Posted in Uncategorized on April 26, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Following an investigation and trial of those involved in sanctioning torture to be used we’ll be rid of a large portion of the top Republicans and Democrats. Happy days, to see Cheney and Pelosi behind bars.
I may be wrong, but I believe all criminal trials are about something that happened in the past. So why does this, “We don’t want to look back”, nonsense have any acceptance!?
Posted in Uncategorized on April 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
As many of you have probably heard by now, since its finally hitting the air waves, after World War II Japanese soldiers were tried for water-boarding and various other torture techniques that the United States uses in their prisons. Some received prison sentences with hard labor, others death.
Yet, Obama does not see a reason to prosecute those who made waterboarding, beating, humiliation and burning part of United States integregations. Nor is he against these techniques since he allows prisoners to be sent to non-US prisons for them to be used (and possibly worse techniques).
The mere thought that Obama can stand up at a podium talking about governing for all the people and how he is bringing change and then to allow these disgusting criminals to walk is mind blowing. He is not governing for us. He governs the same as all the presidents have, for the rich and powerful. He knows an investigation into this will turn up way more than just that some Republican neo-cons were behind it, but that Democratic politicians had a chance to speak up and DID NOT. They use these populace outrages to their advantage, they do not truly care.
Do not stand by as Obama continues to push the same policies of war, torture and bailouts for the rich while acting like he is doing it for us and the world. I do not want Obama to fail as Rush Limbaugh does, but I do want his public support to be 0%. I want him to fix the economy and get us out of Iraq and for the people to stand up and say, “You know what? That’s not enough. We are still being robbed and you are still destroying lives around the world. Pack your bags, its our turn to run things.”
Posted in Uncategorized on April 23, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I was happy to hear Shepard Smith’s passionate outburst against torture, the torture the Bush administration put in place. But as usual, I am saddened and angered by the response of those on Huffington Post and his reasoning.
We are the United States of America. We have participated in incredible acts of torture, murder and genocide our ENTIRE HISTORY. So why, in any way, bring up that America does not do this (Smith) or to speak back claiming, well do we know America anymore (Huffpost commenter)? This is our past and our future. Obama is keeping in place extraordinary rendition. We still support torture. We have in the past supported the massacre of the American Indians, Mexicans, slavery and torture of African, atom bombs and fire bombs on Japan, East Timor, South America, Vietnam, …… Why is this a shock? How can you fucking “liberals” act like this is something new? Your great Obama is sending more soldiers to Afghanistan. Open your eyes, you are all the same lying fucks.
And don’t forget there is much evidence, not reported often of course, that the Democrats KNEW about these torture methods. Why else have they not been and will they not be intensely investigated.
If you liberals are truly against the what the past government has done you must not support this government. Organize into a truly progressive organization to place the people in power. Revolution is the only way — for a future democratic socialist society.
Posted in Uncategorized on April 22, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Abduwali Muse is the Somalian being tried in US court for piracy. He faces life in prison. Life in prison is in no way an appropriate sentence, nor will it do anything to deter attacks off the coast of Africa. Free Muse and consider what is really going on in Somalia and not see it simply as something to be solved with military action.
It would be a great show of solidarity with the world if people in the United States would stand up and demand Muse not receive such a sentence.
There are many possible reasons why he was driven to do what he did. His mother claims he was brianwashed by Muslim “gangsters with money” and there is the obvious Somialian turmoil that requires people standing up against foreign nations attempting to take advantage of the turmoil and looking for ways to survive. Circumstances can not excuse terrible crimes, but where is the evidence he harmed anyone and in anyway deserves life in prison?
Update:
A great interview with a Somalian pirate can be found here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/8010061.stm
Posted in Uncategorized on April 22, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
I get very annoyed when someone uses the “freedom of speech” or “people are entitled to their own beliefs”, or even worse “its their religious freedom”, in response to me calling a bigot a bigot. The fact that I point out someone is a bigot and attack them for being one is in no way attacking their right to have a belief. I would never want a world where people were not allowed to form their own opinions and hold their own beliefs.
However, this right does not put someone off limits for criticism. The same that it is not off limits to attack someones religion just because they have the right to belong to whichever they choose. Racists, homophobes, members of NAMBLA, etc are all free to think the way they do, but they are still ignorant people who must not be allowed to spew their horrific beliefs unopposed simply because its their right to hold those beliefs.
Now, this is where someone says, “Well, its your belief that they are horrific. So, why should they be attacked for your beliefs, who decides this?” That is very true. Obviously, only those who find those views horrific should and will attack those people. I do not want to force people to attack others beliefs, but the idea that people who claim to think those beliefs are horrible do not attack them leaves me feeling they do not truly understand the damage done by these ignorant drags on humanity.
The most recent incident of this problem came with Miss California’s answer during the Miss USA pageant where she said she did not believe people of the opposite sex should be allowed to marry. If you truly believe they should be allowed to marry and want religion out of State law you should attack her belief full force. Do you not want everyone to have the same rights? Do you not understand the damage bigotry like this has done to so many people?
People need to stop accepting other beliefs when they know they are wrong, offensive, hurtful and potentially deadly. Don’t let people hide behind their freedom of speech and freedom of religion. If you really care you’ll use your freedom of speech to let that person know they are on the wrong side of history.
Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind. – Dr. Seuss
Posted in Uncategorized on April 20, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The notion that a radical is one who hates his country is naïve and usually idiotic. He is, more likely, one who likes his country more than the rest of us, and is thus more disturbed than the rest of us when he sees it debauched. He is not a bad citizen turning to crime; he is a good citizen driven to despair. – H. L. Mencken
Posted in Uncategorized on April 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
The idea that an unjust law that causes hundreds of deaths worldwide (of innocent people and those cops that people seem to care more for), millions of wasted dollars and wasted police time would just be laughed off as being brought up by stoners on the Internet is appalling.
It is more proof of the incompetence of our system as a whole. These petty politicians like Mr. Obama clearly don’t bother to take the real situation into account but instead are moved by special interests and their own fear of losing numbers in the polls by doing something good. Marijuana laws and the War on Drugs have such an insane toll on lives and (more importantly to politicians) money its enraging and baffling that legalization can be scoffed at as it has been. Marijuana was outlawed for the benefit of corporations and has kept this status for that reason and through the “Left” and Right’s love for enforcing their morality on us.
The only thing that drug laws do is make drugs more dangrous and waste money. If Mr. Obama wants to help stop the drug wars in Mexico by lowering the want for illegal drugs here, then legalize drugs! I haven’t heard of anyone being caught sneaking kilos of Corona over the boarder.
Many see it as not an important issue and thus do not get upset about it. But everyone, not just those who enjoy marijuana, should understand this is a very important matter. People are dying because of this ridiculous law. People are losing their jobs. People are being imprisoned. Money is being lost on not taxing pot and that money used to enforce the unjust laws.
If Mr. Obama thinks he can just joke away the issue, he is a fool and a poster-boy for worthless politicians worldwide. Open your fucking eyes, Obama. Stop being another bullshit politicians like the rest. You said you came to bring change, but you can’t even make an obvious change like legalization. Give me one good reason to have marijuana illegal. ONE.
A government that spends its time enforcing morals and telling us what we can’t put in our body instead of helping get everyone healthcare and housing is not a government worth having. Grow up, Mr Obama. Fucking grow up.
Posted in Uncategorized on April 20, 2009 | 1 Comment »
A claim commonly heard against communism is that human nature is what causes the selfishness we see in the capitalist system, and thus unable to be removed. I heard this again during the annoying round table following the movie “Beer Wars”, chaired by Ben Stein.
According to a woman on the panel companies such as Dogfish Head actually do want to continue to grow and consume competitors, no matter what the owner and workers actually say. To people like her and Ben Stein it is human nature that causes us to do such things. The problem is, this is so clearly not the case. And their only viable response to the many people who choose not to do such practices is that they were simply unable to do so, not that it was a choice.
The movie brought up many points about the beer industry and economics that are easily understood through a Marxist analysis, and the problems found in the beer industry were clearly foreseen by Marx in the late 1800′s. But this did not cross the minds of those making the film, keep in mind it was produced by Reason.
As the big 3 (2 now) beer corporations grew they continued to grab up competitors and pour money into advertising and increasing production, instead of making the product better or providing better wages/hours to the workers. But was this the outcome for Budweiser, Miller and Coors because of human nature and not because of their owners, in addition to the circumstances allowing the owners to do so?
If it is true that human nature drives us to stomp on those around in order to make gain for ourselves, and possibly those close to use, then we are doomed to require a State that is capable of suppressing the spread and consumption by those at the top, not that the United States does a good job but a Leftist state would do a better job at least. Even worse than the requirement of having a State power, if this is due to human nature, the State would be driven by greed as well (as we see now) and continue to prey on those weaker than it. The only hope at that point is for the few humans who for whatever reason were born deformed and are not inherently selfish to be elected to office.
If, however, you believe as I do that human nature is not a constant and that what we see is mostly a product of being brought up in a capitalist society, there is hope for a Stateless society. We see examples of altruistic behavior in many species, in human history and today. Would humans have been able to survive this long if we were inherently selfish and human nature were a constant? Would Free Software be where it is today if this were true?
When the chains of capitalism are broken and people are free from those feelings of needing to stay one step ahead of everyone else, to need to do whatever it takes to get ahead and the fear of you and your family being left to rot if you do not succeed are gone people will not be driven to the selfish and cruel actions we see today. The future socialist society will allow everyone to use their creativity and skill for the betterment of all, instead of feeling the need to exploit and step on their brothers and sisters.
But this will require a fight. And for you, the people, to realize this is possible and to take action.
If you really just want to be the richest goof in the cemetery, that’s your choice. But since you can’t take anything with you, and all that really matters is what you leave behind, why squander the inheritance? – Jesus H Chris
