Sedition

Drunken Tennessee man
riding lawnmower on road
arrested for stealing fishing poles.

I don’t really know but I am sure there are laws against sedition. I know there are laws against treason, but that is not quite the same thing. I don’t quite know what one might call what a potential Governor of Oklahoma wants to do, namely, sponsor a state-sanctioned militia for the purpose of defending Oklahoma from the Federal Government, but this is surely seditious. I guess this is somewhere in the same ballpark as the Texas Governor talking about seceding from the Union, only worse. Personally, I think we should encourage Texas and Oklahoma to secede and form independent countries (they could take other southern states along). It would at the very least be amusing for a while. As they drain more money from the Federal Government than other states it would make it less expensive for the rest of us. And given the nature of their elected leadership in general they probably wouldn’t last more than a few months before they’d be begging to reincorporate. Of course, if they feel strongly enough about how bad our Federal Government is they might be able to become part of Mexico (although as Mexico has just refused to accept American beef because of its contamination perhaps they might not want them). I wonder if these morons have any idea how impossible it would be for them to secede and become independent countries? But I’m all for it, I’d love to see them try it. Until they do I regard their blather as just that, blather. I wonder what it is other than anti-lynch laws they are concerned about, maybe health care, teaching evolution, abortion, and taxes? I bet they’d go a long way without taxes. I guess this talk in Virginia about celebrating their Confederate heritage is part of the same discontent. We should call their bluff and force them to secede. It would be hilarious.

Speaking of taxes, I finally mailed my off today and what a relief it is. Or, at least it was, before I read an article pointing out that 53% of my taxes go to the military. Now if that is not fiscal insanity I don’t know what is. This is enough to make me want to join a Tea Party. Except, curiously enough, these people who are so upset about taxes, and who march around with signs about “no taxes” and all, never seem t o carry any anti-war signs or rail against this incredible waste of money. Why this is so would be an interesting question to pursue. It quite likely has to do with having a mercenary voluntary military and other mercenary participants as well, so that most people aren’t really affected by it, and also because we have now become basically a militaristic culture with an ethos to match. Maybe there are anti-war signs but if so I have not seen them.

Ah, it seems that Silly Sarah is not so silly after all, depending upon how you look at things. Since quitting in the middle of her term as Governor of Alaska, nine months ago, she has apparently pulled in 12 million dollars in royalties, speaking fees, and whatever. I think this is quite a remarkable achievement for a woman who is barely above the status of nitwit. It just proves that to impress the American public you really don’t have to know anything except public speaking. Every time I accidentally hear or see her I am reminded of a line out of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, “Oh, the horror!”

“Procrastination is the thief of time.” You have no doubt heard this before. In our world of MSM it should be “Speculation is the thief of time.” As is repeatedly and predictably the case, the resignation of Justice Stevens has set off a storm of speculation as to who might replace him. No one knows, of course, as Obama has not yet nominated anyone, but you can be sure we will have nothing but days, perhaps even weeks, maybe months of speculation about it. Indeed, without speculation News 24/7 would cease to exist (as they might actually have to spend money on reporters, travel, investigations, news, and such, instead of just constant and confusing speculation). Speculation is nowadays an integral part of news infotainment, it’s cheap, keeps everyone’s mind of just how bad everything is, and it doesn’t seem to affect advertising revenue. The same thing happens whenever someone is about to be appointed to some important position, especially if there is some chance of a filibuster, and it also happens routinely with missing persons, crimes, terrorism, and what have you. For all intents and purposes it has replaced news.

It appears that we kill more innocent Afghans every day. It is said they are becoming more and more anti-American. How strange. Will we never come to our senses and get out of there?

LKBIQ:
Scriptures, n. The sacred books of our holy religion, as distinguished from the false and profane writings on which all other faiths are based.
Ambrose Bierce

TILT:
The carambola is closely related to the bilimbi.