Sunday, June 6, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Profound story
I think this is a great blog.
If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.
While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.
Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.
And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!
How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.
How did I get here?
My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.
The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.
That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.
Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.
On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.
The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.
In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.
Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer… and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.
For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).
SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.
Note:
· “another person” is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.
· “taxpayer” is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.
· “individual”, “employee”, or “worker” is you.
Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.
During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.
After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.
Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.
Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.
Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.
By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.
To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.
So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.
When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to XXXX XXXX, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, XXXX knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.
This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.
I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.
As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.
I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.
I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.
I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.
The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.
Joe Stack (1956-2010)
02/18/2010
If you’re reading this, you’re no doubt asking yourself, “Why did this have to happen?” The simple truth is that it is complicated and has been coming for a long time. The writing process, started many months ago, was intended to be therapy in the face of the looming realization that there isn’t enough therapy in the world that can fix what is really broken. Needless to say, this rant could fill volumes with example after example if I would let it. I find the process of writing it frustrating, tedious, and probably pointless… especially given my gross inability to gracefully articulate my thoughts in light of the storm raging in my head. Exactly what is therapeutic about that I’m not sure, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
We are all taught as children that without laws there would be no society, only anarchy. Sadly, starting at early ages we in this country have been brainwashed to believe that, in return for our dedication and service, our government stands for justice for all. We are further brainwashed to believe that there is freedom in this place, and that we should be ready to lay our lives down for the noble principals represented by its founding fathers. Remember? One of these was “no taxation without representation”. I have spent the total years of my adulthood unlearning that crap from only a few years of my childhood. These days anyone who really stands up for that principal is promptly labeled a “crackpot”, traitor and worse.
While very few working people would say they haven’t had their fair share of taxes (as can I), in my lifetime I can say with a great degree of certainty that there has never been a politician cast a vote on any matter with the likes of me or my interests in mind. Nor, for that matter, are they the least bit interested in me or anything I have to say.
Why is it that a handful of thugs and plunderers can commit unthinkable atrocities (and in the case of the GM executives, for scores of years) and when it’s time for their gravy train to crash under the weight of their gluttony and overwhelming stupidity, the force of the full federal government has no difficulty coming to their aid within days if not hours? Yet at the same time, the joke we call the American medical system, including the drug and insurance companies, are murdering tens of thousands of people a year and stealing from the corpses and victims they cripple, and this country’s leaders don’t see this as important as bailing out a few of their vile, rich cronies. Yet, the political “representatives” (thieves, liars, and self-serving scumbags is far more accurate) have endless time to sit around for year after year and debate the state of the “terrible health care problem”. It’s clear they see no crisis as long as the dead people don’t get in the way of their corporate profits rolling in.
And justice? You’ve got to be kidding!
How can any rational individual explain that white elephant conundrum in the middle of our tax system and, indeed, our entire legal system? Here we have a system that is, by far, too complicated for the brightest of the master scholars to understand. Yet, it mercilessly “holds accountable” its victims, claiming that they’re responsible for fully complying with laws not even the experts understand. The law “requires” a signature on the bottom of a tax filing; yet no one can say truthfully that they understand what they are signing; if that’s not “duress” than what is. If this is not the measure of a totalitarian regime, nothing is.
How did I get here?
My introduction to the real American nightmare starts back in the early ‘80s. Unfortunately after more than 16 years of school, somewhere along the line I picked up the absurd, pompous notion that I could read and understand plain English. Some friends introduced me to a group of people who were having ‘tax code’ readings and discussions. In particular, zeroed in on a section relating to the wonderful “exemptions” that make institutions like the vulgar, corrupt Catholic Church so incredibly wealthy. We carefully studied the law (with the help of some of the “best”, high-paid, experienced tax lawyers in the business), and then began to do exactly what the “big boys” were doing (except that we weren’t steeling from our congregation or lying to the government about our massive profits in the name of God). We took a great deal of care to make it all visible, following all of the rules, exactly the way the law said it was to be done.
The intent of this exercise and our efforts was to bring about a much-needed re-evaluation of the laws that allow the monsters of organized religion to make such a mockery of people who earn an honest living. However, this is where I learned that there are two “interpretations” for every law; one for the very rich, and one for the rest of us… Oh, and the monsters are the very ones making and enforcing the laws; the inquisition is still alive and well today in this country.
That little lesson in patriotism cost me $40,000+, 10 years of my life, and set my retirement plans back to 0. It made me realize for the first time that I live in a country with an ideology that is based on a total and complete lie. It also made me realize, not only how naive I had been, but also the incredible stupidity of the American public; that they buy, hook, line, and sinker, the crap about their “freedom”… and that they continue to do so with eyes closed in the face of overwhelming evidence and all that keeps happening in front of them.
Before even having to make a shaky recovery from the sting of the first lesson on what justice really means in this country (around 1984 after making my way through engineering school and still another five years of “paying my dues”), I felt I finally had to take a chance of launching my dream of becoming an independent engineer.
On the subjects of engineers and dreams of independence, I should digress somewhat to say that I’m sure that I inherited the fascination for creative problem solving from my father. I realized this at a very young age.
The significance of independence, however, came much later during my early years of college; at the age of 18 or 19 when I was living on my own as student in an apartment in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. My neighbor was an elderly retired woman (80+ seemed ancient to me at that age) who was the widowed wife of a retired steel worker. Her husband had worked all his life in the steel mills of central Pennsylvania with promises from big business and the union that, for his 30 years of service, he would have a pension and medical care to look forward to in his retirement. Instead he was one of the thousands who got nothing because the incompetent mill management and corrupt union (not to mention the government) raided their pension funds and stole their retirement. All she had was social security to live on.
In retrospect, the situation was laughable because here I was living on peanut butter and bread (or Ritz crackers when I could afford to splurge) for months at a time. When I got to know this poor figure and heard her story I felt worse for her plight than for my own (I, after all, I thought I had everything to in front of me). I was genuinely appalled at one point, as we exchanged stories and commiserated with each other over our situations, when she in her grandmotherly fashion tried to convince me that I would be “healthier” eating cat food (like her) rather than trying to get all my substance from peanut butter and bread. I couldn’t quite go there, but the impression was made. I decided that I didn’t trust big business to take care of me, and that I would take responsibility for my own future and myself.
Return to the early ‘80s, and here I was off to a terrifying start as a ‘wet-behind-the-ears’ contract software engineer… and two years later, thanks to the fine backroom, midnight effort by the sleazy executives of Arthur Andersen (the very same folks who later brought us Enron and other such calamities) and an equally sleazy New York Senator (Patrick Moynihan), we saw the passage of 1986 tax reform act with its section 1706.
For you who are unfamiliar, here is the core text of the IRS Section 1706, defining the treatment of workers (such as contract engineers) for tax purposes. Visit this link for a conference committee report (http://www.synergistech.com/1706.shtml#ConferenceCommitteeReport) regarding the intended interpretation of Section 1706 and the relevant parts of Section 530, as amended. For information on how these laws affect technical services workers and their clients, read our discussion here (http://www.synergistech.com/ic-taxlaw.shtml).
SEC. 1706. TREATMENT OF CERTAIN TECHNICAL PERSONNEL.
(a) IN GENERAL - Section 530 of the Revenue Act of 1978 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new subsection:
(d) EXCEPTION. - This section shall not apply in the case of an individual who pursuant to an arrangement between the taxpayer and another person, provides services for such other person as an engineer, designer, drafter, computer programmer, systems analyst, or other similarly skilled worker engaged in a similar line of work.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE. - The amendment made by this section shall apply to remuneration paid and services rendered after December 31, 1986.
Note:
· “another person” is the client in the traditional job-shop relationship.
· “taxpayer” is the recruiter, broker, agency, or job shop.
· “individual”, “employee”, or “worker” is you.
Admittedly, you need to read the treatment to understand what it is saying but it’s not very complicated. The bottom line is that they may as well have put my name right in the text of section (d). Moreover, they could only have been more blunt if they would have came out and directly declared me a criminal and non-citizen slave. Twenty years later, I still can’t believe my eyes.
During 1987, I spent close to $5000 of my ‘pocket change’, and at least 1000 hours of my time writing, printing, and mailing to any senator, congressman, governor, or slug that might listen; none did, and they universally treated me as if I was wasting their time. I spent countless hours on the L.A. freeways driving to meetings and any and all of the disorganized professional groups who were attempting to mount a campaign against this atrocity. This, only to discover that our efforts were being easily derailed by a few moles from the brokers who were just beginning to enjoy the windfall from the new declaration of their “freedom”. Oh, and don’t forget, for all of the time I was spending on this, I was loosing income that I couldn’t bill clients.
After months of struggling it had clearly gotten to be a futile exercise. The best we could get for all of our trouble is a pronouncement from an IRS mouthpiece that they weren’t going to enforce that provision (read harass engineers and scientists). This immediately proved to be a lie, and the mere existence of the regulation began to have its impact on my bottom line; this, of course, was the intended effect.
Again, rewind my retirement plans back to 0 and shift them into idle. If I had any sense, I clearly should have left abandoned engineering and never looked back.
Instead I got busy working 100-hour workweeks. Then came the L.A. depression of the early 1990s. Our leaders decided that they didn’t need the all of those extra Air Force bases they had in Southern California, so they were closed; just like that. The result was economic devastation in the region that rivaled the widely publicized Texas S&L fiasco. However, because the government caused it, no one gave a shit about all of the young families who lost their homes or street after street of boarded up houses abandoned to the wealthy loan companies who received government funds to “shore up” their windfall. Again, I lost my retirement.
Years later, after weathering a divorce and the constant struggle trying to build some momentum with my business, I find myself once again beginning to finally pick up some speed. Then came the .COM bust and the 911 nightmare. Our leaders decided that all aircraft were grounded for what seemed like an eternity; and long after that, ‘special’ facilities like San Francisco were on security alert for months. This made access to my customers prohibitively expensive. Ironically, after what they had done the Government came to the aid of the airlines with billions of our tax dollars … as usual they left me to rot and die while they bailed out their rich, incompetent cronies WITH MY MONEY! After these events, there went my business but not quite yet all of my retirement and savings.
By this time, I’m thinking that it might be good for a change. Bye to California, I’ll try Austin for a while. So I moved, only to find out that this is a place with a highly inflated sense of self-importance and where damn little real engineering work is done. I’ve never experienced such a hard time finding work. The rates are 1/3 of what I was earning before the crash, because pay rates here are fixed by the three or four large companies in the area who are in collusion to drive down prices and wages… and this happens because the justice department is all on the take and doesn’t give a fuck about serving anyone or anything but themselves and their rich buddies.
To survive, I was forced to cannibalize my savings and retirement, the last of which was a small IRA. This came in a year with mammoth expenses and not a single dollar of income. I filed no return that year thinking that because I didn’t have any income there was no need. The sleazy government decided that they disagreed. But they didn’t notify me in time for me to launch a legal objection so when I attempted to get a protest filed with the court I was told I was no longer entitled to due process because the time to file ran out. Bend over for another $10,000 helping of justice.
So now we come to the present. After my experience with the CPA world, following the business crash I swore that I’d never enter another accountant’s office again. But here I am with a new marriage and a boatload of undocumented income, not to mention an expensive new business asset, a piano, which I had no idea how to handle. After considerable thought I decided that it would be irresponsible NOT to get professional help; a very big mistake.
When we received the forms back I was very optimistic that they were in order. I had taken all of the years information to XXXX XXXX, and he came back with results very similar to what I was expecting. Except that he had neglected to include the contents of Sheryl’s unreported income; $12,700 worth of it. To make matters worse, XXXX knew all along this was missing and I didn’t have a clue until he pointed it out in the middle of the audit. By that time it had become brutally evident that he was representing himself and not me.
This left me stuck in the middle of this disaster trying to defend transactions that have no relationship to anything tax-related (at least the tax-related transactions were poorly documented). Things I never knew anything about and things my wife had no clue would ever matter to anyone. The end result is… well, just look around.
I remember reading about the stock market crash before the “great” depression and how there were wealthy bankers and businessmen jumping out of windows when they realized they screwed up and lost everything. Isn’t it ironic how far we’ve come in 60 years in this country that they now know how to fix that little economic problem; they just steal from the middle class (who doesn’t have any say in it, elections are a joke) to cover their asses and it’s “business-as-usual”. Now when the wealthy fuck up, the poor get to die for the mistakes… isn’t that a clever, tidy solution.
As government agencies go, the FAA is often justifiably referred to as a tombstone agency, though they are hardly alone. The recent presidential puppet GW Bush and his cronies in their eight years certainly reinforced for all of us that this criticism rings equally true for all of the government. Nothing changes unless there is a body count (unless it is in the interest of the wealthy sows at the government trough). In a government full of hypocrites from top to bottom, life is as cheap as their lies and their self-serving laws.
I know I’m hardly the first one to decide I have had all I can stand. It has always been a myth that people have stopped dying for their freedom in this country, and it isn’t limited to the blacks, and poor immigrants. I know there have been countless before me and there are sure to be as many after. But I also know that by not adding my body to the count, I insure nothing will change. I choose to not keep looking over my shoulder at “big brother” while he strips my carcass, I choose not to ignore what is going on all around me, I choose not to pretend that business as usual won’t continue; I have just had enough.
I can only hope that the numbers quickly get too big to be white washed and ignored that the American zombies wake up and revolt; it will take nothing less. I would only hope that by striking a nerve that stimulates the inevitable double standard, knee-jerk government reaction that results in more stupid draconian restrictions people wake up and begin to see the pompous political thugs and their mindless minions for what they are. Sadly, though I spent my entire life trying to believe it wasn’t so, but violence not only is the answer, it is the only answer. The cruel joke is that the really big chunks of shit at the top have known this all along and have been laughing, at and using this awareness against, fools like me all along.
I saw it written once that the definition of insanity is repeating the same process over and over and expecting the outcome to suddenly be different. I am finally ready to stop this insanity. Well, Mr. Big Brother IRS man, let’s try something different; take my pound of flesh and sleep well.
The communist creed: From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.
The capitalist creed: From each according to his gullibility, to each according to his greed.
Joe Stack (1956-2010)
02/18/2010
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Truth About Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln, the 16th and one of the most favorably remembered American Presidents, would've been 201 years old had he still been alive on Friday. Tomorrow is Presidents Day.
Lincoln ranks high among Americans and scholars alike as one of the "greatest" of American leaders. His assassination made him a national martyr. His image is preserved in the Lincoln Memorial, the five dollar bill, the penny, and Mount Rushmore. Many places important to Lincoln's life are today museums and monuments. Illinois is known as "the Land of Lincoln" and the slogan is included on license plates. The capital of Nebraska is named after Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln has always been portrayed by writers, historians, and teachers as the great champion of equality and liberty for all. He is said to have fought for the rights of all people, regardless of skin color. "Honest Abe" is said to have "freed the slaves".
Like many things I've now written about, none of these common beliefs could be further from the truth.
Abraham Lincoln was anything but a champion of equal rights.
Lincoln's ideological hero was Henry Clay: the 19th century statesman and orator. He described Clay as
In 1857, Lincoln voiced his opposition to admitting Kansas into the Union as a slave state, saying
Speaking again in Springfield, Illinois in July of 1858, Lincoln said,
In am 1858 debate with fellow candidate for president Stephen Douglas, Lincoln further articulated his views on race-relations,
As president, in 1862, Lincoln said to a group of black community leaders at the White House,
These few quotes prove that Abraham Lincoln was just the opposite of his favored historical portrayal: the "Great Emancipator" was a typical 19th century racist, and supported efforts to forcibly relocate African slaves from the American continent. His waging war upon the South was only in an (unconstitutional) attempt to keep the Union together, something historians of all creeds generally concede today.
Lincoln ranks high among Americans and scholars alike as one of the "greatest" of American leaders. His assassination made him a national martyr. His image is preserved in the Lincoln Memorial, the five dollar bill, the penny, and Mount Rushmore. Many places important to Lincoln's life are today museums and monuments. Illinois is known as "the Land of Lincoln" and the slogan is included on license plates. The capital of Nebraska is named after Lincoln.
Abraham Lincoln has always been portrayed by writers, historians, and teachers as the great champion of equality and liberty for all. He is said to have fought for the rights of all people, regardless of skin color. "Honest Abe" is said to have "freed the slaves".
Like many things I've now written about, none of these common beliefs could be further from the truth.
Abraham Lincoln was anything but a champion of equal rights.
Lincoln's ideological hero was Henry Clay: the 19th century statesman and orator. He described Clay as
my beau ideal of a statesman, the man for whom I fought all of my humble life.Clay lead the American Colonization Society, a group which called for the return of slaves in America to Africa. Lincoln joined Clay's Whig Party in the 1830's. He delivered a passionate eulogy of Clay in 1852, even quoting him,
There is a moral fitness in the idea of returning to Africa her children.He ended with,
If as the friends of colonization hope, the present and coming generations of our countrymen shall by any means succeed in freeing our land from the dangerous presence of slavery, and, at the same time, in restoring a captive people to their long-lost fatherland, with bright prospects for the future, and this too, so gradually, that neither races nor individuals shall have suffered by the change, it will indeed be a glorious consummation.
In 1857, Lincoln voiced his opposition to admitting Kansas into the Union as a slave state, saying
There is a natural disgust in the minds of nearly all white people to the idea of indiscriminate amalgamation of the white and black races ... A separation of the races is the only perfect preventive of amalgamation, but as an immediate separation is impossible, the next best thing is to keep them apart where they are not already together. If white and black people never get together in Kansas, they will never mix blood in Kansas ...
Speaking again in Springfield, Illinois in July of 1858, Lincoln said,
What I would most desire would be the separation of the white and black races.
In am 1858 debate with fellow candidate for president Stephen Douglas, Lincoln further articulated his views on race-relations,
I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in any way the social and political equality of the white and black races...The crowd cheered, and Lincoln continued,
...that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which will ever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together, there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I, as much as any other man, am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race.
As president, in 1862, Lincoln said to a group of black community leaders at the White House,
See our present condition---the country engaged in war! Our white men cutting one another's throats! And then consider what we know to be the truth. But for your race among us there could not be war, although many men engaged on either side do not care for you one way or another.
Why should the people of your race be colonized, and where? Why should they leave this country? This is, perhaps, the first question for proper consideration. You and we are different races. We have between us a broader difference than exists between almost any other two races. Whether it is right or wrong I need not discuss, but this physical difference is a great disadvantage to us both, as I think your race suffer very greatly, many of them by living among us, while ours suffer from your presence. In a word, we suffer on each side. If this be admitted, it affords a reason at least why we should be separated. It is better for both, therefore, to be separated.
These few quotes prove that Abraham Lincoln was just the opposite of his favored historical portrayal: the "Great Emancipator" was a typical 19th century racist, and supported efforts to forcibly relocate African slaves from the American continent. His waging war upon the South was only in an (unconstitutional) attempt to keep the Union together, something historians of all creeds generally concede today.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Who is Scott Brown?
Prospects for the GOP are huge in the Massachusetts special election for US Senate set for next Tuesday. A Republican victory could mean destroying the Democratic supermajority in the Senate and hence a possible end to ObamaCare. The seat has been held by the Democrats since JFK, and I heard on the radio that no one this conservative has ever done so well in Massachusetts.
But just who is Scott Brown?
Scott Brown is not a conservative. Scott Brown is a progressive neoconservative. According to the Washington Post, Scott Brown
Just listen to how Scott Brown describes himself:
"I’m going to be the only person down there who is going to be the independent voter and thinker"
Brown, one of only five Republican senators in the 40-member Massachusetts state senate, also describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially conscious."
Scott Brown says "the mission is not over" in Afghanistan, and supported President Obama's troop surge.
Brown supported the 2006 RomneyCare "reform" in Massachusetts, which forces all residents to buy health insurance. He said in an interview with Sean Hannity that the current "reform" being proposed by the Democrats in Washington is a bad idea because it would "cut half a trillion for Medicare".
Scott Brown called Roe vs. Wade "the law of the land". He supports the "right" to on-demand, unlimited, legalized abortion. The Boston Globe called his abortion views "nuanced".
Scott Brown voted for a regional cap-and-trade system in his state, which the Boston Globe says increased energy prices in the Northeast.
Scott Brown = neoconservative
A neoconservative is NOT a conservative.
I'd encourage everyone to learn more about the true conservative in the race, a libertarian tea party activist, Joe Kennedy.
Let's support a true conservative in this race. I've heard a lot of people say they won't support Joe Kennedy because he'd be a spoiler for Brown. "We need that seat to defeat ObamaCare," they say.
But just how much truth is behind this? Let's look at some facts.
1. The Democrats have a goal of finishing all reconciliation done and moving to a vote by the close of the month. They want the president to sign it into law before the State of the Union.
2. The election is Tuesday, January 19th. Under state law, the governor cannot certify an election until AT LEAST a week after the election. BUT the election results cannot be certified until all municipalities have certified their local results. Municipalites have 15 days to do this. It could be February 3rd before the (Democratic) governor even looks at the results.
And even if Scott Brown DOES win the race (which is unlikely), and takes office before the ObamaCare vote (even more unlikely), is it really safe to assume that he would vote against the "reform"? Remember how he voted on RomneyCare?
But just who is Scott Brown?
Scott Brown is not a conservative. Scott Brown is a progressive neoconservative. According to the Washington Post, Scott Brown
is an insurgent who was somewhat disconnected from the national Republican Party.
Just listen to how Scott Brown describes himself:
"I’m going to be the only person down there who is going to be the independent voter and thinker"
Brown, one of only five Republican senators in the 40-member Massachusetts state senate, also describes himself as “fiscally conservative and socially conscious."
Scott Brown says "the mission is not over" in Afghanistan, and supported President Obama's troop surge.
Brown supported the 2006 RomneyCare "reform" in Massachusetts, which forces all residents to buy health insurance. He said in an interview with Sean Hannity that the current "reform" being proposed by the Democrats in Washington is a bad idea because it would "cut half a trillion for Medicare".
Scott Brown called Roe vs. Wade "the law of the land". He supports the "right" to on-demand, unlimited, legalized abortion. The Boston Globe called his abortion views "nuanced".
Scott Brown voted for a regional cap-and-trade system in his state, which the Boston Globe says increased energy prices in the Northeast.
Scott Brown = neoconservative
A neoconservative is NOT a conservative.
I'd encourage everyone to learn more about the true conservative in the race, a libertarian tea party activist, Joe Kennedy.
Let's support a true conservative in this race. I've heard a lot of people say they won't support Joe Kennedy because he'd be a spoiler for Brown. "We need that seat to defeat ObamaCare," they say.
But just how much truth is behind this? Let's look at some facts.
1. The Democrats have a goal of finishing all reconciliation done and moving to a vote by the close of the month. They want the president to sign it into law before the State of the Union.
2. The election is Tuesday, January 19th. Under state law, the governor cannot certify an election until AT LEAST a week after the election. BUT the election results cannot be certified until all municipalities have certified their local results. Municipalites have 15 days to do this. It could be February 3rd before the (Democratic) governor even looks at the results.
And even if Scott Brown DOES win the race (which is unlikely), and takes office before the ObamaCare vote (even more unlikely), is it really safe to assume that he would vote against the "reform"? Remember how he voted on RomneyCare?
Monday, December 28, 2009
A New Look At Joseph McCarthy
It is of value to note that after a century, the Communist ideology has brought nothing to the world other than over a hundred million corpses. From Stalin's kulaks to his forced Ukrainian famine, to Mao's "Great Leap Forward", to Khmer Rouge's slaughter of one fourth the Cambodian population, Communism led to genocides many times greater than the Holocaust.
Most Americans have grown up believing that during the 50's, a junior senator from Wisconsin exploited the paranoia of millions to boost his own undistinguished career. From his investigation of the Voice of America broadcast service, to the U.S. Army, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that many government agencies had been infiltrated by the Communists.
Even most conservatives still accept the common view of Senator McCarthy. But today many authors, including William Norman Grigg, Medford Stanton Evans, and Ann Coulter, believe his place in history deserves a new look.
Here’s a quick look at some facts:
The Soviet Union had used Communist, leftist, or just plain greedy U.S. citizens to carry out espionage activities in America since the 20’s.
The GRU worked throughout the 1930’s to create a network of spies in FDR’s administration. These included Alger Hiss, Lee Pressman, and John Abt.
American editor and writer Whittaker Chambers spied for the Soviets but later denounced Communism. Chambers testified against Alger Hiss for perjury and espionage in 1948. A list of other accused Soviet spies working with Chambers included:
Victor Perlo, head of the Aviation Section at the War Production Board. He later joined the Treasury Department;
Henry Collins, who worked for the National Recovery Agency and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration;
Donald Hiss, Alger’s brother, Donald worked for the State Department;
Lee Pressman, assistant general counsel of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration;
Nathaniel Weyl, an author;
Charles Kramer, who worked for the Department of Labor;
John Herrman, author, who worked for the AAA;
Nathan Witt, employed by the Labor Department and the AAA;
Marion Bachrach, office manager for Representative John Bernard;
and George Silverman, employed by the Railroad Retirement Board, Federal Coordinator of Transport, U.S. Tariff Commission, and NRA.
Other liberal Americans tied to the Soviets included Jacob Golos and Elizabeth Bentley. Nathan Gregory Silvermaster and Harry Dexter White, two Treasury Department officials, were Communists.
Journalist Walter Duranty of the New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932. Duranty’s work was highly biased in favor of the Soviets, and he even covered up Josef Stalin’s forced famine of the Ukranians. The Pulitzer has never been revoked.
Joe McCarthy was attacked by liberals for his 1953-54 investigations of security at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In 1979, Senator Barry Goldwater addressed the reason the Army's secret Fort Monmouth operations had been moved to Arizona in his book With no apologies:
Carl Bernstein, son of American communists Albert and Sylvia Bernstein, released a book titled Loyalties: A Son’s Memoir in 1989. Albert Bernstein voiced fear that the book would prove all of McCarthy’s claims right:
The truth is, hundreds of American liberals had secret ties to the Soviet Union. Joseph McCarthy’s claims may not have been so far-fetched after all.
Images used in the post above were found at 'insert link'. These images are not my own. I am using these copyrighted images under the fair use of copyrighted works by providing comment and critique.
Most Americans have grown up believing that during the 50's, a junior senator from Wisconsin exploited the paranoia of millions to boost his own undistinguished career. From his investigation of the Voice of America broadcast service, to the U.S. Army, Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that many government agencies had been infiltrated by the Communists.
Even most conservatives still accept the common view of Senator McCarthy. But today many authors, including William Norman Grigg, Medford Stanton Evans, and Ann Coulter, believe his place in history deserves a new look.
Here’s a quick look at some facts:
The Soviet Union had used Communist, leftist, or just plain greedy U.S. citizens to carry out espionage activities in America since the 20’s.
The GRU worked throughout the 1930’s to create a network of spies in FDR’s administration. These included Alger Hiss, Lee Pressman, and John Abt.
American editor and writer Whittaker Chambers spied for the Soviets but later denounced Communism. Chambers testified against Alger Hiss for perjury and espionage in 1948. A list of other accused Soviet spies working with Chambers included:
Victor Perlo, head of the Aviation Section at the War Production Board. He later joined the Treasury Department;
Henry Collins, who worked for the National Recovery Agency and the Agricultural Adjustment Administration;
Donald Hiss, Alger’s brother, Donald worked for the State Department;
Lee Pressman, assistant general counsel of the Agricultural Adjustment Administration;
Nathaniel Weyl, an author;
Charles Kramer, who worked for the Department of Labor;
John Herrman, author, who worked for the AAA;
Nathan Witt, employed by the Labor Department and the AAA;
Marion Bachrach, office manager for Representative John Bernard;
and George Silverman, employed by the Railroad Retirement Board, Federal Coordinator of Transport, U.S. Tariff Commission, and NRA.
Other liberal Americans tied to the Soviets included Jacob Golos and Elizabeth Bentley. Nathan Gregory Silvermaster and Harry Dexter White, two Treasury Department officials, were Communists.
Journalist Walter Duranty of the New York Times won a Pulitzer Prize in 1932. Duranty’s work was highly biased in favor of the Soviets, and he even covered up Josef Stalin’s forced famine of the Ukranians. The Pulitzer has never been revoked.
Joe McCarthy was attacked by liberals for his 1953-54 investigations of security at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. In 1979, Senator Barry Goldwater addressed the reason the Army's secret Fort Monmouth operations had been moved to Arizona in his book With no apologies:
Carl Hayden, who in January 1955 became chairman of the powerful Appropriations Committee of the United States Senate, told me privately Monmouth had been moved because he and other members of the majority Democratic Party were convinced security at Monmouth had been penetrated. They didn't want to admit that McCarthy was right in his accusations. Their only alternative was to move the installation from New Jersey to a new location in Arizona.
Carl Bernstein, son of American communists Albert and Sylvia Bernstein, released a book titled Loyalties: A Son’s Memoir in 1989. Albert Bernstein voiced fear that the book would prove all of McCarthy’s claims right:
You're going to prove [Sen. Joseph] McCarthy was right, because all he was saying is that the system was loaded with Communists. And he was right. ... I'm worried about the kind of book you're going to write and about cleaning up McCarthy. The problem is that everybody said he was a liar; you're saying he was right. ... I agree that the Party was a force in the country.
The truth is, hundreds of American liberals had secret ties to the Soviet Union. Joseph McCarthy’s claims may not have been so far-fetched after all.
Images used in the post above were found at 'insert link'. These images are not my own. I am using these copyrighted images under the fair use of copyrighted works by providing comment and critique.
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Case Against A Surge In Afghanistan
As a mother of a deployed soldier who admits they are creating more Taliban than they can kill, thank you for a great article. --Suzanne Brownlow, Communications Director of Oregon Constitution Party
“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.” Thomas Jefferson
“Occupation will never bring liberation, and it is impossible to bring democracy by war.” -- Malalai Joya
Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States initiated Operation Enduring Freedom in October of 2001. The Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, and was overthrown. The United States and Coalition forces set out to transform a country where most citizens live on less than two dollars a day.
Eight years later, with a constitution, president, and legislature chosen, General Stanley McCrystal has asked President Obama to send the country another 40,000 troops.
Obama, who campaigned as the anti-war candidate in the 2008 election, has accepted the general’s request. So much for the two party system.
President Obama is sending more troops to a country to fight the resurgence of a group supposedly eliminated 8 years ago.
The Taliban controls 80% of Afghanistan, more of the country than when Coalition forces first invaded. The Afghan government controls only 20% of it’s country, mostly the major population centers. President Obama will send 40,000 troops to control over 40,000 villages in rural areas that most Afghan governments haven’t been able to control for 200 years.
With just a mere glance at these facts, the prospects are dim. But what has a troop presence in the country really helped in the last eight years?
We rightfully invaded Afghanistan to bring the ones behind 9/11 to justice. The country has a president, a constitution, and a government.
Despite all of this, the Taliban is being revived. More forces have been requested, and more will be sent.
And for what? Nearly 1,000 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan in the last eight years, and nearly 5,000 wounded. About 400 Coalition troops from other countries have been killed. Five thousand Afghan soldiers have been killed. By the end of the fiscal year, the war in Afghanistan will have cost more than the war in Iraq. Both conflicts will have cost over $1 trillion. Adjusted for inflation, the total cost of the wars will be more than any other war America has fought besides World War II. The two wars will have cost the typical American family of four over $13,000.
The Taliban has found funding in opium of $300 million a year. 93% of illicit global opiate production is Afghan. Before the invasion in 2001, production was 185 metric tons. This figure grew to 6,100 metric tons in 2006, and 8,200 metric tons in 2007. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime reported shortly after parliamentary elections in 2005 that opium production in the north had increased 30% in southern Afghanistan, 98% in the west, and 106% in the north. Kandahar alone saw a 162% increase. The Balkh and Farah regions both saw upsurges of over 300%. Executive Director of the UN Office said, “The strongest increases were in the north and west where NATO is operating. This needs to be brought to the attention of NATO.” This was at a time when NATO had been in the country for nearly four years.
Retired Army Colonel Hy Rothstein, commissioned by the Pentagon in 2004 to survey the war, concluded that the war has brought about conditions that give “warlordism, banditry, and opium production a new lease on life.” The conduct of U.S. forces was criticized the same year by Human Rights Watch. Afghanistan rated 10th on the failed states index in 2006.
Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, urged the U.S. to leave Afghanistan in a November 2009 interview with CNN, saying, “I think our experience deserves attention.” Many historians concur that the Soviet invasion was a contributing factor to the USSR’s collapse.
Despite the all the facts, President Obama is planning to send 40,000 additional forces to Afghanistan, at an estimated cost of $1 million per person. Despite the fact 51% of Americans say the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting, the President is sending additional forces. This can only mean additional wasted resources, additional debt, and additional lives lost. In February 2005, Senator John McCain called for permanent American military bases in Afghanistan. Is this the future of the country?
Would there really be any consequences if America was to withdraw? Would the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or another group return to Afghanistan to use it as a base to launch more attacks on our country? It is very unlikely. According to Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are in Pakistan. If 80% of Afghanistan is already controlled by rebel fighters, why wouldn’t Osama bin Laden have already returned? CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria wrote in a recent Newsweek article, “It is unclear how many Taliban fighters believe in a global jihadist ideology, but most U.S. commanders with whom I’ve spoken feel that the number is less than 30%. The other 70% are driven by money, gangland peer pressure, or opposition to Karzai.”
Malalai Joya, author of “Raising My Voice” and a former Afghan parliament member recently said,
It’s time for America to come to our senses. The two major parties have no fundamental difference when it comes to foreign policy (or really any policy). America needs to return to the foreign policy of our Founding Fathers: a traditional conservative, noninterventionist foreign policy. Please sign this petition to bring American forces home from this destructive, costly, wasteful war.
Images used in the post above were found at 'insert link'. These images are not my own. I am using these copyrighted images under the fair use of copyrighted works by providing comment and critique.
“Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.” Thomas Jefferson
“Occupation will never bring liberation, and it is impossible to bring democracy by war.” -- Malalai Joya
Following the 9/11 attacks, the United States initiated Operation Enduring Freedom in October of 2001. The Taliban refused to hand over Osama bin Laden, and was overthrown. The United States and Coalition forces set out to transform a country where most citizens live on less than two dollars a day.
Eight years later, with a constitution, president, and legislature chosen, General Stanley McCrystal has asked President Obama to send the country another 40,000 troops.
Obama, who campaigned as the anti-war candidate in the 2008 election, has accepted the general’s request. So much for the two party system.
President Obama is sending more troops to a country to fight the resurgence of a group supposedly eliminated 8 years ago.
The Taliban controls 80% of Afghanistan, more of the country than when Coalition forces first invaded. The Afghan government controls only 20% of it’s country, mostly the major population centers. President Obama will send 40,000 troops to control over 40,000 villages in rural areas that most Afghan governments haven’t been able to control for 200 years.
With just a mere glance at these facts, the prospects are dim. But what has a troop presence in the country really helped in the last eight years?
We rightfully invaded Afghanistan to bring the ones behind 9/11 to justice. The country has a president, a constitution, and a government.
Despite all of this, the Taliban is being revived. More forces have been requested, and more will be sent.
And for what? Nearly 1,000 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan in the last eight years, and nearly 5,000 wounded. About 400 Coalition troops from other countries have been killed. Five thousand Afghan soldiers have been killed. By the end of the fiscal year, the war in Afghanistan will have cost more than the war in Iraq. Both conflicts will have cost over $1 trillion. Adjusted for inflation, the total cost of the wars will be more than any other war America has fought besides World War II. The two wars will have cost the typical American family of four over $13,000.
The Taliban has found funding in opium of $300 million a year. 93% of illicit global opiate production is Afghan. Before the invasion in 2001, production was 185 metric tons. This figure grew to 6,100 metric tons in 2006, and 8,200 metric tons in 2007. The UN Office of Drugs and Crime reported shortly after parliamentary elections in 2005 that opium production in the north had increased 30% in southern Afghanistan, 98% in the west, and 106% in the north. Kandahar alone saw a 162% increase. The Balkh and Farah regions both saw upsurges of over 300%. Executive Director of the UN Office said, “The strongest increases were in the north and west where NATO is operating. This needs to be brought to the attention of NATO.” This was at a time when NATO had been in the country for nearly four years.
Retired Army Colonel Hy Rothstein, commissioned by the Pentagon in 2004 to survey the war, concluded that the war has brought about conditions that give “warlordism, banditry, and opium production a new lease on life.” The conduct of U.S. forces was criticized the same year by Human Rights Watch. Afghanistan rated 10th on the failed states index in 2006.
Mikhail Gorbachev, former leader of the Soviet Union, urged the U.S. to leave Afghanistan in a November 2009 interview with CNN, saying, “I think our experience deserves attention.” Many historians concur that the Soviet invasion was a contributing factor to the USSR’s collapse.
Despite the all the facts, President Obama is planning to send 40,000 additional forces to Afghanistan, at an estimated cost of $1 million per person. Despite the fact 51% of Americans say the war in Afghanistan is not worth fighting, the President is sending additional forces. This can only mean additional wasted resources, additional debt, and additional lives lost. In February 2005, Senator John McCain called for permanent American military bases in Afghanistan. Is this the future of the country?
Would there really be any consequences if America was to withdraw? Would the Taliban, Al Qaeda, or another group return to Afghanistan to use it as a base to launch more attacks on our country? It is very unlikely. According to Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are in Pakistan. If 80% of Afghanistan is already controlled by rebel fighters, why wouldn’t Osama bin Laden have already returned? CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria wrote in a recent Newsweek article, “It is unclear how many Taliban fighters believe in a global jihadist ideology, but most U.S. commanders with whom I’ve spoken feel that the number is less than 30%. The other 70% are driven by money, gangland peer pressure, or opposition to Karzai.”
Malalai Joya, author of “Raising My Voice” and a former Afghan parliament member recently said,
Eight years ago, the U.S. and NATO -- under the banner of women’s rights, human rights, and democracy -- occupied my country and pushed us from the frying pan into the fire. Eight years is enough to know better about the corrupt, mafia system of President Hamid Karzai. My people are crushed between two powerful enemies. From the sky, occupation forces bomb and kill civilians… and on the ground, the Taliban and warlords continue their crimes. It is better that they leave my country; my people are fed up. Occupation will never bring liberation, and it is impossible to bring democracy by war.
It’s time for America to come to our senses. The two major parties have no fundamental difference when it comes to foreign policy (or really any policy). America needs to return to the foreign policy of our Founding Fathers: a traditional conservative, noninterventionist foreign policy. Please sign this petition to bring American forces home from this destructive, costly, wasteful war.
Images used in the post above were found at 'insert link'. These images are not my own. I am using these copyrighted images under the fair use of copyrighted works by providing comment and critique.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
