STIMULUS STIMULATES

Surprise! Month of May economic index figures look favorable with an upturn in retail spending. The adopted brainchild of the Bush adminstration has already boosted the economy. Well, of course, President Franklin Deficit Roosevelt proved long ago that "priming the pump" by spending money that doesn't exist will put a happy smile on the thing called the economy. President Ronald Reagan exclaimed his love and devotion for FDR, and copied his "spend 'til you bend" practice. FDR was credited with ending the depression (although Tojo and Hitler did more by creating a war economy for us). Reagan is hailed for bringing the miracle - Reaganomics - to the land. Each president piled on the national debt.

When George McGovern campaigned for the White House in 1972, he pledged to send every American $1,000. Most folks scoffed at the "silly idea."

President George W. Bush is "Mr. Deficit," leaving Roosevelt and Reagan looking tight-fisted. W's stimulus package is a joy today, but we'll cry tomorrow when paying interest on the borrowed money. Future debates will focus on the amount of "free money" the guvmint will directly deposit into your friendly bank.

The concept of throwing money at a problem has become respectable in both major political parties. As President Richard Nixon said, "We're all Keynesians now."

Who says you can't spend yourself rich?

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Looking for a Blank Check

Folly and foolishness are among the top ingredients of self-government. The rampant ignorance of our American political economy is no accident, after a couple of centuries of our public schools not teaching the history, philosophy, principles, or theories of the subject. Our students are so devoid of economic knowledge and wisdom that they easily fall for propaganda when they are adults.

Help Wanted

Traveling salesman to peddle sodium fluoride (rat poison, you know) to municipal drinking water departments from Seattle to Miami. Easy sell, huge commissions, and the undying respect of the unsuspecting. Dentists will love you because their colleges convinced them that fluoridation saved teeth ( the colleges accepted grant money from the industry, but that's just the American way. ) Top pay for smooth-talking man or woman. Apply on line www.save/ teeth; ruin organs.

Overheard at the Bank in the Super Market

"How can I be overdrawn? I still have checks?"

OBAMANIA

The Democrats have their candidate for president in Senator Barack Hussein Obama. His followers cheer him all the while he speaks. The man has to talk to people who are yelling at him or for him. His critics complain that Obama doesn't say much. Well, how could he, why would he and why should he?

Change. Hope. Lofty terms. Here's an example from his St. Paul speech: "You choose to listen not to your doubts and fears, but to your greatest hopes and highest aspirations. Tonight we mark the end of one historic journey with the beginning of another to bring a new and better day to America."

Obamamania is hysteria and an unusual element on the American political scene.

If Ron Paul's supporters are loyal and enthusiastic, Barack Obama's are hyperventilated. This is not to indicate that truth or reason or tradition are violated in any way, but we do deserve some explanations.

Obama spoke to AIPAC on Wednesday, June 4, 2008. That's the lobby representing Israel. Isn't that ducky? AIPAC is one of the largest lobbies of Congress comprised of attorneys and ex-members of Congress who know the ropes and how to pull the strings to get favors and big bucks for another nation: Israel. All of this is at the U.S. taxpayers' expense. We send so much foreign aid to Israel that you can be sure bundles get into the hands of these lobbyists who will extract still more from our treasury.

This new politician, Obama, is more of the same, same old. He promised the Israelis that Jerusalem will always belong to them despite the fact that they seized it in 1967 and various past leaders of Israel have pledged to let it go. Then Obama promises to defend Israel. Does that mean more executive wars without a declaration by Congress?

And don't you forget Obama's membership in CFR.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts upon Awakening from "The American Dream"

- Ex-liar Scott McClellan has written a book exposing the Bush administration's deceptions about Iraq, Katrina and the messed-up budget. It's great that he's finally gone straight.

- Hillary's campaign debts seem to hang heavy over her head. She's asking for the public's help. What kind of a Democrat is she? Hasn't she heard of debt repudiation? The "Happy Warrior" aka Hubert Horatio Humphrey ran for president in 1968 leaving unpaid bills for lodging, printing, transportation, dining, etc. Years went by before the senator finally agreed to settle for 10% of the delinquent debts. Humphrey told a newspaper, "The creditors never expected to be paid. They gained just by having a major candidate use their services."

Minnesota's other senator at the time was Eugene McCarthy. He behaved the same irresponsible way ( he was running against HHH. ) McCarthy had to avoid the state of Indiana ever after because officials there had filed legal papers against his person.. The businesses in Indiana who has served "the peace candidate" were not paid any percentage.

The overwhelming majority of Minnesotans are not deadbeats, and did not like the behavior of their favorite sons.

Will Trade

Weapons for plowshares. Call Lame Duck W.

WHAT IF NOBODY VOTED?

Think the unthinkable: What if they held an election for president and nobody showed up to vote? What would happen?

I believe the federal government would take immediate action to reschedule the election, and Congress would meet in emergency session to make voting mandatory.

What else could they do, outsource it?

Meetings & Events

- Confidential notice: Low profile conclave to review progress of the project. Usual location, usual time, but enter with unusual nonchalance. Wait for eye signals. Good Ol' Boys

- Global Warming Watch and Mensa voted to merge into one organization. The standards for admission will rise, however, current members will be "grandfathered" into the new group, regardless of brain size.

- Last Man's Club is soliciting members for a new chapter, after Pete won the old bottle of whiskey and drank it too fast.

Overheard at Hurley's Hanging Gardens

- "How can you tell the good guys from the bad ones when Hitler and Mussolini were teetotaling vegetarians while Roosevelt, Churchill and Stalin were boozing red meat eaters?"

- "My wife's started taking out the garbage and I'm getting real suspicious."

LOBBYISTS, AGENTS OF CORPORATIONS

Gary Trudeau did a public service in yesterday's Doonsbury strip. Lobbyists, all former senators were made fun of at last. More ought to be done to them. I have Abu Ghraib in mind or at least Gitmo. The senators - Torricelli, Durenberger, Grams, Hutchinson, Packwood, Garn (Utah), Miller, Breaux, D'Amato, Coats, and Talent - are quietly raking in much more dough than when they were living high in the Senata. Many of them used to take bribes - now they deliver them.

How can you not be cynical when your nation's precious law-making and leadership system is corrupted by illustrious countrymen and women?

Only two years after the republic was born, future president James Madison complained of the influence of corporate money in the U.S. Congress. He was ignored, even by the most patriotic countrymen.

Agents of influence not only represent corporations seeking favors and advantages, they lobby for foreign countries: Japan, Israel, Turkey, Mexico, UK, Brazil, Eygpt, Taiwan, Ireland, Greece, Italy and just about everybody. They have better access to your Congress than you do. Former Senator and presidential candidate Bob Dole represented Japan to the U.S. Congress after leaving the Senate.

Isn't anybody mad as hell? How do you spell revolution?

"America has the most advanced influence-peddling industry in the world. Washington's culture of influence-for-hire is open to all buyers, foreign and domestic." - The Economist

"The real scandal in Washington is not what is done illegally, but what is done legally." - The New Republic

Thoughts While Jaywalking

I saw a familiar man driving his scooter today. I recognized him and my emotional pain was intense. How could he? Sure enough, it was Bruce. I saw him dismount and walk into his house. Bruce is my mechanic. He has pampered my car for years. But now it's over. He's gone to the other side, the scooter side. Where will I go; what will I do; what will happen to me?

Overheard at Frenchy's Speakeasy

- "It's no longer a question of sickness or health, but whether you like your disease."

- "Show me a bank with a rest room and I'll transfer my money there."

- "I'll never forget my disillusionment when I discovered that the loan officer wasn't the same man who did the bank commercials on television."

- "Did O.J. ever find the real killers?"

Wanted

Slogans to replace "cut and run, stay the course, follow us home, mission accomplished, these colors don't run, plant democracy, throw flowers, dance in the streets, and surge."

It's all so simple.

SOMETIMES BAD IS BAD

A cluster bomb is a bomb which propels bomblets in all directions when it explodes. The international community is horrified by the weapon and pleads with nations to not employ them, but no one's listening.

Children and other innocent civilians are frequent victims. Let's call it planned collateral damage.

Somehow, we used the thing in our attack on Iraq. Now our close ally, Israel, admits it scattered cluster bombs in populated areas in its invasion of Lebanon two years ago.

We continue to slide down from the moral high ground. One day soon, we'll have to repent and get back to admirable principles.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While the Light is Red

That Russian rascal, Nikita Khrushchev, was met by reporters in Moscow after he visited the USA in 1959. "What do you think of Americans?," they asked. "Spit in their faces and they call it dew," he answered.

He should try that now.

Meetings & Events

The Coffee and Booze Support Group meets at 8 a.m. this Saturday at Charlie's. A charter member will testify for the practice of a straight shot to calm the nerves after drinking coffee. Another group member will explain how to use slurp mud ( coffee, of course ) to sober up in one minute.

JIMMY CARTER BAD?

Hapless Jimmy Carter. We blamed the former president for the Federal Reserve's raising interest rates and for rising prices caused by OPEC oil production reductions. Now his detractors call him an anti-Semite. If you want your reputation besmirched in 20 minutes, just mention that Israel possesses 150 nukes. It worked for Jimmy.

He's been smeared and swarmed by Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, and Newt Gingrich. All of those neocons have been vacation guests of Israel multiple times. Rush was the only one who visited Palestine on his way home. How did he dare? Then Rush exclaimed that before Israel seized half of Palestine (the most fertile part) in 1949, "There was nothing there. All progress came after the Israelis moved in."

Anyone can lie, but few can get away with such whoppers. Why do the media and other influential authorities let that go without correction? History records that Israelis TOOK BY FORCE Palestinian homes, farms and businesses. The people were herded into refugee camps where they have been for 60 years. Palestine had many schools, hospitals, and the other institutions worthy of admiration. Palestinians had the most educated and socially sophisticated society in the Middle East when the United Nations told them to move out and promised them their own state - which never happened.

Meanwhile, Carter can recall his arrangement of the Camp David Accords with Israel's Begin and Eygpt's Sadat. That was a positive step towards peace and quite an accomplishment at the time. Old Jimmy can hold his own in history as a leader, statesman and humanitarian.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Cleaning the Garage

Maybe Mars will change everything. I mean, couldn't we get all the powers of this world to sign a pledge of peace for Big Red? Let's not fight there, too.

Overheard on the Street

"My wife wants me to look into one of those jobs Americans won't do."

Help Wanted

Clean-up crew for the Democratic convention in Denver. Can't be squeamish or faint-hearted. Be prepared for the worst. Union wage. Contact Dr. Dean.

Illegals wanted for clean-up crew at Republican convention in St. Paul. Not much mess / really neat folks. Just sweep up a bit. Option of cash payment or direct deposit in Bank of Nogales. Contact Liz Dole.

WILL THEY SHOOT SCOTT MCCLELLAN?

The president's former press secretary has turned against the empire and dared to write it in a book. That puts him in the category with Richard Clarke and Paul O'Neil - other lying insiders who quit the Bush administration.

The robot-puppet mouthpieces on radio, television and internet are so certain that Scott's story is false that they won't open the cover. They focus on the fact that he did not speak up while he was part of the Bush presidency. True, but this only indicates cowardice or bad judgement. He's telling it all now even if he is a flawed person.

The people in power don't want you to hear the truth. They'll destroy the messenger, the confessor or anyone else who contradicts them. Otherwise, they'd attack the words in the book before trying to destroy the author.

Ask Joe Wilson.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Jogging

- What has government got to do with marriage? Or divorce? Why should two people have to get a license to live in a union? A fundamental human bond is above this involvement. Get the guvmint out.

- How do we Communism haters reconcile these verified facts and figures? Cuba is teaching and training 23,000 future medical doctors from 120 countries, and maintains 30,000 Cuban health workers serving people in 70 nations? This is impressive humanitarianism regardless of the system ( communist, fascist, free market, monarchy ) that produces it.

Overheard at Only The Lonely

- "A recent poll showed that 68% don't believe in public opinion polls."

- "How old would you be if you could be as old as you want to be? Take that number and run with it."

OLD

Rhymes with gold, bold and mold.

If you've lived only 22 years, 30 seems old to you. But if you were 90 and in good health, you'd feel young compared with your 60-year-old neighbor whose doctor says she's terminal.

Old or young, who knows?

Senator John McCain would be very old, as presidents go, but Congressman Ron Paul is older. Ronald Reagan was considered old when he moved into the White House at 69.

What else is old? Trees are old. So are some turtles. Historians tell us our republic is approaching old age, as republics go. Even Mother Earth is getting long in the tooth. Estimates vary from 4,000 years to about 100 billion.

The song said it: "Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is?" .

Do you remember how Ali won every fight? And when Gary Powers made that U2 flight? Dearie, if you remember, then you're a whole lot older than I.

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

- "We're all socialists now."

- "It's a race to see which becomes extinct first, the Republicans or the middle class. I'm picking the Republicans because they're suicidal."

- "The dressed-up guy sitting over by the juke box says, "There were only four real Republicans in Congress during the 20th Century: Charles Lindbergh Sr., Robert Taft, Barry Goldwater, and Ron Paul." He claims Joe McCarthy fought the Commies like a conservative but voted like a drunken liberal.

- "The Repubs are too smart for the Dems. They cut taxes and raise spending. Can't beat that."

Help Wanted

Black helicopter spotters for Snow Canyon area. Night shift available now. Need flashlight, binoculars, and beanie. Call 688-0245.

Meetings & Events

Paranoid Support meets at noon on Saturday at Frenchy's cellar in Parowan. We'll try to vote on the merger with The Pessimists Club. Paranoid Pessimists of Parowan might be too much to hope for, considering our enemies' plots.

TODAY, MARS. TOMORROW, THE WORLD

We're up there on Mars digging for ice and whatever else we might find. The space scientists hope to find signs of life or at least an atmosphere which can sustain life. But who knows? Minerals, timber, coal, natural gas, etc.

A rebirth of colonization is in the works. We'll send pioneers to the new land ( er, planet ) and look for riches beyond your fondest dreams. But, damn it all, we're broke. Where is Queen Isabella now when we need her?

The obvious solution is to buy some more paper and ink, and print the currency. Sell bonds to the Chinese and Saudis. In the long run, the benefits of a New America on Mars will flood the land with treasures, easily erasing the sky-high cost of the project.

We're Americans. Let's do it. We could send incorrigible convicts there, as the English did to Georgia and Australia. And what if we discover oil on Mars? Is it ours? Or shall we give it to Chevron and Exxon/Mobil? Tough decision, but we have time to think.

Every intellectual in the world ( Earth ) knows there are too many people walking around. Ted Turner says we should reduce the population to 250,000,000. Fine. We can deport illegal immigrants, criminals, movie stars, karaoke singers, neocons, CIA torturers, and various other undesirables to the War Planet. Global-warming preachers would be sent to a real hot spot. All of this would reduce Earth's human population by half.

We should colonize Mars now, before the Chinese swarm the place.

ll so simple.

Thoughts While in the Shower

Repetition rules. We get up, eat, work, visit, play, and go back to bed - repeatedly. These are the patterns of our lives, based on habits. Without good habits, you might miss out on some of that list, especially eating or working. Both success and failure seem to be determined by repetitive habits. Repetition can be your friend.

Help Wanted

Experienced space ship attendants for extended trips. Long layovers to be expected with minimal complaining. References required. Send resume to NASA.

Meetings & Events

The public is invited to a roundtable discussion regarding Feng Shui revisionism. It seems that many photo negatives published in books were mistakenly turned around. This would explain why things have not worked out very well for many of us. See you at the Main Library on Thursday at 5 p.m. We'll meet on the left side of the building this time.

IT'S STILL THE SAME OLD STORY

A fight for love and glory. A case of do or die. That's only natural and the way it is. Nature doesn't care if we like or dislike our situations - we must adjust.

If you don't not want love and glory - you're not in the fight. But most of us are made to struggle for comforts, creativity and survival. We get into harmony with nature and learn to reshape and enjoy the world.The struggle will be worth it and enjoyable if our attitudes are right.

Did you hear the story about Buddha being challenged by one of his devout followers? The man said, "Oh Great One, I have walked 66 miles in my bare feet to ask your advice. I am a peasant with a wife and six children, my crops are failing, my creditors want to take my land, the roof is leaking in the kitchen, our oldest son is too lazy to help us, my wife is expecting twins, and I have a weak heart. Please Buddha, tell me - what can I do to solve my terrible problems?"

"Beats me," Buddha answered.

The man said, "How can you, of all people, not know what I should do?"

Buddha said, "Everyone has 82 problems, but you don't want any problems so you have 83."

It's up to us to make our world. Struggle can be good for you.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Pumping Gas

The New York Yankee pitcher, Hawkins, threw at a Baltimore batter's head and was ejected from the game. This is baseball's ugliest aspect and problem. A few celebrated pitchers - Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens - were accused of throwing at hitters who had hits the previous times at bat.

The rules makers ought to change the rule for a hit batsman. The batter should be allowed to go to second base instead of first and should walk directly to second base, over the pitcher's mound, with the option of carrying his bat with him.

Overheard at Frenchy's Upstairs Lounge

- "Democrats tax and spend, Republicans borrow and spend, Libertarians don't do either one. So guess which one the people never vote for?"

- "Why don't they make mirrors like they used to?"

- "I miss Bill Clinton. I'll be glad when he's the First Lady."

Overheard at a Bus Depot

" If you're not half an hour early, you'll be late."

HEY, BIG SPENDER

He's coming.

That's right. Your president for the past two wars and two trillion dollars is headed for Utah, the reddest state of them all. Republican states are referred to as "red." Democrat states are called blue. That's hard to get used to because old Democrats were called pinkos, sometimes reds. But Republicans earned the new color code based on their propensity for spending money before it exists.

Anyhow, our red-ink president soon will be among us war hawks and spendthrifts to raise campaign funds for the Republican Party. Let's all do the right thing: Render unto Bush that which is Bush's.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While on Hold on the Telephone

- I've been taking small arms fire today for calling politicians "proud, arrogant, power-mad." I apologize. I forgot "lazy and vain."

- The oil corporation CEOs told Congress about the "current up cycle" in oil. Now you know where the term "oil slick" came from.

- Cuba is allowing citizens (inmates?) to own cell phones for the first time. New President Raul seems so accomodating to the people. Fidel must have "left the building."

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

- "I'm still waiting for someone to tell me why I should pay a buck for a gallon of bottled water when it has nothing in it. Tap water is almost free and it has sodium fluoride, chlorine, mercury, benzene, and a smidgen of spent jet fuel."

- "Global warming is history. It was too hot not to cool down."

- "The guy at the end of the bar told me that when Planet Earth warmed up, it caused the lakes and oceans to evaporate, which then formed clouds and increased rainfall. This made the plants grow like crazy, therefore, reducing the carbon factor big time, and so global warming shifted into reverse. He seems like a smart guy. He's drinking scotch."

Meetings & Events

Good Old Boys Reunion, Saturday at 8 p.m., upstairs at Frenchy's, use side door, utter password or hand ID. A guest speaker will present strategies on "Retaining Control Despite Influx."

DISASTER AID REBUFFED BY DICTATORS

The international public is upset and angry that leaders of nations deny medical help for their people when offered by outsiders. The recent cyclones in Myanmar (Burma) and earthquakes in China have killed more than 150,000 people and made several million homeless. What motivates those leaders? Why not accept all help available? You know the reason.

They feel insecure in their power.

They turned down offers of aid whenever foreigners wanted to enter Myanmar and China, but there is great comfort in knowing that regular people care, everywhere. Most folks want to lend a hand to other human beings, regardless of the flags they fly.

When hit by Katrina, a hurricane that claimed about 2,000 American lives, a self-styled "compassionate conservative president" named George W. Bush rejected an offer from Cuba to send - the very next day - 1,586 doctors and 83 field hospitals to Mississippi and Louisiana. Mr. Bush did not hesitate to say "no" and he did not ask people in the disaster area if they wanted Cuban aid.

As it turned out, our decider's disaster department, FEMA, was so little and so late that the Cubans could have made a tremendous difference. Disaster upon disaster because of another insecure leader.

Governments and dictators are all alike. They're proud, arrogant, power-mad, and insecure. Politics attracts that type, with too few notable exceptions.

It's all so simple.

Meetings & Events

"What Do Men Want?" expo is coming. Watch for further announcements, you slick macho dude.

Help Wanted

Global warming cops. Imagination and gullibility required. Career might be brief - the way things are going. See your local sheriff.

Will Trade

Will swap a mint condition convertible and low miles for a mo-ped scooter or two good bicycles. Call 688-0245.

Overheard at Only The Lonely

"This is the year to hold your nose and close your eyes in the voting booth. That way you won't get sick and you'll have a clear conscience."

SICKO

About a year ago, Paula and I watched Michael Moore's "Sicko" in Minneapolis. Eleven people were in the theatre audience. This topped the attendance record for the other Moore documentary, "Fahrenheit 911" which drew only eight folks into the St. George theatre we attended.

This was evidence to me that petty people don't dare to be exposed to ideas promoted by those they dislike. Rather than face the challenges of Moore's revelations, they turn their backs on the man and his works.

I wrote identical letters to health professionals, radio talk hosts, newspaper editors, and others with a public interest to learn how many and who had seen "Sicko." Most of them did answer my stamped self-addressed envelopes, but none had seen the film. One said he would rent it later. Another said she couldn't afford to go. Others merely reported not seeing it.

I was crestfallen by the paltry response.

All of us could learn from Sicko. Those who should know better prefer to be ignorant. Moore's film has merit.

The movie would cause anyone to reassess his or her values. Socialized medicine, national health insurance or whatever modified program might not be the ideal answer, but you must be cognizant of our broken health care system.

Insurance company employees dictate treatment and care. Fifty million Americans can't afford insurance or care. Health professional and insurance corporations hire teams of lobbyists to influence members of Congress. The last and almost forgotten subject is the patient.

Reforms are desperately needed and sitting still to watch Sicko might jar open your closed minds, causing you to create solutions from which we'd all benefit.

It's all so simple.

Meetings & Events

Consultant John Dillinger will speak to the Association of Physicians and Insurance executives on "What the Traffic Will Bear."

Help Wanted

Refusal Clerk to handle requests from ICU nurses and doctors. Must know how to say "no" firmly and without apology. Pay depends on rate of turndowns. Apply in person at White Cross Insurance Inc.

For Sale

American-made pills from Canada, save big. You benefit by fair prices.

GLOBAL HOT AIR

If (they) don't turn up the heat soon, the whole concept of man-caused global warming will collapse. Meanwhile, in the month of May, we see snow and low temperatures in Washington, Minnesota, South Dakota, New York, Maine, and Vermont.

Dude, your carbon footprints are making tracks in the snow.

Something is seriously flawed with the theory.

Come to think of it, we remember what a flim-flam Y2K was. Maybe Global Warming and Y2K came from the same think tank.

It's all so simple.

Meetings & Events

- The Snowbirds stranded here by the high gas prices will gather at the Wal-Mart parking lot today at 4 p.m. to launch a public plea for funds. Also, government help might be on the way to get you on your way.

- The city council's plan to install No Loitering signs on the roundabouts has been abandoned and will be an issue on the ballot in the November elections.

For Sale

Exercise equipment and vegetable juicer. Both used only once. A package deal for $200 or a few gallons of gas or milk.

Thoughts While Waiting in Line at the Convenience Store

- Q. What will we do if China attacks Taiwan? Or Pakistan invades India? Or Israel rolls into Lebanon?

- A. Nothing. nothing, nothing.

- Q. What if Iran builds a nuke?

- A. Missile attacks, air raids, naval shellings, commando action, Marine beach landings, paratroops, CIA predator assassinations, and Exxon-Chevron drilling.

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

"If they follow us home, just where do they think they're going to stay?"

"I know, I know. Bryan Hyde is the best radio man west of the mountains - the Appalachian mountains. Problem is, he's on during Happy Hour."

PRESIDENT BUSH SCOLDS ARABS

Your president addressed the Arab world while in Egypt. He told them to treat their women better.

What a topic. President Bush might have mentioned Saddam, who championed the rights of women and ushered them into the arts, business and academia. Whatever else Saddam was, he was not a gender-bully. And so now, Bush, the self-styled liberator of the Iraqi people, has installed a puppet government which is stripping women of the rights guaranteed them by Saddam.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Leaning on a No-Loitering Sign

- Maybe a guy should go into the incandescent-light-bulb business. We're talking black market- lucrative, exciting and tax free.

- There's a surprise coming in the election process. Let's hire a reputable psychic to find out about November. Then we'll take the data to the casino and bet our stimulus payments on it. Give me a call and we'll car-pool it.

Financial Opportunity

Tired of eating beans while your really stupid boss dines upstairs at Frenchy's? Well, do something about it! Join our happy franchise family selling recycled Rush Limbaugh neck ties and Orrin Hatch songs. Call 1-800 ODD TIES AND MUSIC.

For Sale

Neocon T shirts. Clever messages on the back. Mostly clean - the shirts, not the messages. See Ernie in the booth at the mall.

NO MORE MR. NICE GUY

Barrack Obama is certainly a nice guy. He's probably the nicest of all of the candidates who ran this year. That includes Hillary, who is one of the guys, according to the language in use now. Obama is not as nice as Ron Paul, of course, but that's because Ron is perfect.

Many of us will never vote for Obama for one reason. That is, his statement that he is raising his daughter to be moral and chaste, but if she makes a mistake: "I'm not going to punish her with a baby."

Not nice.

Then many others of us would not vote for him because he is a member of the notorious Council on Foreign Relations. That's not the Boy Scouts. It means he is not free and independent. He's signed in and under control with an agenda.

I'll vote only for those who are free, therefore, I might have to write in (on a voting machine?) the name of Ron Paul ( Mr. Right.)

It's all so simple.
__________________________________
Overheard at Only The Lonely

"Is there a law here that new buildings, have to look like the old ones?

"I'm just saying I can't respect a man who takes two dogs for a walk and brings only one plastic bag."

MILITARY ACTION/COLLATERAL HELL

When the supposed top terrorist in Iraq, Al-Zarqaawi, was killed by our bombs dropped on his house, noted moralist Fidel Castro said, "A barbarity. He should have been tried in court."

Yes, innocent until proven guilty. And we should demand a surrender before decimating them. We're Americans. What has happened to us?

But we went ahead with military justice, dropping two 500 pound bombs on that house, killing Bad Al and a few others, including a woman and a child. We used that nice term spoken often by Timothy McVieh: "Collateral damage." It means innocent life caught in the middle of the action. They might as well put "so what" ahead of the term.

An hour before Shock & Awe was scheduled to begin in Iraq, CIA Director George Slamdunk Tenet reported to President Bush that Saddam was in a certain cafe. So we bombed the place, killing innocent adults and their children, but Saddam wasn't there. So what?

Let's go back to behaving with a reverence for life.

It's all so simple.

_________________________________

Thoughts While Driving

- Congressman Ron Paul tore into the conservatives who claim that tax cuts increase revenues. He says, "The heck with more revenue. That's not the problem. We have to cut expenditures."

- Curious Bush quote: "We must defeat the enemies of hatred."

- The man also said, Iran is seeking a 'nucular' weapon."

- Bush grumbles about the bad intelligence given to him before his attack on Iraq.

- McCain said today, "We've won the war. Iraq has a functioning democracy."

- The governor works to increase tourism; the mayor pushes golf. Governors ought to let the tourism industry tend to that subject. (The gov should protect liberty.) The mayor should allow recreation industry professionals to do the golf business. (The mayor should work for the liberties of his constituents.) But don't try to explain it to them. They magnify their job descriptions, indicating an ego problem.

- Israel's population is 7 million, and they receive $4 billion in foreign aid from Uncle Sam. Do the math, you might want to climb onto that gravy train.

- Dems win congressional seats in Louisiana, Mississippi and Illinois. Many Republicans are in shock.

- Don't ever lose you day planner! You might as well go back to bed.

- Former Utah Mike Leavitt (now a HEW cabinet member) was in China when the quake quaked. The man is everywhere, probably the most traveled cat since Eleanor Roosevelt.

Twenty-Years-From-Now News

Mike Leavitt has opened a travel agency in Washington DC favoring lobbyists. Politicians, bureaucrats and celebrities can fly coach. Mr. Leavitt intends to accompany most flights until he gets it out of his system.

INTEGRITY

Gotcha. You never heard of integrity, right? Or maybe you forgot the meaning of the word.

Integrity made it onto page one a few days ago when a young man working at Southern Utah University found and immediately turned in $108,000. The first paragraph of the news report stated something like: "Most people would have kept the dough." See what I mean? Some politicians, a few corporate crooks, subculture celebrities, sports cheats, and drug criminals have led us down the path to cynicism. There are so many examples: unopposed illegal immigration, price-fixing in business, lobbies controlling Congress, Federal Reserve banksters, and an inconsistent justice system.

We're not riding high right now, but the good things shall return, including integrity. When civilization climbs back to a high moral plane, you won't be a hero for returning money which doesn't belong to you - it will be natural and common.

The person who lost the big bucks will get the attention. Really. How do you lose $108,000?

It's all so simple.
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Twenty-Years-From-Now News

A young Utah highway patrolman stopped a speeding driver on Interstate 15 south of Provo yesterday. The driver was ticketed and allowed to continue on his way. His name was Osama bin Laden, but the officer and his supervisors didn't recognize the once-famous (infamous) person. Some old timers recall that the "Secret Agent Man" had been a CIA operative credited with chasing the Russian Army occupiers out of Afghanistan prior to organizing the terrible crime known as 9/11. The patrolman told television news that the subject had a white beard, soft brown eyes, a weak voice and was stooped. "I thought he was a grandfather, not a fugitive. But he's both." said the officer.

Meeting & Events

Economist Dr. Ira Longterm will review and sign his latest book: "You Don't Need Cash If You Know The Cashier," at the local Holiday Inn tomorrow at 7 p.m.

OIL

Your president, vice president, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and Senator Orrin Hatch told you that we had to attack Iraq to capture Saddam's evil weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

The United Nations inspectors led by Hans Blix and Scott Ritter scoffed at the claim. After the story was found to be false, we heard other explanations. One was the "confession" by Senator Hatch when he visited the offices of The Spectrum last month. He told the newspaper's editors that we acted to save Israel from Iraq. Please understand that Israel has amply supplies of WMD, and can defend itself.

Let's not forget oil. The NO BLOOD FOR OIL banners, which were seen everywhere before Shock & Awe, represented real concerns. Consider Iraq's new oil law - a provision which the U.S. State Department helped draft in 2006 - and its oily implications. The law allows for 63 of Iraq's 80 major oil fields to be under the control of American, British and Dutch companies. The law provides for a 30 year period in which no taxes or fees of any kind shall be levied on the oil taken by foreign companies.

The subject is rarely mentioned. It's a journalistic untouchable and apparently unprintable in mainstream media circles.

Whenever you have a quiet moment and ponder the reason why we went blasting into a weak nation, you have to dismiss the WMD story. Also, you can doubt Hatch's loose talk about Israel - who sent neither soldiers nor aid of any kind to the coalition cause.

But oil. Hmmm. Before the war, Iraq owned 100% of the oil under its soil. Now, by their own law, they have only about 22%.

Whose oil is it? Well, it's not theirs and it's not ours. It's Exxon's, Chevron's and British Petrol's.

It's all so simple.

DEPLETED URANIUM, ONE MORE COVER-UP

Last May, this blog pointed out the seriousness of DU being used in Iraq. In the elapsed year, you've heard no details from KDXU or The Spectrum - they haven't bothered to inform you.

Whistles ought to be blowing and alarms sounding because the damage has been going on since the first Gulf War. Our military uses depleted uranium in bombs and shells because DU's density allows it to penetrate armor. The problem is that it strickens and sickens both the target and the user. Iraq is a wide depository of DU, with more than a thousand tons of the internationally banned hazard used in the last six years.

IT'S A SCREAMING DISASTER.

Why is there no discourse about eminent scientist Leuren Moret's assertion that, "Depleted uranium is the definitive cause of the Gulf War Syndrome?"

Terry Jamison, Public Affairs Specialist of the Office of Veterans' Affairs, reports the number of Gulf War veterans now on medical disability, since 1991, is 518,739. Out of the 580,000 soldiers who served in the first Gulf War, 11,000 are now dead. By the year 2000, there were 325,000 on permanent disability, 56% of those who served. Those numbers are far beyond the figures from other wars.

Does anyone care? Is depleted uranium in the same compartment of the American mind as sodium fluoride, mercury, cell phone radiation, aluminum, and obesity? Yawn.

It's all so simple.

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Meetings & Events

A local pessimists club is now organizing. Call 668-0124. Those interested are urged to join before it's too late.

Personals

Cell phone cowboy is looking for a roaming companion. Call 668-0124

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

"The Myanmar government refuses to let U.N. workers in to help victims of
the cyclone. Pardon me but that reminds me of the Bush administration's refusal to allow thousands of Cuban doctors into Louisiana to aid victims of Katrina. Let's have another round of drinks."

Thoughts While Out To Lunch

Any day now Ann Coulter will traipse back to Iraq and write about how swell things are going. That's the way it is with the cigarette and chardonay gal.

Help Wanted

No help wanted.

PEACEFUL AMERICANS - THAT WAS THEN

Once upon a time, Americans were more peace-loving and peace-making. They had been sickened by World War One and took action to prevent, avoid and stay out of wars. Disarmament became a concept for preserving peace. The U.S. was easily the mightiest force on the seas in the 1920s, President Warren Harding (a Republican) approved of Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes' plan to join with England, France, Italy and Japan to contain the size of their fleets. In America's case, it meant significant reductions. Many people in Japan and England were astounded that Americans would relinquish such a military advantage.

The agreement was signed in 1922. Each nation was limited in the number of each type of ship and the firepower on the deck. The U.S. had to sink many ships. Much of this was done as target practice in the Pacific Ocean.

It's hard to imagine a nation and its people demonstrating so much sincere desire to reduce the threat of war. We should be proud of those Americans who invented such a plan and kept to its provisions in good faith.

The British and the Japanese were less impressive, however, and were soon increasing firepower as well as conniving ways around the agreements. Japan actually denounced the treaty after a few years.

Maybe again, someday and with more sincerity. Both money and lives would be saved.

It's all so simple.
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Overheard at Only The Lonely

"McCain should pick Condi Rice for veep. He'd be playing the race card and gender card in one stroke. He's already got the geezer vote."

"My uncle was middle class, but he was real modest about it."

"It's easy to find a job in southern Utah, however, you need two of them to make ends meet, three to buy a home, and four to consider getting married. Health insurance is not in the picture."

CONSPIRACIES

You probably enjoy friends who have diverse opinions. I have a few who think everything that moves is a conspiracy and others who think conspiracies are only for delusional whackadoos. Still others believe in conspiracies once in a while.

President Franklin Roosevelt claimed that in politics, nothing happens that is not a conspiracy.

Was the international Communist movement a monolithic conspiracy? Was Judas part of a conspiracy? How about the events in New York on 9/11? The assassination of President John Kennedy is often called a conspiracy. The flood of 20 million illegal immigrants seems to have conspiratorial undertones involving both major political parties and business interests.

If there are no conspiracies, then why does the term exist? Somewhere, someone must have conspired to get the word into the dictionary.

It's all so simple.
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Meetings & Events

The We-Were-Middle-Class support group meets every Wednesday at 7 p.m., on the grassy knoll in Ancestor Square.

Thoughts While Jaywalking

- Today is the anniversary of Newt Gingrich's announcement that HE WILL NOT run for president. Celebrate and be thankful - our system does work.

- A doctor was arrested in northern Utah for over-prescribing drug medications. No kidding? That's a crime? My aunt took six different meds every day. The only one punished was auntie.

IRAQ AND BACK

We are in a jam. I mean, if we cut and run, they'll follow us home. But if we stay the course, well, that will just bring 'em on. We've planted democracy in the Middle East, terminated the terminator and no longer fear the WMD.

The Sunnis want us to stay; the Shiites want us out of there. (Or is it the other way around?) Then there's the Kurds in northern Iraq who don't know where they want us.

So, Iraq's a mixed bag. What do we do now?

Leave your ideas in the Suggestion Box at the gate to the White House grounds.
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HELP WANTED

Walk my pit bull, Snarly, mornings and evenings. He loves children. Pay depends on experience. Must have own plastic bags.

MEETINGS

- The Roundabout Ethics Club will hear Bart Anderson speak on: "How to Know When It's Your Turn." Tonight in the roundabout at Tabernacle and Main - 7 p.m. No British drivers please.

- Wal-Mart shoppers support group meets every Sunday afternoon by the cart rack in the parking lot. Bring your stories.

THOUGHTS WHILE SHAVING

For years Paul Harvey has promised to tell the whole truth about the news business - the rest of the story - when he retired.

TWENTY-YEARS FROM NOW NEWS

- Paul Harvey finally retired yesterday. An old listener asked Paul what it was that he said he would tell his audience. He said he couldn't remember.

- Half of the world's weather scientists warn of continued global warming. The other half express concern over the temperatures dropping all over the world. The United Nations plans to vote to decide which group is credible.

WAR IS SELL

Propaganda rules. Syria and Iran are next, so get your stickers, ribbons and flags ready. They'll be needed for a long time this time. Think of all the Arabs and Muslims yearning to breathe free. We might have to knock off most of them. Freedom isn't free, and it's most expensive when an outsider delivers it to you.

Henry David Thoreau was jailed for refusing to pay a tax to support the War with Mexico. Ralph Waldo Emerson visited Thoreau and asked, "Henry, what are you doing in?" Thoreau answered, "Ralph, what are you doing out?"

We need more Henrys; we have too many Ralphs.

It's all so simple.
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THOUGHTS WHILE JAYWALKING

- As a result of Shock & Awe, half of the people still alive in Iraq (women) will lose most of the civil rights that they enjoyed under Saddam, the madman, who encouraged female careers.

- The FBI has abandoned a search for stragglers of the middle class. They are feared forever lost after not being noticed as they vanished over the decades.

- At a local wedding reception, the first tune played by the dance band was, "I Will Survive."

- We should never forget that in 1952 four major oil companies were fined by the Justice Department for overcharging the federal government on oil shipped to Europe under the Marshall Plan.

DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT HISTORY

Be careful of what you "learn" from history books because much of it is false or twisted. Henry Ford said, "All history is bunk." Overstated, but true.

For instance, the history of wars is always written by the winners. You aren't told about the virtues and cases of Kaiser Wilhelm, Tojo, Hitler, Saddam, Mussolini, Noriega, and other legendary monsters.

A good citizen needs true and solid information to be well-informed. You have to check out several sources to get the straight scoop.

Or you can just call me.

It's all so simple.
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OVERHEARD at Slippery Slope Saloon:

"Bartender. I want an 'America on the rocks'."

"Too bad Putin can't be our president. He's an ex-KGB boss who knows all of our secrets and he knows Russia's, too. Plus, he thinks before he speaks. We need this guy."

"I've had some problems being recently divorced. For one thing, I have to finish my own sentences."

"We were intellectual opposites. She was intellectual, I was the opposite."

OVERHEARD at Only The Lonely Bar & Grill:

"Look at this. A pool table right by the door. This joint needs to hire a Feng Shui consultant."

"The divorce rate is down because so many unmarried couples are living together."

"I know for a fact: Rush really does have half of his brain tied behind his back."

"The CIA hired the Mafia in Cuba to kill Fidel Castro. That's how outsourcing got started."

"My brother-in-law is a Divine Delegate. That's above a Super Delegate."

JUST BE GLAD YOU'RE YOU

You could be a Cuban plotting to flee the island paradise tonight. You plan to row your small boat into open water and then full throttle the outboard motor, heading for Mexico. You choose Mexico because to go to Florida means almost certain capture and return to Cuba by the U.S. Coast Guard.

As you putt putt to Mexico with the bullets from the guns of Cuban police speed boats whizzing by you, you'll think: "I'll hitch rides going north in Mexico and follow Jose into Arizona."

But as you step out of your boat on the Mexican shore, you'll again hear the whizzing of bullets, this time from the guns of Mexican border guards. If the Cubans didn't shoot you in the back, the Mexicans might drill lead into your chest.

Why not stay at home in Havana? You have free health care, free university education, no one starves, nobody is homeless, and you might get elected to the prestigious "neighborhood watch" committee.

Better red than dead.

It's all so simple.

WHICH IS THE WAR PARTY NOW?

Throughout most of the 20th Century, Republicans labeled Democrats "The War Party." Senator Robert Taft referred to our war in Korea as "Truman's War" and Senator Barry Goldwater called our war in Viet Nam, "Johnson's War. Neither president had asked Congress for a declaration of war.

The Goldwater campaign for the White House in 1964 printed photos of wounded American soldiers lying wounded on the battlefield. The message was that our wars were the result of international interventions or meddling in other nations' business. Vote Republican and get peace.

If Korea and Viet Nam were Democrat wars, then how about the two world wars? Democrat Woodrow Wilson meddled, for sure. He won reelection in 1916 by boasting that "He kept us out of war." A year later, Wilson chose to go to war and whipped the nation into a fervor about it. Senators who opposed the war were censured by the U.S. Senate. These included the great Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette. Many peace loving Americans went to prison for resisting the war.

The situation leading into the Second World War was not much different. Democrat Franklin Roosevelt violated our neutrality laws, blockaded Japanese shipping, sent American volunteers (highly paid) to fly warplanes in defense of China, and ordered U.S. Navy destroyers to attack German submarines in the North Atlantic. We had taken sides and were militarily involved months before the sneak attack on Pearl Harbor.

Since the Democrats led us into four big wars, we have had undeclared wars on Grenada, Panama and Iraq, twice. Let's not forget Afghanistan. Those were Republican wars. And maybe we should include Republican President Nixon's little wars on Cambodia and Laos.

Republican administrations blockaded a nation's food and medical supplies for years, sent CIA agents to stir rebellions and make maps of bombing targets in sovereign countries, and brandish two aircrafts carriers in the Persian Gulf to threaten Iran.

Modern Republicans are at least as warlike as the old Democrats.

As in 1918, you'll support our wars or be called unpatriotic and anti-American. You might even have your phone tapped and your mail opened.

It's all so simple.

BORDER WALLS WORK BOTH WAYS

Our government is building a wall along the border with Mexico to keep illegal aliens out. Many Americans are happy about that and think it's about time.

But wait. Maybe the fence will keep us in when we want out. We live in a republic which has evolved into a democracy. (Plato said, "Democracies become despotisms.") The nation is looking more and more like an empire as we station soldiers in 120 countries, we go to war without asking the people's representatives for permission, the press is managed, the national debt is at least $10,000,000,000,000, terrorists are targeting us everywhere, the economy is in a dither, China has claims on the century, oil is headed for the stars while real estate sinks below sea level, our government pays corporations to move overseas, the soil is depleted of nutrients, businesses outsource white collar jobs, you have to press a button to use the English language, the currency you earn is the laughing stock of the world, and a good cookie costs ninety-five cents. Not only that, the government lies to us. What if they're lying about the border fence and plan to use it to keep us in, instead of aliens out?

It's all so simple.

NOBODY VOTED FOR WASHINGTON

Do you hear about anything else these days? The candidates, the polls, the questionable friends of the candidates, the debates, the gender factor, the race factor, the geezer factor, hope, and change make the headlines.

All of this could have been averted if we would only adhere to the Constitution. Our first six presidents were chosen the legal way (by the Constitution) until the bullying political parties seized the election structure and changed the procedure - in extra-legal fashion.

The first six presidents were probably our best, and they were chosen by electors chosen by the state legislatures. Can you top Washington, John Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and John Quincy Adams? Send me a list of six better chief executives. I need a good chuckle.

It's all so simple.

THE DEBATE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN

Three months before The Decider unleashed his attack on Iraq, Saddam was interviewed by Dan Rather of CBS. At the conclusion of the discussion, Saddam challenged President George W. Bush to a debate to be broadcast all over the world. Saddam said a debate "might stop a war."

The mad but naive operator of the human shredding machine (never found) and producer of countless stockpiles of WMD (never found) could not have imagined how soon his two sons and a 14-year-old grandson would die in a hail of "Coalition" gunfire in their bedroom. Then, Saddam himself was tried and executed for something, I forget what. Oh, I think he ordered violence against his enemies who were trying to overthrow the government.

President Bush did not dignify the challenge to debate with an answer, and the war drums pounded louder and louder.

Saddam had been a CIA operative, you know, so he had plenty to say but no one to tell. Hey, that's probably why Bush wouldn't debate him. While vice president of Iraq, Saddam rounded up and delivered suspected Communists to the CIA office in Baghdad for enhanced interrogations. Bush might have had to wrestle with the strange fact in a face-to-face meeting.

Wouldn't it be a good idea for all "enemies" to debate in public before attacking each other?

The world should have demanded a debate instead of a shooting war. A Bush-Saddam debate might have resulted in a cheaper settlement of the dispute with thousands of people still breathing. Alive & Well beats Shock & Awe..


It's all so simple.

WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

The term "nanny state" is a familar one that applies in many circumstances when the government assumes the protection function for irresponsible individuals, corporations and organizations.

Most Americans want the government to keep the airlines safe, but a man named Ron Paul insists that it's up to the airlines to provide safe flights. What a concept. Mr. Paul is on target, as usual.

The principle is violated throughout our society.

On a tiny scale, who is responsible for providing clean shopping carts in the supermarkets? Well, the companies, of course. But major chains delegate the task to their customers and offer a paper cloth for them to use.

See here, Mr. Groceryman, don't present me with a dirty, germ-infested cart in which to load my food. I deserve a clean cart, I demand one. I'm not going to be a shopping-cart-cleaner-upper volunteer.

Listen to me or I'll send my lawyer grandson after you and you'll have to give me free groceries for the rest of my life.


It's all so simple.

STIMULUS MONEY FROM UNCLE SAM

President Bush says free money is on the way. Don't laugh when you pocket the fresh capital from the government, because the joke is on you. The treasury is empty - new dollars were printed for the project - and the increased amount of currency in circulation is inflation that cheapens the value of our money. This will cause rising prices. Inflate the currency and you raise prices, just as surely as power corrupts.

Of course the economy will get a boost, as will prices and future taxes. Short term joy; long term misery.

It's all so simple.

ECONOMICS IS PRIME INTEREST

The fiscal news hasn't been cheery. The most popular cocktail in Paris is "America On The Rocks." Last Wednesday - September 19, 2007 - the "Reckless Speculators Relief Act" was passed by the central bank (Federal Reserve.) The Fed bailed out high-risk investors and their creditors, instead of letting them jump out of windows.

The half point rate drop was a surprise which caused dancing in the street (Wall) and a record jump in stock prices. Others were ecstatic: capitalist predators, market gamblers, dumb bankers and too-clever bankers. Only the man in the street (Main) is at a loss to know what happened.

The song, "Don't Know Much About History," should have been written about economics, because what you don't know will hurt you. Fiscal ignorance prevails in academia, government and the media. The economic price is so high that it makes life difficult.

We're skating in the middle of a lake on very thin ice. The national debt- which President Franklin Roosevelt said didn't matter because "We owe it to ourselves" - is said by Rush Limbaugh to be inconsequential in this booming economy. "We'll grow out of the debt," Rush claims.

Tell it to the Arabs and the Asians who hold about half of our $9 trillion debt and are tiring of Bush's dollar-cheapening tactics. They don't want junk currency returns on the bonds they purchased. The Euro is a much more stable currency for investors, and it's partially backed by gold. Can you believe it?

This reminds me of when France's President Giscard d'Estaing met with President Gerald Ford. He asked, "Why do you cheapen your own currency?" Ford's answer escapes me, maybe because there was none.

The U.S. Constitution dictates that Congress control the money supply, but politicians gave it away to a very unfederal reserve banking group of private bankers! If this crime is to be undone, we must hurry to beat the collapse of the dollar.


IT'S ALL SO SIMPLE.

A NATION DIVIDED

Even if you don't know much about history, you know that Bush's America is a house divided against itself. "You're either with us or you're against us." The major issue forcing us to choose sides is the war/occupation of Iraq. People supporting wars are called patriots, the others are anti-Americans.

Conservatives good; liberals bad. Hate is fine; tolerance is disgusting. Fear helps the cause; lack of fear shows ignorance. Christian nation for sure; diversity never. Media lies; presidents tell the truth. Authority is always right; challenging is left (wrong.)

We might as well break into two nations - warmongers on the east of the Mississippi River and appeasers on the west side. You're thinking: "They'll go to war with each other." Maybe, but at least we'd avoid a civil war. Those can be ugly.

Are you East or West? You'll have to decide soon.

Meanwhile, Islamo-fascists have to be eradicated. I mean, they strap bombs on their kids and send them to the store. They hate us for our freedom. And don't forget the 72 virgins.

Now go take on the day.


IT'S ALL SO SIMPLE.

~~~

PLEASE DON'T FEED THE SNOWBIRDS

Thousands of Snowbirds are packing up and ready to hit the road for our Dixie. Las Vegas can have its tourists, and we have those. But we also have live-in tourists who stay for half a year. These Earth Angels, cheaply referred to as Snowbirds, are part-time citizens of St. George and surrounding communities. They do enrich our lives, we must learn to appreciate that.

But don't give them food - you might make them sick. Nature provides for them.

~~~

HE'S BACK

Ron Paul is no newcomer to liberty. He might have lived before as Thomas Jefferson, Tom Paine or Patrick Henry. (Ronald Reagan claimed to have been the latter, so that's taken.) Choose between the Toms. Congressman Paul didn't get this good in our time, he was tempered by the fires of the past.

Every generation, we the people are given a chance to change the course of human events for the better. We let William Jennings Bryan, Robert Taft and Barry Goldwater get away.

The Ron Paul Revolution will succeed only with help from people in every community across the land. The War Party leaders will be obstacles to overcome. The media will be unfavorable to Paul. Establishment types who fear change will vote for one of the lookalikes. Nobody likes Ron Paul except the people.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for liberty lovers, Constitutionalists and good people.

Support a real Republican for a change.


IT'S ALL SO SIMPLE.

IT'S A FALSE ECONOMY, SENATOR BENNETT

Utah's other senator is out there painting a pretty face on the nation's economy. He sees and foresees nothing but roses if President Bush's policies prevail. Bennett revels in the tiny unemployment figures, the usually ascending stock market casino numbers, and who knows what else?

But what about our exported factories, the outsourcing of good jobs, the record low wages paid to workers, the sub prime lending circus, the part-time situation in a large segment of the jobs, the recklessly ignored problem of trade deficits, the incredible national debt, and corporate domination of markets?

Corporate earnings are often enhanced by the very factors which do harm to the economy.

While Senator Bennett blows his horn, we hear David Welker, the head of the Government Accounting Office, playing a different tune. Welker warns of impending doom if we continue our anti-economy ways. The $9 trillion national debt is dragging us down, and he foresees a national debt of $40 trillion within the next few decades. You know we'll feel the pain long before that.

Presidents Franklin Deficit Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush understood how deficit spending gives the economy a jolt. But the results are neither real nor lasting. It's about like passing out cash to bidders at an auction. The action increases and people get excited, but the medium of exchange diminishes in value, and there we go again. Inflation, inflation, inflation.

IT'S ALL SO SIMPLE.

~~~

Serious Fun:

Presidential candidate Edwards wants us to go to the doctor once a year. He must be getting contributions from big pharma and big doctor.

Senator Craig announced that he would resign, but he didn't promise, did he? Take this as entertainment. We miss Mark Foley, Gary Hart, Bob Livingstone, Newt Gingrich, and Slick Willie. Scary Larry will have to do until a better scandal comes along.

ON A CLEAR DAY, YOU CAN SEE THE OIL FLOW OUT OF IRAQ

Mainstream thinkers are in a vulnerable position. Those who think inside the box often have the lid closed on them, and they find themselves trapped, separated from the truth.

Most of the truth seekers trying to see through the rush to war on Iraq doubted those who protested with: NO BLOOD FOR OIL. They could not accept the oil motive as valid. Let them now lift the lids on their boxes and read the daily newspapers.

The Bush administration has been displaying frustration over the slow progress by our puppet government in Iraq. Our State Department helped write the proposed oil law months ago, but Iraq's parliament has yet to approve it. The law was drafted in secrecy, of course, but now the lights are on. The provisions of the law will enable Exxon-Mobil, Chevron and British Petrol to control royalties, decide production levels and choose who is employed in the oil fields. About 70% of Iraq's oil will be stolen, if we dare use such a characterization.

Reporters for foreign publications have been predicting a major insurrection will erupt when the oil heist becomes an official mandate. The Iraqi people have been possessive about their oil ever since Saddam kicked out the British, Dutch and American oil companies more than 30 years ago.

President Bush was in Iraq yesterday. Your morning paper reported that he said, "Now's the time to get these laws passed."

You'd forgotten WMDs anyway, so just remember oil.

IT'S ALL SO SIMPLE.

-------------------------------------------------------

Terms to remember for the exam: slam dunk, shock and awe, cut and run, stay the course, rendition, waterboarding, IED, coalition, bring 'em on, no fly zone, dancing in the streets, surge, mission accomplished, and they'll follow us home.

WILL BUSH BOMB WAL-MART?

Rumors circulating in the hallways in the Pentagon suggest an impending military strike on a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in central Minnesota. This is to prevent the devastation of yet another community.

White House spokesman Tony Snow told reporters this morning, "We have to stop it sometime. If not now, when: if not us, who? We've stood by and watched the slave labor products from Communist China get into American homes by way of Wal-Mart. No more.

We watched in horror as the big box monster purchased secret life insurance ("Dead Peasant Policies) on select employees as a source of additional revenue. No, to unethical practices.

Americans have seen community after community suffer an average net loss of 65 jobs when Wal-Mart came to town. No, to unemployment.

We listened as Wal-Mart officials claimed a person can save $2,200 per year by shopping their store. No more whoppers.

Wal-Mart must cease and desist criminal operations. If this does not happen, The Decider will decide when to launch Shock & Awe with the cruise missiles, smart bombs, cluster bombs and bunker buster bombs against the giant retailer. Call it Operation Free Shoppers.

Let's roll."

JUNKET

THINKING POSTPONED FOR FACT-FINDING, TRADE MISSION TO MINNESOTA.

THE CHINA CONNECTION

Call it a trade mission, it's still a junket. Utah legislators visiting China loosely and vaguely define their trip as one to increase trade between the filthy Communist slave pen with the glorious and moral state of Utah. Actually, it's not our Utah, it's some corporations in Utah. In an ideal republic, business concerns would do their own promoting. But in this modern world, if they can finagle our government to take the time and trouble - and taxpayers' money - to help in making sales, they'll take it.

~~~

Mini Thoughts

* Wouldn't it be wonderful? I mean, if Senator Hatch started an amendment to the Constitution to delete a president's right to commute sentences and pardon convicted felons? We have amendments that make less sense. The framers of the law of the land probably had a lapse of reasoning when they wrote in the right of presidential reprieves.

* They shoot gamblers, don't they? (Excuse me: gamers.) A Vegas resident tried to kill himself on the fourth of July, but he missed. Two days later, he opened fire at gamers in the New York New York Casino. His five victims are alive.

* Now the City of St. George and Color Country Community Housing with the Dixie Area Workforce Housing Affordability Committee - DAWHAC - (please keep reading) is handing out down payment money to folks who might otherwise have to wait to buy a home. America's Founding Fathers told us not to monkey with free enterprise and the market place. Alan Gardner, Chairman of DAWHAC, and his government cronies think they know better.

* What will the city get into next? Well, we don't have a space needle here. That would make a for a lot of jobs - most likely for aliens. The politicians must spend, spend, spend the taxpayers" money. It's Law #4, human nature.

EVEN REPUBLICAN SENATORS WANT WAR NO MORE

See how they cut and run. They voted for war, supported it, cussed the peaceniks, and now they see the light long after the public opposition becomes loud. Our leaders misled us. Senators Domenici, Lugar and others were too slow to show. The people had to lead them, and that's not the way it's supposed to work.

~~~

Idle Thoughts

* Do the missing WMD bother you and cause you to lose sleep at night? Me, too. But with me it isn't the mustard gas, germs, or anthrax so much as that damn People Shredder. What happened to that? Did the Russian 18-wheelers drop it off in Syria with the rest of the "100 metric tons" (Rummy's calculation) of destruction. Strange, the way that scary contraption disappeared. Did they look behind the anthrax cartons?

* Too bad Putin wasn't born here. He'd make a good U.S. president. The ex-KGB man knows all of our secrets, plus Russia's. And he appears to think before he speaks. (Always a good sign.)

* Is the actor Fred Thompson running or not? Maybe he's waiting for the rumors about him to sort out. They say he has skeletons in his dressing room. The mean stories (sexcapades) indicate he'd make Bill Clinton look unimpeachable. Here we go again.

* A black church in rural Louisiana pays white folks $5 to worship there. The offer has had many takers. Many of the whites leave happy without accepting the five bucks, even though it's like pennies from heaven.

Help Wanted

Strong man to govern Iraq after Coalition Forces leave. Must be able to keep Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds from fussing with each other. A little tyranny might be necessary. Good pay. Excellent fringe benefits. CIA assistance as needed. (No oil considerations involved.) Coup experience helpful. Call Karl Rove.

TALK RADIO MYTHOLOGIES

With the shining exception of a principled Southern Utah radio talk host, most of the babblers on the air spew myths all day everyday. Mythology Network tells half-truths most of the time but slip in some real whoppers occasionally. Perhaps the slickest legend they (Rush, Sean, Glenn, Ollie, Rusty, Michael S., Michael R., Roger, Mark) are selling is the idea that only their kind can make it in talk radio because the public won't buy anything else.

What would that say about the listening radio public? Isn't it more likely that Rush started the style and the others are copy cats? The pattern is set, and the sponsors fall in line. Notice that the same corporations sponsor most of them.

~~~

Blips

* Albert Gore III turns out to be an inconvenient truth for the former vice president. A son can tarnish a father's reputation. But big Al isn't running anyway, right?

* Ron Paul will pull it off. He's the next White House occupant although no one can see how yet.

* The third party route might do well if Ronnie, The Second, can find a solid vice presidential candidate such as Governor Bill Richardson. Remember: you read it here first.

* Mitt is still being Mitt. That means, all things to all people. This works. Most modern presidents were elected using that strategy. Don't worry about Mitt. Not if he loses. Worry if he wins.

* Did someone say money? Common Sense lists the following billionaires and millionaires who receive farm subsidies from the federal government because they own farms and ranches. Are you seated? They are: David Rockefeller, Bob Dole, Charles Schwab, Scotty Pippen, Ted Turner, and Sam Donaldson.

Overheard

At Slippery Slope Saloon: "When they build the new airport, this town will take off."

At the Only The Lonely lounge: "They'd better install stop lights at the roundabout in Bloomington before somebody gets hurt."

SCOOTER SKATES

Lewis "Scooter" Libby, the top Cheney aide convicted of perjury and sentenced to 30 months in prison, won't have to write that tell-all book now that our president committed one of the foulest acts prescribed by the not-quite-perfect writers of the Constitution. Bush used his presidential powers to commute the perjurer's punishment.

The Dixie Thinker predicted it here back on June 2. A stay in prison offers too much time to write and remember and seethe and embellish (not that he has to do the latter.) Bush can't handle another Paul O'Neil, Richard Clarke or George Tenet singing out of tune. I mean, The Decider's approval rating might go below zero.

~~~

Short Stuff


* The population of the nation of Israel comprises only .001 % of the world's people, but it has the fifth mightiest military force on Earth. That includes nuclear warheads.

* The reign of terror raining on the British people is believed to be connected to "the network." The terrorists were supposed to follow the Brits home, but the soldiers haven't even left Iraq.
So much for that line.

* Is there no decent muckraking news guy or gal in this country who will address the depleted uranium situation? This is tragic, on-going and unacceptable. The Pentagon is in the middle of it, and many leaders are purposely looking the other way. DU maims and kills, quickly and slowly.

* DU and oil are the two unmentionables in Iraq.

THE MEDIA IS BIASED, BUT WHICH WAY?

The War People harp and moan about the news outlets being against the war, wanting us to lose and favoring a cut-and-run policy.

'Wait just a durn minute" on that one. The war stories emanating from Iraq for the past four years have come from reporters embedded with the troops. Each news man or woman has signed a contract with the government requiring them to "follow the direction and orders of the military." Their reports are censored.

The media folks were lax in demanding proof about the WMD threat leading up to Shock & Awe. They were complicit in the false call to war.

Let's not forget the days before the war when the UN weapons inspectors were removed from Iraq by order of the UN. According to Fairness Accuracy in Reporting, the UN action was clearly reported by NBC, ABC, Associated Press, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, and Newsday in 1998. Four years later, every one of those sources reported that Saddam had forced the inspectors out.

Did they forget their own reporting or did they consciously assist the propaganda of the government, and rewrite history to support the Bush administration's war?

Yes, there is a problem finding the truth, but it's not what the War People say.

~~~

Shorties

* Russia's Putin is visiting the Bushes in Maine. It's sort of a KGB/CIA get together.

* Mysterious bomb attempts in London will change the course of the so called "war on terror,"
depending on the information learned.

* More money to the schools in Utah! Now we'll see if throwing money at a problem helps in the solution. In this case, we're betting it does.

* Did you see pictures of that 600-feet-long tunnel from a house in Mexico to a house in Arizona? Just another job no American would do. They should keep it open in case we have to get out of here someday.

TOP OFFICIALS ARE ABOVE THE LAW

It's true. The president and vice president need only to invoke the old "national security" defense for refusing to let the sun shine in. Before that one, they're trying "executive privilege," which works almost as well. Once again, Congress demands information that Cheney and Bush refuse to divulge.

Too much power is concentrated at the top in this modern day. When America began, The Articles of Confederation had no king, prime minister or president. The articles were working quite well, but the central government control freaks convinced the convention delegates (who were gathered to consider amending certain of the articles) to write a new law of the land.

They gave us an executive branch. We've learned that with power, you get abuse of power. King George is back.

~~~

Short Stuff

* The CIA probably invented outsourcing. They hired the Mafia to murder Castro........or is that just subcontracting?

* The defeat of the secretly-drafted immigration reform bill seems to have left an aftermath of doubt. "Now what?," is in the air. The important thing is to keep this fight civil, no violence.

* Yesterday, President Bush said, "The Good Lord will one day take Fidel Castro away." I guess this means we've given up. We tried to do God's work and failed.

* Pray for rain.

ALIEN SITUATION: STATUS QUO?

The illegal immigration reform bill was defeated in the Senate today. It's toast. This means that the more things stay the same, the more things stay the same. (Or does it?)

One detectable change is developing as a result of recent government raids on businesses hiring aliens and from public sentiment against these employers. We are beginning to see unemployed aliens. That's quite a rare sight. This presents a tremendous internal problem for America - a humanitarian one. But it's likely to slow the flow of illegal immigration.

The alien joblessness is caused not only by public pressure, but also from the real estate slowdown. Property values are actually nosediving and developers are waiting for a better time to get busy on projects. Those construction jobs could be years away.

How many millions of Mexicans will think about staying in Mexico or returning there?

It looks like the public will get what it wanted.

THE CIA ACTS IN YOUR NAME

How do you understand today's news? North Korea says it will halt all nuke weapons, President Olmert of Israel is in Egypt to discuss peace, illegal immigrants are complaining that they can't find work, Mitt Romney says he still can't think of anything worse than polygamy, gasoline sells for 11 cents a gallon in Venezuela, Paris Hilton is happy, Castro is alive and well in Cuba, people are shooting each other in Dixie, no accidents were reported on I-15, and the CIA is releasing classified documents to confirm decades of god-awful crimes.

The Central Intelligence Agency finally admits that it committed murder and other dastardly acts in your name. Torture of suspects is one of those and it continues all over Europe as the CIA transports detainees to nations which allow torture. The European Union investgative commission has records to prove more than a thousand agency flights have been made to move suspects from place to place. The torture and other crimes are done in your name.

The CIA is American. It's sponsored and funded by the U.S. Congress, which is comprised of representatives of the people.

The details of the crimes are to be made public this week. Too bad we can't impeach every elected official who gave approvals over the years.

May God forgive us.

~~~

Ramblings

* This guy Mitt is a corporate raider. Is that bad enough? He wants to double the size of Gitmo. He thinks polygamists are the worst. How about murderers, tyrants, litterbugs, and loiterers.

* Glenn Beck, like Rush whats-his-name, insists that few people lived to be 65 when Congress passed the Social Security law in 1935. That's almost too absurd to dispute. Folks over 65 made up more then 10% of the population in 1935.

* Congress is working on a bill called The Fairness Doctrine to bring other viewpoints - not just neocon - to the radio talk scene. Of course, the radio talk hosts are losing their minds, fearful of being silenced. Free speech has to be protected, but if the hosts would tell the truth just one day a week, the criticism would disappear.

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Help Wanted

Driver for television preacher who needs more time to think in the car. Candidates must have clean records. (Spiritual, not driving.) Call Stan, The Man.

Overheard

At the end of the bar at Only The Lonely: 'I've had a few problems adjusting to divorce. For one thing, I'm having to finish my own sentences."

THE LAW OF FOOD AND FORTUNE

LET'S GET FISCAL

Dr. Ira Longterm writes for us each Friday. He honors us by taking time from a busy schedule of consulting for The Pipedream Group, a think tank which he founded (and funded.) He also writes books on the political economy. His latest - You Don't Need Cash If You Know The Cashier - is such a seller that it's usually out of print.

The good doctor is one economist who works pro bono/ad hoc.

Dr. Longterm's White Paper #102

You don't have to be a universally revered, award-winning economist to notice that the people here (Dixiecats) go out to eat in a big way.

Now we hear disparaging remarks from lay folk suggesting that people should stay home and dine at the family table. That's quaint and would fit in nicely with family budgets and values, of course, but think about the economy as a whole. None of us is an island. What's good for The Bear Claw is good for Dixie.

The news is out about the exalted state of the state of Utah. The hills are alive with the sound of cash registers. Yes, people are dining out. It's no mere coincidence that we're doing well while going to restaurants in record numbers.

These boom times are actually the result of us hanging-out at the fast food joints, the cozy cafes and the swank spots where the elite meet to eat. Dining out is the engine propelling Dixie's bustling commerce - or my name isn't Dr. Ira Longterm.

Do the right thing. Eat out more, help create more jobs for workers whose incomes will be taxed, and notice the lighter tax burden. The additional tax revenues will mean decreased taxes on you, and you'll be able to afford to eat out even more. The never ending cycle of food and prosperity has to be sustained for continued success.

Eternal spending is to a healthy economy what eternal vigilance is to preserving liberty.

I hope you've learned Longterm's Law of Food and Fortune from this brief explanation. Let the concept seep into your mind, mull it over and treat a friend to lunch to discuss the idea.

Doubting Thomases might think about what would happen with a converse course of action. Stop eating out and you'll see a crowd gather at the unemployment office. Scaldoni's, McDonald's, Basila's, Rio's, The Olive Garden, and Applebees can't pay employees if you don't pay for meals. Your taxes would increase to pay the losses of tax revenues of those laid off.

Eat out, Dixiecats. It's your duty.

~~~

Until next Friday, keep the ferns circulating.

LET'S GET FISCAL

The esteemed economist, Dr. Ira Longterm, writes for us every Friday. He still consults for his think tank, The Pipedream Group, and is working on yet another book: You Don't Need Cash If You Know The Cashier.

Dr. Longterm's White Paper - June15, 2007

Thank you, readers. More than c e n s o r e d of you contacted The Dixie Thinker's headquarters in response to my column last week which suggested selling advertising space in the roundabouts. Many of you fine folks submitted inquiries. Questions deserve answers, so my space this Friday will consist of my replies.

Q. Will you please be serious for once? I have a sincere question. Here it is: Lenin boasted that he knew how to bring down the capitalist system. His plan was to cause us to destabilize or debauch our currency. Inflation could do that. We've had it all the time for several decades, so is it gradually happening as Lenin wished? - Peter of Luchenbach, TX

A. Yes, unless we learn - citizens and leaders - the nature of inflation, and act upon the knowledge before we go off the cliff. Inflation and rising prices are not the same animal. It's about time people stop saying the former when they mean the latter. The former usually causes the latter, and you can't control the latter until you hold down the former.

Deficit spending is the culprit because it makes the government print or borrow money to pay the bills. This increase in the money supply is inflation. It is hazardous to the health of the economy.

That is as serious as I can be.

Q. Has the Federal Reserve ever been audited? - Johnny of Lake Wobegon, MN

A. No. They wouldn't dare.

Q. Is there any gold in Fort Knox? - Sally of Wachoverya, UT

A. Doubt it. Maybe fool's gold.

Q. Is the stock market rigged? - Helen of Troy, NY

A. That depends on your definition of rig.

That's it for today. Until next Friday, keep your money circulating.

LET YOUR NEIGHBOR BE UGLY

The subject of unsightly yards in the neighborhood was discussed in a lively manner on The Forum, Bryan Hyde's radio show, KSUB 590 on the dial.

Most people get all steamed over how other folks' places appear. I guess if you live across the street, you want the sights to meet your standards. Great if they do, tough if they don't. The guy might not like the way you look either.

Many principles of anarchism were precious tenets of the founders of America. The philosophy of protecting and preserving the sacred rights of the individual prevailed for many generations before breaking down under the pressures of materialism and political influences such as socialism, communism, fascism, and even capitalism.

Government is government whether national, state, county, or municipal. Freedom-lovers pay too much attention to the oppressive acts of the pompous royalty in Washingotn, DC. But local government intervention is often more abusive and totalitarian than state or federal.

In every locality, you find breakdowns of privacy, responsiblity and individual rights. Group responsiblity is in fashion. As Hitler, Castro, Stalin, Mussolini, and the boys told us: "The individual belongs to the state." Americans - both liberal and conservative - seem to agree.

More and more municipalities have laws and ordinances to prohibit citizens from repairing or tinkering with machinery in their own backyards and garages. The stated purpose of government is ignored. Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry claimed governments were to protect our liberties - not to save our eyes from unsightly sights.

If the guy next door parks old French cars on the front lawn - his front lawn - it's none of government's business. Any offended neighbors well might approach the neighbor and protest. If the Citroens remain on his lawn, the best alternative would be to fall back and take joy that we live in a nation, state or community which butts out of affairs of taste. But such a philosophy no longer thrives in the sweet land of liberty. Many folks would move away from a neighborhood having bad taste, and they are free to go.

But wouldn't you prefer the company of a dude who exercises freedom on his own property to someone who is offended by it? We don't have Beauty & Perfect Order Police just yet. Think: "in the eye of the beholder" and "ain't nobody' business but my own."

Didn't Ford, Bell and Edison invent gadgets and devices at home? How miserable their miserable neighbors must have been Should we pity the thousands of Americans who have had the bad luck to reside next door to Amways distributors working out of their garages?

Liberty is first. It includes the right to use your property your way. You may watch over your own property, but not that of others.

Liberty is beautiful, in its own way.

~~~

Miscellany

* A Ross Perot type of candidate could have a lot to say in the presidential race. A third party or independent would attract millions of disgruntled and disillusioned voters.

* Your Utah Governor proclaims this to be "Lightning Awareness Week." Or is it next week? Either way, watch out.

* Nissan is working on plans to build an automobile for $3,000. That's three thousand dollars!

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Meeting & Events

* Men's Support Group is forming and will announce a date and meeting place as soon as permission is granted.

* The Guilt Trip Support Group is looking for more members. Be assured, we do not report anything to the authorities. We're not finks and snitches, just bad people.

Twenty-Years-From-Now News

Washington County Commissioners voted unanimously to install stop & go lights in each of the 317 roundabouts in the county in an effort to reduce accidents and road rage.

THE GROWTH MIGHT DIE OF THIRST

Vision Dixie is a fine group dedicated to positive growth and development. The cause is noble and very productive of good ideas, however, water might be the deciding factor.

The West has been in a general drought for a decade at least. Meanwhile, the greatest migration in the history of the world keeps on keeping on. Americans are still going west. But the available water is decreasing while the population increases disproportionately.

Right smack on top of this is global warming, which is a fact. The sun is getting hotter and so is Mars - the evidence is witnessed by telescope. Mankind should drop the guilt trip about causing global warming, but the hot cycle is of major significance in our lives. The warming accelerates the drought in the West.

Pipeline solutions might not work. They could turn into pipedreams if the water is not there to be piped. We're arid and becoming more so. We are not alone with this problem. Nevada is actively pulling water from underground aquifers near statelines. They've only just begun to steal water from Arizona and Utah in much the same way that Kuwait was slant drilling under Iraq to steal Iraq's oil. (Which was the reason Saddam invaded Kuwait.) Water is as valuable as oil when demand exceeds supply. Let's protect our water - invade Nevada. (It's a joke.)

The best answer is: Stop the Growth. If that's not enough, we might have to pay folks to leave. The Netherlands for many years would pay its citizens to leave because of an overcrowded problem. The government would pay half of your fare to anywhere. In the 1960s, I knew a Dutchman named Lustig, who was able to move from Holland to Australia, free, because the Aussies needed more population and would pay half of your fare - if you were a worthy new prospect - from anywhere.

What if the local municipal governments adopted a policy of paying Dixiecats to leave? Can you imagine being thirsty enough to accept a free one-way ticket from Mayor McArthur to fly to Seattle or Galveston? Drastic dilemmas demand drastic solutions.

Pray for rain, or we'll go from metro to ghost town in 80 days.

~~~

WE'RE ALL DOWNWINDERS NOW

Our Congressman Jim Matheson is a hero for his tireless work to end the nuke madness.

Senator Bunker-Busting Bob Bennett, on the other hand, has been a vigorous advocate of developing a nuclear capacity to destroy underground facilities of future opponents. He thinks about war too much. Let's think war no more, and strive to become a humanitarian superpower.

Lord, we don't need another warhead. There are warheads and smart bombs enough to fire. There are missiles and rockets enough to launch. Enough to last - till the end of tiime.

The House Appropriations Energy subcommittee recently stripped money out of the budget for a Reliable Replacement Warhead program. Congressman Matheson said, "This sends a message about what our long-term nuclear weapons policy will be."

Matheson's the man.

~~~

Other Hot Stuff

* Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry didn't want us to have presidents. Glancing at the list of candidates for the White House, you realize Tom and Pat were right. McCain and Giuliani - are you serious? Then there's corporate raider, Mitt, who wants to double the size of Gitmo, make health insurance mandatory and stay the course in Iraq. Go down the list until you reach the one who would preserve your liberties (the chief purpose of government.) That would be Ron Paul. None of the leaders want to play with him, he's no fun - he follows the Constitution.

* Do you know we are giving weapons and ammunition to the Sunnis to protect themselves against the Shiites? It's a civil war and we are choosing sides. The Iraqis kill us and they kill each other. Question: why stay there? Answer: oil. (Not our oil, Exxon/Mobil's.)

* Senator Joe Lieberman, who makes McCain and Giuliani appear sane, wants us to bomb Iran. Call the man with the net to get him out of here. Send him to Gitmo.

* Think back on the 9/11 hijacked flights. Why were some of them near empty? One plane was only 16% full, another 20%. How could that happen without tampering?

* The detainees at Gitmo are denied habeas corpus? That's wrong, but to Bush it's alright.

* Bush is home from a tour of Europe. He'll appear before Congress soon to try to push the illegal immigration bill into law. The proposals are thorny, disjointed and unenforceable. The aliens are expected to return to Mexico, pay $5,000 to get back to the USA.........like the song "It's Impossible."

The Dixie Thinker - serious fun - not for the snug and smug.

Meetings & Events

The committee to Stop The Growth will have its final meeting this Saturday. "We give up and want to get out of the way," said one of the members.

Help Wanted

Tailgating Trainers are in demand as new people move to Dixie. You can't drive here unless you tailgate. Experience and attitude can get you the job. Apply at 20 Bluff Street, St. George.

Overheard

At Only The Lonely bar: "We were intellectual opposites. She was intellectual, I was the opposite."

Personals

I only want a buddy, not a sweetheart. How about you? Write Monique, 606 Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Ivins, Utah.

CONFLICTS-OF-INTEREST

A friend pointed out to me that a conflict-of-interest is considered taboo in government, except here in Dixie. This is profound. An example that stands out is the interconnectedness of real estate and city/county officials.

The good 'ol boys of St. George have made a name for themselves - without naming names. Cronyism and inappropriate decisions should be exposed and challenged publically.

Divided loyalties can create unsavory, harmful situations. Even the appearance of potentially questionable motives is bad enough. An official, elected or not, must recuse himself from actions and decisions which might affect an honest carrying out of responsibilities.

As was printed here a few weeks ago, the Director of Homeland Security - Michael Chertoff - is a citizen of both Israel and the United States. It's an unacceptable condition at any level of government.

We shouldn't stand for it.

~~~

Hot News Bits

* President Bush visited Albania and was received like a hero. They like his demands that neighboring Kosovo be granted independence. Muslims dominate both regions, so that explains that.

* Two men fell to their deaths at Zion Park last week. Very tragic, but this would be a scandal with million dollar lawsuits if the park belonged to private concerns.

* Financial disclosure reports released on Friday revealed that seven justices on the U.S. Supreme Court are millionaires. A couple of them have more than 25 million. These money chasers also dominate the Senate. Certainly, a majority of senators are what we all would like to be: MILLIONAIRES. Could their riches color their thinking? Is wealth a conflict-of-interest?

* The renowned Boeing folks are being sued by Amnesty International for their part in arranging those CIA torture flights - at least 1,000 of them - to torture sites in Europe.

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Meetings & Events

* Classes on Feng Shui for men only. You' ll be surprised to learn how moving the tv just 10 feet can change your life. Starbucks on Thursdays at 7 PM.

* Important! Good 'ol boys meet to discuss land deal 217. Back room at Slippery Slope Saloon.
Same time and place.

Help Wanted

Volunteers to work in stores, hospitals, offices, and other demanding establishments. Great pay (personal satisfaction.)

For Sale

Scale. As is. Seems to be stuck on 268. Make an offer. Call Susan at Weight Watchers.

Twenty-Years-From-Now News

Governor Dan McArthur vows to fight the latest Divine Strake (number 17) and will set up public hearings soon.

Personals

* Nice woman would like to meet nice man, if that's not too much to ask. Write Box 111, Ivins.

* Me: messy, moody, mean. You: cheerful and financially secure. Call without delay - 699-4856