One of the most fragile books I possess is a poetry textbook from my mother's college days. Though it was published in 1946, it still carries a disclaimer about the conditions of the times:
"This book was printed during a period of unsurpassed demand for college textbooks and at a time of critical shortages in standard paper and cloth. These unusual conditions have frequently forced the use of substitute but no less expensive materials. Better materials will be used as soon as sufficient supplies are available"
In 1946 there were still critical shortages of paper and cloth. Because the "victorius" US was still reeling from the wrenching experience of war. I am old enough to remember those anecdotes about women painting stripes up the back of their legs to mimic "nylons" because that synthetic material was prioritized for use in the war industry.
The current issue of The Rolling Stone has detailed the corruption of the 109th Congress. But the cover image also struck me. The dome of the Capitol is tipped open, and the standard icons of hedonism and self-indulgence spill out.
As grandiose w. bush fancies himself and his gwot as an epic struggle he selflessly undertook, realizing none of us will live to see the rewards of victory, in a similarly maverick and heroic fashion, the republican controlled congress never stopped sacrificing for our future as a nation.
While the elected putted about in Scotland, courtesy of lobbyists, how many electors buried their families under solemn grass?
When they funded the "bridge to nowhere" were they thinking of all the accomodations that would have to be made for all those who crossed from life to death?
When that fat fuck from Enron retired with an obscene severance...
My original idea for this diary was to link specific dates of scandal to real deaths in Iraq. Easy to think of the many scandals, and I was sure the WaPo's "Faces of the Fallen" would account for every American that died when money and favors were exchanged with our governing body.
Not so.
I started with this:
http://www.warandpiece.com/...
June 17, 2005: CNS and the Union-Tribune report Cunningham has been living aboard a 42-foot yacht along the banks of the Potomac River in a yacht, named the Duke-Stir, owned by Wade. ...
and found these two Americans died in Iraq that same day:
Sgt. Reyes Ramirez, 23, of Willis, Texas,
Spc. Robert L. Jones, 22, of Milwaukie, Ore
Jones and Ramirez? How much more American can you get?
So I was quite frustrated when neither of their names showed up in "Faces of the Fallen."
Then again, we don't know how many people died in New Orleans during Katrina, either.
The stock market highs have been duly recorded.