiracy theorists have a point.

1. Look, it doesn’t matter if the fumes are making you sick. OSHA says everything is OK.

2. I already told you that you couldn’t have the morning off. Your Father’s funeral can wait till the weekend.

3. Union, did I just hear somebody say, “Union”? Fire that damn Commie!

4. You want a raise……..hahhhhahhhahahahhhah.

5. Look, if you want a health care benefit, move to Costa Rica or Cuba. Third-world countries give health care. This is the U.S.A. Love it, or leave it.

6. What’s the big deal — it’s just asbestos.

7. Next time that you want to go to the bathroom, ask for permission first. That’s the rule.

8. You say that the school called and told you that your child was just injured on the playground and needs to go to the hospital. Who gave you permission to use the phone? Get back to work.

9. A little bit of ionizing radiation never hurt anybody.

10. Think of it as an adventure. Nobody dies from black lung anymore.

11. You say you want a week of paid vacation — move to France, this is America.

12. Hell no, you can’t leave. Wait till your shift is over. I don’t care if your labor pains are just 3 minutes apart.