The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions...

Baghdad Burning: "We literally do not know a single Iraqi family that has not seen the violent death of a first or second-degree relative these last three years. Abductions, militias, sectarian violence, revenge killings, assassinations, car-bombs, suicide bombers, American military strikes, Iraqi military raids, death squads, extremists, armed robberies, executions, detentions, secret prisons, torture, mysterious weapons – with so many different ways to die, is the number so far fetched?"

As my mother frequently reminded me, "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions." I'm glad to be living in America. I'm usually proud to be an American. However, when I read these words they burned my heart.

Life goes on normally in the rest of the world, for the most part. There is homelessness in our American cities, murders for control of gang territory, people who commit minor (or major) fraud against their employers or employees. The pulse of life continues apace.

I too have sought some solace in religion. I am turning more and more toward my Buddhist teachings. I read the books looking for some comfort. I haven't found much. There's a lot of pain out there, and when I read River's blog I realize and appreciate that my pain is but a shadow on the wall compared to searing light of her daily existence. Where will it end? When will people of good conscience and truly upright moral fiber stand up and declare an end to the lunacy and mendacity?

Sigh...

Something is wrong in the world. If there really was a Satan, or chief of evil doing, he has played a great hand in America. We are doing his work on a global scale. I am ashamed. I am very sorry and don't know how to make it right. I voted my conscience. I voted twice, and both times I didn't get what I voted for. Yes. I suspect that there was foul play both times. It makes me sick to imagine that our system has become so corrupt that it can be so easily manipulated by the rich and powerful. I'm ready to leave and call this country quits.

It's not fair, though, that I should have to stay here. It would be worse to leave and then lose my voice entirely. It would be worse for River if other Americans, who felt heartsick over this situation, pulled up stakes and moved to a more politically friendly country, like Canada. I can't. We can't. If we do, who will be left to stand up for people in the rest of the world affected by our policies but not given a chance to vote on it?

What about my children? Should I stay and teach them to stand up for what I believe to be right or should I move them somewhere where they will be surrounded by a culture that holds life to be more dear and valuable than they do here. Life is so cheap that half a million Iraqis can die and more be displaced, but we still claim to be doing the right thing. Such hubris.

On behalf of the 50.1% of America that voted for Bush a second time, I want to apologize to the people of Iraq for my countrymen's ignorance and gross indifference to your plight. I really do believe that what comes around goes around (karma). The people who are responsible for bringing America and Iraq to this point have a lot to atone for.

We started this war, and now we own it. We owe it to you to make up for your situation. We must atone, and we will one way or another.

Environmentalist Suzuki to quit spotlight for simple life - Yahoo! News

Environmentalist Suzuki to quit spotlight for simple life - Yahoo! News: "'We are intelligent, so we create our own habitat and we don't need nature except as entertainment or for the extraction of resources,' he said. 'We still don't get it, that the simple acts of eating a pizza reverberates around the world.'"

You made a difference to me Mr. Suzuki.

Whiskey Bar: Catch-52

Whiskey Bar: Catch-52: "We're sending 52-year-old soldiers to die in Iraq."

Sad, Sick, Upsetting. Doesn't the Christian Bible describe Hubris as one of the seven deadly sins?

The American Emperor is full of shite

Troubling Employment News: "Burdened with record amounts of debt, and faced with higher interest rates and a slowing labor market, families appear to be restricting their spending habits. This is apparent in today’s employment figures. Retail sector employment, for example, declined by 11,900 jobs in September. That is, in five out of the last six months, employment in the retail sector dropped. On average, retail lost 18,300 jobs per month over the last six months.

The fact that consumers are pulling back is also visible in construction-related employment. Job creation in construction and related sectors, such as furniture and building materials retail and real estate finance, has slowed substantially. Construction alone added only 8,000 new jobs in September, furniture and building materials retail added only another 2,100 jobs, and real estate finance only 400."

Here's an economic fact: The current administration has traded sound economic policy for a academic, neo-conservative wish list of voodoo economics that were disproven in the 80's. The fact is that America can do better than this. Yes, the tax system needs work. Yes, we've picked some strange things to tax, like stock dividends. Yes, rich people pay more taxes in terms of dollars. It's all true. BUT, we can do better.

Capitalism as a pure philosophy/epistemology is a cold and heartless beast. Isn't it strange that our culture has identified the point in our evolution where we started caring for our old and infirm as the point at which we started to become humans as we know ourselves today? Capitalism works great for the 10% of people on the right side of the bell curve, but the 80% in the middle will have mediocre lives and the 10% at the bottom are relegated to indentured servitude and a guarantee of lifelong toil.

Is that really the kind of world we want to create for ourselves? "Progressive" and "Liberal" aren't bad words people. Progessives aren't suggesting that we all run out and join a commune or overthrow the government and institute a "People's Committee." So ask yourself the question: Are you better off today than you were 5 or 10 years ago?

The question I have for you is: Do you know what a "signing statement" is? Are you ready to give up your rights for a false sense of security? Do you really think the world is safer thanks to George Bush's war on Iraq?