Why the U.S. Has Gone Broke

Source: Global Research - Chalmers Johnson

The military adventurers in the Bush administration have much in common with the corporate leaders of the defunct energy company Enron. Both groups thought that they were the "smartest guys in the room" -- the title of Alex Gibney's prize-winning film on what went wrong at Enron. The neoconservatives in the White House and the Pentagon outsmarted themselves. They failed even to address the problem of how to finance their schemes of imperialist wars and global domination.

As a result, going into 2008, the United States finds itself in the anomalous position of being unable to pay for its own elevated living standards or its wasteful, overly large military establishment. Its government no longer even attempts to reduce the ruinous expenses of maintaining huge standing armies, replacing the equipment that seven years of wars have destroyed or worn out, or preparing for a war in outer space against unknown adversaries. Instead, the Bush administration puts off these costs for future generations to pay or repudiate. This fiscal irresponsibility has been disguised through many manipulative financial schemes (causing poorer countries to lend us unprecedented sums of money), but the time of reckoning is fast approaching.

There are three broad aspects to the U.S. debt crisis. First, in the current fiscal year (2008) we are spending insane amounts of money on "defense" projects that bear no relation to the national security of the U.S. We are also keeping the income tax burdens on the richest segment of the population at strikingly low levels.

Second, we continue to believe that we can compensate for the accelerating erosion of our base and our loss of jobs to foreign countries through massive military expenditures -- "military Keynesianism" (which I discuss in detail in my book Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic). By that, I mean the mistaken belief that public policies focused on frequent wars, huge expenditures on weapons and munitions, and large standing armies can indefinitely sustain a wealthy capitalist economy. The opposite is actually true.

Third, in our devotion to militarism (despite our limited resources), we are failing to invest in our social infrastructure and other requirements for the long-term health of the U.S. These are what economists call opportunity costs, things not done because we spent our money on something else. Our public education system has deteriorated alarmingly. We have failed to provide health care to all our citizens and neglected our responsibilities as the world's number one polluter. Most important, we have lost our competitiveness as a manufacturer for civilian needs, an infinitely more efficient use of scarce resources than arms manufacturing.  Continue Reading

Jesse Ventura - True Patriot

Ron Paul - 20/20 interview Banned ABC interview

We the people

Men in Black

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Springfield's men in black are returning.

The city's new police commissioner, William Fitchet, says members of the department's Street Crime Unit will again don black, military-style uniforms as part of his strategy to deal with youth violence.

Fitchet's predecessor, Edward Flynn, had ditched the black attire as part of an effort to soften the image of the unit. Flynn left Springfield in January to become the police chief in Milwaukee.

Sgt. John Delaney told a city council hearing Wednesday that the stark uniforms send a message to criminals that officers are serious about making arrests.

Delaney said a sense of "fear" has been missing for the past few years.    Source: Fox News

My opinion:
They may be onto something here. New York city is doing something similar.
Watch the video

Now where is it in the constitution... that part about ruling by fear and intimidation?

Hmmm, Oh I know where I saw that. They also wore these cool little insignias to let you know that they meant business. This one is kinda scarey.   How bout this?

Harry Reid says taxes are voluntary

I think this video demonstrates at least two things.
1. Anyone could be a senator.
2. Harry Reid is an idiot or a liar; most likely both.

Wholesale Prices Soar in March, Up 1.1 %

WASHINGTON -- Inflation at the wholesale level soared in March at nearly triple the rate that had been expected as the costs of energy and food both climbed rapidly.

The Labor Department reported Tuesday that wholesale prices rose by 1.1 percent last month, the second largest increase in the past 33 years, exceeded only by a 2.6 percent rise last November. Analysts had been expecting a much more moderate 0.4 percent rise in wholesale prices for the month.

Core inflation, which excludes energy and food, was better behaved last month, rising by just 0.2 percent, down from a worrisome 0.5 percent rise in February.

For the past 12 months, wholesale prices are up by 6.9 percent and core inflation is up by 2.7 percent, the biggest year-over-year increase in nearly two years.

The inflation pressures are occurring at a time when the overall economy is slowing and many analysts believe may have toppled into a recession. That raises concerns that the country could be facing another bout of stagflation, the malady that last occurred in the 1970s when economic growth stagnated but inflation kept rising.

Such a development would put the Federal Reserve in a bind. The central bank has been cutting interest rates in an effort to combat the current slowdown. However, if inflation pressures keep rising, it might be forced to stop cutting interest rates for fear that it would make inflation worse.

For March, energy prices jumped 2.9 percent, the biggest increase since November. The price of gasoline was up 1.3 percent while natural gas rose by 4.2 percent. Home heating oil shot up by 13.1 percent and diesel fuel, used to power the nation's trucking fleet, increased by 15.3 percent.

Analysts believe the economy will be hit with more energy pressures in coming months, reflecting the fact that crude oil costs are remaining at record levels above $111 per barrel.

Food costs rose by 1.2 percent in March, reflecting big increases in the price of vegetables, rice, and beef.

Outside of food and energy, the price of soap and detergents jumped 2 percent, the biggest gain in more than two years, while pet food increased by 1.3 percent.

However, the price of new cars dropped by 0.2 percent and the cost of light trucks was down 0.3 percent, indicating the struggles that automakers face as a weak economy dampens demand.

The government will report on consumer prices on Wednesday with the expectation that they rose by 0.3 percent in March.

Source: MoneyNews - Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Statewide Voter Database

We were informed by the Secretary of State this last Saturday that since the election in 2004 they have removed over 400,000 dead people and felons. Yike! There is a new voter database administered by the Secretary of State. He also reported that the only county that was dragging its feet on this was (you guessed it); King county. I find this news a hopeful sign.
The news is especially poignant when one recalls that the last governors race was decided by 129 votes. Let's elect Dino Rossi to another term!

If you want more info about the Voter Registration Database click here!

Ben Stein's new movie - "Expelled : No Intelligence Allowed"

Ben Stein is taking up the defense of intelligent design. It will be opening April 18th only in theaters. I urge you to pass the word and support this film with your patronage.
Read more about it
View the movie trailer

Some sound doctrine

I listened to these and found them so interesting, I thought I'd share the links.
Roger Oakland
Emergent church part 1
Emergent church part 2
Emergent church part 3
Emergent church part 4
Emergent church part 5
Emergent church part 6
John MacArthur
The emergent church part 1
The emergent church part 2
How to test the spirits part 1
How to test the spirits part 2
How to test the spirits part 3
How to test the spirits part 4
How to test the spirits part 5
A call to discernment part 1
A Call to discernment part 2

False Teachers

"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but {wanting} to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths." 2Timothy 4:3,4 Also read 2 Peter 2.

The unbiblical musings of Paula White and friends


I found these on The Independent Conservative

Onward the Revolution!

by Pat Buchanan

Having cheerfully confessed he knows little about economics, John McCain is advancing himself as a foreign-policy president, a "realistic idealist," he told the World Affairs Council of Los Angeles.

But judging from the content of his speech, McCain is no more a realist than he is a reflective man.

Speaking of our five-year war in Iraq, McCain declares, "It would be an unconscionable act of betrayal, a stain on our character as a nation, if we were to walk away from the Iraqi people and consign them to the horrendous violence, ethnic cleansing, and possible genocide that would follow a reckless, irresponsible and premature withdrawal."

Fair point. There is surely a great risk in a too-rapid withdrawal.

But if a U.S. withdrawal, after 4,000 dead and 33,000 wounded, and a trillion dollars sunk, runs the risk of a genocidal calamity, what does that tell us about the wisdom of those who marched us into this war?

What threat did Saddam ever pose comparable to the cataclysm McCain says we face if we pull out? Who, Senator, put America on the horns of so horrible a dilemma?
Continue reading

Iraq ruling elite needs US troops to stay in power

"Samsonite Releases New Roller Wallet"

Source: The Onion

Celebrating the age of Bush

Marci Kaptur North American Union Cintra

One world government? Watch the video!