An Educational System On Life Support

I had a very interesting conversation a couple of weeks ago with my father in law. While I consider him to be an educated man, I was nevertheless astounded that he did not know that public schools are primarily financed by the property taxes of the area surrounding them. This fact came up in our conversation as he maintained that everyone in the United States has access to the same education.

To begin with, I should let you know that I consider myself an Independent, or as I used to call it, a Democrat with Republican tendencies. What does this mean? Well it means that I don't believe in big government and I certainly don't believe that our taxes should benefit programs that either don't work or are so bureaucratic that nothing ever gets done. I believe that if you accept welfare or food stamps, you should be obligated to work in some type of volunteer capacity for the many needs of people that cannot help themselves due either to a particular handicap or mental disorder. I believe that each government agency, whether federal, state or local should be held accountable to "success" measures like most private companies are. Basically, they should prove that they are having success in their chosen field of endeavor through customer feedback and choices. I feel that teachers should be held accountable in the same way, by holding them to a standard of success in the children they are given to educate.

The political climate in this country is the worst I believe I have ever seen, with the strict polarization across party lines and the policy of politics so many of our elected officials continue to represent in the face of stark opposition from the right and the left. At the end of the day, it must be nice to be an elected official, because they all do a lot to remain in power. Yet, while so many are squabbling about the latest gaff or poll, our country continues to deteriorate, both physically and mentally. Our infrastructure is so outdated, we teeter on the edge of a third world country in many counties across the US. Crumbling bridges, decades old transportation systems, inadequate power grids are just a drop in the bucket of the many problems that exist in our country. This is to say nothing of the failing mental capacity of our population.

Like many people, many of our senators and congressmen and women fail to understand the big picture and live only for their political lives today. Beholden to their large lobbyists and campaign contributors, they make decisions that are based upon what will help them win the next election rather than what will help our children achieve the education they will require to be prepared for the next century. If I had an analogy, it would be like that kid you knew in school that had the cool looking car that was always breaking down. It had a gleaming paint job and nice aluminum wheels, but he never changed the oil or bothered to work on the things that are not always glamorous, but always necessary.

Unfortunately, we are creating our own self fulfilling prophecy. As the population of our country becomes increasingly ignorant due to lack of appropriate education and self examination, it becomes increasingly easy for our politicians to lie to them. To tell them tales and spin events, knowing that most people do not have the capacity to discern what is truth and what is fabrication.We would rather place an earbud in our ear, close our eyes, and pretend the Matrix truly exists. Rather than arming ourselves with headphones that will make use of technology to teach us more, we hopelessly drown ourselves in uninspiring reality TV shows, continually wasting our lives watching the wasted lives and drama of others, never knowing we are contributing to our own eventual demise.

If we do not do what is needed to stay in the race for the education of our populous, we will surely perish. It is said that those who do not study history are doomed to repeat it. We don't have to go far back to understand that we are on the road toward a country that will one day be run by a dictator, and our population will all gleefully and ignorantly cheer to the end of democracy.

Are Canadian Politicians Losing Their Political Minds?

Generally I do not write about politics or religion, but this time I'm not holding back. In my opinion our political party leaders have their own personal agendas using poor Canadians as pawns to advance themselves. After watching question period in the House of Commons the other day, I almost needed a Gravol to stop from regurgitating my lunch. It was like watching a bunch of spoiled brats throwing temper tantrums, accomplishing absolutely nothing for the citizens they represent. Their biggest concern that day was who was going to be king of the castle. We Canadians voted in a Prime Minister just a few months ago, and now the other poor sport parties want to take over the very government the people elected in.

Presently we have this wonderful alliance of our other significant political parties known as the "Coalition" trying to over through the current administration. A separatist party, a socialist party, and our outstanding liberal party who contributed for many years to assisting us into the financial mess we are in today. Perhaps we could call them "The three stooge's party". Maybe it is their legal right to do this coalition, but morally we Canadians have spoken, and the elected party is not slaughtering the people in the streets, or planning on setting off a nuclear bomb. They are just doing what every other party has done in the past, which is nothing significant or at all to better the Canadian way of life.

I have often wished we had leaders like the American ones who are strong, charismatic, and at least work hard to keep the American value system in place. The one thing all Americans will say is that they are American. Many Canadians no longer identify themselves as being Canadian, instead by the province they live in, their religion, or the country they migrated from. With the exception of traveling to a foreign countries because we are respected in other lands. Our leaders our failing to unify this country making people feel proud to be part of this great land we live in. To do this they would need to make hard choices, not always favorable, working always towards the greater good of all our people and the provinces. We only have ten provinces a few territories, the Americans have fifty states plus, I do not hear of too many Americans wanting to separate from their country, there is a reason for that, which is strong leadership. I'm not saying it perfect over there either, just more unified as a people.

In my opinion in order do this here we need to start by reducing tax deductions on wages, ensuring Canadians the ability of paying their bills at weeks end. Then if we are going to provide a medical system making sure that there are enough doctors, equipment, and diminishing the waiting times in our emergencies. The future of our children has always been based on a solid educational background. With that said, how about our government supplying schools with funding to purchase new text books, equipment, and classroom space with the tax dollars remitted. Any Canadian who can not afford a university education should once again have available to them the resources for loans and bursaries. Afterwards assuring that Canada has an economy where that higher education can be put to good use.

The next area that I think should be tackled is the business one. I am not Harvard graduate just an ordinary citizen who can see the changes we need in our business climate as well. It would seem Canada is no longer a manufacturing country, but a service one particularly were jobs are concerned. The reason for that is our powers at be must of thought that allowing foreign companies and chain stores to take over our landscape would be more profitable tax wise, then actually investing in our own people who want to start companies. Why not invest some of the Government run casino profits back into new business development. Putting into legislation that any foreign or domestic chain stores must carry at least 60% of Canadian made products. . If the government can do this with cable television content why not here too. Personally I do not see the advantage of free trade because it has sent jobs everywhere else, and is not doing much here to stimulate the economy.

On that note I think we need to level the business playing field by allowing Mom and Pop businesses to have a chance. The way to do this is by manufactures and wholesale companies being required to set a fair profitable wholesale price, and allowing larger stores volume discounts in their purchasing like the old days, if they want to increase their profits. This way if you are a huge store or small one everyone can make a living; the distinction is how one is served, and where a customer is situated.

My final thought on changes dealing with putting some of the world and social issues on the back burner, just until we get back on our feet. Let's make sure every Canadian can make a living, put food on the table, have a place to live, get their education, and have more immediate medical services.

While You Were Out - A Memo To The American Political Class

While you were all out campaigning over the past month or so, the following events happened that might be of interest to you and which you may not be aware of or sensitive to:

- While you were out campaigning, many of you spending millions of dollars of your own wealth to get jobs that generally pay less $200,000 a year, more than 50 U.S. troops were killed in action in Afghanistan, bringing to 417 that have been killed there so far this year (Source: iCasualties website)

- While you were out campaigning and spending billions of dollars of other people's wealth to get jobs that generally pay less than $200,000 a year, the Federal government probably added another $110 billion to the national debt, over $900 worth of debt burden for every U.S. household.

- While you were out campaigning and slinging mud and childish accusations at each other, at least six American citizens were killed as a direct result of the Mexican drug cartels, 105 tons of marijuana bound for the United States was seized by Mexican police in Tijuana, Mexico, and a major drug smuggling tunnel, running from a warehouse in Mexico under the border to a warehouse in the U.S. was shut down.

- While you were out campaigning for jobs that will put your salary into the upper 95% percentile of all American workers, over 1.8 million newly unemployed Americans filed first time unemployment claims.

- While you were out campaigning to keep a plush job you already have or get a plush job from another politician, over 14 million Americans still have no job.

- While you were out campaigning, preening in front of all varieties of news media, most American students suffered through another month within a failing public education system.

- While you were out campaigning, flying and driving to numerous campaign stops, the country went another month without a comprehensive national energy strategy that reduces our dependence on foreign energy supplies while being kinder to the environment.

- While you were out campaigning and telling us how much you supported the middle class, you neglected to renew the expiring tax cuts before you left town that will add thousands of dollars to middle class tax bills in 2011.

- While you were out campaigning, posturing and "energizing your base," America became more divided as ever as a result of your actions, words, slurs, insults, attack advertising and the derogatory efforts of your respective "friends" in the media.

But most importantly, while you were out campaigning, Americans started to realize that whether you are in Washington or not, nothing ever changes. This past month when you were not in session was really not any different than when you are in session. Issues are rarely ever addressed, reality based solutions never materialize, and those legislative actions that you do somehow pass such as health care reform, financial regulation reform, and economic stimulus packages have proven to be failures or are well on their way to failure.

We suggest that when you do decide to mosey on back to your jobs in D.C., you consider moving on some of the steps laid out in below:

1) Start reducing the Federal budget by 10% a year for the next five years in order to get the national debt under control so that each American household is not on the hook for another $900 every month that you do not act.

2) Reinstate the expiring tax cuts and make them permanent, returning our wealth to working Americans, the ones that worked and earned it, and helping to starve the Federal bureaucracy of funds so that it shrinks to do only the most essential tasks needed by its citizens.

3) Enact campaign finance reforms that can withstand a legal challenge and which allow only individual Americans to contribute to election campaigns, essentially freezing out corporations, unions, PACS, and other organizations from the campaign funding cycle. It makes no sense to spend billions of dollars to attain political jobs that pay so little in relation to the amount spent to get the jobs.

4) Enact a comprehensive, non-political problem solving process to finally develop an effective national energy strategy and policy.

5) Enact a comprehensive, non-political problem solving process to finally develop an effective national drug policy that balances freedom, protection, and treatment while bankrupting the violent drug cartels around the world.

6) Enact a comprehensive, non-political problem solving process to finally fix the failure that are most of our public schools.

7) Enact a comprehensive, non-political problem solving process to develop a real solution to the problem of escalating health care costs in this country, identifying the true root causes and attacking those root causes with the right solutions, a process not undertaken under Obama Care.

8) Start bringing back the majority of U.S. troops stationed overseas and develop a realistic and workable Afghanistan strategy. This strategy needs to take into account the recently disclosed close ties of the Afghan government with Iran, the rampant corruption within the Afghan government, and the double dealing of the Pakistan government which says they are our allies but who secretly support terrorist groups and individuals fighting our ground troops across the border.

9) Require all members of the political class to take and pass a basic course on economics in order to avoid implementing the failed economic stimulus programs of the past few years such as Cash For Clunkers.

While you were out, it has gotten really crazy, with ordinary Americans finally demanding real answers and real solutions. It does not look like they are willing to accept the same old behavior that we have been giving them over the past decades. Thus, while you were out, the American public started to tune in to your shortcomings and failures. Hurry back soon or they may decide they do not need you at all.

Political Correctness and Truth

Political correctness has and always will be wrong, as in never right. No it is not one of the sides as in liberal or conservative.

Truth is what matters, nothing else. Some ask is it ever OK to tell a lie? No it is not, no lie will ever amount to the truth, actually all the lies just add up to a greater lie, along with the obvious ignorance of those telling or believing the lies.

Some believe, or seem to believe PC came from politics or politicians, perhaps to a point they are correct, yet in reality it seems the practice has and or does come from the interests of special groups who want you to believe their views and if you do not, you are an idiot.

What special interest groups? Take the ACLU or LAMBDA which work hand in hand or foot in hand, whichever is preferred. Rights of all people need to be respected as to the Constitution of the United States, yet when we give special rights to individuals who already have the rights granted by the Constitution we throw the Constitution out of the window. Framers of the Constitution would be and are appalled at the utter lack of intelligence of most in the Government in present day America, along with some of the regular day to day folks, especially when items are not even voted on, just legislated by the few who take the money and play deaf, not to mention our judicial system.

What, it is not OK to tell anyone who is weird that they are in fact idiots in ones' own opinion? Freedom of speech ought to be just that, freedom to speak an opinion, even if others do not like it or agree with it. Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words can never hurt me, or something like that? PC says everyone just goes, oh it is OK to do whatever you want; our kids do not know how to think for themselves anyway, at least in the last twenty five to thirty years or so.

Say what? Well it is true, how many people today seem to make a decision based on their own true opinion? Maybe sixty five per cent, maybe a bit more actually have the nerve to tell the truth? Statistics are not always correct, especially when we go to vote on any issue, which is why many people do not want some items up for a vote, especially when it is a liberal issue.

Force is not meant to be used in the political arena, yet it is. Financial force is still force, just perhaps not as violent as the force of muscle. Much more subtle, though much more corrosive and coercive, not to mention the corruption it breeds. Political correctness is bought and sold through and with the use of power and the financial backing of the power, which is of course the problem, even with the so called regulation. Who is supplying the finances to play? Why?

Regulation is the fallacy, meaning who is doing the regulating and who is paying for it? Who is your power broker? Playing only on your side, or both? Apathy and complacency are the rampant players in the PC arena, like ants on Prozac, what a picture.

It is not suggested or implied that ants need or ought to be given Prozac, as they work hard without a whip or drugs, and they actually communicate with each other, without any lies or political correctness.

Political Debates Are Often More Theater Than Substance

Few objective observers would claim that the American political system operated optimally, or that there are numerous flaws in most of our elected officials. There have been numerous attempts to "fix" the problem, but like most of the political solutions, they were either ineffective or had huge loopholes in them, that made them nearly useless. Our campaign finance laws are weak and ineffective at best, ridiculous at worst. This has led some to call for more debates between candidates, but often the structure, format, moderators and rules of these debates diminish any substantial true debate from occurring.

Recently, the candidates for Governor from the State of New York participated in a debate, held at Hofstra University in Long Island, and televised only on Cablevision's owned News12. Obviously, televising it exclusively on only one cable service provider's network, although the largest provider in the state, effectively eliminated anyone with other systems throughout the state, including Time Warner, Comcast, DISH, DirectTV, FIOS, etc.

Even worse, however, was that, even though only two of the major candidates, Democrat Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Carl Paladino, have any type of realistic chance of victory, and most of the other candidates represent what many would refer to as "fringe" beliefs, all candidates, major and minor party, realistic chance of becoming Governor or "no shot," were all invited to participate.

While some explained that all were invited because in a democracy, all voices should be heard, since there are so few debates, this obviously diminished any type of realistic and substantive discussion by either major candidate, either in depth on issues, or regarding certain campaign claims that have been made. What makes this even more unfortunate is that much of the campaign advertising has been exploitive and some would say unsubstantiated and "dirty politics."

When one of the minor party candidates is a man running on the "Rents are too damned high" party, and another was a former (and perhaps still) madam running on the "Anti-Prohibition" party, it is easy to see why this format might provide some entertainment value and great one-liners. However, unfortunately, especially in these times of economic uncertainty and high joblessness, under-employment, and unemployment, and the public's concern and disgust about high taxation with limited perceived value or benefit, would the public not have been better served by a face-to-face in-depth true debate between the two major party candidates, one of which will become Governor of the second largest state in our nation.

Granted, reality shows have, fortunately or unfortunately, for a variety of different reasons, become the most profitable and prevalent form of television entertainment. I suppose the format that this debate followed was in line with the supposed public demand for reality shows. Yet, is it only me, or are others also concerned that voters who might really want to have an optimum chance of making a decision about voting for the candidate that best meets their views and needs, are being deprived of true information to base such a decision.

This is not a situation that is occurring solely in one state. Slick, negative advertising has become more the rule than informative debate. This will continue until the public creates an uproar!

Capitalism - A Choice Unrecognised

We live within a Capitalist society; we also live in a society where suffering and deprivation are rife across the globe. The true shame of mankind is that we consistently fail to recognise the link between these two truths.

On a very basic level capitalism is nothing more than a system for the accounting of our time and energies. We use tokens that we call money to place a value on everything we have and everything we do, in fact money has become so ingrained in our collective psyche that many of us are completely unaware that it is essentially a valueless token of facilitation.

Vast amounts of the world population seem to believe that they go out to work everyday specifically so that they can 'get money'. They are so much a part of the capitalist system that the attainment of money becomes as much of a necessity as having water to drink and food to eat.

This is the point at which capitalism becomes harmful to our progress as a species, it limits our possibilities, places false restrictions upon our ability to problem solve, and thus is the catalyst for the suffering that blights our claim of being a civilised society.

Throughout any political election the candidates will offer solutions to the problems of the day, ingenious plans to deal with unemployment and inflation, healthcare and education, or whatever may be the burning topic concerning the electorate. The solutions they offer however are capitalism solutions, as if that is the only option.

Our education systems, our political institutions, and essentially our media all imply that we have no other option. Every part of our lives is given a monetary value and cost with a false and misleading implied inevitability. When you walk anywhere you put your left foot in front of your right foot then your right foot in front of your left, this is the inevitable process of walking, it doesn't need to be stated because everybody knows that's how to walk, there truly is no other option.

Throughout our lives we have been taught to view capitalism as the left foot right foot of options, we have unlimited choice so long as it follows in the well trodden footsteps of every other capitalist decision before it.

The reality is that capitalism and the financial system are choices themselves. They are human constructs that have been brought into existence by intentional design, and can be removed by the same process.

We are sentient beings; we have the power of reasoned thought. The only things that are inevitable are the laws of nature, things like 'what goes up must come down' and ' the closer you get to a fire the more heat you will feel', capitalism is a different thing altogether. If we choose to not have our quality of life dependant upon the acquisition of monetary tokens we have the ability to make it happen.

We must consider the possible consequences, both positive and negative, of a move away from capitalism. We must do this not because it's what a few people want, but we must do it because it is our duty to consider how we can put an end to innocent suffering.

Campaign Finance Reform, Or Revolution?

When I was a little boy, we lived in rural Missouri, about 30 miles outside of St. Louis. We lived there until I was nine years old. We lived in a small town, but the world was, for me, a very big place filled with wonders and bulging at the seams, with hope and possibility. In spite of the veiled threat of nuclear war between the Soviets and Americans our government made us feel safe. Even though we had regular "duck and cover" drills at school confidence in our leaders made us feel safe. My parents worked hard, provided for us, and because my dad was a Union member, we all had health insurance. I assumed that everyone did, and I think that at that time most did. I doubt that the world was any more politically stable than it is now, but most everyone seemed to believe that anything was possible. There was abundant hope. I'm sure that this was largely a middle-class phenomenon, but there was a very large middle-class. I think that this was, pardon my pun, "trickle-down" from pretty good leadership. I know now that it had to do with the "industrial military complex" being in its infancy. President Eisenhower would warn us about this institution and those who would control and profit from it, becoming the greatest threat to the freedom of the average American.

In 1958 our family relocated from Missouri to California. There was more construction work for my dad and the Union was very strong there. I remember when we were traveling, being a little boy, it seemed as if we were pioneers traveling to the great Wild West. And you know what, it was sort of... true! Even though I was disappointed that Mexican-Americans didn't wear sombreros, it was to me, exciting and wondrous! It wasn't easy for my folks, but they were able to make sure that we, my younger brother and I, were protected from such heavy burdens of social pressure, allowing us to just be children. We became Californians! Then came John Fitzgerald Kennedy! From what I could tell, my parents who had been life-long Republicans and didn't vote for Kennedy became converts to the charisma and competency of this President, as did very many Americans. When he spoke it was like he was speaking directly to you and he was like Jefferson or Franklin or one of the "framers" reborn. It was obvious that he was a "peoples President"! Born into wealth, he had no need to sell one bit of himself to anyone. His father had stressed that they were fortunate, being wealthy Americans, and that they would be behooved by that fortune to become public servants. In that role, JFK made us all feel like anything was possible and I do mean anything. Take for instance, "We're going to the moon!" And though we did have a standoff with far reaching implications, with Russia. We won! It was a time when Americans felt like and actually were the moral conscience, human rights and social leaders of the World!

Then the turmoil began. John Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas and Lyndon Johnson became the President. Then we lost Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr... then Bobby Kennedy! Though Johnson managed to get the Civil Rights Act passed, he escalated and became obsessed with Vietnam, a mistake and trauma that would overshadow many great things he did and that were happening. The Draft... the conscripting of young American boys into the armed forces would begin the great change. Nixon would begin the de-escalation of the war, but then became the most disgraceful leader in modern American history... The Vietnam War, sold under threat of the domino effect of Communism (bullshit), would be the beginning of Eisenhower's greatest fear. The Industrial-Military-Complex invaded the United States economy, to eventually determine every aspect of American life. Spanning the better part of two decades, Vietnam would give birth to private industry and businesses so rich and powerful that they would gain the ability to "lobby" (bribe) Washington D.C. and influence American policy, law, and social stability. An industrial complex supporting a massive armed force would become an entity of its own, spawning a wealthy class of citizens enjoying privilege like European Royalty. As this class grew and spread into every sector of the economy, someone would have to pay their way. The middle-class became overtaxed, underpaid and underserved, as the Nation's economy began to transfer from the average citizen to the upper one percent (1%). This trend would continue right up to our current situation.

A succession of weak Presidents like Ford and Carter paved the way for the fatal Presidency of Ronald Reagan. A complete sell-out to the rich and powerful businesses, and a promoter of a covert military, he broke the back of the Unions when he broke the Air Traffic Controllers strike, allowing those Union members to be displaced by non-Union employees. The Unions had made possible things like wages that kept up with inflation, top-notch health insurance policies for members, and arbitration with companies to assure employee safety and quality work and goods production. Without the Union protections, American workers would be at mercy of purely profit-based business that looked at the "bottom-line"" as the primary if not their only consideration! His covert military would take up the cause of protecting business interests abroad. The country of the people, by the people and for the people was gradually disappearing into the distance like fading sunlight as night approaches. A very dark picture was taking form in the United States of America.

The blow of the "Bushes" was softened by the charisma of William Jefferson Clinton, briefly, though the Industrial-Military-Complex was still on the march promoting war, profiteering and deregulation of the financial industry to unprecedented levels in spite of warnings that history provided. The transfer of the economy to the top one-percent was escalating at nearly unstoppable speed. All the while, Americans had become complacent and continued to trust that government would, in the end, come to their aid. Over the years since Reagan, Unions had been sold as evil and counter-productive to the economy. Safety in the work place became substandard as the average worker worked longer and harder hours to maintain a secure and stable life-style. A new phenomenon appeared as somewhat of a bewilderment to most, at the time... the presence of a growing "homeless" sector appeared in our society. "Why" wasn't apparent! We couldn't see that if the wealthy remained the top 1%, and the middle-class was diminishing... poverty had to be flourishing! The American way of life had transformed. Things that made us what we were, were disappearing or being stifled and rebranded as counter-productive to our economy. War became acceptable as a sadly necessary part of our culture and the times we live in! International Treaties were deemed inapplicable to the United States government. It seemed that almost out of nowhere America was grabbing people and shuffling them off to clandestine locations, torturing them and defying international law. The government didn't need warrants to wiretap and spy on its people. Privacy was unimportant. Americans, like the enemy, could be locked up without "habeas corpus" in the process, and for indeterminate lengths of time with no legal representation. Two-percent (2%) of the population would, over the course of each year, be incarcerated. Doctors were being assassinated for carrying out legal procedures. Civil rights were first being given to citizens and then taken away in backlashes of the Religious far-right interfering with government and the law. Government mandated that citizens must buy a poor quality product from unethical businesses under the threat of penalties, with no acceptable, reasonable product offered under that law (health insurance). Federal authorities intervened in legal conflict with State laws, arresting people for things that their State had deemed legal (medical marijuana)! Maybe worst of all, no one will take responsibility for the environment of our Planet and the destructive effect we are so obviously having on it. This has all culminated into the financial melt-down of 2009, and still the people struggle for justice and for the government to come to their aid, but it falls on deaf ears that have been silenced by financial reward from lobbying (bribery) by the Military-Industrial-Complex that silently has instituted a coup on the United States Congress, stripping the people of their representation in the Federal governing system. Half measures that appease the people and sustain the power of the top 1%, yet really change nothing, are all we can get out of them.

It's amazing that it seems that no one any longer understands that without the workers there is no business. Jobs outsourced mean less work for Americans. Poor people pay little tax, some none, so revenue diminishes. A small middle-class of workers who can only afford the basics doesn't support a strong economic standard for a diverse business structure. Massive numbers of unhealthy employees do not provide a strong growth-oriented workforce. The more that people must concentrate on pure survival level of existence, the less charitable and able they are to think of, and help the less fortunate. All of these conditions are molding the way for "revolutionary" thinking and chaos. And sadly, the current brands of revolutionaries are not a good thing. They are narrow-minded, self-centered, prejudiced, and radical in ideology. Most support a far-right ideology. They are armed and organized and do not represent the best interests of the majority in society, but they do exist and are becoming more visible by the day. Still we have no leadership that can take up the cause of the Democracy that we once were. I guess they all fear that the financial power of the elitist 1% and their Industrial- Military-Complex, will take away their privilege and lavish life style that politicians have come to enjoy and expect. Most of them are, I suppose... THE Industrial-Military-Complex! Those who do not learn from the experience of history are doomed to repeat it. Do you think that the Romans ever thought that their dynasty would fall? What happened to the great British Empire? Are we doomed to become another 3rd World nation? Are we doomed to evolving into another Russia?

Maybe we just need thorough "Campaign Finance Reform" and to vote out all of the incumbents and establish term limits that prohibit them from becoming entrenched in our representative body and pawns for the Industrial-Military-Complex! Or maybe we need an organized revolution! I fear for the world my grandchildren may be doomed to live in... doomed by us and our, far too many, years of complacency!