NO LIBERTY, NO PEACE

Please click in again on Monday, January 5, 2009 for essays, humor and advice to former members of the middle class.


It's all so simple.

DRIVE ONLY FORDS

Of the Big Three auto makers, only Ford says, "Thanks, but no thanks" to billions of taxpayer dollar grants and loans. Ford has about $20 billion on hand and takes the high road by telling Uncle Sam it doesn't need the help.

That's big. Ford should reap the public's favor and respect. Americans should reward business skills and high principles with their patronage. See the USA in a Ford.

Meanwhile, the government in Sweden granted about $3 billion to its auto manufacturers, especially Volvo. This is an example of what Detroit is up against when it competes with foreign cars in the market place.

Our best solution to that unfairness is to restore tariffs on all products coming into the U.S. which compete with vital-precious-established industry. Tariffs have fallen out of favor because of a mistaken interpretation of history. They need to be revisited because they protect jobs and investors - and produce revenue.


It's all so simple.

THE MIDDLE CLASS IS IN CHINA

The recent news of middle class people demonstrating and rioting in China is startling. The Chinese are supposed to be poor, never middle class, (especially under communism).

Our middle class disappeared - now we know where they went.

They went with the factories we exported, the tariffs we dropped, the outsourcing we encouraged, and the borders we didn't seal.

China adopted a blend of capitalism and fascism. Some call it state capitalism. They keep their communism merely for the civil rights side of things, you know: squelching individuality, liberty, killing unwanted babies, smashing printing presses, and arresting worshippers.

The industrialization of China created a middle class, largely on the basis of factory orders from America. Now our purchases are falling, so the Chinese middle class is losing employment. We terminated them again - the middle class.

But we miss them. They shall return, and next time we'll treat them with more respect.

It's all so simple.

FED UP WITH THE FED

A month ago The Fed announced that it had given out two trillion dollars in loans to unidentified recipients. This privately-owned corporation, posing as part of our national government, refuses requests for information regarding the transaction.

Citizens who care also want to know where these pseudo-patriots got the money and did any of it go to foreign banks of firms?

How will we learn the truth? Why the silence? Where are Hatch, Bennett and Matheson? Apparently, they're afraid to face up to the swindlers. And where are The Spectrum, The Wall Street Journal or the guy with half of his brain tied behind his back?

I mean holy $&*%$#@*.


Sometimes it's not all so simple.


Meetings & Events

Weekly meetings of Dixie Tailgaters and High Beamers will resume on the first Tuesday in January. Meanwhile, keep doing what you do best.

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

"Bush was in Iraq this week. Did the terrorists follow him home?"

NEW NEW DEAL

It's yesteryear all over again. An in-coming president scolds the out-going administration for causing a failing economy. He blames the latter's reckless spending, and then embarks on a similar but more massive plan. It's FDR revisited.

But unlike Roosevelt's "Nothing to fear but fear itself," the new leader tells us we have rough days ahead of us, and "things will get much worse."

One thing that has us all feeling more secure is Barrack's promise to not smoke in the White House. President Clinton didn't either, did he? That would rise to the level of impeachable.

Pay attention because you'll soon learn whether a nation can spend its way out of an economic recession/depression.You already know the answer, but the smooth-talking folks you elected need your guidance. Tell it to them straight.


It's all so simple.


Overheard in the back room at Frenchy's Cafe

"Slick Willie will be the new senator from New York. Now the fun begins."

"I wonder how many of those half million workers who lost their jobs last month had two jobs."

"I can believe anything now. I saw a picture of President Bush and Barbra Streisand kissing. Or maybe their doubles did it."

IT'S MIND BLOGGING

A health-advising, radio talk hostess broadcasting in St. George declared that vegetarians don't live as long as meat eaters, and God put sub-human creatures here for us to munch on. Listeners to talk radio have learned to stay calm when they hear falacious statements, so we didn't cuss or scream. We only winced.

Every study ever made supports the widely held belief that vegetarians outlive tbe beaf eaters. Also, they are healthier with much lower rates of cancer, heart disease and kidney failure.

As for Our Creator putting animals in the world to sustain us, we ask: "Does that include gorillas, scorpions, roaches, crocodiles, lizards, and mice?" Which Bible passage has a menu? Joseph Smith and Brigham Young had reservations (not in steak houses) about any kind of meat. The Word of Wisdom suggestion to eat meat "sparingly" is less popular than the warnings against wine, tobacco and hot drinks.

Dine on fruits, vegetables, grains, herbs, and nuts.


It's all so simple.

TIMID AUTO EXECS BEFORE CONGRESS

Sure, it's an obscene scene for America's proud chariot makers to go begging for taxpayers' money. But worse is the lack of self-respect these chief executive officers displayed when confronted by the lawyer-types in Congress who've never met a payroll, prepared a budget or changed a tire.

When scorned for flying private jet planes to Washington, at least one of them should have said: "A top executive's time is worth big money and precious to his company. Do you really believe he should sit in airports while waiting to fly commercial? Would you then ask why we fly first class? Senator Klaghorn, we fly on private planes to save work time for ourselves and our employees. Did you think we just want the comfort?

In 1957, General Motors president Charlie Wilson declared that, "What's good for GM is good for America." He wasn't vain or arrogant. He was right. Since then, you esteemed lawmakers have dropped tariffs on foreign-made cars, thus striking a blow against one of your nation's top industries. Also, the hefty revenues gathered by those tariffs had to be recovered by tax increases on our people.

Give them the money. Stop acting like it's gold or silver.


It's all so simple.


TWENTY-YEARS-FROM-NOW NEWS

Fidel Castro, the venerable ruler of Cuba, celebrated his 102nd birthday today by making a seven-hour speech extolling his place in history. Seated in the front row at Karl Marx auditorium was Elian Gonzales, the heir apparent if - heaven forbid - anything ever happens to the Maximum Leader. Gonzales quickly moved into favor after Fidel's estranged brother, Raul, defected to Miami years ago. When asked "To what do you attribute your longevity in life and politics?" Fidel replied: "I always tried to be kind to everyone, quit smoking Havanas at age 75, and stayed fit by dodging CIA hit men."

SEVEN OR EIGHT TRILLION, HO HUM

That kind of rounds it off after yesterday's 4.6 trillion. We're talking economy and bailout rescue cash and credit, don't you know?

There has never been a more urgent need for a public clamor for information and explanation of the actions of these financial powers who assume authority to act in our name.

Who are the people doing this and what are they up to? To think that The Fed can toss around two trillion dollars and refuse to name the recipients ought to jar the complacent and apathetic folks who populate this land. But that's not all - they doubled down, twice.

The dollar is being defaced by wild and unbacked currency creation. Our creditors have to wonder.

In the Great Depression, The Fed virtually killed the economy's recover by retracting the supply of currency. Now, in this time of credit freezes, job losses and investors' panic, The Fed goes far beyond too far in the other direction.

Intervention is much worse than inaction when it comes to markets and corrections in the economy. The guvmint should keep its filthy hands off.

Meanwhile, call the cops, wring your senator's neck, storm the Bastille, do something.

It's all so simple.

$700 BILLION MORPHED INTO $4.5 TRILLION

First, they (Paulson and Bush) came for 700 billion bucks. Next, the Fed announced that it had gone ahead and spread two trillion Federal Reserve notes to entities not identified - probably foreign banks. Now, the figure has risen to a total of four and one half trillion smackeroos.

And you thought it was your country; that Congress is the power; and talk of secret deals (conspiracies) is nuts. Please assign staff to look into this and have your people call my people.

Is it time to move to China? Or should we move on Washington?

Let's just abolish the Fed, return to gold money and shoot the 50 worst Congresspersons every year, as H.L. Mencken suggested.

It's all so simple.

WE DOTH PROTEST TOO LITTLE, ME THINKS

Our president tells us to support the bailouts because "your hometown bank might be in trouble."

Our president elect calls our economy "the worst in a century" and insists "things will get worse before getting better."

This shallow pair has scared many of us into actions which will fulfill their dire observations.

Even the not-too-swift Franklin Delano Roosevelt, a president whose nation was already in a real depression, knew enough to calm the people. "All we have to fear is fear itself," he said just before he turned around and installed a frightful New Deal.

Now the meddling begins. Guvmint will attempt to fix this and then correct that. They almost admit they don't know what to do, but they can't resist doing something.

Free enterprise was never free enough. It has a nature of cycles, brief and not deep, which are self-correcting. But the neosocialists don't have faith in freedom.

A Pressident Ron Paul would have had this crisis over by now, by adopting laissez faire policies.

It's all so simple.

AUTO MAINTENANCE

America has neglected its major industry. That would be automobiles, which comprise about one seventh of our economy, if you include related enterprises such as auto parts, fuel, etc.

In our penchant quest for national economic suicide, we dropped tariff protection on Henry Ford's invention.

Tariifs were great revenue producers before income taxes became the rage. Why shouldn't a nation protect its favorite, most exotic product against foreign competition which employs "coolie" labor costs plus sneaky government subsidies? Doesn't fair play mean anything?

Factories - especially car makers - are jewels on the American landscape. As they tend to disappear, for many despicable reasons, we should treat them with care.

The bad guys are trying to give "protectionism" a bad name. The opposite of protection would be neglect. We have a national duty to protect people and companies which provide jobs and advance our civilization. Sure, the American consumer pays more this way, but those are the costs you see. The hidden costs of lost industries are far greater.

Tariffs are the answer. We have tariffs to save our steel industry, why not for Buicks, Lincolns and Dodges?

Outlaw union strikes and add $3000 duties on every foreign-made chariot landing at our seaports. Forget the bailouts.

It's all so simple.

Overheard at Only The Lonely

"So the blog is back, huh?"

"You mean Dixie Thinker?"

"Whatever. Now they call it No Liberty, No Peace."

"Ya, that will last about two months."

"Two weeks."

Meetings & Events

At downtown library next Tuesday at 3 pm - English Immigrants Support Group demanding left turns on the roundabouts.

Free tea daily at Frenchy's to: "Welcome back, Snowbirds. We hope you remembered to bring your cash (Euros and Yen)."

In Town Square: Tug of war between gays who want to marry versus straights who want to live together in sin. No television coverage will be permitted.

HYPOCRITES EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK

Columnist Maureen Dowd was mentioned by The Spectrum's editor, Todd Seifert, as a prospective balance to the unbalanced Charles Krauthammer's anticipated addition to the editorial page.

Not really. Dowd is already writing her let's-get-the-cold-war- warmed-up-again columns in national papers. She blames Russia for the fighting and crisis in Georgia without even mentioning how Georgia came in shooting and killing the Ossetians they claimed to love. Georgian forces also killed 10 Russian peacekeepers who worked in Ossetia under international auspices. Refugees fled into Russia for safety.

Ossetia has never been a part of Georgia, and they refuse demands that they join the nation. Ossetians have had close ties to Russians, who have demonstrated sympathy with them for more than 15 years.

The attack by the Russian military on Georgia's invading army was natural and normal.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Hang Gliding

Several friends and relatives have noticed the absence of radio talk hosts who express sentiments against war, big oil, lobbyists, tax cuts only for top earners, our carefree health care system, corporate welfare, bank bail-outs, empire building, and deficit spending.

What's the reason for the one-sided broadcasts? I had believed that the public was not interested in anything but conservative and neocon prattle. Now, I've discovered the ownership situations in the news outlets. Major corporations hire the Seans, Rushes, Glenns, and Ollies to say what the corporations want said.

Overheard at Slippery Slope Saloon

"Senator John McCain said he doesn't know how many houses he owns. No more for me, bartender. I'm feeling kind of weak."

FRESH COLUMNISTS AT THE WAR PAPER

Editor Todd Seifert writes that he's considering adding Charles Krauthammer (aka Dr. Strangelove) to the editorial page of The Spectrum. Shock & awe - mostly shock.

I've been futilely chiding the hometown paper to inform us on the sanctions, depleted uranium, Blackwater security operations, and the new oil law written by our state department for the Iraq government. If Krauthammer ever mentions those, chances are he'll be in favor of them.

Many readers are still reeling over Senator Orrin Hatch's visit to The Spectrum. The senator claims we went to war to protect Israel. NOW, he tells us, six years after he voted to let our president attack for other reasons. Did the editors scold Hatch? Can a shrimp whistle?

The column by Spectrum's world-affairs-expert-for-20-years writer glorifies war enough without bringing in the ultimate jingoist. The editor plans to balance out this unbalanced writer with another columnist - probably Maureen Dowd.

Not enough. Pray for peace.

It's all so simple.

RON PAUL / RALPH NADER. THAT'S THE TICKET.

They both oppose war and intend to reduce self-serving corporate influences. Both know what they believe, with conviction. Paul and Nader would reform national health care. Yes, the former would encourage more freedom and alternative solutions; the latter would nationalize it. Either way would be better than the mess we have now which is riddled with graft, injustice and falling care.

A Paul-Nader team in the White House would deliver peace, balanced budgets, economic integrity, and confidence in the American people.

Paul and Nader; Peace and Prosperity.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Watching Truth Slip Slide Away:

The beat goes on. The armed forces of the nation of Georgia attacked its breakaway provinces of S. Ossetia and Abkhazia, which border Russia. A similar operation was undertaken years ago, and resulted in Russia sending in a permanent peacekeeping force under the auspices of an international agreement.

The breakaway provinces, especially Ossetia, declared their own independent nationhood at the same time as Georgia, when the Soviet Union fell apart. Georgia would not recognize Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, and became violent about it. The two provinces turned to Russia for recognition, trade and support. While broiling for about a decade, the situation was calmed by the presence of Russian peacekeepers and the expressions of friendship from Russian leaders such as Putin.

It was the Georgians who started the fighting and shooting this week. Georgian attacks killed 10 Russian civilians, peacekeepers who were there to prevent violence. Russia moved in to deny Georgia's annexations and to rescue its own people.

Instead of starting Cold War II, we should dig into the motives of Georgia's strange actions. The Georgian army was trained by American and Israei advisers. Hmmm.

Meetings & Events

The Dixie Pessimists' Club invites the public to Frenchy's to hear this month's speaker reveal the truth about growth, crime, water shortages, traffic, and affordable housing - which all are beyond solving. Reservations are required so call today, if it's not already too late. Seven pm on Tuesday.

SAD HISTORY

Hey, I found my way back from the tender trap they call San Diego. I know, you didn't miss me or call 911. It's okay, at least I escaped. More than a million people are permanently stuck there, with the lazy weather, the pounding surf, the addicting good feeling, etc. Whew!

Back in reality, I overheard four men talking - no, arguing - about why we attacked Iraq. What other war in our pretty noble history raises questions like this? One of the men in the discussion said, "It wasn't oil. We really thought they had WMD, so we had to go in there."

Another guy said, "We have to protect Israel. We were concerned that Saddam would go after them."

The third dude said, "I just believe we needed more bases in the area to insure peace and protect our interests. We have bases in Germany, Japan, Korea, and about 50 other spots. But we had very little power in the Middle East."

They wear me out. It's oil. Remember, the war was for oil. American and British companies drilled and pumped Iraq's oil before Saddam. Then he kicked them out. Now, Exxon, Chevron and British Petrol are back in Iraq, big time.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Looking for my Wallet

- Did you know that the president said he gave up chocolates because of the war? A few months later, he told the press that he'd given up playing golf because of the war.

- Suddenly, Iraq is back burner; Afghanistan is on the front; Iran is about to go into the oven.

- Friends, enemies and the undecided have insisted I clarify my recent remarks about our national currency. Here goes: Unbacked money is ultimately worthless and should be spent immediately upon receiving, before others realize how worthless it is.

Meeting & Events

- "Volunteers to leave Dixie" will meet Tuesday at 2 pm in the Convention Center. A large gathering is desired because this growth thing has gotten out of hand.

- Dr. Ira Longterm, economist, will speak on the prospects of paying people to emigrate from Dixie, thus mitigating the water problem. The project for a water pipeline from Lake Powell could be scrapped, and some of the $1,000,000,000 saved could be paid to those who get out of town. The public is invited to the talk to be given at the airport waiting room tonight at 7 pm.

START SPREADING THE NEWS

The recession is over. They never do last very long, which is the reason many folks don't know about them until they're gone. Yup, we had one and it pinched a bit. But the good days have returned, so it's back to our lattes, dinners and extravagances which employ so many good Americans and immigrants, keeping us out of another recession. You should tell any of your friends who've lost the faith that happy days are here again.

Maybe you haven't heard: our money is actually debt-based. We have to keep the stuff circulating. It's funny money; call it magic paper. You can't redeem it for anything, however, as long as people feel good they'll keep on feeling good.

What recession?

You heard it here first.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Waiting In Line:

The province of China that had the mammoth earthquake several weeks back counts five million homeless victims. They don't have a recession, either. And it's not a depression in China. The situation is a desperate life-or-death struggle to survive without shelter or provisions.

Overheard At Frenchy's

"How come these million dollar babies in the major leagues chew bubble gum?"

"Why is a foul ball in play in a baseball game?"

"What's with these candidates for president who walk around with their hands in their pockets. Ain't they got no class at all?"

Meeting & Events

The public is invited to a lecture at the main library, Friday 6 pm. A speaker from the Soul Travel club will address the Dixie Metaphysical Society on the topic: "Where to leave your body while you're out of it, so you can find it when you return."

NOT SURGE, SPLURGE

How could anyone not be relieved with the reduced killing in Iraq? For months, a civil war raged with American and Coalition forces caught in the middle. Then the famous surge was launched by our commander-in-chief. He sent 30,000 additional troops to add to the 120,000 already there. Well, what do you know? The fighting subsided and the civil war ended. The self praise and congratulations and boastings have filled the air ever since.

But wait, another factor entered in which was recently admitted but never received publicity. Our military stepped up its distribution of cash to combatants. Sort of a "Federal Reserve Notes for Peace" program. Several top Sunni Sheiks were paid top dollar to stop their forces from attacking Shiites, especially in Basra and Sadr City. With no exaggeration, we paid a few million here and several million there. Each soldier in the Sunni army of insurgents has averaged $300 per month from Uncle Sam. This was the case in at least six locations of Iraq. We bought the peace.

Call it Splurge. The vaunted Surge provided only a 20% increase in boots on the ground. Depositing millions of dollars into the right hands probably had much more impact.

We should recognize that Bush's stunning strategy of paying our enemies to stop their hostile actions far surpasses diplomacy as an alternative to fighting. $hock and awe. Bring 'em on $$$$. Mi$$ion accompli$hed.

$plurge. There's no blood spilled in a splurge.

It's all so simple.

Overheard At Only The Lonely

- "Yesterday, the president issued one of those executive orders to allow offshore drilling of oil. This man is slow, I mean backward. He just now thought of that? If I were the president, we'd be selling oil by now, not buying the stuff."

- "I don't follow the news but I recall that the Democrats won the last election, so I guess they ended the war like they said, huh? Tell me, did the enemy follow us home?"

Meetings & Events

- Claire Voyant, the internationally famous psychic will speak to her Dixie area followers in the main ballroom of the..........oh, you know.

- A party will be held to honor the 100th rider of the Sun Tran bus system. A prize of free rides for the month of August will be presented by our song-writing Senator Hatch, if he's not busy at the music awards. Watch for details.

WHAT'S THIS SOCIALISM?

In this United States of America, you think of banking and mortgage houses and brokerage firms as citadels of capitalism. So guess what happens when the going gets rough.

SOCIALISM.

They call in Karl Marx and the government bail-out crew to save them.

The free market would work, if we'd only try it sometime. The wise investors would win fortunes and the reckless ones would lose their shirts, at least. That would be free enterprise. But Americans who boast about it the most apparently don't really believe in it.

No wonder the poor people in this country don't want to pay taxes.

The government didn't bail out the small hardware stores and drug stores when Wal-Mart (subsidized by sweetheart deals with municipalities) came to town and used predatory pricing procedures to erase them.

No one rushed in to help mom and pop in the corner grocery stores when they were eaten alive by Krogers, Albertsons and Safeway.

The monster federal government isn't interested in you if you're small. I know a man who had seven employees and was turned down for a loan by the Small Business Administration. They told him, "Your business is too small."

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Sharpening My Pitchfork

We're going to wait 'til the midnight hour. You know the signal. When you receiveth it, goeth to the warehouse, and lock and load. The key is under the mat. Giveth them a chance to surrender.

Overheard At Frenchy's

"Whatever happened to Randolph Scott?"

Help Wanted

Commissioned gringo salesmen to market ladders ( 52 footers ) to future immigrants south of the new border wall in Arizona. Protected territories, huge demand, pay in pesos. Apply in person at construction site. Must be bilingual ( Spanish and Chinese.)

GUVMINT SNOOPS

Stop calling me. They're bugging my phone. Don't write to me either because I'm sure they're opening the mail. Meet me in the park or in my car.

The Senate approved The Great Dictator's request for still more wiretapping. (Our own Orrin Hatch was at the lead for this latest affront to our liberty.) What happened to the big-talking candidate? Well, he's no different, he went along with the fascist gang. Both Orrin and Obama voted against your privacy.

But we called him out on strikes months ago.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Changing A Tire

- The subject of foreign aid has been a touchy topic for years. Surprising to learn that the governments of Sweden and Japan give away far more money to needy nations than we do (on a per capita basis.)

- Let's see now. More than three million Iraqis have fled the country to become refugees in Jordan. Another 150,000 have died in the war. We killed one and one-half million young and elderly Iraqis with our 11-year blockade sanctions on food and medicine. Please add up the terrible total, I don't want to.

- My bank is giving away free popsicles to anyone who opens an account. I am so moved by this that I find it impossible to comment. There must be something here I don't comprehend.

Meetings & Events

Coalition support group for the persecuted minorities of Dixie meets on Saturday afternoons in Smith's parking lot. We're talking loiterers, scooter riders, the childless, tailgaters, jaywalkers, tatooed folks, and clueless people.

NO MORE SOUTHERN GOVERNORS

We'll have to change the Constitution to amend the qualifications for president, and bar governors from the South. If we had done this, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush would have been precluded, excluded and eluded.

If this proposal is debated, we'll be elated, inflated and satiated.

The heat in Georgia, Arkansas and Texas fries the brain, causing leadership qualities to melt too much for consideration as president.

Heat poses no such problem in Utah, Nevada and Arizona because it's a dry heat.

It's all so simple.

Thoughts While Jogging

In about 200 days the lame duck will be a dead duck.

Overheard at Frenchy's

"Isn't that Glenn Beck at the end of the bar?"

"Nah, he's just some omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent chatter box."

Twenty-years From Now News

The Olympics Committee has accepted the bid of St. George, Utah to host the 2032 summer games. City officials are making plans to curtail the smog and move the loiterers out of sight before the throngs of international travelers arrive.

Meetings & Events

- Support group for folks who don't have a support group will hold its first meeting in the library on Tuesday evening.

- Clock Watchers support group meets Wednesdays at Holiday Inn. Watch for time and date.

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