OBAMA’S LIGHT IS FLICKERING AND HIS ATTRACTION IS FADING

PART I

BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA BURST ONTO THE POLITICAL SCENE THESE LAST FEW YEARS, LIKE A ROCK STAR.     HE ROSE FROM OBSCURITY IN THE SOUTH SIDE SECTIONS OF CHICAGO WITH THE HELP OF THE PREDOMINATELY BLACK MAJORITY AND THE HELP OF REVEREND WRIGHT AND HIS FAR OUT CONGREGATION, WHO HATE AMERICA AND WHITE PEOPLE.    THAT IS HIS SO-CALLED BASE, HE HAS RELIED ON TO BE ELECTED TO THE LOCAL CITY COUNCIL, STATE SENATE AND WITH THE SOLID SUPPORT OF BLACK VOTERS OF ILLINOIS HE WAS PROPELLED TO THE U.S. SENATE IN LATE 2006.    SPARKED WITH THESE VICTORIES, AND IMPRESSED WITH HIS OWN POPULARITY, HE WAS ENCOURAGED BY HIS MANY WELL HEELED AND INFLUENCIAL BLACKS, SUCH AS OPRAH WINFREY AND REVEREND WRIGHT TO SHOOT FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UNITED STATES TO CASH IN ON HIS POPULARITY AS A CHARISMATIC PERSON AND SPEAKER, AND TO RUN FOR THE FIRST PRIZE IN POLITICS.    

      OBAMA COMES UPON THE AMERICAN SCENE AT A TIME WHEN THE COUNTRY IS AGAINST THE WAR IN IRAQ, THE POPULARITY OF PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE CONGRESS IS THE LOWEST EVER AND THE NATION’S ECONOMY IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF A DEPRESSION.     THE COUNTRY IS ALARMED AND DISGUSTED WITH THE WORKINGS IN WASHINTON, THE BICKERING BETWEEN THE POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEIR INABILITY TO WORK TOGETHER AND COMPROMISE TO SOLVE THE MANY PROBLEMS FACING THIS COUNTRY.    THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT PEOPLE ARE SO DISENCHANTED WITH THEIR ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT THEY ARE PREPARED TO RE-ELECT NOBODY FOR OFFICE AND LOOK TO THE PROMISE OF HOPE AND CHANGE MADE BY ANY NEW FACE IN THE CONTEST FOR THE PRESIDENCY TO HELP THEM OUT OF THIS EMERGING ECONOMIC DISASTER.

     OBAMA, WITH HIS SWEET TALK, GOOD LOOKS AND CHARM IMMEDIATELY IMPRESSED MOST EVEY ONE LOOKING FOR SUCH A SAVIOR IN THEIR MIDSTS.    THE HALF DOZEN OR SO OTHER, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES WERE TRIED AND TRUE POLITICIANS AND PERENNIAL OFFICE HOLDERS.

AT FIRST, EVEN WITH THE PRESENCE OF OBAMA IN THE FIELD, THE CHOICE GIVEN BOTH POLITICAL PARTIES SEEMED INADEQUATE AND DISAPPOINTING, AND GRUMBLIMG AND DISCONTENT BECAME THE VOICE HEARD FROM THE VOTERS, THROUGHOUT 2007 AND INTO 2008.   

IT HAS BECOME EVIDENT THAT THE TWO PRESENT POLITICAL PARTIES HAVE SUCH A CONTROL OVER THE PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY SYSTEM THAT AND INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE IS USUALLY DISSUADED FROM ENTERING THE AFFRAY FOR MONETARY AS WELL AS QUALIFYING REASONS.    

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, SENATOR JOHN McCAIN, EASILY OBTAINED THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF DELEGATES TO INSURE HIS NOMINATION AS THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE, EARLY IN THE PROCESS, JOHN, A DECORATED WAR HERO AND FORMER PRISONER OF WAR FOR FIVE AND A HALF YEARS IN VIETNAM, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A MAVERICK REPUBLICAN WITH INDEPENDENT IDEAS WHO WAS DEFEATED BY PRESIDENT BUSH IN 2001 BY THE PRESSURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THEIR LOYALTY TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH.     JOHN IS PERCEIVED BY HIS PARTY AS A RENEGADE REPUBLICAN, NOT LOYAL TO THE REPUBLICAN PRICIPLES OF CONSERVATISM, BUT THAT WAS EXACTLY THE REASON HE WAS CHOSEN BY A MAJORITY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHO ARE ALSO DISGRUNTLED BY THE DEVASTATING ACTIONS OF PRESIDENT BUSH AND THE PARTY CONSERATIVES SINCE 2001.     HE IS THE ONE REPUBLICAN THAT CAN PUT A NEW FACE ON THE PARTY, A NEW OUTLOOK AND A NEW COURSE OF ACTION.    THE REPUBLICANS STILL PERCEIVE THE WAR IN IRAQ AS A JUST ONE, AND THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM AS NOT A PROBLEM.     THE ILLEGALS MUST BE GIVEN A PASSAGE TO CITIZENSHIP, SINCE THEY ARE NOW HERE.    OF COURSE, LIKE MOST POLITICIANS HE HAS BENT TO THE DEMAND OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO SECURE OUR BORDERS, AS THE FIRST PRIOROTY IN THIS PROCESS.

      THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENCIAL PRIMARY HAS BEEN A FIERCE CAMPAIGN, NOT BORN OUT OF IDEOLOGY BUT BY PERSONALITIES.    WE HAVE THE FIRST FEMALE CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT, HILLARY CLINTON, AN ATTORNEY AND FORMER FIRST LADY OF IMMENSE TALENT, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD.     NO ONE CAN ARTICULATE AND DEBATE THE ISSUES OF THE DAY BETTER THAN SHE.    ON THE DOWN SIDE SHE HAS BEEN SADDLED WITH THE INAPPROPRIATE ACTIONS OF HER HUSBAND, BILL CLINTON, A VERY POPULAR PRESIDENT OTHERWISE, WHO GUIDED THE COUNTRY THROUGH EIGHT YEARS OF VERY GOOD TIMES AND OPPORTUNITIES, LEAVING OFFICE WITH A SURPLUS OF 300 BILLION IN ASSETS IN THE TREASURY WHILE SUFFERING THE DISGRACE OF AN IMPEACHMENT TRIAL OVER HIS TRYST WITH A MUCH YOUNGER WOMAN IN THE OVAL OFFICE.    IT IS A VERY CONVENIENT THING TO SOMEHOW CONVERT THIS NEGETIVENESS TO HIS WIFE AND CANDIDATE HILLARY, FOR POLITICAL REASONS AND AS AN EXCUSE, EXCEPT THAT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEVER HAVE FOUND SOMEONE GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION, NEVER WILL, NOR SHOULD THEY, IN ALL FAIRNESS.

I AM CONVINCED THIS IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF THE NEGATIVENESS TOWARD HER IN THE POLLS, AND IT IS NOT FAIR TO HER.

SENATOR OBAMA,  A SEL- PROCLAIMED AND OBVIOUSLY A BLACK MAN, TOOK AN EARLY LEAD IN THIS PRIMARY RACE, SIMPLY BECAUSE HE WAS A NEW AND ATTRACTIVE FACE ON THE POLITICAL SCENE, HE IS YOUNG AND APPEALING TO THE YOUNG AND THE WELL TO DO DEMOCRATS AND HAS QUICKLY WON OVER THE ALMOST TOTAL SUPPORT OF BLACKS, 92 PERCENT.     SOME MIGHT SAY THE BLACKS HAVE BEEN THE RACISTS IN THIS RACE BASED ON THEIR VOTE, WHILE WHITES HAVE GIVEN HIM THEIR VOTE ENTIRELY BASED ON APPEAL.    PART OF HIS POPULARITY CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE WHITE VOTER LOOKING BEYOND THE COLOR OF THE SKIN AND JUDGING A CANDIDATE ON SAID APPEAL, RATHER THAN RACE OR NATIONALITY OR RELIGION, AS IT SHOULD BE.  

THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN

PART 2, THE STUDENTS AND THEIR PARENTS

NO EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM WILL EVER BE A COMPLETE SUCCESS UNLESS AND UNTIL IT TEACHES AND GRADUATES 100% OF ITS ATTENDING STUDENTS.    OF COURSE, THERE IS ALWAYS A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS THAT MOVE OR PASS AWAY OR BECOME SEVERELY DISABLED ALONG WITH THOSE FEW THAT RUN AFOUL OF THE LAW AND BECOME INCARCERATED.    HOWEVER THE GOAL SHOULD ALWAYS BE  “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND.”

ATTENDANCE AT SCHOOL IS THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR STUDENTS AND THE ENCOURAGEMENT AND CO-OPERATION OF THE PARENT IS AN ABSOLUTE MUST.    IT IS THE PARENT WHO ULTIMATELY IS RESPOSIBLE FOR THE CHILD TO ATTEND SCHOOL AND ON TIME, ALSO.    PARENTS MUST TAKE A HANDS- ON APPROACH TO THIS PROBLEM AND IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO ACCEPT THIS RESPONSIBILITY THEY MUST DESIGNATE ANOTHER PERSON FOR THIS DAILY TASK.    A SYSTEM OF SMALL ADMINISRATIVE FINES SHOULD BE IMPOSED ON THE PARENT IF THE STUDENT IS ABSENT OR LATE WITHOUT A SATISFACTORY EXCUSE.     ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY IS A MUST FOR EVERY STUDENT SO THEY DO NOT MISS TIME FROM CLASSES.

PARENTS MUST INSTILL, IN THE STUDENT, THE VALUE AND NEED OF AN EDUCATION AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS THE ONLY OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STUDENT TO OBTAIN IT AND OPEN THE DOOR TO THEIR FUTURE.

ONCE IN SCHOOL IT IS THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR’S RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THE STUDENTS EXPERIENCES THERE PLEASANT AS WELL AS INSTRUCTIONAL.   THE STUDENTS MUST HAVE THE FRAME OF MIND THAT THEY ARE ANXIOUS TO GO TO SCHOOL AND LEARN, EVERY DAY AND THAT IT WILL BE A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE FOR THEM.    THE STUDENTS MUST BE TAUGHT TO LOVE AND RESPECT THEIR SCHOOL AND TEACHERS AND THE FRIENDSHIP WITH OTHER CLASSMATES.     REWARDS FOR PERFECT ATTENDANCE CAN BE GIVEN FROM THE FINES IMPOSED FOR LATE OR ABSENT STUDENTS.

THE PRACTICE OF PERMITTING STUDENTS TO LEAVE SCHOOL AT AGE SIXTEEN TO WORK MUST BE STOPPED AND STUDENTS MUST BE REQUIRED TO STAY IN SCHOOL UNTIL THEY GRADUATE OR REACH THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN. 

TANDUM VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR THOSE STUDENTS WHO PREFER, OR ARE ADEPT FOR TRAINING FOR A TRADE TO ENTER THE WORK FORCE.    IN ALL EVENTS THEY MUST GRADUATE FROM ONE SCHOOL OR THE OTHER,

WITH THE PROBLEM OF SINGLE OR BOTH PARENTS WORKING AWAY FROM THE HOME, IT IS TIME TO CHANGE DATES AND TIME THE SCHOOL IS OPEN.    FIRST, IT SHOULD BE A FIVE DAY WEEK 8:AM TO 6:PM, TWELVE MONTHS A YEAR.    OF COURSE, PROVISIONS MUST BE MADE FOR FOUR, ONE-WEEK VACATIONS ON THE FOUR MOST IMPORTANT NATIONAL LEGAL HOLIDAYS.    STUDENT WILL BE REQUIRED TO STAY IN SCHOOL DURING THOSE HOURS, WITH A MINIMUM OF FOUR HOURS OF ACADEMIC CLASSES AND THE BALANCE OF THE TIME TO DO TWO HOURS OF HOMEWORK OR STUDY WORK, PERHAPS ONE HOUR FOR LUNCH AND THREE HOURS OF SPORTS, MUSIC, ARTS/HOBBY, OR EXTRA CURRICULUM TIME IN SCHOOL OR A NEARBY FIELD OR FACILITY, UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF PROCTORS OR MONITORS OR TEACHER ASSISTANTS, INCLUDING SENIOR MEMBERS OF THE CLASS WHO MAY BE PAID OR VOLUNTEER.

BY KEEPING THE STUDENTS IN CLASS ALL DAY, YOU ELIMINATE THE CHANCE THESE STUDENT REMAIN UNSUPERVISED WHILE THEIR PARENTS ARE AT WORK WHILE DISPENSING WITH THE HOMEWORK PROBLEM WHILE GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTAKE OF GOOD WHOLESOME ACTIVITY WHILE AT SCHOOL.    THIS WOULD ALSO ELIMINATE OUTSIDE INFLUENCE ON THESE STUDENTS SUCH AS GANGS AND BAD COMPANY.

PARENTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO ARRANGE TO HAVE THEIR VACATIONS COINCIDE WITH THAT OF THEIR STUDENT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, OR TO MAKE PROPER ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE STUDENT TO ENJOY THEIR VACATION.   

SINCE IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE AND KEEP A FRIENDLY ATTITUDE AND REPORE BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS, ANY REQUIRED DISCIPLINARY ACTION AGAINST A STUDENT MUST BE DECIDED UPON BY THE SCHOOLS ADMINISRATION ONLY.   CONFRONTATIONS BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENT MUST BE ELIMINATED ESPECIALLY IN THE PRESENCE OF OTHER STUDENTS TO AVOID SHAME AND THE BELITTLEMENT OR BULLYING BY FELLOW STUDENTS.

ALL SCHOOLS MUST HAVE ADEQUATE AND CLEAN CAFETERIAS FOR A LIGHT BREAKFAST AND A WHOLESOME LUNCH ABOUT NOON, WITH SNACKS AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE EXTENDED DAY.    THE COST OF THESE MEALS SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE PARENTS ON A MONTHLY BASIS.    EACH STUDENT SHALL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE A ONE HALF HOUR BREAKFAST AND A ONE HALF HOUR LUNCH PERIOD EACH DAY.     THIS WILL INSURE EACH STUDENT WILL RECEIVE THE NOURISHMENT NECESSARY TO BE IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND FOR LEARNING.

ALL TESTING OF STUDENTS MUST BE HANDLED BY THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK ON FRIDAYS.    TEACHERS SHALL NOT PARTICIPATE OR HAVE ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THE TEST QUESTIONS, BASED ON THAT WEEK’S TEACHING SUBJECTS.    THIS WILL AVOID ANY PROMPTING OR TEACHER TIPS AND GUARANTEE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL STUDENTS IN THE CLASS.

THE ATMOSPHERE AT SCHOOL MUST ALWAYS BE PLEASANT, INVITING AND FRIENDLY BETWEEN THE TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.    GUIDANCE COUNSELORS MUST BE AVALABLE AT ALL TIMES, TO HANDLE ANY SOCIAL OR ACADEMIC PROBLEMS OR CONFLICTS, ALSO BETWEEN STUDENTS.     STUDENT MUST BE INSTRUCTED AND ADVISED TO TREAT EACH FELLOW STUDENT WITH THE SAME RESPECT THEY WOULD EXPECT THEMSELVES FROM ANOTHER STUDENT.   BIG BROTHER STUDENTS, FROM UPPER GRADES, SUCH AS SENIORS, SHOULD BE MADE TO VOLUNTEERTO HELP YOUNGER STUDENT WITH SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SINCE EVERY STUDENT HAS UNDERGONE MOST SOCIAL PROBLEMS AT SCHOOL.   MOST OF THESE PROBLEMS CONCERN THE ATTUTUDES OR MISCONCEPTIONS, BETWEEN STUDENTS.

THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE ALMOST GUARANTEED TO PRODUCE THE RESULTS NECESSARY FOR THE STUDENT TO LEARN AND ENJOY THEIR SCHOOL TIME WITH THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS.    IT WILL PRODUCE AN ATMOSTPHERE OF CALM FOR ACADEMICS, SPORTS AND OTHER ACTIVITIES IN WHICH EVERY STUDENT WILL FIND INTEREST TO DEVELOP THEIR TALENT.    EACH STUDENT WILL HAVE THE PERSONAL ATTENTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT NECESSARY AND NEEDED TO BE ACTIVE IN LEARNING AND ENJOYING THE DAY IN SCHOOL IN THE COMPANY OF FRIEND AND NEIGHBORS.    WITH THE TIME SET ASIDE FOR LEARNING, REST AND RELAXATION DURING THE DAY.    A STUDENT WILL HAVE THE BALANCE OF ACTIVITY TO KEEP THEIR INTEREST, WHILE THEY ALSO ENJOY THE DAY AT SCHOOL.  

OF COURSE, THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND CITY ARE RESPONSIBLE TO PROVIDE THE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE AND ATMOSPHERE FOR STUDY AND ADVANCEMENT TO BECOME MATURE AND ACTIVE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE CONFIDENCE TO BE FUTURE LEADERS, IN WHATEVER FIELD OF ENDEAVOR THEY CHOOSE.

YOU CAN BE ASSURED THAT THIS PLAN WILL SPARK A FIRE OF CONTRAVERSY BETWEEN THE SCHOOL ADMINTRATORS THE CITY OR TOWN, THE TEACHERS, THEIR UNIONS AND EVEN THE PARENTS AND THEIR STUDENTS.    EACH HAS A RIGHT TO THEIR OPINION AND EACH SHOULD BE HEARD, BUT IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS ALL WILL AGREE THAT A DRASTIC CHANGE IN NEEDED IN THE TEACHING OF OUR CHILDREN.    THE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION IS THAT THIS CHANGE AND IMPROVEMENT MUST BE MADE VERY SOON OR WE WILL HAVE LOST THE HELP OF OUR NEXT GENERATION OF AMERICANS WE SURELY WILL NEED TO SOLVE THOSE FUTURE PROBLEMS WE HAVE FAILED TO RESOLVE IN THIS GENERATION.

AS A FINAL NOTE, AN EQUALLY CHALLANGING CONTROVERYS HAS ARISEN IN THE LAST DECADE, DUE TO THE HIGH COST OF EDUCATION IN EVERY STATE AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT SHOULD BE PAID.      MOST STATES HAVE THE COST OF EDUCATION INCLUDED IN THEIR EVERY LOCAL CITY AND TOWN’S OVERALL ANNUAL BUDGET, AND THE REVENUE IS OBTAINED FROM THE TAXES ON THE REALESTATE, WITH A CONTRIBUTION FRON THE STATE VARYING IN AMOUNTS.     BECAUSE OF THE VARIENCE IN VALUES BETWEEN MOST STATES A MARKED DIFFERENT AMOUNT OF MONEY IS DEDICATED FOR EACH STATE’S EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM.     SOME STATES PAY FOR PART OF THE EDUCATIONAL EXPENSE THROUGH A LOTTERY SYSTEM OR SALES TAX IMPOSED ON CERTAIN ITEMS SOLD.    THE U.S. GOVERNMENT ALSO PROVIDES GRANTS TO THE STATES FOR EDUCATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE TO HELP THEIR OVERBURDENED LOAD.   

RECENTLY SOME STATE’S LEADERS HAVE ARGUED THE U. S. GOVERNMENT HAS THE INITIAL OBLIGATION TO FUND A NATIONAL AND EQUAL EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM BASED ON THE POPULATION OF EACH STATE OR THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN SCHOOL EACH YEAR.    THIS ARGUMENT HAS AS ITS BASIS THE PREAMBLE TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION WHICH STATES THAT THE CONSTITUTION WAS ESTABLISHED, AMONG OTHER REASONS TO,  “PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE” OF THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT IT WOULD BE PERFECT IF A TRULY GOOD OR EQUAL EDUCATION WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO EVERY CHILD IN THE U.S., REGARDLESS OF THE STATE THAT CHILD MAY LIVE IN.      WHETHER THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE MADE TO PAY FOR EACH CHILD’S EDUCATION RAISES EVEN MORE QUESTIONS AS TO WHO HAS THE RIGHT AND OBLIGATION TO DETERMINE THE CORRICULUM, HIRE THE TEACHERS, AND CONTROL EACH CHILDS EDUCATION THROUGH PRIMARY SCHOOL.     ADD TO THIS QUANDRY THE PRESENT PRACTICE OF PARENTS OPTING TO HOME SCHOOL THEIR CHILDREN AND YOU HAVE A MONUMENTAL PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED, SOONER THAN LATER. 

THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN

PART 1 OF 2 PARTS:

       FOR AT LEAST THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN THE U.S. HAS FALLEN BEHIND THAT OF MOST PROGRESSIVE COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD.  SCHOLASTICALLY, OUR STUDENTS RANK CLOSE TO THE LOWEST IN SCORES COMPARED TO OTHER NATIONS.   THERE ARE, OF COURSE, MANY REASONS FOR THIS PREDICAMENT.   IN THIS ARTICLE, I INTEND TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE MOST URGENT REASONS.

      A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF INNER CITY STUDENTS, ESPECIALLY BLACKS AND HISPANICS, QUIT SCHOOL AS EARLY AS THE NINTH GRADE.   WHEN YOUNG PEOPLE REACH SIXTEEN THEY ARE MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING MONEY AND BECOMING INDEPENDENT OF THEIR PARENTS.    THEREFORE, THEY FEEL IT NECESSARY TO OBTAIN WORK, TO HAVE THEIR OWN MONEY.  WE HAVE YET TO FIND A WAY TO KEEP CHILDREN INTERESTED IN LEARNING, BECAUSE OF THOSE DISTRACTIONS.

      PRESIDENT BUSH AND SENATOR KENNEDY DRAFTED LEGISLATION CALLED “NO STUDENT LEFT BEHIND.”  DESIGNED TO PERIODICALLY TEST OUR STUDENTS KNOWLEDGE AND THEREBY, BE FOREWARNED OF STUDENTS DEFICIENCIES, HOPEULLY, IN TIME TO TAKE CORRECTIVE ACTION.  UNFORTUNATELY, THIS PLAN REMAINS UNFUNDED AND TOO MUCH EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON PASSING TESTS RATHER THAN TEACHING STUDENTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

     TO REALLY UNDERSTAND THE UNDERLYING ISSUES WITH OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM YOU NEED TO ONLY TALK TO THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS.   THE TEACHER COMPLAINS THAT FIFTY PERCENT OF THE STUDENTS ARE NOT MOTIVATED TO LEARN AT SCHOOL WHILE SOME JUST DON’T BOTHER TO ATTEND SCHOOL ENOUGH.   IN OUR MODERN SOCIETY WITH BOTH PARENTS AND SINGLE PARENTS WORKING, THERE IS LITTLE TIME OR INTEREST LEFT AT THE END OF THE DAY TO ASSIST IN THE CHILD’S EDUCATION.   THEY LEAVE THIS TASK TO THE TEACHER, WHO CANNOT DO IT ALONE.   A SIMPLE “GO DO YOUR HOMEWORK” OFTEN FALLS SHORT.   MOST STUDENTS ARE ON THEIR OWN FROM EARLY MORNING WHEN THEIR PARENT RUNS OFF TO WORK.  THIS LEAVES THE CHILD ALONE TO ARISE, EAT BREAKFAST AND GET OFF TO SCHOOL ON TIME.  IF THE CELL PHONE RINGS, BREAKFAST IS USUALLY DROPPED.  MOTIVATED STUDENTS CAN ACCOMPLISH THESE TASKS BUT SOME LANGUISH IN BED HAVING STAYED UP LATE WATCHING TELEVISION, STAYING OUT UNTIL LATE AT NIGHT, OR ON THE INTERNET.   THE PARENTS, THROUGH FEELINGS OF GUILT, FRUSTRATION, DISINTEREST OR SELFISHNESS, DO LITTLE TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM, WHILE THE STUDENT FEELS NEGLECTED AND HARBORS RESENTMENT FOR HIS/HER PARENTS.   IT SHOULD NOT BE LEFT UPON CHILDREN TO BE MADE TO MAKE, EAT THEIR OWN BREAKFAST, AFTER ALL ISN’T BREAKFAST THE MOST IMPORTANT MEAL OF THE DAY?   USUALLY KIDS ARE SATISFIED TO GRAB A SODA, OR ENERGY DRINK OUT OF THE FRIDGE AND SLOG OFF TO SCHOOL WHILE MEETING THEIR CAFFEINE REQUIREMENTS.  ONCE IN SCHOOL, THEY FEEL NEGLECTED, RESENTFUL AND ANGERY TOWARD EVERYONE THEY MEET PARTLY DUE TO THE CAFFEINE CRASH AND MOSTLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEIR PARENTS DIDN’T JOIN THEM FOR A FAR MORE HEALTHY BREAKFAST, WHICH MAKES FOR A BAD DAY FOR HIM/HER AND THE SCHOOL.  THEY ARE WALKING TIME BOMBS, READY TO EXPLODE AND DEMONSTRATE THEIR ANGER INDISCRIMINATELY TOWARD ANYONE AND EVERYONE THEY ENCOUNTER ESPECIALLY PEOPLE IN AUTHORITY.

      THE STUDENTS ARE ASSIGNED BOOKS TO READ OR TEXTS TO STUDY ALONG WITH THEIR HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS.     SOMETIMES TEACHERS EVEN HAVE E-MAIL ADDRESSES FOR THEIR USING BY THE CONCIENCIOUS STUDENTS.   USUALLY ASSIGNMENTS NEVER MAKE IT HOME OR ARE LEFT IN BACKPACKS BECAUSE THERE IS NO PARENT HOME AFTER SCHOOL TO SEE THAT ASSIGNMENTS ARE COMPLETED, TO HELP ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TO GUIDE THE STUDENT THROUGH A TOUGH SPOT.   KIDS ARE QUICK TO FIND EXCUSES FOR THEIR FAILINGS BUT DID YOU EVER HEAR A CHILD SAY I COULDN’T DO MY HOMEWORK BECAUSE MY PARENT WASN’T HOME TO HELP ME?   NO, THEY JUST FEEL JUSTIFIED IN MAKING EXCUSES IN AN EXPRESSION AGAINST CONFORMITY AND REGULATIONS.  THEY THINK THEY ARE PUNISHING THEIR PARENTS BUT IN REALITY ARE PUNISHING THEMSELVES AND RUINING THEIR FUTURE.   TEACHERS TODAY DO NOT HOUND THE STUDENTS FOR MISSED ASSIGNMENTS ANYWAY.  SOMETIMES A COMPUTERISED LIST OF MISSING PAPERWORK MAKES IT HOME, HOWEVER, USUALLY IT DOESN’T.   NOT ALL SCHOOLS EVEN BOTHER TO ADVISE THE PARENTS OF THESE EVENTS AS THEY HAPPEN. 

      THEREFORE, UNLESS THE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDE IS ADDRESSED, AND HE/SHE CAN BE MOTIVATED TO LEARN, THERE IS NO HOPE TO SAVE THIS STUDENT FROM FLUNKING GRADES.   TO LEAVE SCHOOL WITHOUT A COMPLETE EDUCATION IS A TRAVESTY NOT ONLY FOR EACH INDIVIDUAL STUDENT BUT FOR THE FUTURE OF THIS NATION AS A WHOLE.

       WE ALL PAY TAXES TO EDUCATE THE UP AND COMING GENERATION, WHETHER WE HAVE STUDENTS OR NOT.  WOULDN’T IT MAKE SENSE TO SEE THAT WE GET THE MOST OUT OF OUR MONEY?   WOULDN’T IT BENEFIT US ALL?

       IT IS INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IN THE U.S. HAS NOT SEEN ANY SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN THE LAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS.   THAT WAS WHEN WE ABANDONED THE ONE ROOM RURAL SCHOOLHOUSE WITH ONE TEACHER FOR ALL GRADES.   STUDENTS WERE ALL CRAMMED INTO ONE ROOM AND TAUGHT AT THEIR INDIVIDUAL LEVELS.     CHILDREN WERE GIVEN THE SUMMER OFF FROM SCHOOL IN THOSE DAYS BECAUSE WE WERE IN AN AGRARIAN SOCIETY WITH FAMILY FARMS.   EVERYONE WAS NEEDED TO PLANT AND BRING IN THE HARVEST AND PREPARE FOR THE COLD WINTER AHEAD.   TODAY WE DO NOT HAVE THAT SITUATION GENERALLY, BUT IT HAS BEEN REPLACED, IN MOST CASES WITH PARENTS WORKING AWAY FROM HOME, FOR AN AVERAGE OF TEN HOURS A DAY.   CHILDREN’S SCHOOL HOURS ARE IN CONFLICT SINCE THEY ARE SHORTER THAN THE WORKDAY.   AS A RESULT, CHILDREN ARE LEFT ALONE AT HOME FOR FOUR OR FIVE HOURS A DAY.   HOMEWORK IS NOT FOREMOST ON THEIR MINDS SINCE THEY ARE ALONE AND THERE ARE PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITIES TO SEEK OUT OTHER INTERESTS SUCH AS COMPUTER PLAY OR THE COMPANIONSHIP OF FRIENDS OUTSIDE THE HOME.   BOTH OF THESE ACTIVITIES, LEFT UNMONITORED CAN BE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR CHILDREN.  YOU WONDER WHY CHILDREN ARE DRAWN TO STREET GANGS AND BAD COMPANY BUT THE REASON IS THE ABANDONMENT OF CHILDREN DURING THE DAY WHILE PARENTS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAKE A LIVING AND PAY THE MOUNTING BILLS.

       IF ONE WOULD TAKE THE TIME TO REALLY LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM OF EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN THEY WOULD REALIZE THAT DRASTIC CHANGES MUST BE MADE TO TURN THIS TREND AROUND.   WE NEED OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM TO SUCCESSFULLY PREPARE KIDS FOR LIFE AND A HIGHER EDUCATION.  HIGHER EDUCATON IS NOW NOT AN OPTION BUT A NECESSITY TO COMPETE IN THIS VERY COMPETITIVE WORLD.

      THE MINUTE WE START TALKING ABOUT THE EDUCATION OF OUR CHILDREN AND THE NEEDED CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS THAT MUST BE UNDERTAKEN, WE RUN INTO A BRICK WALL OF OPPOSITION FROM JUST ABOUT EVERYONE INVOLVED.   SUDDENLY THE TEACHERS AND THEIR UNIONS FEEL SET UPON AND CRITISIZED FOR PAST PERFORMANCE WHILE THE PARENTS WAKE UP FROM THEIR LONG SLEEP OF INDIFFERENCE, DISINTEREST AND NEGLECT AND BECOME VEROCIOUS OPPONANTS OF ANY PLAN THAT DOES NOT FIT THEIR PARTICULAR FAMILY NEED.

     THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT METHODS OF IMROVEMENT MUST BE FOUND, ESTABLISHED AND IMPLEMENTED TO TURN THIS URGENT PROBLEM WITH EDUCATION AROUND IN ORDER TO HELP OUR STUDENTS.   IT IS ALSO OBVIOUS THAT SAID IMPROVEMENTS MIGHT REQUIRE INNOVATIVE CHANGES, SOME DRASTIC BUT ALL QUITE NECESSARY TO MAKE THE PLAN SUCCESSFUL.   THE QUESTION OF WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, HOW, WHERE AND WHEN, IS DIFFICULT TO ANSWER IN ONE FAST SWOOP.    THEREFORE, WE MUST BREAK THE PROBLEM DOWN TO ITS’ PRINCIPLE BASIC PARTS AND BEGIN WITH ITS SIMPLEST PART, THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM ITSELF AND ITS’ RELATIONSHIP WITH THE STUDENTS BEING TAUGHT.  A STUDENT IN THE RIGHT FRAME OF MIND, YEARNING TO LEARN IS A PERSON WHO IS ABLE TO LEARN.   THE FIRST PROBLEM THAT MUST BE CORRECTED IS THE STARTING POINT, THE STUDENT.   THE STUDENT AND THEIR PARENTS ARE THE OBJECT AND MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR SYSTEM OF EDUCATION, WHICH CANNOT SUCCEED WITHOUT THE CO-OPERATION OF BOTH.   THESE ARE JUST SOME OF THE MOST URGENT REASONS WE NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT HOW WE DO OR DON’T EDUCATE OUR CHILDREN.

THE “OPEC” IN AMERICA

PART TWO

    

      CONGRESS, NOW HAS THE TASK OF SOLVING THE ENERGY CRISIS BY PROVIDING SOURCES OF ALTERNATIVE ENERGY WITHOUT DELAY SO THAT WE MAY BE ENERGY FREE WITHIN THE NEXT FOUR OR FIVE YEARS.     PRESIDENT BUSH HAS TAKEN THE INITIATIVE BY VISITING BRAZIL, WHO IS PRODUCING 90% OF ITS NEED FROM ETHENOL, A VERY ENVIOUS ACCOMPLISHMENT, WE SHOULD HAVE DEVELOPED ALSO, YEARS AGO.    IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THE PRESIDENT FOLLOWS THROUGH WITH REAL ACTION BY PROPOSALS TO CONGRESS, OR WHETHER CONGRESS ACTS ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE.

1.      THE USA HAS NEVER REALLY HARNESSED OUR FULL POTENTIAL OF PRODUCING ELECTRICITY FROM OUR WATERWAYS, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THIS FREE SOURCE OF ENERGY SHOULD PROVIDE 15% OF OUR NEEDS IN A FEW YEARS.

2.      SOLAR POWER, ANOTHER FREE SOURCE OF ENERGY FOR HOT WATER, HEAT AND ELECTRICITY COULD MAKE EVERY HOME AND BUSINESS BUILDING FREE AND INDEPENDANT FROM OUTSIDE ENERGY NEEDS, IN ONE YEAR OR SO.   ANY SURPLUS GENERATED COULD BE SOLD TO THE LOCAL ENERGY COMPANY AT A PROFIT.    THIS IS ESTIMATED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 20% OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS STARTING IN ONE YEAR.

3.      CORN, SOYBEAN AND OTHER BIODEGRADABLE PRODUCTS COULD SUPPLY US WITH ANOTHER 5 TO 20 % OF OUR ENERGY NEEDS PER YEAR STARTING IN TWO YEARS.     WITHIN FIVE OR SIX YEARS WE COULD GROW OURSELVES OUT OF THE NEED TO IMPORT OIL OR GAS. 

4.     WIND POWER, ANOTHER SOURCE OF FREE ENERGY CAN BE HARNESSED TO PROVIDE ANOTHER 20 % OF OUR ELECTRIC ENERGY NEEDS WITHIN A FEW YEARS.    THIS ALSO CAN BE INSTALLED ON OUR HOME LOT ORVACANT LAND AND ANY SURPLUS POWER SOLD TO THE LOCAL UTILITY COMPANY.

5.     THE MAIN CURSE AND GLUTTON OF GASOLINE IS THE GASOLINE ENGINES IN OUR VEHICLES AND OUR LOVE AND DEPENDANCE ON OUR MOTOR VEHICLES.

  A.    ONE BIG SAVING CAN BE MADE, BY PROVIDING FREE LOCAL BUS TRANSPORTATION GENERALLY TO THE PUBLIC.   THIS MAY ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO USE THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION THEY ARE PAYING TAXES FOR ANYWAY.    NOW THE BUSES WILL BE FULL NOT EMPTY.   IF WE MAKE THE BUSES POWERED BY ELECTRICITY WE DOUBLE THE SAVINGS OR FIVE PERCENT OF OUR FUEL COSTS.

  B.     AUTO AND TRUCK MANUFACURERS MUST BE MANDATED TO PRODUCE VEHICLES WITH TWICE THE MILAGE PER GALLON THAN AT PRESENT LEVELS.    THIS CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED IN FOUR YEARS AND SAVE US 40% OF OUR FUEL COSTS AND CONSUMPTION, IN TRANSPORTATION.  MOST VEHICLES ARE WORN OUT BY THAT TIME ANYWAY.

  C.     WE MUST GIVE INCENTIVES TO OUR COUNTRY’S MOTOR VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS TO PRODUCE MORE ALTERNATE ENERGY VEHICLES SUCH AS RECHARGEABLE ELECTRIC AND COMBINATIONS OR ELECTRIC AND GASOLINE POWERED VEHICLES WITHIN FOUR YEARS.   ROOF SOLAR PANELS AND WIND TURBINES ON VEHICLES SHOULD PROVIDE REPLACEMENT ELECTRICITY TO RECHARGE OUR ELECTRIC VEHICLES TO SOME EXTENT.   THIS PLAN SHOULD FURTHER REDUCE OUR DEPENDANCY ON OIL ANOTHER TWENTY PERCENT A YEAR BY 2012 OR 2013.

6.       IF ALL THESE AND OTHER SOURCES OF ENERGY, SUCH AS THERMAL ENERGY ARE HARNESSED, DEVELOPED AND EMPLOYED WITHIN THE NEXT TWO TO FIVE YEARS WE WOULD NOT NEED TO IMPORT A DROP OF OIL AND PRESS OUR COUNTRY’S SUPPLIERS OF LOCAL GASOLINE TO COMPETE IN PRICE WITH OUR NEW SOURCES OF ENERGY.

         A BY-PRODUCT OF THIS EFFORT WILL BE A DECIDED DECLINE, IF NOT ELIMINATION OF THE POLLUTION CAUSING, CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS FROM GASOLINE ENGINES.    OUR AIR WOULD BE CLEANER AND WE WOULD BE HEALTHIER AT NO COST TO US.

       WE ESTIMATE THAT THE PRICE OF GASOLINE OR THE COST OF THIS SUBSTITUTE ENERGY EQUALEVANT, WOULD NOW BE ABOUT HALF THE PRESENT PRICE OF GASOLINE OR NO MORE THAN  $1.50 A GALLON, WITHOUT ADJUSTMENTS FOR INFLATION EACH YEAR.

      SO, YOU MIGHT ASK, WHAT ARE WE WAITING FOR?     FIRST WE NEED CONGRESS TO ACT BY PROVIDING TAX CREDITS TO COVER SOME OF THE COSTS OF INDIVIDUAL AND COMMERCIAL ENERGY PRODUCING METHODS.    NEXT WE NEED CONGRESS TO ESTABLISH A NEW ENERGY DEPARTMENT TO HIRE COMPETENT PEOPLE TO DEVELOP PRACTICAL AND ECOMONIC DESIGNS OF ENERGY PRODUCING SYSTEMS FOR BOTH THE COMMERCIAL AND INDIVIDUAL, PRIVATE USE.   THEY WILL NEED TO EMPLOY SCIENTISTS, CIVIL AND UTILITY ENGINEERS, DESIGNERS AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS TO WORK TOGETHER TO PRODUCE THE BEST AND MOST EFFICIENT DESIGNS FOR THE PRICE PAID.    THEY WILL ALSO NEED INPECTORS TO INSPECT AND APPROVE THESE SYSTEMS AS INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED EACH YEAR TO INSURE THEY ARE OPERATING SAFELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS DESIGNED.    MAUFACTURERS MUST BE ENCOURAGED BY INCENTIVES, TO BUILD EACH SYSTEM TO THE SPECIFICATIONS OF THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT.   CONTRACTORS WILL BE LICENSED BY THE ENERGY DEPARTMENT TO INSTALL, AND MAINTAIN THESE SYSTEMS.   NEW HOMES MUST BE DESIGNED TO ACCOMMODATE SOLAR AND WIND POWER SYSTEMS ON ROOFS.     FEES WILL BE CHARGED FOR SAID LICENSES AND INSPECTIONS TO COVER THE COST THEREOF, SO SAID DEPARTMENT WILL BE SELF-SUPPORTING AND COST FREE.

       IN THE MEANTIME, PRESENT MAUFACTURERS OF SUCH SYSTEMS IN GENERAL USE TODAY, WILL CONTINUE TO IMPROVE AND SELL THEIR EFFICIENT ENERGY SAVING SYSTEMS AS USUAL.

      ALL PRESENT AND FUTURE GASOLINE AND FUEL OIL COMPANIES MUST BE BARRED FROM OWNING OR CONTROLLING THESE NEW ALTERNATE ENERGY SYSTEMS TO KEEP THEM FROM MONOPOLIZING AND CONTROLING OUR ENERGY SOURCES, OR PRICES AND STIFLING DEVELOPMENT OF ONE SYSTEM OVER THE OTHER.    IT IS A PROVEN FACT THAT OUR OIL COMPANIES CANNOT BE TRUSTED IN THE ENERGY BUSINESS, WITNESS THE SHELVING OF GAS SAVING ENGINES OR DESIGNS BY OIL COMPANIES OVER THE YEARS.

7.      WAYS AND MEANS MUST BE FOUND TO CONTINUE TO FOSTER THE USE OF ATOMIC ENERGY ECOMOMICALLY AND SAFELY THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AS A PEACEFUL WAY TO UTILIZE OUR ATOMIC POWER EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE.

         WE SHOULD EXPECT CONGRESS TO ACT ON THESE PROPOSALS WITHIN THIS YEAR AS A PRIORITY MATTER, IN TANDUM WITH THE IRAQ WAR PROBLEM.   IF THEY DON’T ACT IMMEDIATELY, THIS YEAR, THEY WILL BE VOTED OUT OF OFFICE BY THE WATCHFUL VOTER AT THE NEXT ELECTION, IN NOVEMBER 2008.     

8.       IN THE MEANTIME, THE OIL COMPANIES DOING BUSINESS IN THIS COUNTRY MUST REDUCE PRICES TO A REASONABLE COST AND PROFIT MARGIN OR ALL THE ENERGY IN THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE PRICE CONTROLLED IN THE NATIONAL INTEREST.   WITH THE COMPETITION FROM THESE NEW ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SYSTEMS, THEIR DAYS ARE NUMBERED, ANYWAY, THANKS TO THE FULLFILMENT OF THIS ACTION, DEMANDED BY THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

      OPEC, A CONSORTIUM OF ARAB OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES BROUGHT THE U.S. TO ITS KNEES, WITH THE 1972 IMPOSED OIL EMBARGO.  WE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF OIL, WITH LONG LINES AND SHORT TEMPERS AT THE PUMP AND PRICE JUMPS OF ABOUT SEVENTY PERCENT.    THE PRESIDENT AT THE TIME, JIMMY CARTER, SUGGESTED WE CUT DOWN ON CONSUMPTION, WHILE CONGRESS SAID NOTHING AND REALLY DID NOTHING TO HELP THE SITUATION.    THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, INDIVIDUALLY, SOUGHT WOOD BURNING STOVES AND OTHER ALTERATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY TO SURVIVE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN THRUST UPON THEM BY THE OIL RICH ARAB NATIONS, OR JUST PAID THE ADDED COST AND EITHER SHUT UP OR COMPLAINED TO DEAF EARS.  

        BECAUSE CONGRESS DID NOT ACT, GRADUALLY, THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ADJUSTED TO THE PROBLEM BY GRUDGEDLY PAYING MORE AT THE PUMP, RATHER THAN SEE THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL AND WISELY DEMANDING A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THE FOREIGN OIL CRISIS.    WE CHOSE INSTEAD TO, NOT DIVERT THE GUN POINTED AT OUR HEADS, AND INVITED, THEREBY FUTURE CRISES.

        ALL THE WHILE, THE AMERICAN, BRITISH AND VENEZUELIAN OIL COMPANIES, WHO PRODUCED 70 % OF THE OIL CONSUMED IN THE U.S. THEN, ANSWERED THE PROBLEM BY RAISING PRICES AND, THERBY COMPOUNDING THE PROBLEM.   THUS, THEY PROFITED FROM THE CRISIS   INSTEAD OF HOLDING THEIR PRICES DOWN TO SUCCESFULLY COMPETE WITH THE ARAB NATIONS.    THESE ACTIONS WERE NOTHING MORE THAN PRICE GOUGING, SINCE IT DID NOT COST THESE SO-CALLED FRIENDLY COMPANIES ANYMORE THAN BEFORE TO PRODUCE THIS OIL.     WHAT DID CONGRESS DO ABOUT THIS ADDED INSULT?   NOTHING.   THEY DID, HOWEVER, GIVE TOKEN TAX CREDITS FOR SOLAR POWER, ETC.     NO LEGISLATIVE OR A DEFINITIVE PLAN, TO AVOID A REPEAT OF THE 1972 OIL CRISES WAS EVER PROPOSED OR PASSED BY CONGRESS DURING THE LAST THIRTY FIVE YEARS.    IT IS EVIDENT CONGRESS WAS SUPPORTING THE OIL COMPANIES BECAUSE THE OIL COMPANIES WERE SUPPORTING CONGRESS. 

       TODAY, WE ARE THRUST ONCE AGAIN INTO AN OIL CRISIS, CAUSED PRINCIPALLY BY THE STOCK MARKET BIDS ON FUTURE OIL DELIVERY.  AS THE PRICES ON THE MARKET GOES UP, OUR PRICES AT THE PUMPS GO UP AND VISA VERSA.    THE OIL COMPANIES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, AS WELL AS THE DOMESTIC OIL COMPANIES, HAVE PLACED US ON A STRING LIKE A YO-YO, GOING UP AND DOWN BASED ON THE BIDDING PROCESS, NOT THE COST OF PRODUCING THE OIL.   I BELIEVE THE OIL COMPANIES HAVE BEEN TAKING SOME OF THEIR EXCESS PROFITS AND ARE BUYING UP THE OIL FUTURES OF THEIR OWN OIL.   HOW CAN THEY LOSE?   EVEN THEN, THEY ARE MAKING SO MUCH MONEY THEY ARE REWARDING THEIR CEOS AND OTHER MANAGERS WITH HUGE BONUSES AND RETIREMENT PLANS OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AS WITNESSED BY THE EXXON MOBILE EXAMPLE, REVEALED RECENTLY.   VENEZUELA AND ITS LEADER, CHAVEZ, IS THUMBING HIS NOSE AT US, WHILE HE HAS HIS CITCO STATIONS ALL OVER OUR COUNTRY SELLING HIS OIL FOR PROFIT TO AMERICA, WHILE FEEDING AT OUR TROUGH.  

      SAUDI ARABIA AND KUAIT ‘S GRADITUDE FOR SAVING THEM IN THE FIRST GULF WAR OF 1991, WAS TO GO ALONG WITH PRICE HIKES, LIMIT PRODUCTION AND THEN THE SAUDIS KICKED US OUT OF ITS COUNTRY, PRIOR TO THE IRAQ INVASION, FOR POLITICAL REASONS, SINCE THEY ARE ALLIED WITH THE SUNNIS OF IRAQ AND ARE INTIMIDATED BY THE OSAMA BIN LADIN TERRORISTS.

      AFTER FIVE YEARS OF WAR IN IRAQ, ON A DOOMED MISSION, FIGHTING AN UNSEEN ENEMY, WITH NO END IN SIGHT, IT HAS BECOME ABUNDANTLY CLEAR THAT WE CANNOT SOLVE THE MUSLIM PROBLEM IN THE MIDDLE EAST.   THEY ARE CONTENT TO KILL EACH OTHER FOR RELIGIOUS REASONS.    IRAQ IS IN THE MIDDLE OF A CIVIL WAR AND THE U.S.A. HAS NO RIGHT OR WAY TO SOLVE IT.    THE IRAQIS MUST SOLVE THAT PROBLEM THEMSELVES; WHILE WE CANNOT RISK THE LIFE OF ANOTHER BRAVE SERVICE PERSON IN A COUNTRY WITH CONFLICTING CAUSES AND GOALS.     THE FEW TERRORISTS THAT ARE THERE CAME OVER THE BORDERS BECAUSE THE AMERICANS WERE THERE AS TARGETS.     IF WE REMOVE OUR BRAVE TROOPS, THEY WILL HAVE NO ONE TO FIGHT.    WE SHOULD FIGHT THE TERRORISTS ON OUR TERMS ON OUR GROUND TO BE SUCCESSFUL.       

       IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT WE WERE BAMBOOZLED INTO THIS WAR BY A COWBOY PRESIDENT WHO VOWED “TO GO IT ALONE” AND DID, FOR A REASON THAT PROVED FALSE, AT THE COST OF NEARLY THIRTY FIVE THOUSAND CASUALTIES AND A TRILLION DOLLARS IN AMERICAN MONEY THAT COULD JUST AS WELL HAVE BEEN USED TO SOLVE MANY OTHER WORTHY PROBLEMS, HERE AT HOME.   NOW, WE FIND OURSELVES IN A QUAGMIRE IN A NO WIN SITUATION LIKE VIETNAM AND KOREA.

MANY AMERICANS THINK OIL WAS THE REAL REASON FOR THIS WAR, WITH CHENEY’S FORMER COMPANY IN CHARGE OF THE OIL AND INFASTRUCTURE REBUILDING.   THEY MAY NOT BE TOO FAR FROM RIGHT.    HALLIBUTON HAS NOT BEEN ACCOUNTABLE TO C ONGRESS OR ANYONE EXCEPT, MAYBE CHENEY.   BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ARE NOT ACCOUNTED FOR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE.

       IT HAS BEEN MORE THAN TWO YEARS SINCE OIL PRICES JUMPED TO $3.00 A GALLON FROM  $1.60 A GALLON.   THE PRICES STAYED UP UNTIL JUST BEFORE THE NATIONAL ELECTION OF 2006, IN THE HOPE TO DIVERT ATTENTION AWAY FROM THEIR FRIENDS IN CONGRESS, THE OBJECT OF THE VOTERS RATH.   THEY REDUCED THE PRICES UNTIL THEY HAD THE EXCUSE TO RAISE THEM AGAIN “BECAUSE OF THE WINTER DEMAND FOR HEATING OIL” HEATING OIL CONSUMPTION ALWAYS INCREASES DURING THE COLD WINTER MONTHS AND PREPARATION PREVENTS PRICE INCREASES IN THIS SUPPLY AND DEMAND ECONOMY.   AT PRESENT THE PRICE IS NEARING $4.00 A GALLON IN CALIFORNIA AND A FEW OTHER STATES.   AGAIN, WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE OIL CARTELS DOMESTICALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY AND THEY WILL CONTINUE TO GOUGE US, IF WE CONTINUE TO STAND FOR IT AND DO NOTHING.   MANY PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT BIG OIL HAS OUR CONGRESSMEN IN THEIR POCKETS WITH THEIR FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS, AND THIS IS TRUE.   SOON, AND AGAIN WE WILL FIND OUT THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER FROM CONGRESS ITSELF, DEPENDING ON HOW IT ACTS IN THIS SITUATION   EXPECT NO HELP FROM CONGRESS OR THE PRESIDENT.    

      THE PRICE OF OIL SHOULD NOT BE BASED ON THE PRICE OF FUTURE OIL DELIVERIES; IT SHOULD BE BASED ON SUPPLY AND DEMAND, LIKE EVERY OTHER PRODUCT IN THE U.S.A.   THAT IS THE AMERICAN ENTERPRISE SYSTEM OF COMPETITION.  THE OIL CARTELS DO NOT PLAY THE GAME BY THESE RULES.   THEY BRING US TO OUR KNEES BY RAISING THEIR PRICES NOT BASED ON THEIR COST PLUS PROFIT AND OVERHEAD.   BUT RATHER, THEY BASE THEIR PRICES ON WHAT THE MARKET WILL BEAR.   PLEASE NOTE THEY ALL RAISE THEIR PRICES AT THE SAME TIME, A SURE TIP OFF OF PRICE FIXING.  IRONICALLY, THE DRUG CARTELS DO THE SAME THING, TO FIX PRICES.  THE PROOF OF THE MATTER IS THE COST OF THE DRUG PLUS THEIR OVERHEAD AND A REASONABLY PROFIT IS FAR LOWER THAN WHAT WE PAY AT THE DRUG STORE.

 A guy who just can't take life seriously...

1.     HE IS A LIBERAL, SO FAR ON THE LEFT, HE IS OFF THE PAGE AND HE IS ALSO LEFT HANDED.

2.     HE IS A BLACK MAN (actually, he is only half black.)

3.     HE THINKS HE IS WHITE (actually, he is only half white.)

4.     HE IS THE PRODUCT OF AN INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE, (making him half black and half white.)

5      HE EXPERIMENTED WITH DRUGS AS A YOUNG MAN (and is hooked since.)

6.     HIS WIFE IS A BLACK WOMAN, (and a better candidate.)

7.     HE IS A LAWYER, THANKS TO THE RULE ON BLACKS AT HARVARD, ALLYOU HAVE TO DO IS SHOW UP EVERY DAY AND YOU PASS.

8.     HIS WIFE IS A LAWYER, AND SHE TOOK ALL HIS EXAMS.

9.     HE COMES FROM CHICAGO, ALPHONSE CAPONE’S HOME TOWN.

10.   HIS MIDDLE NAME IS HUSSIEN, A SURE GIVAWAY HE DOESN’T USE.

11.   BARACK HUSSIEN OBAMA SOUNDS LIKE A TERRORIST NAME.

12.   HIS FATHER MUST HAVE BEEN A MUSLIM AND THAT SCARES ME.

13.   HE ATTENDED A MUSLIM SCHOOL IN INDONESIA AS A CHILD (where he received his early indoctrination.)

14.   HE IS ONLY A FIRST GENERATION AMERICAN, NOT A YANKEE OR A MASON.

15.    HE HAS BEEN IN THE U.S. SENATE ONLY TWO YEARS, AND ONCE GOT LOST ALL DAY TRYING TO FIND THE SENATE CHAMBER BECAUSE HE KEPT WALKING BY THE SIGN AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE TOILET.

16.   HE HAS NO MILITARY SERVICE RECORD, HE DIDN’T EVEN SERVE IN THE NATIONAL GUARD (or the boy scouts.)

17.   HE IS YOUNG, 45 YRS OLD, CERTAINLY NOT ONE OF THE WISE MEN (he learned all about politics from Rev. Wright, in church.)

18.   HE CALLED THE LOSS OF AMERICAN SERVICEMEN IN IRAQ, A WASTE, BUT SOME SAY,  HE ONLY MEANT THE BLACKS.

19.   HE THINKS HE IS ANOTHER ABRAHAM LINCOLN  (he won the war, but lost his life.)

20.   HE ACTS MORE LIKE A MOVIE, SPORTS, OR ROCK STAR THAN A POLITICIAN.

21.   HE IS BRAZEN TO THINK HE CAN BECOME PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.A., BECAUSE HE, DOES’NT ALLOW MIRRORS IN HIS HOUSE.

22.    HE SMOKES CIGARETTES AND ADMITS HE CAN’T QUIT (what kind?)

23.    HE HAS NOT PAID HIS DUES TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.  HE DEFINITLY IS NOT ONE OF THE BOYS.

24.    HE IS RUNNING AGAINST TWO SEASONED POLITICIANS

WHO HAVE RUN FOR PRESIDENT BEFORE AND LOST!

25.    HE CANNOT HOPE TO RAISE THE NECESSARY 100 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A RACE FOR THE PRESIDENCY, SO HE GOT OPRAH WINFREY TO UNLOAD SOME OF HER MILLIONS ON HIM.  

26.    HE DIDN’T VOTE FOR THE IRAQ WAR BECAUSE HE WAS NOT IN THE SENATE AT THE TIME.  BLACKS COULD NOT VOTE FOR 100YEARS BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T AFFORD TO PAY THE POLL TAX (he was against the war because he didn’t want to go.)

27.    IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT MOST OF HIS CABINET WILL PROBABLY BE BLACK (along with the White House furniture.)

28.    ALL THE WHITE HOUSE SERVANTS STAFF AND HIS CHAUFFER WILL BE WHITE, IF HE IS ELECTED PRESIDENT.

29.   HE PLANS TO REPAINT THE WHITE HOUSE BLACK AND CALL IT THE BLACK HOUSE.

30.   IT IS SAID HE PLANS TO PARDON ALL THE BLACKS ON DEATH ROW BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T AFFORD A GOOD LAWYER.

31.   HE HAS NO REAL NATIONAL OR INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE EXCEPT HE ONCE DATED A FRENCH WOMAN.

32.   IT IS SAID, HE LIKES BOYS, VERY YOUNG ONES.

33.   HIS FAVORITE FOODS ARE FRIED CHICKEN AND COLLARD GREENS.

34.   HE ATTENDED HARVARD BUT ONLY AT NIGHT.

35.   HE WORKED HIS WAY THROUGH HARVARD BY SHINING SHOES IN HARVARD SQUARE.

36.   WHILE AT HARVARD HE WAS ASSIGNED A ROOM UNDER THE STAIRCASE INTO THE MBTA SUBWAY AT HARVARD SQUARE.

37.   HE WASN’T ALLOWED IN THE SCHOOL CAFETERIA SO HE TOOK HIS MEALS IN THE ALLEY BEHIND THE WURST HOUSE RESTURANT.

38.   HE TOOK ALL HIS SHOWERS AT SCHOOL AT NIGHT FROM A HYDRANT OUTSIDE LANGDELL HALL.

39.   HE ONCE DATED A BLIND WHITE GIRL WHO LEFT HIM FOR A WHITE GUY.

40.   HE FINALLY GRADUATED FROM HARVARD LAW SCHOOL AFTER SIX YEARS WHEN HE THREATENED TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT OF HARVARD UNIVERSITY.

41.   HE BUYS ALL HIS CLOTHES FROM THE DISCOUNT RACK AT MORGAN MEMORIAL.

42.   THE ONLY WAY HE CAN BE ELECTED PRESIDENT, IS IF WE ALL ARE BLIND OR CLOSE OUR EYES AND HOLD OUR NOSES.

43.   HE FORMALLY ANNOUNCED THAT HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGERS ARE AMOS AND ANDY AND THE KINGFISH IF NOMINATED AND THEY WILL MAKE UP HALF OF HIS CABINET, IF ELECTED.

44.   WHEN HE LEARNED THAT REPUBLICAN, RUDY GIULLIANI HAD PASSED DECORATED VETERAN, SENATOR MCCAIN, IN THE OPINION POLLS, HE WAS ADVISED TO GET DIVORCED AT LEAST TWO TIMES AND REMARRY BEFORE THE ELECTION OF 2008.

45.   WHEN HE STARTED CAMPAIGNING IN THE SOUTH AND MIDWEST HE WAS ADVISED TO GIVE HIS SPEECHES IN DIM CANDLELIGHT OR IN DARK ROOMS OR BETTER STILL, TO WEAR A FULL FACE MASK OF JOHN F. KENNEDY, SR OR JR OR LESTER MADDOX AND STROM THURMAN.

46.   HE RELUCANTLY HIRED WHITE SPEECH WRITERS WHEN HE LEARNED ALL THE BLACK WRITERS ONLY KNOW FOUR LETTER WORDS.

47.   HE IS FINALIZING A CAMPAIGN SLOGAN BUT IS LEANING TOWARD THE FOLLOWING,  “OBANGER WITH OBAMA!” “ OBAMA O’MAMA!” AND FINALLY,  “BLACK IS BEAUTIFUL!”  HE HAS ALREADY REJECTED, “WITH A NAME LIKE, BARACK HUSSAIN OBAMA, YOU GOT TO BE GOOD!”

48.   BEING BLACK, HE DOES NOT WANT TO APPEAR OSTENTATIOUS IN HIS TRAVELS ON THE CAMPAIGN TRIAL, SO HE REJECTED THE USE OF AIRPLANES, TRAINS, MERCEDES OR CADILLACS, AND EVEN BUSES, CONTENT TO USE A MULE AND WAGON LOADED WITH COTTON TO   APPEAR LIKE HE FITS IN.

50.    HE HAS ALSO REJECTED THE USUAL FORMS OF ADVERTISING, IN NEWSPAPERS, RADIO, TV AND SKY BANNERS, PREFERRING TO CHALK HIS NAME AND MESSAGE ON EVERY SIDEWALK IN THE U.S.A. WITH THE ECONOMICAL MUSICAL MESSAGE,  “ WALK ALL OVER ME” IN THE BACKGROUND.

51.    SINCE HE IS RISING IN THE POLLS, HE PLANS TO STOP TAKING PART IN ANY DEBATE WITH THE OTHER CANDIDATES BECAUSE HE KNOWS HE IS SUCH A TERRIFIC SPEAKER AND HAS SUCH CARISMA THAT THE PUBLIC MAY FEEL SORRY FOR THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND GIVETHEM A SYMPATHY VOTE.

52.    HE IS HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY CHOOSING A RUNNING MATE FOR VICE PRESIDENT.  OF COURSE, HE WOULD PREFER A BLACK BUT WAS ADVISED THAT TWO WRONGED BLACKS DON’T MAKE IT RIGHT BUT THAT BLACK AND WHITE MAKES IT RIGHT.  CHANCES ARE THAT IT WILL BE A MAN RATHER THAN A WOMAN, SINCE WOMEN ARE TOO BOSSY, HE SAYS.

53.   THE REASON MANY PEOPLE ARE ATTRACTED TO OBAMA IS BECAUSE HE HAS NOT DISAPPOINTED US LIKE THE OTHER CANDIDATES HAVE SO WE CAN’T SAY ANYTHING BAD ABOUT HIM EXCEPT THESE LISTED.       

54.   PEOPLE, THESE DAYS, ARE FED UP WITH POLITICIANS, BUT OBAMA DOES NOT LOOK, DRESS, ACT OR TALK LIKE A POLITICIAN BUT IS ONE.

55.  PEOPLE MAY BE HAVING PANGS OF CONSCIOUSNESS AFTER NEARLY 50 YEARS OF BLACKS SUFFERING UNDER SUBJUGATION, SEGREGATION, DEPRIVATION AND CONFISCATION.  THE WHITE CATHOLICS, JEWS AND IRISH FORGOT THEY GOT THE SAME TREATMENT FROM THE YANKEES AND SOUTHERN BAPTISTS.

56.  I LIKE OBAMA BECAUSE HE IS NOT A STUFFED SHIRT AND HAS NO NECKTIE.  HE IS A SLOB LIKE THE REST OF US.

57.  OBAMA IS SO THIN AND FRAIL LOOKING, WOMEN FEEL SORRY FOR HIM AND WANT TO TREAT HIM TO SOME HOME COOKING AND WATER-MELON FOR DESERT.  

58.  WHITE MEN LIKE OBAMA TOO, BECAUSE HE IS BLACK AND THEY DO NOT FEEL SEXUALLY CHALLENGED BY HIM.

59.   PEOPLE ARE SO FED UP AND DISGUSTED WITH THE PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS THEY WOULD VOTE FOR MICKEY MOUSE AT THIS POINT, AND WILL.

60.   VOTERS DO NOT SELECT A CANDIDATE THEY LIKE, THEY REJECT THE CANDIDATE THEY DON’T LIKE AND VOTE FOR THE LAST ONE STANDING.

61.   OBAMA SAYS HE NEVER HEARD THOSE ANTI AMERICAN AND ANTI WHITE REMARKS BY REV. WRIGHT BECAUSE HE NEVER WENT TO THAT CHURCH EXCEPT TO BE MARRIED (maybe he is deaf, dumb and blind, too.)

62.   OBAMA SAYS TONY REZKO WAS HIS CAMPAIGN MANAGER ONLY A SHORT TIME BUT HE IS NOW RETIRED LIKE THE REV. WRIGHT.

63.   IF OBAMA DOES NOT LET THEM COUNT THE VOTES IN MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA, AND HE BEATS HILLARY, THE VOTERS THERE, PLAN TO VOTE FOR McCAIN FOR PRESIDENT. 

64.  OBAMA HAS PLAYED THE PENNSYLVANIA POKER ON THE POOR PEOPLE THERE, STATING THEY ARE “CARRYING GUNS AND RETURNING TO RELIGION AND HATING EVERYONE THAT LOOKS DIFFERENT AND ALSO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS” BECAUSE OF THE SAGGING ECONOMY.  

        THEREFORE, IN THE MEANTIME I PLAN TO VOTE FOR HILLARY CLINTON BECAUSE SHE WILL BE THE LAST ONE STANDING…AND I LOVE WOMEN, NOT MEN.

DEAR BARACK,

      I’M JUST INFORMING YOU THAT YOU MUST EXPLAIN THOSE OFFENSIVE REMARKS YOU MADE IN SAN FRANCISCO ABOUT THE BITTERNESS OF PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS AND THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.

      YOU CANNOT ONLY ATTEMPT TO DEFLECT THIS ISSUE BY SAYING   YOU COULD HAVE USED A BETTER CHOICE OF WORDS OR CHANGE THE SUBJECT BY CLAIMING HILLARY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF HERSELF FOR MAKING LEGITIMATE COMMENTS ABOUT THESE UNCALLED FOR WORDS IN DEFENSE OF THESE HELPLESS PEOPLE IN PENN.  WE ALL EXPECT AN EXPLANATION, ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE OF PENN.  YOU CANNOT IGNORE THOSE TROUBLING STATEMENTS ONCE THEY LEAKED OUT FROM THAT PRIVATE FUND RAISERS WITH THE ELITE IN SAN FRANCISCO.  IT IS INSULTING TO US WHEN YOU TRY TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT WITHOUT A FULL AND HONEST EXPLANATION.  THE LEAST YOU CAN DO IS TO APOLOGIZE FOR THESE UNWARRANTED AND UNTRUE STATEMENTS

      YOUR LONG HARANGUE AFTER THE REVEREND WRIGHT DISCLOSURE, IN YOUR CHURCH, ABOUT RACE DID NOTHING TO SATISFY US ABOUT YOUR STEADFAST FAILURE TO CONDEMN A HATEMONGER AND UNAMERICAN PREACHER WHOSE SERMONS IN CHURCH AGAINST AMERICANS AND WHITES YOU CLAIM TO ABHOR.   THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR LOGIC IF YOU CONDEMN THE WORDS BUT NOT THE SPEAKER OF THESE DEVASTATING WORDS, YOU ARE WHITE AS WELL AS BLACK AND YOU SHOULD BE THE FIRST TO CONDEMN HIM IF ONLY BECAUSE HE IS PREACHING HATE AND UNAMERICANISM WHILE ENJOYNG THE FREEDOM FROM TAXATION GIVEN TO ALL RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS.

      MAYBE, ALSO, THE STATEMENTS TO A CANADIAN OFFICIAL BY ONE OF YOUR CAMPAIGN LEADERS, THAT YOUR CAMPAIGN PROMISES ABOUT YOUR INTENTIONS TO CHANGE THE AGREEMENT WITH CANADA UNDER NAFTA WERE ONLY CAMPAIGN RHETORIC WERE NOT YOUR WORDS IS TRUE, BUT THE DOUBTS ARE RAISED AND THE QUESTIONS REMAIN.  

      THE ENTIRE ABOVE INCONGRUITIES GIVE RISE TO MORE AND MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT TRUSTING YOUR SPOKEN WORDS WHEN PRIVATELY, YOU INDICATE YOU ARE PLANNING A VERY DIFFERENT AGENDA.   THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXPOSED TOO MANY TIMES TO BE CONSIDERED A MERE SLIP OF THE TONGUE OR A MISSPOKEN WORD.     MAYBE IT IS TIME FOR US NOT TO TRUST WHAT YOU SAY AND LOOK TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IN THE PAST SO WE MAY SEE YOUR TRACK RECORD AND NOT RELY ON MERE WORDS PROMISING CHANGE AND HOPE.     

        THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HAVE BEEN FOOLED WITH FALSE PROMISES FROM POLITICIANS FOR TOO MANY YEARS TO BE FOOLED AGAIN.   THIS IS WHY THE PEOPLE OF PENN. ARE JUSTLY FRUSTRATED AND BITTER TOWARD POLITICIANS.    IT WOULD HAVE APPEARED, FROM YOUR YOUTH AND LIMITED TIME IN OFFICE THAT YOU MAY HAVE BEEN THE ONE PERSON THE AMERICAN PEOPLE YEARN FOR, SEEKING REAL HOPE AND CHANGE FOR A BETTER GOVERNMENT AND FUTURE.  HOWEVER, FROM YOUR REPEATED MISSTEPS AND SPOKEN WORDS YOU HAVE CONVCINCED THOSE PEOPLE OF PENN AND MOST OTHER AMERICANS THAT YOU ARE NOT TO BE TRUSTED ANY MORE THAN ANOTHER POLITICIAN ON THE STUMP OR SOAP BOX.

       FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS OUR COUNTRY HAS BEEN IN AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, EVIDENCED BY THE CONTINUAL EXPORTING OF OUR FACTORIES AND LABOR TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES, UNDER FREE TRADE AGREEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN A BOON TO FOREIGN COUNTRIES AND A BUST TO THE AMERICAN ECONOMY.     

      YES, WE HAVE ENJOYED THE LOW PRICES OF IMPORTED GOODS BUT, AT THE COST OF WORKERS AND EMPTY FACTORIES HERE AND AN 800 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT EVERY YEAR.    IN ADDITION, THE STOCK MARKET HAS BEEN FLUCTUATING LIKE A YO-YO FOR YEARS, BECAUSE OF THE DOWNTURN AND UNCERTAINTY OF THE ECONOMY; THE WAR IN IRAQ HAS DRAINED OUR TREASURY AND KILLED OR MAIMED 34,000 BRAVE SERVICE PEOPLE AND THEIR SUFFERING FAMILIES.     WE HAVE SPENT OURSELVES INTO A VERY DEEP DEBT THE LIKES OF WHICH WE HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE THAT WE WILL PASS TO OUR GRANDCHILDREN.   

      WE HAVE BECOME SO DEPENDENT ON OIL THAT THE OIL COMPANIES, BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN, ARE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SITUATION BY RISING PRICES DOUBLE WHAT THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO AND REAPING PROFITS THAT ARE OUTRAGEOUS AND SINFUL.   

      DRUG PRICES IN THE U. S. ARE TWICE THOSE OBTAINABLE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD, DUE TO THE SELLING OUT BY CONGRESS TO THEIR DRUG LOBBYISTS.    

      THE LAST VESTIGE OF HOPE FOR THE ECONOMY WAS IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD.   OVERBUILDING AND THE INFLATION OF BUILDING PRICES, CAUSED BY DEMAND, COUPLED WITH THE LENDER’S GREED FOR PROFIT, HAVE TOPPLED THE DOMINOS.  THE ARRANGING OF LIBERAL MORTGAGES DUE TO THE SURPLUS OF INVESTOR’S MONEY, ANXIOUS TO ESCAPE THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE STOCK MARKET CAUSED THE INEVITABLE COLLAPSE OF THE OVERBUILT CONSTRUCTION MARKET AND THE PRECIPITOUS FALL IN VALUES, DOWN 30% IN MOST STATES.   

      THE LENDERS LOST THEIR TEN TO TWENTY PERCENT CUSHION BETWEEN THE MORTGAGE DEBT AND THE VALUE AND HOMEOWNERS AND INVESTOR ALIKE, JUST WALKED AWAY FROM THEIR HOMES AND OBLIGATIONS, LEAVING EMPTY PROPERTY AND EMPTY POCKETS FOR THE LENDERS.  

      UNEMPLOYMENT HAS ADDED TO THE PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY FROM THE AUTO AND CONSTRUCTION FIELD, WHICH WERE THE LAST VESTIGE OF HOPE FOR THE ECONOMY.     THE HIGH GAS PRICES ADDED TRANSPORTATION COSTS TO MOST EVERY PRODUCT DELIVERED TO THE CONSUMER.  THE RESULT IS A SPIRALING UPWARD TREND OF PRICES FOR JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING PURCHASED BY THE CONSUMER.  NOW AMERICANS ARE STRUGGLING TO MAINTAIN A STANDARD OF LIVING THEY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO BUT WHICH IS SWEEPING AWAY IN A FLOOD OF DESPAIR.   GRADUALLY, BUT CONSISTENTLY PEOPLE HAVE BORROWED AND RE-BORROWED FROM THEIR EQUITY IN THEIR HOMES WITH THE REFINANCING OF MORTGAGES AT 100% TO 120% OF THE VALUE OF THEIR HOMES.   OF COURSE, THE FIRST INDICATION OF A CREDIT PROBLEM AROSE A FEW YEARS AGO WITH PEOPLE IN NEED OF CASH, MAXING OUT THEIR CREDIT CARDS WHILE CONGRESS BOWED TO THE PLEA OF THE CREDIT CARD COMPANIES TO PREVENT BORROWERS FROM ESCAPING THIS OVER DEBT BY FILING FOR BANKRUPTCY.  

       IT IS NO WONDER, BORROWERS ARE WALKING AWAY FROM THEIR OVER-MORTGAGED HOMES, BECAUSE, IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS THEY ARE VIRTUALLY JUDGMENT PROOF.   PRESIDENT BUSH, MINDFUL OF THE LEGACY HE IS ABOUT TO LEAVE AND MINDFUL OF THE NATIONAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER, 2008 PROPOSED, AND THE CONGRESS PASSED, A SO CALLED ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE WHEREBY MOST FAMILIES WILL RECEIVE A TAX REFUND OF ABOUT $1,200.00 DOLLARS THIS MAY HELP BUT UNFORTUNATELY, THIS STIMULUS IS BETTER DESCRIBED AS A TICKLE OR TINGLE STRATEGY SINCE IT WILL ONLY PAY FOR A DROP IN THE BUCKET OF THE BILLS OUTSTANDING FOR MOST AMERICANS.   PRESIDENT BUSH, THEN, TRUE TO HIS REPUBLICAN BACKERS AND FRIENDS, HAS MADE A DRASTIC AND VERY UNWISE MOVE TO THROW BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN CREDIT AND GUARANTEES TO THESE NOW DEFUNCT LENDING INSTITUTIONS AND BANKS IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP INVESTORS LIQUID.   OF COURSE, THE PRESIDENT HAS NO PLAN TO AID THOSE VICTIMS WHO FELL PREY TO FRAUD AND OVERZEALOUS AND UNSCRUPULOUS LENDERS.  HE HAS CHOSEN TO HELP THE FOX INSTEAD OF US CHICKENS.  

       THE TWO DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS HAVE ESPOUSED SOME TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS, BUT I DON’T SEE ANY LEGISLATION FILED BY THEM IN CONGRESS TO HELP THOSE BORROWERS WHO ARE VICTIMS AND THE IMMINENT LOSS OF THE PROTECTIVE ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS.   AT LEAST SENATOR McCAIN PUBLICLY TOLD US HE HAS NO INTENTION OF HELPING EITHER PARTY TO THESE LOANS WHILE HE MAY HAVE SMUGLY REALIZED THE PRESIDENT HAS ALREADY BAILED OUT THE LENDING INSTITUTIONS.   

       I ALSO HAVE NO REAL SYMPATHY FOR THOSE INVESTORS THAT GAMBLED IN THE HOUSING MARKET HOPING TO MAKE A QUICK PROFIT, BECAUSE THEY WERE PART OF THE PROBLEM OF RISING PRICES BECAUSE OF THE INCREASED DEMAND.   SO THEY SHOULD TAKE THEIR LOSS IN STRIDE AS THEY TOOK THE RISKS.    IN MY ESTIMATION ANY ONE OF MODEST MEANS IS CRAZY TO PLAY THE STOCK MARKET, BECAUSE THEY ARE PLAYING AGAINST BIG PROFESSIONAL INVESTORS AND FUNDS THAT CAN JUST ABOUT CONTROL THE MARKET AT WILL.   THE STOCK MARKET IS NOTHING BUT AN UNINSURED GAMBLE BEST LEFT TO THE GAMBLERS.   

     AS A RESULT, EVERYONE IS WONDERING HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM AND GET THE COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK, WITH MOST EVERYONE WORKING AND ABLE TO PAY HIS OR HER BILLS AND KEEP THE WOLF FROM THE DOOR.  

       THE ANSWER IS REALLY SIMPLE, LIKE PUTTING THE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE BACK TOGETHER WHEN IT IS DISASSEMBLED.     YOU SIMPLY PICK UP ONE PART AT A TIME AND START THE PROCESS OF AN ECONOMIC RECOVERY FITTING ONE PIECE AT A TIME TO MAKE IT WHOLE:

1.   CONGRESS SHOULD MANDATE A SIX-MONTH MORATORIUM ON FORECLOSURES AND FORCED LENDERS TO REWRITE THOSE HOME OCCUPIED MORTGAGES AT A CURRENT RATE AND TERM AFFORDABLE FOR OWNER TO WARRANT STAYING IN THEIR HOME, RATHER THAN ABANDON THRE HOME AND OBLIGATION.   ALL OTHER LOAN ARRANGEMENTS BETWEEN LENDERS AND INVESTORS,

NEED TO BE REVIEWED FOR A SIX MONTHS PERIOD WITHOUT FORECLOSURES TO GIVE THE BUILDING MARKET A CHANCE TO ABSORB AND SELL THE PRESENT INVENTORY OF FORECLOSED PROPERTIES BY REDUCING THE INTEREST RATES AND PRINCIPLE PAYMENTS ENOUGH TO CONVINCE THE INVESTOR NOT TO ABANDON THE INVESTMENT AND OBLIGATION.     IN AFFECT ALL FORECLOSURES SHOULD BE POSTPONED FOR SIX MONTHS FOR THIS PROCESS TO PROCEED.    IF PROGRESS IS NOT MADE OR PREVENTED BY THE LENDER, AN ADDITIONAL SIX-MONTH EXTENSION SHOULD BE MANDATED.    

      IT IS OBVIOUS IN SOME CIRCUMSTANCES THE LENDER WILL BE FORTUNATE TO COLLECT A FAIR INTEREST AND NO PRINCIPLE ON SOME DEFAULTED LOANS WHILE SAVING THE COST AND EXPENSE OF HANDLING AN EMPTY AND DISTRESSED PIECE OF PROPERTY THAT IS ADDED TO EVERY DAY WHILE PRICES ARE FORCED CONTINUALLY DOWN DUE TO THE GROWING SURPLUS AND ECONOMIC CONDITIONS.

2.  CONGRESS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STOP ALL WORK VISAS FOR IMMIGRANTS ENTERING THE COUNTRY FOR ONE YEAR TO SERIOUSLY DETERMINE IF AMERICANS COULD FILL THESE JOBS HERE.  ALL EXPIRED VISAS OF VISITORS SHOULD BE TRACKED DOWN AND DEPORTED.

3.  CONGRESS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PASS AN EMERGENCY ENERGY BILL.

     BASICALLY, IT SHOULD CONTAIN TAX BREAKS AND INCENTIVES FOR COMPANIES FOR THE IMMEDIATE CONSTRUCTION OF WIND POWER, SOLAR POWER AND WATER POWER STATIONS IN STREAMS AND RIVERS THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY BOTH DOMESTICALLY AND COMMERCIALLY AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING ELECTRICAL POWER FOR THE HOME AND ELSEWHERE. THIS WOULD PUT MOST UNEMPLOYED WORKERS BACK TO WORK IMMEDIATELY AND THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WILL REBOUND, WE SHOULD BE RID OF OIL DEPENDENCE IN FIVE YEARS.

4.   CONGRESS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PASS A ROAD AND BRIDGE REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION BILL TO UPDATE AND IMPROVE OUR OUTDATED AND DAMAGED ROADS AND BRIDGES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, STARTING IN THE DISTRESSED AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT TO GIVE THEM A BOOST AND A JOB TO REGAIN THEIR SELF-RESPECT AS WAGE EARNERS.

5.    CONGRESS MUST PUT PRICE CONTROLS ON DOMESTICALLY PRODUCED OIL AS A MEANS TO REDUCE PRICES UNDER THREAT TO NATIONALIZE THE OIL INDUSTRY HERE.  IF OPEC DOES NOT REDUCE OIL PRICES BY ONE HALF WE SHOULD DOUBLE OUR EFFORTS TO BE ENERGY FREE WITHIN A FEW YEARS, WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE MIDDLE EAST AND LEAVE THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF A RIDDLE OF, WHY DO THEY FIGHT EACH OTHER.

6.   THERE IS RIDICULE AND SCORN BEING THROWN AT THE ETHANOL PROGRAM, WHICH IS EXPANDING IN THE U. S., CHARGING IT IS ALSO A POLLUTANT AND CAUSING THE PRICE OF CORN AND BY PRODUCTS TO RISE.   THIS IS A RED HERRING THROWN OUT BY THE GAS COMPANIES TO PREVENT OUR INDEPENDENCE FROM OIL AS BRAZIL HAS SUCCESSFULLY DONE OVER TEN YEARS.  WE HAVE NOT DONE IT HERE BECAUSE OF THE OIL LOBBYIST INFLUENCE IN CONGRESS, WHICH HAS SAT IDLY BY AND LET THE AMERICAN PUBLIC BE DRIVEN TO A RECESSION OVER GAS PRICES. 

7.    CONGRESS MUST BE MADE TO STAY IN SESSION SIX DAYS A WEEK AND BURN THE MIDNIGHT OIL TO PASS THE NEEDED LEGISLATION TO SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY.   THE PRESIDENT HAS THE POWER TO DO THIS, UNDER ARTICLE 2 SECTION 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION AND CONGRESS SHOULD HAVE THE PROPER ATTITUDE TO CO-OPERATE BECAUSE THEIR VERY SURVIVAL, AS CONGRESSMEN, RESTS ON THIS ACTION THIS SESSION OR OUT THEY GO NEXT NOVEMBER, 2008.   IF WE MUST RE-ELECT NOBODY TO HAVE OUR NEXT CONGRESS DO IT.

8.    CONGRESS SHOULD PASS LEGISLATION, TO MANDATE ALL IMPORTS INTO THE U. S. BE PAID FOR BY GOODS MADE IN THE U. S. A., NOT DOLLARS.    THIS IS CALLED BALANCED TRADE AND WILL REVITALIZE OUR ECONOMY FASTER THAN A MODERN JET PLANE.

9.    ALL DEFENSE CONTRACTS FOR PURCHASES OF MILITARY AND DEFENSE NEEDS MUST BE MADE AND ASSEMBLED IN THE U. S. A.  THAT AIRBUS REFUELING CONTRACT MUST BE CANCELLED BY THE AIR FORCE.

       A POLITICAL TEMPEST HAS ARISEN OVER SOME PRIVATE COMMENTS MADE BY OBAMA AT A SAN FRANCISCO FUNDRAISER, LAST SUNDAY.

      FROM THE START, THE QUOTED REMARKS FROM A HUFFINGTON POLITICAL WEB SITE, SET OFF A BLAST OF CRITICISM FROM FELLOW PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES, HILLARY CLINTON AND JOHN MCCAIN AND OTHER OFFICIALS, CLAIMING HE HAD AN ELITIST ATTITUDE AND AS A HARVARD LAW SCHOOL GRADUATE AND LAWYER HE IS ARROGANT, INSENSITIVE, ALOOF AND OUT OF TOUCH WITH THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA.

      THE QUOTED REMARKS INCLUDED, “ IT’S NOT SURPRISING, OF THE PENNSYLVANIA VOTER THAT WHEN, THEY GET BITTER, THEY CLING TO GUNS OR RELIGION OR ANTIPATHY TO PEOPLE WHO AREN’T LIKE THEM, OR ANTI- IMMIGRANT SENTIMENT OR ANTI-TRADE SENTIMENT AS A WAY TO EXPLAIN THEIR FRUSTRATIONS.”

      WHEN I FIRST HEARD THESE QUOTED WORDS, I THOUGHT, ALL THIS SEEMS APPROPRIATE AND TRUE, SO WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS STATEMENT AND WHAT IS THIS FUSS ABOUT?   HOWEVER, UPON CLOSER EXAMINATION I WONDERED WHY OBAMA WOULD CHARACTERIZE GUNS AND RELIGION AS SOMETHING THESE DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE WOULD “CLING TO.”   IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE THAT THIS STATE HAS TRADITIONALLY HAD AN OVER ABUNDANCE OF DEER AND OTHER GAME ANIMALS THAT ARE ROUTINELY HUNTED IN SEASON AND THAT THEIR RELIGION IS PART OF THEIR DAILY STRENGTH AND FAITH, AND NOT SOMETHING THEY CLING TO, ONLY IN DESPERATION OR FRUSTRATION.

      PENNSYLVANIA WAS ONE OF THE FIRST STATES TO SUFFER THE PAIN OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND AN ECONOMIC DOWNTURN, WHEN THE STEEL AND COAL INDUSTRIES BEGAN TO SHUT DOWN, 50 YEARS AGO.   COAL WAS REPLACED ON THE MOST PART BY OIL AND GAS WHILE THE STEEL INDUSTRY WAS THE FIRST TO SUFFER FROM THE COMPETITION OF FOREIGN STEEL.   UNEMPLOYMENT HIT THIS STATE WHILE OTHER STATES PROSPERED AND THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA HAVE FELT UNAIDED AND FORGOTTEN, FOR FIFTY YEARS AS A RESULT.

      WHEN, MY LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND T V PROGRAMS, FINALLY CAME OUT WITH THE FULL TEXT OF OBAMA’S STATEMENT, MADE WHEN HE WAS UNAWARE HE WAS BEING RECORDED, I BEGAN TO REALIZE THE FULL IMPACT OF HIS WORDS, SPOKEN TO WHAT HE THOUGHT IN PRIVATE, TO A FAT CAT AUDIENCE OF POLITICAL DONORS AND SUPPORTERS.

       THE FACT IS THAT OBAMA WAS FRUSTRATED HIMSELF, WITH THESE POOR PEOPLE SAYING THEY HAD BECOME FRUSTRATED OVER THE YEARS, WITHOUT ANY APPRECIABLE HELP OR IMPROVEMENT FROM ANY SOURCE.   OBMA’S FRUSTRATION WAS NOT IN SYMPATHY WITH THE PEOPLE BUT WITH THE FACT HE WAS NOT ABLE TO WIN THEM OVER WITH HIS CHARISMATIC APPEAL AND RHETORIC THAT HAD BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL FOR HIM IN OTHER STATES DURING HIS CAMPAIGN.     HE JUST COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THESE PEOPLE DID NOT SUCCUMB TO HIS CHARM, BUT INSTEAD OPENLY REJECTED HIM AS THE CHAMPION OF CHANGE, AND HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE.    

      TO ADD TO HIS FRUSTRATIONS, HE SUMMARILY DISMISSED THEM AS ANTI-BLACK AND RACISTS BECAUSE HE SAID,  “THEY CLING TO…AND HAVE ANTIPATHY TO PEOPLE WHO AREN’T LIKE THEM,” (WHITE), THEREBY INJECTING THE RACE CARD HIMSELF, HE CLAIMS HE ABHORS BUT, USES OPENLY, WITH HIS 90% BLACK SUPPORT HE, IN FACT, CLINGS TO FOR THE MARGIN OF HIS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HIS CAMPAIGN.     THEREFORE, BY HIS WORDS, HE HAS ABANDONED ANY HOPE FOR THEIR SUPPORT AND SUMMARILY CONDEMNS THEM FOR THEIR FAILURE TO ACCEPT HIM OVER HIS RIVAL, HILLARY CLINTON, IN THIS QUEST FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.     HE WRONGLY ASSUMES AND STATES, IT IS BECAUSE HE IS A BLACK MAN, WHEN THE FACT IS THAT THEY ARE WARY OF THE FALSE PROMISES ESPOUSED BY PREVIOUS PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES AND FRUSTRATED REPEATEDLY FROM THE PREVIOUS EMPTY AND MEANINGLESS PROMISES OF POLITICIANS LIKE HIM.   THEY HAVE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE AND ARE THE LEAST OF THE VOTERS TO BE FOOLED OR SWAYED BY SUCH PROMISES, EVEN FROM SUCH AN OTHERWISE TALENTED AND LIKABLE PERSON AS OBAMA.   WHEN LEFT WITH THE CHOICE OF AN UNKNOWN AND UNTRIED OBAMA AGAINST THE TRIED AND PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF THE EIGHT BOUNTIFUL YEARS, UNDER THE CLINTON ADMINISTRATION, THE CHOICE TO THEM, TODAY, IS CLEAR, THEY CHOOSE THE COMFORT OF THE EXPERIENCED AND PROVEN LEADER AND CANDIDATE.    SOMETIMES THE CHOICE IS AKIN TO WHAT A WISE IRISHMAN ONCE SAID, “THE DEVIL YOU KNOW IS BETTER THAN THE DEVIL YOU DON’T KNOW!”     THE PENNSYLVANIANS REMEMBER THOSE GOOD TIMES AS COMPARED TO THE BAD TIMES UNDER BUSH FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS AND THEIR CHOICE IS CLEAR, THEY ARE EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS AND WANT TO BE SURE THEY DON’T MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE THREE TIMES IN A ROW.

       THEREFORE, OBAMA MADE THE FATAL MISTAKE OF PLAYING THE RACE CARD BY CALLING THE PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS BIGOTS AND RACISTS, RATHER THAN THE NEEDY BUT DISCOURAGED, FRUSTRATED AND FORGOTTEN WORKERS OF THE ABANDONED INDUSTRIES OF STEEL AND COAL, FOR THE LAST 50 YEARS.

       OBAMA HAD THE OPPORTUNITY OF SEIZING THE MOMENT BY SYMPATHIZING WITH THESE SUFFERING PEOPLE, BUT CHOSE INSTEAD TO CAST THEM ASIDE, BECAUSE OF THEIR MISTRUST OF GLIB POLITICIANS LIKE OBAMA.   OBAMA’S INTERJECTION OF RACE IS TOTALLY UNFOUNDED AND JUST A FALSE EXCUSE FOR HIS REJECTION, TO SAVE HIS PRIDE AND SUPPOSED SAVIOR QUALITIES.       

        HE MAY THINK HE CAN WIN WITHOUT THE PEOPLE OF PENNSYLVANIA AND THAT HE DOES NOT NEED THEIR SUPPORT, BUT IN DOING SO, HE MAY BE LOSING SUPPORT OF THE BALANCE OF THE STATES YET TO VOTE AND OF MANY PRESENT SUPPORTERS BECAUSE OF THIS “ I CAN WIN WITHOUT YOUR ATTITIDE”, WHICH HAS BECOME GLARINGLY EVIDENT, HE HAS BECOME TOO COCKY SINCE HE BECAME THE FRONTRUNNER, AND HIS PRIVATE COCKINESS HAS GONE TO HIS MOUTH AND NOW HAS BEEN EXPOSED.  

      DOUBTS ABOUT THIS NEWCOMER OBAMA HAVE REPEATED THEMSELVES ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS RECENTLY.  FIRST, THE REVEREND WRIGHT EPISODE WHEREBY, OBAMA FAILED TO REJECT BOTH THE REVEREND AND HIS ANTI-AMERICAN AND ANTI-WHITE TIRADES FROM THE CHURCH PULPIT.   NEXT, HIS SECRET CAMPAIGN OFFICIALS RE-ASSURANCES WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT THAT HIS ANTI-NAFTA CAMPAIGN PLAN ARE MERE POLITICAL RHETORIC AND WERE IN FACT NOT HIS TRUE PLANS.  FINALLY, THIS ABANDONMENT OF THE FRUSTRATED PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS, FALSELY CLAIMING THEY ARE RACIST, WHEN THE TRUTH IS HIS WHOLE CAMPAIGN IS BASED ON RACE AND MONEY FROM THE RICH, OPRAH WINFRY, WITH WHOSE SUPPORT HE HOPES TO BUY BOTH THE NOMINATION AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, BY REFUSING THE PUBLIC FUNDING AVAILABLE.

      OBAMA SAYS HE WANTS TO UNITE THIS NATION AND ITS PEOPLE, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HE IS FINDING REASONS TO CRITICIZE THOSE AMERICAN DEMOCRATS WHO ARE NOT OPENLY FOR HIS CANDIDACY AND CASTS THEM ASIDE AS UNNECESSARY VOTERS.    

      IN ADDITION, HE IS CASTING ASIDE AND PREVENTING THE VOTES OF MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA VOTERS FROM COUNTING BECAUSE HE DID NOT PREVAIL IN EITHER STATE.   ALL THIS THROUGH NO FAULT OF THE VOTERS, WHO VOTED IN GOOD FAITH AND FEEL DISENFRANCHISED.

IT WAS PITIFUL TO WATCH AND LISTEN TO GENERAL PETRAEUS AND AMBASSADOR CROCKER’S REPORT ON PROGRESS IN IRAQ TO DATE, A FEW DAYS AGO.

THEY REPORT THAT ALTHOUGH SOME PROGRESS HAS BEEN MADE AND CASUALTIES ARE DOWN, THE SITUATION IS “FRAGILE AND REVERSIBLE.”  THIS WAS GIVEN, AS THE REASON WHY THE EXTRA 30,000 TROOPS USED FOR THE SO-CALLED SURGE, CANNOT BE REMOVED AT THIS TIME, ALTHOUGH THE ROTATION TIME HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM 15 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS.  OF COURSE THIS FIGURE WAS BOOSTED LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE INABILITY TO REPLACE THESE TROOPS AFTER A ONE-YEAR TOUR OF DUTY.  ADD TO THIS FACT, THE ADMISSION THAT OUT TROOPS ARE SUFFERING FROM POST TRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME (PTSS) AND NEED HELP, GIVES YOU A GOOD IDEA THE SHAPE OUR MILITARY IS ENDURING AFTER SIX YEARS IN COMBAT AND THREE OR FOUR ROTATATIONS IN THE WAR AREAS.

THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO FALL VERY FAR SHORT OF THE INTENDED PURPOSE OF THE SURGE, TO GIVE THEM TIME TO TRAIN AND DEPLOY IRAQI TROOPS IN PLACE OF OUR BRAVE AND ENDURING MEN AND WOMEN. 

JUDGING FROM THE NEWS WE ARE WATCHING EVERY DAY ON TV AND THE REPORT OF THESE, MEN IT IS OBVIOUS THAT IT HAS BEEN VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE IRAQI TROOPS TO REPLACE ANY OF OUR TROOPS, OTHERWISE OUR MEN WOULD BE SCHEDULED TO RETURN HOME.

IT IS ALSO EVIDENT FROM INTELLIGENCE REPORTS THAT THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS HAD A STRONG INFLUENCE ON THE RELIGIOUS FACTION OF ARMED MILITIAMEN WHO CONTROL MOST OF BASRA DISTRICT TO THE SOUTH OF IRAQ AND THE EFFORTS OF THE PRIME MINISTER MALIKI TO DISARM THEM HAS FAILED. 

I WATCHED IN HORROR AS THE IRAQI TROOPS STOPPED THEIR FIGHTING SO THEY COULD ENJOY THEIR LUNCH.  IT IS GLARINGLY OBVIOUS THAT THE IRAQI SOLDIERS ARE RELUCTANT TO FIGHT THEIR SECULAR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS, SINCE THE GOVERNMENT IS MADE UP OF A SHIITES MAJORITY AND THE PRIME MINISTER IS A SHIITE, IT IS OBVIOUS WE HAVE A POWER STRUGGLE ON OUR HANDS BETWEEN THE TWO FACTIONS, BENT ON CONTROL OF THE GOVERNMENT, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE THEY ARE ARMED AND VERY CAPABLE.  WHEN YOU ADD THE EXPECTED RESISTANCE AND TROUBLE FROM THE DEPOSED AND EXCLUDED SUNNIS AND THE ACTS OF TERRORISM BY INFILTRATING ARABS FROM IRAN AND ELSEWHERE, IT IS EASY TO CONCLUDE THAT THE FUTURE IS THE SAME OLD SAME OLD IN IRAQ WITH NO END IN SIGHT.   

NOW I HEAR THAT WE HAVE BEEN PAYING MONEY TO THE SUNNIS TO STOP THE SECTARIAN VIOLENCE AND ALSO TO THE SHIITE CLERIC TO KEEP HIS MILITIA AT BAY.   BRIBERY IS NEVER THE ANSWER IN A WAR; IT ALWAYS BOOMERANGS AND NEVER ENDS.  

OUR TROOP STRENGTH IS BEING REDUCED BY CONTINUAL LOSSES (NEARLY 35,000) TO THE POINT THEY CANNOT BE REPLACED AT WILL LEAVING US VULNERABLE IN IRAQ AND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.

THE BORDERS OF IRAQ HAVE NEVER BEEN SECURE, AND ARE INVITING TO JUST EVERYONE, LIKE THEY ARE HERE IN THE U.S. WHILE WE NEVER DISARMED THE POPULATION AND SECURED THE WEAPONS AND AMMUNITION AS WE SHOULD HAVE DONE INITIALLY WHEN WE INVADED IRAQ.  UNLESS AND UNTIL THESE MEASURES ARE EMPLOYED YOU CAN EXPECT MORE AND MORE OF THE SAME, DAY AFTER DAY IN IRAQ, WITH NO END IN SIGHT, UNTIL WE LOSE THE LAST MAN STANDING, OR WE RUN OUT OF AMMUNITION OR MONEY TO SUPPORT OUR TROOPS.     

WHEN YOU ADD THE PROSPECT OF AN INVASION BY IRAN OF IRAQ, EITHER BEFORE OR AFTER OUR TROOPS ARE WITHDRAWN, YOU ARE LEFT WITH A SCENARIO THAT SEEMS INESCAPABLE.  THAT MAY BE THE VERY REASON WHY PRESIDENT BUSH AND HIS ANOINTED SUCCESSOR, JOHN MCCAIN ARE CALLING FOR A ONE HUNDRED YEARS WAR THERE.  WE CAN BE ASSURED THIS WAR WILL NOT LAST ONE HUNDRED YEARS, SIMPLY BECAUSE THE U.S.A. WILL SOON RUN OUT OF FUNDS AND TROOPS TO SUPPORT THE WAR ANY LONGER.   

THE USE OF THE ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLAR PROFIT FROM THE OIL IN IRAQ SHOULD HAVE BEEN USED TO SUPPORT THIS WAR AND THE COUNTRY’S RECONSTRUCTION IN THE FIRST PLACE, BUT NOW IT IS VITALLY NECESSARY SINCE OUR FUNDS ARE DRAINED.

OF COURSE, IF SOMEONE INCLUDING THE GENERALS IN CHARGE, COULD SUGGEST TO ME AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOW AND WHEN THIS WAR CAN BE WON, WE MIGHT BE PERSUADED TO CHANGE OUR MINDS FROM REQUESTING AN IMMEDIATE WITHDRAWAL OF OUR TROOPS, BECAUSE THE PURPOSE AND VOTE OF CONGRESS IN SUPPORT OF THE WAR HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED, WE HAVE FREED THE COUNTRY OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION AND DEPOSED THE DICTATOR, SADDAM HUSSEIN. THEREFORE, OUR MISSION WAS ACCOMPLISHED FIVE YEARS AGO AND THAT WAS WHEN WE SHOULD HAVE PULLED OUT AND BROUGHT OUR BRAVE TROOPS HOME.

WE ARE NO CLOSER TO VICTORY IN IRAQ TODAY THAT WHEN THE SURGE WAS ORDERED MORE THAN FIFTEEN MONTHS AGO.  IN THE MEANTIME, THESE PAST 15 MONTHS, WE HAVE SUFFERED ABOUT 500 MORE TROOPS KILLED AND 4000 MORE WOUNDED AND A COST OF MORE THAN 150 BILLION ADDITIONAL DOLLARS THAT ARE SOLELY NEEDED TO HELP OUR SAGGING AMERICAN ECONOMY.

The High Cost of Prescription Drugs in the U.S.

      The high cost of prescription drugs in the U.S. has become a serious burden on the American public and a scandal in Washington, because of congress’s failure to act for years.

      Congress has failed to act to keep prices down to the same level as drugs that can be purchased in other countries because they have fallen prey to the drug lobbyists in Washington.  Lobbyists have controlled congress with perks and campaign contributions to keep congress from controlling their actions and the price of drugs in this country.

      To make matters worse, the lobbyists have brazenly arranged for congress to recently pass legislation for a prescription drug plan that prevents the American people from buying drugs in Canada and other countries where the prices are one half that in the U.S.  At the same time, this legislation does nothing to reduce or control the price of drugs.  These are the same drugs manufactured here or owned by American companies who admittedly sell these drugs elsewhere at half the price we pay.  In their defense the drug companies argue it is because of the high cost of research and testing and getting their drugs approved by the FDA.  This argument is a red herring since the overall cost should be spread to all their products sold, everywhere, not only in the U.S.

     Drug companies spend millions of dollars every year providing free drugs as samples, to doctors to entice them to prescribe their particular drugs, rather than other generic or competitive brands.  Drug companies are known to have conducted so called seminars at choice vacation resorts for doctors while picking up all the cost of travel food and lodging, including family members.  This giveaway is actually paid for by the American consumer as reflected in the price of these drugs.  In addition the doctors are unduly influenced by this practice and it interferes with their independence to prescribe drugs to the patient generally.  It is nothing but another way to influence the selection and distribution of drugs while the American people are paying this unnecessary and added cost.

      To add insult to injury, these same drug companies have succeeded in convincing congress to pass legislation to extend their patent rights period of protection from the usual seven years to two or three times that period.  This action chokes off competition by generic drug companies to duplicate these drugs at much lower prices, usually one half, at a cost saving to the consumers.  Many drugs are needlessly controlled by prescription requirements when they can be made available over the counter at much lower prices.

      It is obvious, that at least for the last twenty years, congress has acted contrary to the needs of the American people they represent and deliberately in favor of the drug companies, their large campaign contributors and perk peddlers.  The proof is in the drug legislation they have passed over the last five years alone all written and in favor of the drug companies.  The recently passed drug plan is a joke, because it solves nothing except catastrophic drug costs to the elderly, while the cost is picked up by the government and is not controlled.  Also, the average retiree cannot afford the $2,500-3000 dollar co-pay when you factor in the monthly premiums charges.

     Congress has obviously lost sight of the manner they are elected; it is with the vote of the American people who should control their actions, not the drug companies.

      The voters and only the voters have the power to correct this serious problem of double prescription prices.  It is, with their vote come next November 2008.

      Either congress fixes this problem with real solutions, including price controls, or the voter should vote to re-elect nobody, next November, so the next new congress will do it for them.

Gentlemen,

      My wife and I voted at the Florida Primary in January as Democrats and expected our votes to count.

      Now we learn that our vote will not count because of some agreement made between the D.N.C. and the candidates for the presidency.  We were not made parties to the agreement and should not be bound by someone else’s agreement.

      Something is terribly wrong when a voter’s vote in a national primary, at a state voting booth is not counted and the voter is disenfranchised.  I thought we had the fiasco of the 2002 presidential election results behind us, now; none of the votes will be counted.  And we have a total disenfranchisement of all the Florida votes.

      Article 2. b.  Of the U.S. Constitution and the 18^th Amendment dictate the procedure for electors to be chosen for the presidency.  Each State’s Legislature shall appoint, in such manner as they dictate, the number of delegates who shall meet in each state and vote by ballot for President and Vice President.  Any primary election must therefore, be guided by the same provisions in the Constitution, since they are inevitably connected.    This obviously means the legislature of each state has the exclusive right and obligation to set primary and election dates for voting by its residents.

      Therefore, one must ask the following questions for you both to answer, please.
 

1.  How does any political party get to supersede the provisions of the U S Constitution?

2.  Can a political party control the dates of voting, the disposition of the votes and delegates in a presidential primary, if so, by what authority?

3.  If your answer to #2 above is yes, why are we as residents of a state made to pay for said primary with public funds?

4.  Where is the authority for the D.N.C. or the R.N.C to set primary dates, over that of the Legislature in each state.

5.  Where is the authority for a political party to nullify the primary vote results in each state?

6.  If the Florida Legislature violated a legal rule or agreement of the Democratic Party, why didn’t, the D.N.C. file suit to enforce the rule or agreement, and enforce said agreement and stop said primary vote?  Wasn’t that the remedy for them to follow, court action?

    We, the people of Florida, who voted in the primary want our vote to count and our delegates seated, since public funds were expended for that purpose and the U S Constitution’s provisions in this regard are exclusive and binding on everyone.  In addition, federal provision in this regard supersedes any state provisions.

    Mr. Howard Dean and Governor Crist, please answer these questions and tell us what, if anything, you individually intend to do about this very serious problem before it tears the country apart and throws the nomination process into utter chaos and stops the election in November 2008, because of the expected court action.  If our vote is not counted, we will be outraged and determined to act in retaliation.  We intend to leave the Democratic Party and we will encourage Republicans to leave the Republican Party, so that we will thereafter be Independent voters and masters of our sacred right to vote for elective offices.

April 3, 2008

       I wanted to write this article on April first but decided against it for fear it would be greeted as a joke.

       The present problem with the escalating delinquent real estate mortgage situation is so serious we should not joke about it.  Because of overbuilding and investments in the real estate market, these last few years, the resulting downturn in the economy due to rising prices for gasoline and heating oil, the building bubble has burst and prices have fallen to the cellar.   

      The equity in a building usually depended upon by lenders as a cushion against the risk in a loan has evaporated as values have dropped precipitously, about thirty percent as an average across the country.  Added to this problem, are many homeowners and investors who have maximized their mortgages to pull out equity to pay bills or for further investments during the surge in values of real estate for the last five years.

     Banks and other lending institutions have further compounded the problem by granting sub prime loans with inflated values to most everyone, based on picking up a quick profit for writing the loan and then selling the loan to the big investing companies like Bears Stearns on Wall Street.

     Just as soon as the value of the property fell below the balance of said mortgages, the investors, most of whom are judgment free, walked away from the responsibility for payment of the mortgage by abandoning the property to the lender who now is paying the price for sub prime lending and credit guard line abuses.    

     This problem did not arise from this practice alone; it was a combination of problems taken together which contributed to this situation.  Many people who lost their jobs, maxed-out their credit cards and then they also were forced to remortgage their homes to pay their mounting expenses without the income to sustain them.  Soon they found themselves without any borrowing power or funds left to pay their mounting bills from higher food, gas and heating oil prices, health bills and other home expenses.    

      Many borrowers fell victim to predatory lending practices, with loans containing a schedule for mortgage payments they could not afford to pay and loans that should not have been made by the lenders who lacked legal controls and restraints against such practices, by the Federal Reserve System.

    Of course, some greedy real estate investors, anxious to participate in the ballooning value of real estate, as a substitute for the fluctuating stock market values, bought into this market, and added to the inflationary result of rising values.

     Now, for the last two years, the sign of this bust in the building bubble has been evident with the decline of sales and prices while foreclosures have reached an epidemic stage with one out of ten homes in default of mortgage payments and the resulting foreclosures increasing each month.  The best sign of overbuilding in the construction field is the surplus of new and used real estate on the market, lowering rental prices and the almost complete lack of new building permits issued by municipalities for the last year two years.  This has added to more unemployment in the construction and building supply fields, along with municipal building and inspection department layoffs.  With foreclosures mounting, and defaulting real estate tax payments on such property, plus falling values, the tax base of every city and town is drastically reduced and services and layoffs are mounting because of the cash squeeze.  Therefore, the building and housing downturn and mortgage default problem vibrates and causes like effects throughout the country.

      The result is a very serious economic problem that affects almost everyone in the country, in one way or another and one that defies solution, or a quick fix.

      President Bush, mindful of the national election in November, attempted to help the mortgage foreclosure problem, by having the Federal Reserve system pledge loans and the credit of the United States amounting to 300 billion dollars to the Bears Stearns company to keep it from bankruptcy and support its sale to another lender, JP Morgan.    No conditions were placed on these guaranteed loans to help the consumer in any way.    This is what I call the “Hoover” mentality of republicans to come to the aid of the lending institution, who admittedly needs help, but at the expense of the consumer the borrower.    This action helps the Bears Company only and put no mandate for the borrower whom is losing his home or the investor who will be applying to the Bankruptcy Court in search of the relief denied by the President of the U.S.  The argument that if you pour relief into the top of the vessel, it will find its way to the bottom is nothing but a cliché, meant to ward off the truth.

    Here we have a problem of magnitude proportions that is crippling the economy even more every day, and this is the best our President can do help one company to the exclusion of everyone else in the country.  If you look at his actions realistically, wouldn’t it have been better to use this credit and help to give immediate assistance to the millions of borrowers first to keep them from bankruptcy and let the investor, whomever it is to go into bankruptcy, alone as an example of the American way of the free enterprise system.  It is obvious to me, and even the casual observer that the President took this action because he was intent on helping the greedy investor and the management of the lending company in lieu of the borrower.  As an additional side benefit, the stock market investor in Bears Stearns can rest easy and in the comfort that President Bush has helped them conserve their stock market gamble at the expense of the helpless and pitiful mortgage borrower.

     In the heels of the President’s actions, a bi-partisan effort spearheaded by presidential looser, Senator Dodd’s of Connecticut, chairman of the committee on banking.  A recent Obama supporter has come up with a doozy of a plan to help borrowers in default of mortgages.  Remember, Dodd’s claims thirty years of experience in solving problems in the financial fields his bi-partisan senate committees have solved this pressing problem by recommending the following:

1. A  $4 billion grant to local Governments to buy and refurbish foreclosed properties.  

        My comment: how does this help the borrower, it sounds more like the U. S. Government gives a grant to a municipality to pay off and save the lender while the town feasts on the property like a vulture.  The lender be damned, in this case, he is out in the street.

2. A new authority for states to issue bonds to refinance sub prime mortgages.

         My comment: this looks like another bail out for the lender, with the state bonds taking the place of the lender and guaranteeing the payment of the mortgage, while the borrower still must pay the inflated mortgage he cannot afford to pay.  On a home that is valued below the debt on it.  Where is the help to the borrower in this case, either you are a bunch of dummies or you are trying to bail out the lender, and it looks like another win for the lender at the expense of the borrower.    

3.    A temporary tax credit of $7000 for people buying new houses or properties in foreclosure.

        My comment: Distressed property in foreclosure needs no incentives to buy because they traditionally are auctioned off at bargain prices and there are no lack of buyers to apply this cash incentive to new properties to the exclusion of the large inventory of existing properties, smacks of favoritism to the builder at the expense of the competing existing homeowners and is completely out of line and insulting.  As an aside, this $7000 credit also helps both the lender and the borrower to bail out of the property at a higher price lessening the obligation of the borrower and the risk of loss to the lender.

4.    Each of the three remaining candidates for President has proposed a framework of so-called relief from these obvious mortgage crises, for example,

     a.    Candidate McCain stated he does not feel inclined to help a lender or borrower who foolishly put themselves into the mess they find themselves now.  However, at that time President Bush had already bailed out the lenders, and this left McCain to throw the borrower under the bus, thus blaming him for the whole mess and demanding repayment of some deviously granted loans that shock the conscious of most decent people.

     b.    Candidates Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama have devised equally vague plans to aid the borrower by recommending a short moratorium on foreclosures to give both the lender and borrower an opportunity to work out their individual differences and find solutions short of more foreclosures flooding the already flooded housing market and spiraling down values and prices.

5.    Based on what the bipartisan senate committee has come up with, it is certain that congress, democrats and republicans alike will fail to come up with a plan to help solve or really help this serious situation, because, true to form, each political party has separate and distinct ideas and selfish principals in this regard.  As long as they continue to play petty politics with the problems facing this country, we can rely on congress to do nothing as usual as they have done for the last eight years or more.

      The President’s plan is so partisan and republican that you can expect nothing else from him and his administration.

      That leaves the candidates plans to consider.  We can discount any help for the borrower from John McCain since he is a look alike and act like a son of President Hoover in the early thirties, which took a new President like Franklin D. Roosevelt to resolve in short order with “the new deal”.

      The two democratic presidential candidates are too busy clawing at each other to find time and solutions to the problem, except to have a short moratorium on foreclosures.   Of course, neither has filed any legislation in this regard as senators on the government payroll.  This suggestion is definitely the first step needed to prevent the continued flood of foreclosures that further depress the housing market and put a serious strain in the financial and stock markets.

My solution:    

A.  Like putting a finger into the leaking dike, we need a time out on foreclosures to take stock of the situation and its extent and then fashion a solution to the mortgage problem.  My recommendation is 90 days with an option for more time.

B.  There is no question but all the lending institutions must be made to offer to rewrite all outstanding mortgages to an interest rate that is realistic in today’s market, a new loan plan with current interest rates and possible lower principle.   

C.  Homeowners with a default or near default mortgages should be encouraged to stay in their homes, by stopping all such foreclosures, until their finances and ability to pay are reviewed by the lender and an independent agency and a fair and equitable arrangement is mutually made if possible for them to pay off their mortgage and stay in their home.   In some cases fifty years mortgages should be written to lower the monthly payment if needed with provision for yearly inspection and upkeep of the home being required as a condition.  This action will not make a bad situation even worse if nothing is attempted to resolve the problem.

D.  Investment property, non owner occupied, must also have a moratorium on foreclosures to attempt the parties to work out the problem and find mutually agreeable solutions, if possible interest rates reduction and even mortgage reductions may be in order rather than have another distressed property on the already flooded market with deterioration and neglect.     

      Most Americans believe the Bush administration sold us a bill of goods as reasons for invading Iraq, citing weapons of mass destruction and an attempt to secure a nuclear bomb.     

       It seemed improbable, after ten years of U.N. inspector’s presence there to seek out and destroy such weapons, that somehow they were still there in late 2002 in the short time the inspectors were expelled by, Saddam Hussein, the country’s dictator.  Most members of congress gave President Bush the right to go to war while hoping at the same time that negotiations might solve the problem of the re-entry of the inspectors and avert a war.  Public opinion was in favor of this war because they were smarting from the hurt of the 9/11/01 attack and still thrashing out wildly and in favor of war to punish someone and anyone.

      Bush rushed us into this war without the needed support of NATO and the U.N. and hostilities began in early 2003. By June of that year our brave troops reached Baghdad, the country’s capital while Saddam Hussein fled and hostilities ended.  Who can forget the triumphant landing of the President on the aircraft carrier and the huge sign hanging there announcing “mission accomplished.”  As I look back at that sign I agree that the mission was accomplished, since we rid the country of Saddam’s rule.

     Suddenly day after day, hostilities broke out repeatedly between the Sunnis who lost control of the governments and were excluded from the police and other security positions in the informal government set up by the U.S.  Finally, a full fledged civil war broke out between the two factions aided by the Shiite militia led by a Cleric and opposed by the Sunnis with the aid of some terrorists that obviously migrated across adjacent borders with Iran, Seria and friendly Jordan.  

     Roadside bomb explosions became a commonplace thereafter against the American troops day after day with casualties mounting to about a hundred a month and about 5000 seriously wounded soldiers a year.  

     Although, a provisional government was replaced with a freely elected Iraqi government in February 2005.  The Sunnis chose not to vote and then complained they were basically excluded form the government.  Efforts to train a new police, army and a security force became extremely difficult as they became targets of the Sunnis and terrorists bent on causing chaos in any way to prevent the government from functioning.

     It became obvious to the American public that this was a futile effort after three and a half years and in 11/06 made their position clear that they wanted to end the war and bring the troops home.  The President went against the will of the American people and the new congress did not have the guts to stop the funding to press for a pullout.  It is obvious even to a casual observer that Bush and Cheney started this war so they could control the oil of the country and even had the gaul to hand the control of the oil production in a no bid contract to Halliburton, Cheney’s old company.  Billions of dollars are now unaccounted for and the senate oversight committee cannot do anything about it.        

     We had occupied Iraq with about 150,000 troops, instead of the 500,000 recommended by the generals who were overruled by the Secretary of Defense (war) Donald Rumsfeld.  As they drove determedly toward Baghdad we saw unfolding on TV that the troops were driving by caches of ammunitions of the enemy and nothing was done to secure them.  In WWII, I was with the first Army and as we advanced we were obliged to secure all the weapons we encountered and send them to the rear with tank retrievers and the red ball express trucks along with our wounded and dead.  We even had to search every home and building to confiscate civilian hunting weapons and swords that might be pointed at us by the remaining civilians.  In addition, we were obliged to secure the area, flanks and borders to prevent any possibility of end runs or infiltrations as is occurring in Iraq.  I noted in horror, civilian militiamen parading around the streets of Baghdad armed to the teeth.  They should have been disarmed from the get-go.  Didn’t anybody remember the routine in WWII that proved so successful it even worked during the last real German offensive at the Battle of the Bulge?  We won it with our soldiers poised at the flanks and with the Air Force once the weather cleared.  The failure of this mission in Iraq is directly related to the command’s failure to follow through as described above if you take the weapons and ammunition away from the enemy and their population they have no will or weapons with which to fight you.  If the Germans knew we had a million gallons of fuel at our fuel dump in Liege, Belgium they would have attacked there first, since eventually they actually ran out of gas for their tanks and vehicles before reaching the junctions at Marmedy, France.

      That is how you fight a war.  You eliminate all possible, human and material resistance, including vehicles.  I remember confiscating motorcycles and volkvagens for our own use as we went forward, along with the kegs of German beer and shnops liquor.  We also took all disabled but fixable American vehicles along the way and shipped them to the rear so they could not be used against us in the event of a counter attack.

     In addition we had military police stationed at every intersection along the road to Berlin to prevent our supply vehicles and troops from getting lost in the confusion. 

       The fact that these simple precautions were not taken has led us to the mess we are in today.  Every time the enemy sets off a roadside bomb or a mortar or a missile is launched against us it emboldens the enemy and terrorizes our troops and the civilian population alike.  This is also the reason why we have great difficulty training police and Iraqi troops, they are afraid they will be targets too.  Since the religious factions causing the civil war have access to weapons.  When you’re faced with “tit for tat,” no one wants to be “tit or tat.”

     The last year or so in Iraq employing a so-called “surge” with 30, 000 additional troops seemed to work in its effort to clear out and hold sectors of the country.  But as soon as we leave, the insurgents return, with their weapons in hand.  If we had cleared the weapons from the country first, then we don’t need to hold, the position only oversee the populous.  The people themselves would feel safe and more trusting of the troops both local and foreign.  It is very difficult to root out these weapons now since they are hidden away and difficult to find.     

       It is now more than two years since the surge began and the purpose of the surge was to give the Iraqi government a chance to govern themselves and take over the defense duties.  Although some small improvement has occurred, the government is not really functioning because of the sectarian violence which will never stop between them until one defeats the other, in the inevitable battle to the finish naturally comes.  This is the traditional way these people solve their problems by sacrificing themselves for religion and the hate between themselves. This is what has happened for two thousand years and will most likely; continue forever, without much healing.

     First, the borders must be secured then; the weapons must be found, collected and secured.  Then and only then will the terrorism and fighting stop, because they will have nothing to fight with and the people will be safe in that knowledge.  And the country will come together and heal their differences by lawful means alone.

    The President does not have the authority to democratize the Iraqi people nor do they want democracy imposed on them, they and only they, have the responsibility to choose their government and their future course.  Only time will decide that, not the U. S. 

     It is time for us to make a withdrawal from Iraq and leave these choices to them.  I would help them secure their borders and collect all weapons from the masses, especially the secular militias who, in my opinion, are the cause of 90 % of the secular violence, encouraged by Iran and their fellow Shiites.  We should be out of there by the end of this year 2008.

     We have already stretched the endurance of our troops there with most of them enduring four tours of duty.  Six years is more than enough before we burn out all of our troops from the constant emotional pressure that is so apparent in some of them already.  

     In the first place the Pentagon has seen fit to fight this war with about 50 % regular Army and 50% Reserves or National Guard troops.  The Reserves are usually older and have families at home who are suffering the deprivation and anguish as much as their fellow troops in the combat area.

       It is not a question of winning or losing, is a question of removing the American troops as a target of the insurgents whomever they are.

      Lest we forget that, Osama Bin Laden, is still at large plotting another attack and organizing more hate against our country.  We should have captured him first, as a priority, not turn our attention away from him and to Iraq for no plausible reason.    

      It is now more than two weeks since the story of Reverend Wright broke, which put Obama to the task of explaining himself for being a member of a church that preaches hate and damnation for America and its white people.    

      After a few days Obama was forced to make a grand speech about racism in the United States and how we must work to overcome it.  I saw and heard this speech as an attempt to whitewash this issue, instead of a plausible explanation for his action and nonactions.  It certainly failed to explain his actions except to admit the statements were racist, and un-American, which he said he rejected but he did not reject the man who spoke them.  His excuse was that the reverend was retiring so there was no need to leave that church.  Still he has seen fit to repeatedly bring up this problem, I believe from a sense of guilt over its exposure and the resulting damage to his image which is glaringly justified now voters are taking a long hard re-look at Obama and find him to be not as advertised.  At Harvard Law School he sought out Marxist professors and black radicals exposing his communistic and socialistic views so far to the left he is considered the most liberal of Senators.     

      With the indictment of his chief fundraiser, Tony Rezko, and a questionable house and land purchase from him and his wife, this raises serious questions of propriety, which Obama has yet to explain except to say, ”it was stupid of me in that case.”

       The fact that Oprah Winfry has backed him with her bottomless bag of money gives rise to the belief she is trying to buy the election for him, while abandoning her previous crusade for women.  He raises more money than his opponent?

       The fact remains the Obama must have heard these statements, on more than one occasion, although once was enough to warrant action on his part and he may choose to deny this, but no one but an ardent supporter will believe him.

       Black people flock to this church in Chicago and support it because they agree with the preacher and his statement.  That fact must include him and his wife.  Hopefully, his young and impressionable children were not present to hear those words, “God damn America” and “those rich white people.”  This is not a accusation of guilt by association, because Obama should have left that church maybe twenty years ago when he heard these racist statements the fact that he did not makes him a party to them.     

      Therefore, this church has been infected with this poison talk for thirty years and the pastor’s mission was to intentionally fire the congregation up with his racist remarks.  And the reason was obvious, to preach hate and damnation for America and white people, while he enjoys a tax free status under the laws of a country he teaches others to hate.    

      It is obvious that we have a race problem here in the U.S.A. as has been broadcast by this pastor for the last thirty years.  However, it can be argued successfully that it is entirely one sided.  This is a tragic situation because at least since the civil rights act of 1962 and the resulting affirmative action and busing laws, blacks have been given superior rights for their advancement.  This church is in the north where blacks have been treated as equals and given the same opportunities as their white neighbors.   

      This raises serious questions as the source of this antagonism and its genuineness’, the predominately white country has bent over backward to provide blacks equal rights under the law, many times, those rights provided to blacks were at the expense of more qualified whites and to their detriment.  The progress made by and on behalf of blacks in this regard for the last fifty years has been rapid and complete to the point some affirmative action rights had been abolished as unnecessary.   

     Most blacks of this country have nothing to complain about for the last fifty years, that is two generations, for fathers and son’s mothers and daughters.  So what is the problem and real reason for this undertow of racism?  As displayed in that church and other black churches.  It is nothing but fading memories of a time in the distant past when the south (not the north) saw fit to take out their anger over their loss of their slaves and the resulting civil war and attendant destruction in the south.  Many blacks fled north before the war and found freedom in the north and in Canada, many freed slaves migrated north since the civil war, where equality was available for them.  Those that remained in the south, as their choice, may have been subjugated and mistreated with “separate but equal” accommodations insisted upon them by the south for 100 years after the war. The fact remains that the southern black chose to remain in the south throughout the industrial revolution, when European immigrants were flocking to the north and west to fill jobs, settle down have families and happily join the society of others in the community.  Most of these people had a bare grammar school education, could not speak English and were also exploited by employers, but they endured and overcame prejudice, insults and ostracism, by proving their worth with hard work and determination to be accepted as equals. They succeeded in one generation what blacks have failed to do in ten generations, while overcoming language and custom barriers with hard work.   

      If black preachers would or had stopped preaching sermons of hate and racism as an excuse to gain notoriety and support for their church and themselves and, return to the teachings of the bible where love forgiveness and brotherhood are fostered and nurtured as in all the white churches of all denominations the black’s problems would be solved long ago.  The problem rests with the blacks and them alone.  There is absolutely no reason for whites to accept guilt for the action of the south for 300 years since they have been corrected for the last fifty years.    

      Most of these blacks have used this racism and hate issue, as an excuse to run afoul with the law in a supposed resentment of whites and justifying their actions with stealing robbing raping and killing without remorse but with feeling of retribution for imaginary and supposed ancient wrongs committed on them by whites 100 to 300 years ago.  You may wonder why the jails are filled with an inordinate number of blacks but these explanation rings of the truth.  Is it any wonder that some whites and also blacks may be afraid of blacks when they meet them on the street, as Obama’s grandmother claimed.    

       Until the black community corrects this misdirected hate against the whites and this great country they will not be able to join us other Americans, nor should they be accepted as equals until they act and earn their place in our society as equals, as every one else is required to do. 

       It is fortunate for us Americans to discover this serious flaw in the black community at a time when a talented and popular black man named Obama aspired to become President of these United States.  Unfortunately, he has demonstrated his choice to support his hateful and un-American pastor and be associated with those same hateful and racist blacks parishioners against Americans, while seeking the support and vote of white Americans.  You Mr. Obama cannot have it both ways, because you should be an American first and foremost.  How can you turn against the white relatives that raised you?

                              Obama claims to be a Christian

      After the Iowa and south Carolina primary I could not understand who would vote for a candidate for the sole reason he was good looking, charismatic and so well spoken. He could fire up people with only words, such as “change” and “can do”, all this in face of a line of other candidates with more experience than Obama’s age, while most people knew and cared so little about him, his experience, capabilities and motives.

      Obama was a little known local representative from Chicago in the Illinois legislature who did little to distinguish himself for the eight years there, except to play petty politics by voting “present” on issues more than one hundred times rather than stand up and be counted.  Even that record should be a warning that he is more of a political wheeler and dealer than a champion for what he believes in.

      He was swept into the U.S. senate from Illinois, by the wave of anti Bush sentiment in the 2005 election, where he has been for 14 months, while running for President at the same time.  This man has not stopped running for office for ten years.  When does he stop and represent the people that elected him in these various offices?  Winning primaries does not qualify you to fill the highest office in the land.  Only experience and well-founded confidence, does.

      In the last year, Obama has continued to ride on the anti-administration and anti congress sentiment because of the frustrations over the continued cost of lives and money for the war in Iraq and the deepening sag in the economy and worsening rise in unemployment.

      It is easy for many young voters to fall prey to the empty promises of ”change” and rhetoric like “can do” from such a charismatic person, but  ” where’s the beef?!”

      But these disillusioned Americans for the past six or seven years must think clearly about who can really bring about the change and solutions needed without delay to turn this economy around and put all Americans back to work, immediately.  Many democrats seem to be putting their trust and hope on Obama, mainly because of his newness to the scene and lack of connection to the so-called “do-nothing congress”.

      However, recent revelations have raised alarm and serious doubts about who Obama really is, his motives and what he really represents.  For the last twenty years he has been a parishioner and close friend of reverend Wright’s church, whom Obama likens to his uncle and mentor as he stated in his book.  Reverend Wright’s constant tirades over the years against the white race, Jews and anybody not black condemn him as an outspoken racist.  Obama has had twenty years to disavow and disassociate himself from him but he has not.  He should and could have condemned reverend Wright for this racism and vile attacks against the U.S. from the pulpit every week in god’s church but he did not.  He should have left the church in protest but did not.  After all, Obama should have been insulted as half a white man, but he wasn’t.  As an American, aspiring to the Presidency of the U.S. he should have spoken out, against such racism, which divides this country, but he did not.  Also as a black person, he should have been mindful of the 400 years of inequality of blacks and the progress blacks have made, he knows it is a disaster to attempt to have blacks retaliate by poisoning black’s attitudes against whites.  But he does not.    

     When you learn that Reverend Wright and Obama are friends of associates of Mr. Louis Farrakkan who is a domestic terrorist with ties to the black panthers, and other revolutionary gangs, you begin to realize all this does not add up as against the outward persona of Obama.  And the incongruity of these longstanding relationships.   

     Finally, when you add up the suspicious and unexplained relationships between Obama and his indicted former fund raiser, Mr. Resko and the apparent large disparity between the sales price of Obama’s new mansion and the land next door obstensively “sold” to him by Resko’s wife, you realize this matter needs our attention and Obama’s explanation.  Which he has also failed to do.

    At the same time Obama is openly seeking and demanding information about donors to President Clinton’s Presidential library, in an effort to embarrass Hillary Clinton on a, guilt by association basis.  While decrying effort, to get information about his direct relationships with known criminals, racists and terrorists on the ground of racism against him.  

    It is obvious, that because of these revelations, Obama’s background deserves and requires much more investigation and examination and scrutiny before the American voter may continue to support a man they do not really know before they cast such an important vote for him or anyone else.

      The American people cannot afford to make any more mistakes about choosing a leader at these perilous times in our country.  Reverend Wright is wrong and Obama has known that for twenty years.  Why did he not distant himself from this hate monger before, it must be that he agrees with him.

                                    The National Health Insurance Plan

      If the below listed plans are adopted, then, the only area of need for a worker left unfulfilled is health insurance. And prescription drugs.

      Presently there are a myriad of insurance companies and HMO’s that write this type of insurance for the American people and workers and for the retirees.  The employer in an ever-decreasing number because of spiraling costs and by local state and the federal government provides some of this insurance for elected officials and public workers.

      It is rather obvious that, if one insurance company handles the entire worker’s and his family’s insurance needs, the coverage would be simplified and less costly.  If that worker buys the necessary insurance coverage as a family unit that family will have the bargaining chip necessary to seek out the lowest cost for that coverage.  Each year the worker may review his insurance coverage and possibly change companies based on price and service.  All coverage must be mandated, as exactly the same without exception and all policies cannot be cancelled except for fraud in the application process.  The social security administration will pay for all said insurance out of the workers fund as selected by the worker.  This insures coverage for everyone under the social security plan.

      All employees, both public and private would be relieved of this burden and possibly the cost.  The U.S. government would be relieved of the necessity to provide Medicaid for workers except for those persons who are poor and who have not worked under the social security system at all, or for a very short time.

      Medicare provided by the U.S. Government would not be necessary if every worker keeps his or her own health insurance after retirement.  Which must be mandated by the government the premiums would be paid out of the social security fund as a replacement of the privately funded workmen’s compensation and disability insurance fund, which will not be necessary upon retirement.  The U.S. Government may if necessary contribute to the payment of the total premium in lieu of Medicaid or Medicare.  Of course all payments will be made to the retiree as a bargaining chip.

      This will result in the abolishment of the entire Medicare programs and the retirees need not pay the monthly co-insurance.

       It is of vital importance that drug prices be controlled at the same rate as available throughout the world with the freedom for Americans to purchase said drugs anywhere in the world.

      The retiree will be able to control the medical costs and expenses when spending their allowance and prices will fall and the need for national insurance will be eliminated.

      The need to provide health insurance by employers, unions and for public bodies for employees and officials will be eliminated as all working people, public employees and officials will have the same insurance benefits and everyone will be treated equally, as they should be.

      The U. S. Government must stop aiding drug companies as they have by putting restriction on the purchase of drugs overseas or in Canada.  Americans should be able to buy drugs anywhere in the world, like any other product.   

      Patent protection for drugs should not be extended beyond the initial patent period; so generic drugs may be allowed to compete in our free enterprise system.  This will help bring down prices to a manageable level.  If not, strict price controls on prescription drugs should be introduced.  The price of American drugs should be the same world wide with the exception of transportation costs.  In addition many drugs should be removed from the list of prescription and the price lowered.  The cost of simple aspirins and brand names like Tums is outrageous.

      Hospitals and doctors charges are much too high and are caused by the actions of HMO’s who discount their bills the government must control all medical prices to make this plan work.

      This plan is merely a starting point to attempt to solve a problem that has plagued Americans, employers and the government for generations.

       Campaign contributions and perks to elected officials.  Which have influenced the votes of these officials must be banned and eliminated.  The public officials must be made aware that they represent the American people and not anyone else and that the American people are the only people who may influence their vote for the common good of all the country.

      Elected officials have managed to provide the best of health insurance coverage and retirement benefits for themselves, including pay raises, while working only three days a week in Washington.  They are the servants of the American people.  Since when should a servant and employee have better health and retirement coverage than the employer, the American people?   

      If congress does not come up with a complete and permanent solution to the social security, disability, unemployment and health problems that have been allowed to drag on for years, the American people should not re-elect them to congress in November, 2008 but replace them with a new congress who will fix the problem once and for all, without further delay.