We Have Crossed the Rubicon

Today, with permission, I am posting an article by Eric Peters.   I think we should all be very leery about what our government is doing.  The National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 is one very scary document that is about to become the law of the land.  It's 926 pages of government speak, so click on the link above knowing what you're getting into...  But if you need further proof, check this out:

Sen. Rand Paul and Sen. McCain speak on Detainees on Senate Floor - 11/29/11

And now, Eric's article:

Do you suppose cows have any idea what’s coming as they’re marched down the chute? Or do they stare with bovine indifference at the tail and hind quarters in front of them, until they’re suddenly – and very briefly – startled by the man with the nail gun? 

Perhaps Americans will – likewise too late – ask themselves What Happened in the very near future. Perhaps just after the midnight knock comes and they are taken away into the night.

It is not an exaggeration.

America is now on the cusp of becoming a state that does exactly such things; things exactly like the things done by 20th century horror shows such as NS Germany or Stalin’s USSR. Literally. Not “this is where it might lead” or “the tendency is similar.” Exactly, literally, the same thing. The only difference is that it awaits being done on a mass scale. But the power to do it openly – brazenly – has been asserted.

And is about to be sanctified by law.

The National Defense Authorization Act will make it official. It will confer upon the executive branch and the military (increasingly, the same things) the permanent authority to snatch and grab any person, U.S. citizens included, whom it decrees to be a “terrorist” – as defined or not by the executive or the military -  and imprison them, indefinitely, without formal charge, presentation of evidence or judicial proceeding of any kind. These “detainees” will have neither civilian rights in the civil court system, nor – crucially – even the minimal rights to due process and decent treatment conferred upon prisoners of war. (And we are allegedly “at war,” are we not?)

The language of the bill specifically includes American citizens “caught” within the borders of the United States – aka, the “battlefield.” It is claimed by sponsors that only those awful them – you know, the enemies of freedom President Bush and his successors like to reference as they systematically gut our freedoms – need worry. But read the actual document, and be afraid. The wording is such that any shyster lawyer for the government will be able to draw up a memorandum at some point in the near future equating, say, criticism of the federal government’s policies in the Middle East with “substantially supporting” the enemies of the United States. As defined by the United States.

That is, as defined by the government. 

At its whim. At the personal discretion of whomever happens to be the Maximum Leader, or even one of the ML’s duly appointed minions.

As the always excellent Matt Taibbi of Rolling Stone recently observed, what happens when some nutjob who attended a few Tea Party meetings tries to bomb a federal building? Will the Tea Party itself – and anyone who “substantially supports” it be thus transformed into an “enemy combatant”? How about the OWS protestors? How about this web site – and this author – which have on several occasions called bullshit on the federal government’s usurpations and follies? How hard will it be, really, to describe such actions – such thoughts expressed in an article or an interview – as “substantially supporting” whatever the government decides amounts to “terrorism” or the threat thereof against itself?

Surely, the door is now wide open for such an interpretation by some John Woo or Dick Cheney waiting in the wings. Prospective leader Newtie is practically turgid at the prospect of getting his hands on such power. And there is no longer (or soon won’t be) any legal means available to contest a one-way trip to Treblinka in Topeka – or wherever it is they will send you.

Taibbi writes:

“The really galling thing is that this act specifically envisions American citizens falling under the authority of the bill. One of its supporters, the dependably-unlikeable Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, bragged that the law ‘basically says … for the first time that the homeland is part of the battlefield’ and that people can be jailed without trial, be they ‘American citizen or not.’ New Hampshire Republican Kelly Ayotte reiterated that ‘America is part of the battlefield.’ ”

Graham further stated:

“It is not unfair to make an American citizen account for the fact that they decided to help Al Qaeda to kill us all and hold them as long as it takes to find intelligence about what may be coming next. And when they say, ‘I want my lawyer,’ you tell them, ‘Shut up. You don’t get a lawyer.’ ”

The key thing being, it is entirely up to the government to decide what constitutes “helping” al Qaeda. It can be nothing more than a vague assertion. Indeed, no evidence of any kind whatsoever is necessary to “hold them as ling as it takes” in order to “find intelligence” (not defined, either) by any means it wishes to employ.

As Taibbi notes:

“If these laws are passed, we would be forced to rely upon the discretion of a demonstrably corrupt and consistently idiotic government to not use these awful powers to strike back at legitimate domestic unrest.”

President Obama is about to sign this latter-day Enabling act and when he does, it will mark the moment that America’s coffin is nailed shut. The corpse has been on view since 9/11. But there was always some hope that, perhaps, it might be jolted back into life. Now we know the awful truth. Death is permanent.

And it’s coming for us.

What are "We" Doing?

...and why?

I'm talking about the recent Iranian capture of an RQ-170 stealth drone. 

First of all, I should say that I've never been a fan of our decision to go off on a military adventure in the middle east.  I never thought we should've gone to either Afghanistan or Iraq.  Neither country was or is capable of waging war with the United States. 

But, Mark!  What about 9/11?  Look, the fact that a few radicals were able to pull off an attack doesn't change anything.  Find out who was responsible for the attack and take care of business.  We didn't need to send, literally, armies of people to occupy foreign countries - countries that were never a threat to our security - to accomplish this!

I know it's popular to take this stance these days.  But I've been very consistent with my opinion on this matter.  I never thought it was a good idea to move on the middle east the way we have.

Now we have Iran.  They have a nuclear facility that by all accounts only produces electricity.  Our current administration and nearly all republicans are at it again, beating the drums of war.  All because they have a nuclear facility?!?  Really??  Does anyone in government remember how to be a diplomat?

This is a joke, right?

And just who is going to declare War?  Congress?  Ok, sure, that's gonna happen...  The American public doesn't have the stomach for war with anyone!  So, we will just march on Iran - illegally - just like we did with Afghanistan, just like we did with Iraq, just like we did with Libya.

I guess we have to have a playground for all our new toys, right?  Toys like the RQ-170 stealth drone.  Does anyone really believe that the drone wasn't in Iranian air space?  Anyone?  Give me a break!  The drone was in Iran checking on a nuclear facility - plain and simple.  That is much easier to believe than the official story that it was flying in Afghanistan air space, only "close" to the Iran border.  Really?  And just what targets are we looking for that close to the Iranian border?  What was it we were supposedly spying on?

It's really getting pathetic.  Listening to the government is like listening to some teenagers.  Your told more lies than the truth.  Eventually, you assume everything is a lie until you can verify otherwise.  That's where I am right now.  You can't believe one single word the government says.

We need to get out of there.  Our soldiers are dying and getting severely injured, we're wasting multiple trillions of dollars, and now we're giving away technology that would normally give us an advantage when we really need it. 

And we're making more enemies every minute we stay...

What the hell are we doing?

OWS: The Insane are Running the Asylum

Today, I took a look at the Occupy Wall Street Declaration.  I was going to post on some news articles I read in the paper over the weekend, but my only fan (so far) asked for my opinion on the OWS protests.  How could I refuse?  Besides, it might cost me extra burpees!  

Because I haven't been following this particular story in much detail, I wasn't quite sure what to expect.  What follows is the Declaration, taken right from their web site.  The text of the Declaration is in italics, my comments are indented and not in italics.  I could write whole posts on just some of the points made by this group, but I am trying not to write a full blown novel!  My full opinion on the whole movement is at the end.  This is going to be a long post, so grab a cup of coffee and pull up a chair!

The OWS Declaration

As we gather together in solidarity to express a feeling of mass injustice, we must not lose sight of what brought us together. We write so that all people who feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world can know that we are your allies.

It’s Interesting that they only feel wronged by the corporate forces of the world.  There are no ill feelings toward the government(s) that allow corporations to act as they do.

As one people, formerly… divided by the color of our skin, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or lack thereof, political party and cultural background, we acknowledge the reality: that there is only one race, the human race, and our survival requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their brethren; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.

This paragraph is pretty good.  Some of it I can completely agree with.  “…our system must protect our rights…it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights…a democratic government derives its just power from the people…” is all great.  Right on!  You’re on a roll.  What’s next?

 

“…corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth…” !?!  You just lost me, and I’m sure lots of others.  Corporations cannot extract wealth from the people unless they are willing to pay for their products.  Only the government can extract wealth from the populace.  It’s called taxation!  And it is forced (try not paying them).  No one forces any of us to buy the products that corporations are selling.  Besides, they absolutely do seek consent.  Try to start a business without paying for the multitude of licensing fees, permits, taxes, etc. that are required by cities, counties, states, and the federal government.  That is seeking consent to open and run the business.  Any one of these governments can prevent the business from becoming operational.

If you have a problem with how corporations are run, regulated, monitored, and penalized, then your beef is with governments; local, state, and/or federal.  Corporations cannot operate with impunity to the laws – at least not for long.

1.       They have taken our houses through an illegal foreclosure process, despite not having the original mortgage.

Uh – say what?  They bought the mortgage from the original bank that made you the loan.  The government also forced them to make the loan, even though you normally wouldn’t qualify!  What, you didn’t know that?  The 1977 Community Reinvestment Act (CRA), which compels banks to make loans to low-income borrowers, is responsible for the entire subprime meltdown.  It’s not over yet, either.  The federal government (i.e. us, the taxpayers) is still on the hook for another very large payoff to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  Want to see how the government operates on a level far worse than corporations?  Read this, but make sure to take your blood pressure medication first!  http://cnsnews.com/news/article/true-cost-fannie-freddie-bailouts-317-billion-cbo-says

I love the wording here, “They have taken our houses…”  Well, it’s not really your house until it’s paid off!  If you can’t make the payments, they can foreclose.  It’s really pretty simple to understand.

2.       They have taken bailouts from taxpayers with impunity, and continue to give CEO’s exorbitant bonuses.

Would you turn down free money if it was offered?  No?  I didn’t think so.  Yes, they took the bailouts.   Who wouldn’t?  Do I agree with it?  No way!  Once again, the problem you have here is with the government, not corporations.  Our government has no legal authority whatsoever to offer bailouts to any private company.  How did they get away with it?  They ignored the public, that’s how.  Public opinion was overwhelmingly against giving bailouts to anyone.  The government ignored us!  Why is your beef with corporations on this?  You should be marching on Washington, D.C.

3.       They have perpetuated gender inequality and discrimination in the workplace.

Really?  They have?  How?  With all the laws and regulations in place to prevent this, just how is this happening?  I’m afraid I’ll need your definition of gender inequality and discrimination.  More information, please…

4.       They have poisoned the food supply, and undermined the farming system through monopolization.

Well, there are plenty of examples of contaminated food and farming is definitely big – BIG – business.  You may have a point here, but I also know that the government has its nose in the middle of this mess.  Government meddling by telling farmers what they can grow and what they can’t is causing all sorts of economic problems.

5.       They have continuously sought to end the rights of workers to negotiate their pay and make complaints about the safety of their workplace.

Wrong!  I have to assume that you’re talking about unions here.  Corporations are not trying to end the rights of workers to negotiate their pay.  They are trying to end negotiation of pensions and some other benefits.  These are benefits they aren't even required to provide.  You should count your blessings that they're trying to keep them.  By the way, state governments are trying to do the same thing.   Why don’t you have a problem with that?

6.       They have held students hostage with tens of thousands of dollars of debt on education, which is itself a human right.

Whoa!  Huh?!?  Corporations did that?  I’m pretty certain that only institutions of higher learning are responsible for setting tuition rates.  Why the hell are you laying this at the feet of corporations?  Besides, didn’t you sign tons of paperwork informing you of the terms of the loan?  The only one holding you hostage is you!

And another thing.  Education is a right?  Since when?  You have lots of rights, life, liberty, freedom of religion (or not), free speech, free press, peaceful assembly, petitioning the government to redress grievances, owning a weapon, reasonable searches and seizures, private property, speedy trials, trials by jury, etc.  Sorry, I've looked long and hard for it, but education is not on the list.

7.       They have consistently outsourced labor and used that outsourcing as leverage to cut workers’ healthcare and pay.

Is your problem really with the corporations?  Look, you yourself mention being in a global community and saying it’s a good thing.  Other countries love the deal!  Their economy is benefiting from this relationship.  I think your problem here is that, now that you have to compete on a global scale for a job, you don’t like it.

8.       They have influenced the courts to achieve the same rights as people, with none of the culpability or responsibility.

They didn’t influence the courts to do this.  The laws that allow the formation of corporations, written a long, long time ago, state that the corporation is legally considered a person.  This is so that they can be sued and be held to the same laws as everyone else.  If they have lobbied for, and were successful in, changing laws, then – again – your problem is with the government that writes the laws!

9.       They have spent millions of dollars on legal teams that look for ways to get them out of contracts in regards to health insurance.

Haven’t heard about this one.  Sounds bad.  I’ll have to get more information before commenting.

10.   They have sold our privacy as a commodity.

Yes they have!  This is terrible and has to stop.

11.   They have used the military and police force to prevent freedom of the press.

Huh?  Surely this is illegal.  So just what is going on here?  Are you saying that corporations have control over the military and police forces?!  I'm pretty sure that there is only one person in charge of the military. That would be, umm, wait... it's on the tip of my tongue.  Oh yeah!  The Commander In Chief!  The President of the United States!  Last I checked, he is a member of the government!  Police forces work for governments, too!  Are you accusing corporations of bribing the military and police?  If so, that's against the law already.  Why aren't you marching on Washington in an attempt to get them to enforce the law?

12.   They have deliberately declined to recall faulty products endangering lives in pursuit of profit.

Ok.  This is true and should be stopped.

13.   They determine economic policy, despite the catastrophic failures their policies have produced and continue to produce.

No they don’t!  The government and the Federal Reserve determine economic policy.  Once again, your anger is misplaced.

14.   They have donated large sums of money to politicians supposed to be regulating them.

Yes, and our politicians are accepting the bribes.  Why is your beef only with the corporations?  I’m seeing a theme here.

15.   They continue to block alternate forms of energy to keep us dependent on oil.

Are alternate forms of energy being blocked or are they still too costly to produce?   The public doesn't want, and certainly cannot afford, to pay more for alternate forms of energy than they're paying right now.  I know there are companies working on water powered vehicles.  There's also a company in California producing a car that gets 400 MPG.  Yes, 400.

16.   They continue to block generic forms of medicine that could save people’s lives in order to protect investments that have already turned a substantive profit.

Are you talking about legislation like this?  Here we go again!  Generic forms of medicine become available after a patent lock out expires.  By law (there's that word again), once the patent expires, other companies can access the formula and offer generics.  To change this would take, quite literally, an act of Congress!  You're focusing your energy in the wrong place.

17.   They have purposely covered up oil spills, accidents, faulty book keeping, and inactive ingredients in pursuit of profit.

How, in this world of immediate news, do you cover up an oil spill or an accident?  Not buying it.  Covering up faulty book keeping?  Ok, so what?  I'm sure this hurts the investors more than it hurts the general public.  Sooner or later, there will be an audit and the cheats will be caught.

Inactive ingredients?!  What the...  Where is this coming from and why does it matter?  They are, after all, inactive.

18.   They purposefully keep people misinformed and fearful through their control of the media.

The media isn't the only source for information these days.  Corporations can try to hide their messes this way, but the problem will be reported.  Oh, and just in case you didn't know, this has been going on since the beginning of corporate time.  Not really a good excuse, I know.  But this is nothing new.

19.   They have perpetuated colonialism at home and abroad.

Huh?  How are they doing this?  Colonialism at home?  What, they're bringing in entire colonies of people from other countries?  For what purpose?  Why is this bad?  What are you talking about?

20.   They have participated in the torture and murder of innocent civilians overseas.

Please, cite examples, and have the SOBs indicted!  There are already laws against this.  Just what do you want to happen here?

21.   They continue to create weapons of mass destruction in order to receive government contracts.

WOW!  Really!  Umm.  I'm flabbergasted!  You know, if the government didn't want the weapons, corporations wouldn't make them!  Rule one for corporations:  make a profit.  Can't do that if nobody is buying what you're selling.

22.   They have participated in a directly racist action by accepting the contract from the State of Georgia to murder Troy Davis.

Wait.  What?  I know the circumstances around the Troy Davis case.  His execution was stayed four times.  Witnesses recanted their stories.  Another confessed (maybe) to the crime.  And yet, the government still executed him.  And somehow, corporations are the problem?!?  Unbelievable...  just - wow.

23.   They have profited off of the torture, confinement, and cruel treatment of countless animals, and actively hide these practices. *

Ok.  Look.  There are organizations getting to the bottom of this.  And again, there are laws concerning the treatment of these animals.  If this is happening, and I'm sure in some cases it is, then sooner or later something will happen to prevent this behavior.  Maybe it's not happening fast enough, but it's in the works.

Unless your position is that they shouldn't be testing on animals at all.  If so, then I only have one question.  What would you have them do?  Test on humans?  As Larry the Cable Guy says, "That's like wiping before you poop!  It don't make no sense."

To the people of the world,

We, the New York City General Assembly occupying Wall Street in Liberty Square, urge you to assert your power.

Exercise your right to peaceably assemble; occupy public space; create a process to address the problems we face, and generate solutions accessible to everyone.

To all communities that take action and form groups in the spirit of direct democracy, we offer support, documentation, and all of the resources at our disposal.

Join us and make your voices heard!

*These grievances are not all-inclusive.


Conclusion
It's obvious to even the most casual of observers that the people that wrote this declaration are under the control of, or belong to a very left wing organization.  They have it "in" for corporations because they are anti-capitalist.  They don't offer solutions at all.  They don't have any demands either, for that matter.  They just don't like capitalism.

I get the feeling that their solution would be for the government to just take over all corporations, thinking that these problems wouldn't exist.  Yeah, none of these problems would exist if our friendly, very efficient, and un-corrupt government could just do it all for them.

These people are looney to max!  This declaration confirms it.