Boo Hiss
The United States Supreme Court, secure in its conservative majority, has dealt a major blow to both the environment and American citizen’s rights, and I’m sorely disappointed.
At first (and second) glance, it looks like freedom of speech is guaranteed, IF you’re a corporation. If you’re a citizen it can be limited. The ramifications of these rulings will manifest themselves most dramatically during the upcoming elections, as the court has lifted a ban on corporations running ads for political candidates. This effectively means that any chance of health care reform has just gone out the window as the big pharmaceutical companies are going to mount smear campaigns against any candidate that will threaten their profits. Remember this in ten years when you can’t afford to take your sick mother or wife to the emergency room.
Chalk one up for United States President George Walker Bush — his appointees to the high court have just ensured that Mr. Bush and Vice President Richard Bruce “Dick” Cheney will get richer at the expense of every single citizen of the United States. Both men are heavily invested in the oil industry, you see, and the oil companies will run a zillion commercials on TV and radio against any candidate that wants to see the American economy switch from it’s dependence on foreign oil to any other energy source. Never mind that both our economy and our environment demand we find alternate sources of energy — what’s important is that the oil executives and shareholders get more money.
So, the next year and a half, you can thank President Bush and his conservative appointees to the Supreme Court every time your program gets interrupted by an ugly commercial.
To add insult to injury, how’s this little bit of speculation: Mr. Bush and Mr. Cheney and their families may not even live in the United States after their terms are up. Mr. Cheney may very well go back to work for Haliburton, which is no longer a U.S. corporation as they’ve moved to Dubai, an Arab country. Mr. Bush’s family has been quietly been buying land (and a ranch, I guess) in South America — in a nation that has no extradition treaty with the United States. Both these men seem to be making long-range plans to take the money and run… Our money.
On a personal note…
Things have been very busy lately. There have been tons of things going on with the American Legion Riders (including a Patriot Guard mission last week) that have kept me busy. We’re even gonna start a band… We’ve had one jam session already, and no one got hurt — at least not badly — so we’re going to try it again soon. I’ve been working on the ALR website (moving it from one URL to another the hard way) and another site for a benefit we’re putting on later this summer. I haven’t had nearly enough time on either the bike or the bicycle yet this year; I feel the summer slipping away. Too many hours spent working, not enough money to pay the bills, stress. I’m under stressure.
I’m happy to do volunteer work. I just wish I could get the occasional paying job so I could get caught up a little…
My Favorite Drew Carey Line
“I have this great recipe for homemade meatloaf. You get two Big Macs and a blender…”
My Favorite Wife
If you haven’t seen Dagmar lately – she’s lookin’ good! There must be something to this “diet and exercise” thing… I’m so proud of her I could cry. She’s been working hard, and it shows.
I am feeling your pain. I have been so busy I can barely breath. And sleep? HA! I laugh in it’s face! Or I would if I could find the bastard.
Sorry, I blame it on the sleep deprivation.
Down time seems to be a figment of my imagination.
Can we make a global wish that Dicky and Georgie just move to Dubai and South America by the end of the summer?
Oh, and
GO DAGMAR!!!!!
I am really trying to get the oomph to lose abit of myself that has been creeping up on me. My fat pants are too tight. Not good.
However, I have no oomph, thus I have tight pants. DAMN IT. sigh.
I have found Dagmar’s sloth and extra pizza. It does not look good on me.
Here’s to an imaginary world where worthy causes have as much money as oil companies.
Chris & Dagmar… I am sooooo sorry for being ‘absent’. I have a million reasons but rest assured I have no excuse.
Dagmar… I don’t know what the big deal is… if it is a goal you set and attained for yourself, then GOOD FOR YOU!!!! GOOD for you… carry on! I have thought you were one of the most beautiful women in the world – perfect – since I “met” you.
Chris… I know. I do. I wish there was something I could do. I have my two soldiers (Soldiers Angels)… and my other soldier (who I will finally be reunited with next month)… and I see all the wrong. I discuss with other like minded people the wrong.
What CAN WE DO????
It’s depressing as hell… but I’m tired of being depressed… I think it’s time to get noisy…
…and so my blog will evolve, yet again… into a very PRO-ACTIVE PLACE.
Love you two…
hug eachother… someday, I’ll hug you both.
Family.
Chris, sorry to use your blog to vent, but if I want it read, I had better put it here. 🙂
I have been seeing a very disturbing trend that is really baffling me and want to see if others are seeing it too.
Yesterday on the news was the story of a man who hasn’t planted grass in front of his new home. He has now spent 2 weekends in jail and is heading back. FOR NOT PLANTING GRASS!
Today on the news was the story of a woman and her cow. She has had 20 complaints against her because her cow moos. At first I thought she might live right in town or some such, but then they mention that she lives on 33 acres. She is about to go to jail and be on probation for 5 years. BECAUSE HER COW MOOS!!!
Now, add that to that poor 17 yr old (now 22) who wouldn’t plead guilty to sexual assault of a 15 yr old girl giving him consensual oral sex and the lovely Prosecutor UPHOLDING and RETRYING him when his sentence was thrown out after all these years.
Can someone please explain to me when jail became a place for everyday people who don’t commit crimes? When did we become a police state? I just read (but haven’t verified) that the good ol’ USA has the highest rate of incarceration of all nations. Mostly for non-violent crimes.
Welcome to America. Leave all common sense at the border.
p.s. sorry, but I feel better now.
I have to say much as I love visiting your country, it does make you wonder who/how/when did it all go so wrong.
Not That the UK is much better but at least we don’t have George W to contend with. Someting to be said after all then for being a Royalist state.
px
America is a great country. It truly is. I honestly believe that. But we’ve lost our aim, our purpose, our goals, our ideals, and (most importantly) our morals somewhere. We can find our way back, but we need to stop being petty and bickering amongst ourselves and take another look at the big picture.
Unfortunately this isn’t happening with the current administration (regime?).
Pistols — I’m going to remember that line and use it as a toast whenever I can. “Here’s to a world where worthy causes have as much money as oil companies.” I love it.
Leonesse — feel free to vent at will! I saw the moo-cow story on TV this morning. The lady and her cow live on a FARM for gosh sakes… I may steal your theme for a post of my own if I get time – it’s good food for thought.
US Pixie — The main reason I’m so proud of Dagmar is that she’s lost over 50 pounds in the last six months, all through diet and exercise. She’s doing FANTASTIC!
UK Pixie — In my mind it all went wrong when we as a nation allowed religion to trump intellect in our national politics. I’m NOT saying anything against religion, but I don’t think it has any place in government. Bush took the election from intellectual Al Gore in 2000 by claiming he (Bush) had better and more Christian family values than Gore. In 2004 the electorate chose Bush again, partly because intellectual John Kerry speaks proper English. “I voted for Bush ’cause I can understand him when he talks.” I heard that at least a hundred times…
ALL — I’m glad you take time to read my silly blog! That makes me inordinately happy. Hopefully I’ll get more time and will be able to get back to blogging on a daily basis again sometime soon…
I am happy to provide the pre-drinking inspiration for anyone, because it’s good to have things in common with other people, like drinking.
And I’m sure I speak for the Gang when I say we hope you update more often, congrats to your wife for being a fraction of the woman she once was, and lastly, who the hell do I think I am to speak for everyone?
I am sure Dagmar is lookin’ & feelin good. I, on the other hand, am bloating up, moving to the next jean size waaaay too fast. In Ukraine I did eat lots of chocolate, sour ceam, pig fat and I sipped champagne and vdka, but I was thin, thin, thin. Two months back in the USA and I am getting plump! I can’t afford new jeans and I don’t like to be plump! Sigh. I look around here in the uSA and almost everyobody is really overwieght…Anyway, congrats to Dagmar for lookin’ good….