Scattered Thoughts

That may just be the most intelligent thing I have heard come out of the Bush administration. Let's disect this quote and find it's true meaning. Keep in mind that I do not agree with the whole thing, but the overall principle is what I agree with. Also, remember that I like to tell you how I see things. If you are offended by something I say, please refer to my apology.

Lets look at the first sentence: Democracies do not breed the anger and the radicalism that drag down whole societies or export violence.

Now, it is not true that Democracies do not breed anger and radicalism, they just are less likely to have such feelings of animocity develop within their borders. The hatred toward a democracy comes from outside. Non-democratic governments rely on fear or military might to keep their citizens under their power. Democracy appeals most to the people living under such rule because of it's apparent freedoms. These cultures long for someone to listen to their voice. Hate groups like Al Queda fuel this radicalism and in doing so help the non-democratic forms of government thrive.

Democracies do not export violence in the form of terrorism; however, as you can see with the G Dubbs campaign in Iraq, they do export violence in the form of military action. Granted, Saddam Hussein is in custody and no longer in power, a whole other issue I'm not going to touch here, but how did that come to pass? The United States Armed Forces invaded Iraq, killed Iraqis and then found him in a hole. Democracies do export violence, they just do it in their own unique way.

Ok, now on to the second phrase: Terrorists do not find fertile recruiting grounds in societies where young people have the right to guide their own destinies and to choose their own leaders.

Hm… This is mostly true as well. I feel that if you can control your future, you are less likely to distroy the futures of others (unless you study business at Indiana University, then you see it as your God-given right to distroy others' futures to bennifit yourself). Since choosing yoru own leaders is one of the foundations of democracy; and since choosing your own leaders is crucial to establishing a government where a majority of the people are happy most of the time, allowing people to choose their own leaders will develop a society less likely to be an agressor. Granted, some of the world's elected leaders are not the best individuals, but that too is a bi-product of democracy.

Overall, the democratic system works pretty well. I'm not saying it's the only way, but I am agreeing, for the most part, with what Cheney said…one of the few times I've agreed with something to come out of this administration.

Have a good day,
later days

I finally caught myself up on posting photos. Check them out at photoblog.tlmason.com.

later

The pictures in the upper left corner will change when you refresh. It's based on a javascript that loads a different picture depending on the time. Every three seconds has it's own picture.

peace

I have created a Live Journal. If you are interested, send me an IM or an e-mail and I will add you to my friend's list so you can read my stuff. It's a friend's only journal for many reasons. Here's the URL:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/firecrafter695

peace

Here's what I think we should do to fix what G Dubbs has started:

But first:

"The killing has continued in Bali, Jakarta, Casablanca, Riyadh, Mombasa, Jerusalem, Istanbul, and Baghdad."

I didn't even know he could pronounce these names… He probably can't even point them out on a map.

Problem 1:

"And one of those essential tools is the Patriot Act, which allows federal law enforcement to better share information, to track terrorists, to disrupt their cells, and to seize their assets." "You need to renew the Patriot Act."

Solution:
You may be asking yourself what the problem is here. Well, the so-called Patriot Act allows the federal government to invade the privacy of anybody as long as they say that it is in the interest of homeland security. How far will their arm reach?

And renewal? um, NO!

Problem 2:

"As part of the offensive against terror, we are also confronting the regimes that harbor and support terrorists, and could supply them with nuclear, chemical or biological weapons."

Solution:
Learn to pronounce the word nuclear… it's new-clear not new-que-ler.

Problem 3:

"…ended the rule of Saddam Hussein, and the people of Iraq are free."

Free from Sadam Hussein, but not the American Military.

Solution:
Devise an exit strategy that will have us out of the country at the end of this year… Maybe even June, like the Iraqi people desire.

Problem 4:

"We're working with Iraqis and the United Nations to prepare for a transition to full Iraqi sovereignty by the end of June."

But you have no plan…

Solution:
See above.

Problem 5:

"I will send you a proposal to double the budget of the National Endowment for Democracy, and to focus its new work on the development of free elections, and free markets, free press, and free labor unions in the Middle East."

All this, and the American people are recieving tax cuts, lowering the income of the federal government. Where is the money going to come from G Dubbs? Education? Everyone already know that you have slashed the funding for your own "Leave No Child Behind" initiative… What's next? All of public schooling?

Solution:
STOP SPENDING! or STOP CUTTING TAXES AND INCREASING THE NATIONAL DEBT!

A Moment of Truth

"These numbers confirm that the American people are using their money far better than government would have…"

Government = poor at managing assetts
American People = good at managing assetts

Hilarity:

…"we'll help more and more Americans to join in the growing prosperity of our country."

You make me laugh, G Dubbs…

Problem 6:

"Younger workers should have the opportunity to build a nest egg by saving part of their Social Security taxes in a personal retirement account. We should make the Social Security system a source of ownership for the American people. "

Solution:
Why don't we just get rid of Social Security alltogether. I know that I'm not going to see any benefits of the SS taxes that I pay, so why don't we just not pay the taxes if we are a part of a certain generation?

Problem 7:

"This will require that Congress focus on priorities, cut wasteful spending, and be wise with the people's money. By doing so, we can cut the deficit in half over the next five years."

But you still fight a war and at the same time cut taxes… duh?

Solution:
I've already said it before, no need repeating it here…

Problem 8:

" I oppose amnesty, because it would encourage further illegal immigration, and unfairly reward those who break our laws"

I still don't understand his definition of amnesty, so I cannot offer a solution to this problem.

What?:

"I ask you to give lower-income Americans a refundable tax credit that would allow millions to buy their own basic health insurance."

He'll be here all year…

"So tonight I proposed an additional $23 million for schools that want to use drug testing as a tool to save children's lives. The aim here is not to punish children, but to send them this message: We love you, and we don't want to lose you."

"Athletics play such an important role in our society, but, unfortunately, some in professional sports are not setting much of an example. The use of performance-enhancing drugs like steroids in baseball, football, and other sports is dangerous, and it sends the wrong message — that there are shortcuts to accomplishment, and that performance is more important than character. So tonight I call on team owners, union representatives, coaches, and players to take the lead, to send the right signal, to get tough, and to get rid of steroids now. "

Problem 9:

"That statute protects marriage under federal law as a union of a man and a woman, and declares that one state may not redefine marriage for other states… On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process. Our nation must defend the sanctity of marriage."

I don't know what he is talking about here. Judges stand up for the people day after day after day. If he is talking about the recent buzz about same sex marriges, I'm all for it.

Solution:
Let two people who are in love with each other enjoy the same bennefits as a man and a woman who are in love. Does what he says about the judges make sense to anyone?

THE Solution:

"Tonight, Ashley, your message to our troops has just been conveyed. And, yes, you have some duties yourself. Study hard in school, listen to your mom or dad, help someone in need, and when you and your friends see a man or woman in uniform, say, "thank you." And, Ashley, while you do your part, all of us here in this great chamber will do our best to keep you and the rest of America safe and free."

A lot of us could learn from this passage… That's all I'm going to say about that.

Well there you have it folks. The hilarity and hijinx of our president. I cannot wait until he is put out of office later this year…