Hello? Where's everyone been?

In the local thing that tries to pass itself off as a newspaper it was reported that in the states of Washington and Idaho there are 2,700 bridges that are below standard or obsolete. If that is true, image how many more substandard bridges there must be in the U.S. Why is this so? Because, among other things, that Republican idol, Ronald (know-nothing) Reagan convinced them that government was "the problem." So fewer taxes, and with fewer taxes, less maintenance of our superstructure. That's pretty simple, no? Now we are beginning to pay the price for the Republican mantra of constantly reducing taxes or, conversely, using our tax money to rebuild bridges they unnecessarily bombed in other countries, most notably Iraq. Of course the bridges they are rebuilding there are almost certainly being built to substandards so as to maximize corporate profits.

There was also, in our pretend newspaper, an article about the deleterious effects of plastics. It seems that an estrogen-like chemical in plastics has been causing a number of reproductive disorders in our citizens for years. Surprise! A problem with plastics. Actually, this has been known to many people for about 30 years. My wife has studiously avoided using most plastic objects for years as she knew about this problem. So why didn't we all know about it sooner? Guess. I bet it has something to do with the interests and profits of big business and the failure of our government to act in the best interests of our citizens rather than in the interests of corporate profits.

Whatever happened to the concept of the public good? Our democracy (such as it was) did not come about as a scheme to maximize corporate profit and minimize the public good. The idea that everything should be privatized and the government should not be involved is fundamentally ridiculous if government is supposed to provide for the public well-being. But in recent years, particularly under Reagan and now the Bushes, virtually everything is being privatized. It remains true, however, that some things are far too important to be privatized. Health care is certainly one of them. So you have morons like Guiliani immediately crying socialism at the mere mention of universal health care. Water, too, is too important to be privatized, as is the air we breath and the foods we eat. There simply has to be some control over these things. Goering said once that "when I hear culture I reach for my revolver." That is precisely the way we should react when we hear privatization. Look what privatization did for energy in California. Capitalism cannot be allowed to run rampant, it has to be subject to at least some basic controls. If you want to privatize the cosmetic or fashion industry what difference does it make. But, please, not health care, energy or water and the basics of human existence.

Democratic whining continues. Yesterday I heard something to the effect that, "they won't even come and talk to us and we don't know what to do about it." They should stop the whining and actually do something about it. They could, for example, have Meirs and Bolton arrested and brought to Congress in handcuffs. They could certainly begin impeachment proceedings against Bush/Cheney. They could get rid of Gonzales. They could do any number of positive things but they apparently just prefer to stand around and whine. They, too, are not interested in the public good, just the good of their party. They are every bit as bad as Republicans - and that is REALLY BAD! And while both parties play their political games our youngest and finest die daily where they shouldn't even be, immersed in a civil war that is none of our business (except, of course, for having caused it). The deaths, destruction, misery, and horror brought about by the Bush/Cheney administration is incalculable. Are they just going to be allowed to walk away with no accountability? How is it none of the candidates ever mentions this?

Can there be anything more absurd than Bush's so-called plan to convene a meeting to solve the Israeli/Palestinian problem? He has completely neglected this problem for the past six and a half years, blatantly supported Israel at every turn, and now that he has no credibility whatsoever he thinks he can actually do something about it? And he is going to ignore Hamas and leave out the countries that do not want to recognize Israel no matter what. Bush apparently doesn't understand that he is no more than a laughingstock at this point and this feeble attempt to do something will be lucky if it even results in a meeting. Condi Rice has become a pathetic figure, something like the mouse that tries to roar but only squeaks. This administration thinks that diplomacy means do as we insist or else.

Matching the above in absurdity is Bush's request that Congress strengthen his illegal surveillance program so that the only oversight comes 120 days after they do it and Alberto Gonzales will be in charge of reviewing it. This is a request that indicates to me that Bush has long since lost whatever marbles he might have had. But don't bet the Democrats won't give in to this.

LKBIQ:
"It would have made a cat laugh."
James R. Planche