As I continue to journal about the "ABC's" of Corporacy, a number of questions come to mind. Most of these questions are not new, and each question only raises many new questions about American society and our present flirtation with facism (a condition created by the collusion between Government and corporations that are seeking profit without regard for any of us). For better or for worse, the complete series of
Rants are here.
- Where are the WMD?
- What lesson did GM, Chrysler and Ford executives learn from the oil embargo of the mid 1970's?
- Why must a young adult go deeply into debt for loans to attend community and state colleges and universities?
- Since the implementation of "No Child Left Behind" why have the high school graduation rates fallen from 73% to 68%? Or does No Child Left Behind refer to military recruitment?
- Since there are less opportunities for our inner city youth, why are there military recruiting shortfalls?
- Why do corporations contribute so much money to candidates when they can't vote?
- If America believes in a democratic process, why would a candidate for high-office petition the courts to stop vote counts?
- Why does an initiative called the "Clear Skies Initiative" weaken societal protection against mercury, nitrogen oxide and sulphur dioxide?
- Why does our elderly population need to drive across the American border to buy affordable prescription drugs?
- After what Schwarzenegger has attempted to do to teachers, nurses and breaking funding promises to the education system, how can the democrats not field a candidate that will soundly defeat him?
- Where have our heroes gone, from any political ideology that want to represent the interests of society and not the interests of (enter any corporation or lobby name here)
- Why are social programs to help people survive with a thread of dignity bad, while giving away millions in tax revenue to corporations (within an alleged "free market" system) good sound government?
- if Republicans are for small, efficient government why have "special" government projects, or "pork" projects grown from 958 projects to just under 14,000 under a Republican-controlled Congress and White House?
- Is Kenneth Lay really dead?
- Does anyone care that for every $1.00 collected for federal income tax, almost 30 cents goes to military and defense spending while four cents goes to education and less than 2 cents goes to our environment? This is like taking your paycheck every month, buying a bunch of guns and ammunition and a few number 2 pencils for your children.
- Additionally, did anyone notice that in 2005, for every dollar of federal income tax collected, nearly 20% was used to pay the interest on our rising national debt? Does this mean our political choices are narrowed to a "tax and spend Democrat" or a "spend and spend Republican".
- A government raises revenue through taxation. It then allocates and appropriates that money (in theory) for the best interests of society. So when did tax and spend become a bad thing? Isn’t that precisely what a government is supposed to do? If I describe someone as a “breather in, breather out” is that bad too?
- For all of the real conservatives (who have sadly lost their backbone along with the Democrats) who will be paying off the interest on the deficit created by this extremist fascist regime? I know this is not your idea of a good sound fiscally conservative government? If your college age child was charging up their credit cards to the max, would you call that a good, disciplined financial plan?
- What happened to the national programs that have made us proud such as space exploration? We now have an aging space shuttle program that can occasionally launch when the weather is just right and frequently does not kill the brave men and women that participate in the program. What happened to our technology lead in science and research? Because we don't fund our schools and give our children the opportunity and environment to ignite a hunger for knowledge, which other society will take the lead? North Korea ? Pakistan ? India ? Canada ? China ? What kind of advanced weaponry will evolve from them? How will they use their advanced weapons? Preemptively? Now that we have used a preemptive strategy, why would we expect to be treated any differently?
- If Kerry is a coward for going to Vietnam , serving honorably and then expressing his right to free speech in questioning the war, what exactly does that make Bush and Cheney who were cowering in an undisclosed location?
- If the White House and Congress believe that we had to defend America by invading Iraq , why don't they commit their own sons and daughters to fight? If it is so urgent that we attack, invade and occupy a country, and they have able-bodied sons and daughters, should they not bravely lead the invasion?
- How does American society justify spending more time discussing American Idol than a vastly corrupt corporate and political system run amok?
- Since General Motors is leading the charge with larger vehicles, and the larger vehicles require more gasoline, and demand for gasoline raises fuel prices for all of us, we should all qualify for their 'fuel price protection rebate'. Let’s all start billing them for our fuel purchases above $1.99 per gallon until they stop manufacturing the hummer and other aircraft carrier-sized monuments of stupidity.
- As fuel prices rise, and our economy is based upon fuel, and prices and interests continue to climb, and many have variable rate mortgages… never mind, I don’t think I want to ask that one right now.
- During the Reagan years, the highest Federal Income Tax bracket was slashed from 70% to 28%. Under Bush it has gone from 39.6% to 35% (not including the substantial impact of minimizing capital gains and estate taxes.) How did all of that work out for you?
- When will political handlers allow a candidate to be themselves before an election?
- How many times will the government allow New Orleans to be destroyed before addressing the levees and other critical infrastructure?
- How about a new code of scientific ethics? While we should encourage scientists and research that will yield advances that improve the quality and dignity of our lives. If you are a sell-out, I mean a scientist that works for Altria or another tobacco company you must shut the f*(% up on issues of addiction and cancer. If you work for ExxonMobil you must shut the f*(% up on issues related to climate change. If you work for a cell phone manufacturer shut the f*(% up on issues related to incidence of brain cancer and cell phone safety. This code of ethics extends to “public” interest groups funded by ExxonMobil and Chevron that employs “scientists”. If you are defending profits then you are no longer qualified to comment on what is good for society. So collect your check and shut the f*(% up.
- If you are President of the United States (elected, or appointed), and you have difficulty getting through “My Pet Goat”, are you really qualified to edit scientific evidence out of EPA reports?
- If you are or have worked in a high-paying position representing industry, should you be eligible for an appointment to a position which is balancing the needs of industry and society? Will society win?
- If you are really good at planning horse shows, parties or other events are you qualified to run a Federal Agency?
- If as a society we determined that a 28-32 hour work week is enough (instead of the 60 or so required to make ends meet), and we spent the time with our children, our families, our friends, our neighborhoods, volunteering, enjoying nature would we be more content?
- If I am a hunting buddy with a Supreme Court justice about to rule on some cases involving me, is it ethical to spend some private quality time together?
- Between an illegal war, illegal wiretaps, invasion of privacy with respect to financial records, lying to the world and Congress about WMD in Iraq, secret energy task force meetings prior to record profits in the oil industry and economic crisis in California, unconstitutional courts with secret defendants, suspension of our civil liberties, fiscal mismanagement, bribes, mishandling of a domestic emergency and others which offense do you suppose would have caused an “Independent” investigation into the Clinton White House?