Who Benefits, National Security

What

     is National Security?

What risks terrorize my country?

2,977 people died on September 11. This resulted in two wars, bringing to date nearly 4,500 troop casualties in Iraq and 1,530 fatalities in Afghanistan. Citizens are subject to invasive searches (from the refusal of a bottle of water to explicit scanners) and diminished privacy rights (PATRIOT Act) in the United States. These are under the banner of National Security.
Troops in Libya are there in the name of National Security or National Interest. Whose interest is that?

This is in my personal interest: "[M]ore than 910,000 Americans still die of heart disease annually," more than 300 times the number of casualties on 9/11. Yet, there has been minimal assistance for those who cannot afford their own health care.
It is in my interest that I can afford to visit the doctor, that I can then also afford the prescribed medicine, much more than my peers going around the world to hold the US thumb over dictators that pose a risk to so-called National Security.

I have never been convinced of what is being made secure. Over 311,000,000 people in my country live day-to-day, most of us doing what we can to scrape by, especially in this "economic crisis." And in this crisis there has surfaced much talk about budget cuts at the cost of schools, teachers, union workers, and benefits for those giving their time daily to the progression of this nation. These people must be made secure.

"Unless we act soon, government spending on health and retirement programs will crowd out spending on everything else, including national security." Senator Paul Ryan, Republican, Wisconsin.

I contend that the health and retirement of US citizens is National Security. The problem falls in that politicians hold the Nation and the citizens who are the nation, who build the nation, who turn the wheels of this nation, separate. The problem is that US funds are spent on international endeavors, rather than beneficial programs (alternative fuels, health care for citizens, schools and libraries, et al) at home. The problem may even be this country's lack of neighborly patriotism, the fact flags go up on Flag Day and at war time, but that when schools are funded, medicine is paid for, libraries get new books, the nation does not celebrate.

This is a challenge for Americans to celebrate each other, not the politicians who dress nicely, pass out gratuitous handshakes, and spend our money on "National Security." This is a call to recognize that we are the nation and want to be secure here in our own welfare. This must change, this distraction called National Security that our taxes pay for while we slowly die at home from things we could prevent if we could afford them. I don't want a government that stands up for me as though I have made friends with the class bully. I want a government that stands with me, like a best friend who waits with me at the hospital when I break my arm after a spill on my bike. But as long as National Security is separate from We the People, my government is not for me.

Glenn Beck, What the Heck? 2012!

Glenn Beck is officially no longer with Fox "News". I think it's because he's preparing to run for president.


(This post was posted specifically for the purposes of Philip the Elder.)

PAC your money away

It was brought to my attention recently what a PAC is. You've seen these three letters hugging close to political talking-heads such as Sarah Palin (SarahPAC), Mike Huckabee (HuckPAC), and others. The source from where I received the following information is now Colbert PAC, recently established.

If you did not know, a PAC is an instrument for political funding. As individuals can donate only so much to a candidate, a PAC allows individuals and companies to donate to a common cause, whether it is for a candidate or against another. Through a PAC, politicians have the support of extraordinarily large dollar amounts from supporters.

Is this the most current way to keep you and me out of the electoral process? The Electoral College wasn't enough, now corporations, those in energy, those in media, those sitting fat on cash sending our jobs abroad, and the extremely rich, are PAC-ing for their own interests. Where do you and I come in?

Tax Breaks and A Day Off

Did You Know General Electric Pays No Taxes?

"I Wish I'd Thought to Say"

When Jorge` told me, "You're white. You're supposed to have money,"

I wish I said, "That's just it, George. That's what they want you to think, that white people have all the money - just like Mexicans are taking our jobs, gays are destroying marriage, Muslims are sinisterly infiltrating our country, unions are greedy. It's the distractions they create and present as your scapegoat for your problems. This way we argue at each other, rather than keeping an eye on them fat cats. In reality, well, they don't need "Casual Friday," because they can still afford their business suits.

Poem from back sometime

Laid That Love

It rushes back.

You remember how sweet she is;

you recall smiling

through mid-evenings cooking;

late nights sipping wine and painting

before taking off your splattered clothes

to lay down for bed,

her nose on your neck,

her breath down your chest

*        *               *

you forget

and wonder

Why am I doing this?

Her lips – 

you long to comfort with a kiss –

will never forgive you.

Her eyes,

pricked by tears,

search yours to discover why,

but you have no reason why.

Those words slip off –

wine becomes vinegar

                             Rakes the cheeks,

                             burns in the throat.

*        *               *

What, then, can be said

of what is laid to rest?

How can one ever forget

quivering lips and a heaving breast;

the watering eyes beneath furrowed brows

when he laid that love to rest?

*        *               *

She goes to her closet,

returns to her seat,

hands you that cherished paper bag

of wine corks and keepsakes.

Question 1

If you could lose once sense,
which would you choose?