What "Change" Has Occurred Mr. President?

I'm not seeing - this great "change" that was supposed to happen once President Obama took office. We are still in Iraq with no signs of pulling out. Gays still have to remain silent about who they are to remain in our military and cannot obtain the same rights under the law through marriage. North Korea and Iran still flaunt their missile and nuclear technology without consequence. And now, just like the Bush Administration, President Obama wants to withhold the names of people who have visited the White House (the people's house) since he was sworn in.

Who is this man? He certainly is not the same one who campaigned on issues of transparency, equality, and ending the war in Iraq. Has he been ordered to "play ball" by some higher powers? Has his life or the lives of his family members been threatened by people within the upper echelons of society? Has he been paid off? I don't know, but I know that he is not the same Barack Obama of a year ago. And I know that I do not like this Barack Obama. It appears that the ultimate "bait and switch" has been pulled on the American public.


Technorati Tags: bait and switch, Barack Obama, bush administration, change, equality, gays, Iran, military, missile, North Korea, nuclear technology, rights, tansparency, white house

Cheney’s Postgame Cheerleading

Former Vice President Cheney is still on the circuit defending the indefensible. During an appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Mr. Cheney that he had no regrets over policies put in place during the Bush administration and is “absolutely convinced we saved thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of lives.”

I am sick of hearing this crap from a man who should be in prison. First, I do not believe that the pro-torture, warrantless wiretap, spying on citizen policies of the Bush administration saved a single life. And, even if it could be proved that lives were saved using these anti-American, unconstitutional techniques, I would rather be less safe and have my freedom than to live in a fascist state. I am not afraid of Al Quaeda or the Taliban or any other terrorist group, so long as I am given the right to defend myself. I am much safer on a plane where pilots can carry weapons than on a plane where there may or may not be a federal marshal on board. I am safer in a mall where there are people who have a license to carry a concealed weapon than I am in a mall where there are unarmed guards. I am safer in a nation that requires that the government take every precaution to protect my liberty than one where it wants the right to use torture and tap my phone without probable cause. The problem in this country is that we are too comfortable. We do not want to sacrifice time, effort, nor money (let alone life or limb) to protect the liberties we now enjoy. The attitude is: “Let them take some of my freedom, just don’t require me to think or expect me to move from this couch.”

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If Obama Is Wrong, Why Follow His Plans?

The Bush Administration has slammed Mr. Obama's belief that our government should engage in talks with Iran concerning their development of nuclear power. They also shunned the idea of moving troops out of Iraq and into Afghanistan. Yet, in the past few weeks they have been doing or planning to do exactly those things. Can the Bush Administration make its hypocrisy any more obvious? Do they really believe that we are all so stupid that we will accept these actions as their own, when they openly criticized these ideas only weeks earlier when they came from the mouth of Mr. Obama? Wake up, Republicans. We don't all watch Fox News like your sheople do.

They Do Not WANT Peace!

Who are "They"? Whatever you want to call them - the Bush Administration, the Military-Industrial Complex, the Bilderberg Group, Haliburton - pick one. They are the people in positions of high power who can manipulate elections, governments, societies and economies at their whim.

Why do I say that they do not want peace? It is quite simple. Peace would drain them of their power. Peace empowers people of all races and socio-economic levels. Peace brings innovation, prosperity and self-determination. The last thing that the people in ultimate power want is for the rest of us to have self-determination. They want us to believe that we need their protection, their guidance, their beneficence. If we don't need them, we will make our own choices, create our own solutions, buy our own products, and protect ourselves and each other without their input. This is very dangerous to them. We could decide to rebel against their power, sending them from their mansions and castles into the streets, tearing from them all of their possessions, all of their power. Therefore, they create tensions and start wars, to keep us discontented, confused and angry - all the while selling their war machines which are bought with our sweat and spill our blood, making them even more powerful and wealthy. When the war is over, they continue to take our money to "rebuild" what they have destroyed but making sure that we do not begin believing in a lasting peace or seeing the hope of the future - keeping us in our place.

I am not asking you to buy my theories. I ask that you begin to truly watch and listen to everything that is being presented to you by those who truly hold power. Question what you hear and even what you see. I am not asking you to be skeptical of the friend who watches your kids while you go away for the weekend. I am asking you to be skeptical of the politician and corporate executive who throw a few dollars your way so you don't feel so bad about sinking deeper into debt (most likely owing them money). Just pay attention, observe, question and then come to your own conclusions.