While Congress wastes time and effort on the so-called Foley scandal, the North Korean’s have followed through on their stated plan to test a nuclear device. I guess we need to welcome yet another state to the nuclear fraternity. Great.
So let’s take score:
- We’re spending more money than ever before, at last check $1 BILLION dollars more a day than revenue. Every man, woman, and child’s share of the national debt in the US? ~$27,000.
- We’re mired in Iraq with no clear plan to win the peace (Despite the $20M allocated by Congress to celebrate the victory…) 4,000 Iraqi police have been killed, another 8,000 injured. Sounds like progress to me.
- Afghanistan is reverting to Taliban control (as claimed by the UN Commander)
- Iran is following North Korea’s lead in developing nuclear capability (it’s clear we only have military reprisals for those unable or unwilling to protect themselves)
- We’ve significantly limited American’s rights in America via the PATRIOT act (Hint Congress, expiration would have been a very GOOD THING.)
- We’ve got secret prisons, detention without end, suspension of habeas corpus, and TORTURE
- We’re spying on our citizens without probable cause (is it any wonder large companies like HP are following the Executive Branch’s lead on this stuff?)
This is a partial list, I’m just typing the things that are immediately coming to my head without deep thought. It’s an appalling list. Yet, we’re spending our time and effort on finding out who some 2nd rate Congressman wanted to screw? Near as I can tell, to be an intern or paige, one needs to be older than 16 years old, the age of sexual freedom in Washington D.C. Is it great to have a Congressman hitting on interns or paiges? Nope. Is what he did illegal? Nope. Is this an important issue? In the grand scheme of things, nope. I am condemning the entire political apparatus, in this particular instance, Congress, for HAVING THE WRONG PRIORITIES AT THE WRONG TIME. AGAIN!
When you go into the booth (or fill out your absentee ballot,) do us all a favor and simply vote against the incumbent. That’s perhaps the simplest and least harmful thing we can (provided our votes are counted….) I’d like to start an anti-incubent movement before the election. I don’t care if they’re Red or Blue, if they’re in office, they’re a target because they’ve been asleep at the switch. If you agree, send the link to this blog around. Let’s show MoveOn what grass roots really means. Let’s vote and throw the bums out. Let’s take our country back and make history with a new congress, really new. Not a retread. Steal this entry and share it. Please.
Ohio State’s 2006 record: 6-0 Next up: @Michigan State 10/14
Tune: Running to stand still by U2
Technorati Tags: Vote Anti-Incumbent | Idiocracy | Change | Mike Harding Blog
Vote Against The Incumbents.
Vati, Vati.
That’s V-A-T-I, with a long ‘A’ and a long ‘I’.
The present state of America makes me sick. It actually makes me nauseous to ponder how far this once magnificent country has slipped into mediocrity. When I was a young man, fifty years ago, you could mention just about anything: And America was best at that.
Back then, America enjoyed the best health care, the best schools, and the best working conditions on Earth, while we worked less hours, made more money, and enjoyed a life style never before seen upon this planet.
Our coal mines were producing more coal, our steel-mills smelting more iron, and our assembly-lines led the World in the manufacture of beautiful automobiles, refrigerators, wash-machines, dryers, and the hoard of smaller appliances and gadgets (which eliminated most of the drudgery of our daily chores) and introduced mankind to the life-of-ease, we all now enjoy.
Now, American High School Graduates rank only average (whether tested in Mathematics, World History, Language, Science or any other critical field of expertise) and compared with the test scores of students from the other industrialized nations.
Our so-called health care system stinks, it is without question, the most dysfunctional conglomeration of nonsensical laws bureaucrats have ever assembled. It assures illegal aliens and greedy politicians unlimited free health care, while it renders millions of hard working honest citizens incapable of obtaining any kind of health insurance.
The new Social Security Drug Plan deducts a premium for drug insurance, which you can bet will double every year (for at least the next two years) from the social security checks, of subscribers. A great many drugs are not covered by this new plan, and it only pays a maximum of about 70% on any drugs, a lot less on most. When the total drug bill (what the retiree and the government pays) reaches $2250.00, Grandma gets cut off, has to pay it all herself, until her total drug bill reaches $3500.00. Obviously if Grandma can not afford her drugs, her bill will never get to $3500.00, so she will go without her drugs for the rest of the year. Of course the monthly premium will still be deducted from her Social Security Check. The drug companies formulated this drug bill, got it enacted, and only the drug companies are going to benefit from it. (Our government gives them the premiums.) In short, this Shaft Our Grandparents Bill is nothing but a multi-million dollar windfall for the drug companies.
The above bill is sure not the worst medical bill our elected officials have ever enacted. It just happens to be the last that made me angry. Hundreds of anti consumer bills and amendments are on the books, which benefit only the medical and or the drug industries. Foreign competition to American Drug Companies is nonexistent. If it was legitimized, we could import drugs from reputable foreign drug facilities, for as little as 10% of the extortion we now forced to pay our American Drug Companies.
Sad to say, but the Medical Cartels and Drug Companies, with their unchallenged power, are not the worst villains when it comes to manipulating our US Government into giving them a license to gouge us. The international oil and gas conglomerates, the interstate utility companies, railroad cartels, automobile and airplane manufacturing companies, the cable companies, international shipping cartels and a score of other business concerns all wield as much or more power over our Congress, Senate and President, than the drug companies do. Big business is our real enemy. Big business controls both our national and state governments, and big business is the real reason America is losing ground on all fronts, the reason America is slowly but steadily sliding into mediocrity.
The companies mentioned above, along with a score of Internationally
Recognized Countries and a hoard of other mighty forces, funnel billions of dollars annually into Washington, to influence the Republican and Democratic Party Leaders to legislate on their behave.
The leaders of the Democratic and Republican Parties, in the Congress and senate, now have more control over their subservient Congressman and Senators, than any Marine General has over his troops. The political parties control the pac-money. And the pac-money is what decides who will get elected, or heaven forbid, smeared. The political bosses can’t just walk down on the floor and tell a congressman or senator that they are fired. But they can have anyone that fails to kowtow to the powers that be, ostracized, rendered powerless, and kept busy answering complaints. And they can definitely keep anyone from being re-elected. I believe it is very important that we all know the political parties have strict control over our congressmen and senators. If we are going to declare war, prudence behooves us to learn all we can about our enemy.
Now, I just pulled what I have written here off the top of my head. So if you find a mistake, don’t get excited, it is not that important, the overall theme of this opinion is correct. And furthermore it is also correct that with a minimum of research, anyone can ascertain for themselves that this greatest of all nations, is rapidly slipping into mediocrity.
And even the United States of America, the greatest nation that ever existed, can fall from within, if we continue to allow misguided politicians, to give up piece after piece of good government, to anyone who is able and willing to pay for preferential treatment.
I have been telling people for years; when in doubt always vati. But only in this last year has the urge to really push this concept become obligatory. Actually, voting against the incumbents is a very viable method of straightening out what is wrong with America. Many congressmen and senators win their sets by very small margins, less than 5%. So if just 5% of the voters would vati, we would probably get between 20 and 25% of the senators and congressmen. And you can bet we would get their attention. If as many voters vati-ed, as voted for Ross Perot in 1992 (He drew 18.9% of the popular vote.) we would probably unseat 75% of both houses. Very few politicians win their seats by 19% of the vote. Folks this plan definitely has possibilities.
Politician’s egos are all wrapped up in their positions. Actually the only thing in the World, politicians love more than pac-money, is their influential positions, their jobs. And on the very day our legislators learn that their electorate is actually threatening to vote them out of office, they are going to be magically stricken with a burning desire to legislate on behave of their constituency.
The only question left is, where are you going to place your loyalty, to the political party that you have been blindly supporting, or to America? You can’t serve two masters, and be loyal to both. We have to take the power away from the political bosses, to the extent that it allows our elected representatives to vote the way we tell them to vote. Or in thirty years you are not going to be able to tell the difference between Washington and the corrupt Government of Mexico, or for that matter, tell the difference between America and Mexico.
I wrote this poem more than twenty years ago, and it
reverberates my sentiment now as vibrantly, as then.
VATI, VATI.
AS MIGHTY ROME FELL, AMERICA COULD DIE.
WHETHER IT FAILS OR NOT, IS UP TO YOU AND I.
I worried and stewed, but by-and-by,
came up with a plan, where you and I,
can put America the a road, to a brand-new high.
Just blame the politicians, get blood in your eye,
and Vote Against The Incumbents. Vati, vati.
Now just voting won’t do it, we’ve got to vati.
That’s v, a, t, i, with a long A, and long I.
Vote against the incumbents, and you vati.
Things will never get better, until we vati.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
This is no time, to just set and sigh.
America will fail, without you and I.
The time has come, we must do or die.
We must all vote, and we must vati.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
Things won’t just get better, by-and-by.
Unless the apathetic voters, you and I,
hit those poles with blood in our eye.
And not only vote, but wisely vati,
Vote against the incumbent. Vati, vati.
We dare not buy, some political lie,
the America we love, is about to die.
Politicians no longer, serve you and I,
but all acquiesce to the powers that buy.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
The newly elected may want to serve you and I,
until that powerful pac-money catches their eye.
Then party loyalty becomes, their big lie.
As they vote with the pac, for their piece of the pie.
Vote against the incumbents, Vati, vati.
Congressmen and Senators are nigh as apt to die,
as meet defeat at the poles, by you and I.
They know we’ll vote for’em, they don’t have to try.
America is declining, as democracy goes awry.
Vote against the incumbent. Vati, vati.
Waxing fat on the apathy, shown by you and I,
Politicians became hogs, and Washington’s a sty.
But we can change all that, in the blink of an eye,
if we just get off our apathy, and dutifully vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
If just one out of twenty, of us would vati,
We’d get nigh a forth of that Washington sty.
Now that might be to few, to help you and I,
But we’d darn sure make the rest of them shy.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
And when; “Foul, foul,†the politicians cry.
And charge that; “Great careers will sadly die.â€
Stand up and look them, straight in the eye,
And vow; “Losing only makes the truly-great try.â€
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
From the County Coroner, to that Washington sty,
if you don’t love the incumbent, always vati.
Help turn America toward, a brand—new high.
Teach your kids and your friends, they must vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
If the state of America, makes you want to cry,
then help start a revolution, no one has to die.
Our party loyalty sent elections go so far awry.
And we can fix that error, just revolt and vati.
Vote against the incumbents. Vati, vati.
Part your 2nd and 3rd fingers; that “V†means vati.
Send this to a friend, who you think will comply.
Let’s all band together, and give’em a black eye.
Vati, vati, and hearty bye-bye.
If you like this, copy it, and send it on.
Grandpa Nate @ Rawlins, Wyoming.
Http//grandpanate.com
Why we must Vati?
I believe, most people in America, old enough to vote, know that corruption is flourishing in our Nation’s Capital. Yet incredibly, this knowledge seems to generate very little real concern. It definitely should: Because corrupt politicians can even bring America, the richest, most powerful country that ever existed, to her knees.
Every day the Republican and Democratic Party Lords work at enacting bills, which cedes one international conglomerate after another some financial quid pro quo, for pac-money received. And nearly all concessions to Big Business prove to be detrimental to America’s working people. Under the present system America will eventually have hungry masses without health care, millionaires, and no middle class. America, as we know her, is at this moment rapidly degenerating.
Our National debt has now exceeded $8,548,384,110,614 as of the first of October 2006. To put that number in perspective, we just passed 300,000,000 citizens, so for every legal man, woman and child in America, we now owe $28,494.61. Talk about selling children into slavery, America has to be, the all time number one, on this list. Just the interest on our debt is costing us 427 billion, 419 million, 205 thousand, 5 hundred, and 30 dollars a year, at 5 percent. Actually we don’t borrow our money that cheaply. That is 1 billion, 171 million, 11 thousand, 5 hundred, 22 dollars each and every day, which our legislators are throwing away, because they failed to balance our budget. And every day, they are in session, our misguided politicians continue to give away, more and more money to Big Business. Their insatiable greed is like a growing cancer, sucking the life-blood out of America. Even if we could elect legislators, which prudently budgeted America’s great wealth: It would take our children, at least, thirty years to pay off these incredible debts, we have recklessly accumulated.
Still not concerned? Well let me relate one more fact: If America’s lenders get nervous, and cut off our credit, our government will collapse, beyond resurrection, in less than 120 days.
Obviously, the Senators and Congressmen ruling the House and Senate are never going to voluntarily give up their seats, or the source of their power, their pac-money. And stated short and quick: The only way, we are ever going to oust enough corrupt officials to demand drastic political reform, is to vati. Washington is in sad shape, and if we love this country we had best wake up, and do something to correct this untenable situation. If you have a better idea, I’ll listen to you, if not, let’s vati.
GrandpaNate @ Rawlins, Wyoming.
Vati Party
VATI is the first letter in “Vote Against The Incumbents,†and that is what it means. Vati means you always vote against the person holding the office, the incumbent, regardless of political affiliation.
The majority of our Congressmen and Senators have absolutely no fear of losing their offices. They know that party loyalty [be it Republican or Democrat] of their constituency will assure their perpetual reelecting. In the whole Senate you are likely to have only five or six seats [in the Congress less than 30 seats] that are not securely locked-up by one, or the other, political parties.
And actually, nothing is gained when we do manage to send an occasional new representative to Washington. In short: They are simply gobbled up by the system. They are introduced to pac-money, and the powerful party leaders [Party Lords] and end up cuddling up to Big Business, and voting the party line, for legislation that enhances the Conglomerate’s bottom line, to the determent of their constituency, to the determent of America.
Now, a large percentage of Congressmen and Senators win their seats by very small margins, less than 5%, so if just 10% of the voters Vati, we would likely unseat nearly 20% of our Representatives. If we could generate as much support as Ross Perot did, [according to the last election] we would kick out close to 90% of the House and Senate.
But more important than just getting rid of some self-serving politicians, unseating just 10% of the House and Senate would definitely get their attention. And then we could demand drastic change. We could demand a clean break between our Legislators and Big Business. We could outlaw all soft-money, and make any contact between our Legislators and Big Business [except publicized discussion in an open forum] illegal.
We can demand term limits. I am for an eight-year term limit, for all Government Offices. Let Senators serve one six year term or change the length their terms to four years. We can demand secure borders, and that everything entering our ports be inspected. We could demand a rigidly enforced alien worker program, which caters to America’s needs. And demand a viable plan which honorably ends the war in Iraq.
We can let Washington know, anyone who votes against anything the majority of America clearly wants, had better start looking for a new job.
Vatiing is a very viable method of voting to save America, to cure what is wrong with America, a viable way of stopping America’s rapid descent into mediocrity.
The interest in “vote against the incumbents†is growing exponentially. Now we need to get organized, form a political party. Much like any other political party, except we won’t run candidates for office. Our challenge will be to make the other Parties Candidates legislate for American, and America’s People.
If you have any ideas, comments, want to help get organized, or whatever, please leave a message at: http://voteagainsttheincumbents.blogspot.com/
THE DEAF WORLD
I speak to a deaf world. And I know not how to gain her ear. America is degenerating at a rapid pace. We are now over $9,210,000.000,000 in debt. That is over $30,275 for every man, woman and child in this country. It would take us over thirty years to pay off this debt, if we installed sane representatives in Washington, and adhered to a balanced budget. Our schools now rank 28th [ 28th, that’s pathetic.]in the World. We are in a war that we can’t win, in the foreseeable future, and can’t get out of. Our Government is broken. We are no longer functioning as a Democracy. We are operating as a Bureaucracy. The Party Lords tell our Congressmen and Senators how to vote. And Big Business, mostly International Conglomerates, give the Party Lords, which they bought with Pac-money, their orders.
That should be enough said: Because I don’t really believe that there is anyone in America, who is old enough to vote, that don’’t know this country is in trouble.
Every day the Republican and Democratic Party Lords work at enacting bills, which cedes one international conglomerate after another some financial quid pro quo, for pac-money received. And nearly all concessions to Big Business prove to be detrimental to America’s working people. Under the present system America will eventually have hungry masses without health care, millionaires, and no middle class. America, as we know her, is at this moment rapidly degenerating.
Changing out Republican for a Democratic, or Democratic for a Republican, or just replacing a Republican or Democratic with what is deemed a better member of their own party, will not help the situation. The new comer will quickly learn how the ball bounces in Washington, and vote the Party Line, as the Party Lords dictate, and business will continue as usual. And that is not Democracy, but Bureaucracy.
But all is not lost: America can still be saved. There is enough energy being wasted fighting for the various causes against our unresponsive government, to fix America twice. This is still America, and we can still vote. So let’s act like a Democracy, band together, vati, [Vote Against The Incumbents.] and send enough Congressmen and Senators home, to get the attention of those who are left.
Our representatives usually win their office by vary small margins, less than 5%. So, if just 10% of us would vati, we would get between 20 and 25% of the House and Senate. If 20% of us vati, we would sent 75% of both Houses home. And you can bet; you’d have your Representative’s ear.
It really doesn’t matter whether you want to save the spotted owl, secure our borders, protect the giant redwoods, or the North Slope, save some swamp, or clean up a river, or outlaw pac-money, it is going to cost Big Business money. And you won’t get it done until we take back the reins of government. And none of you have the power to do that alone. So the answer is simple; whatever your cause, fail, or band together and help clean up Washington. Save America, and then you will have an accommodating representative to help promote your cause. Time is essential, so start contacting other groups and get the ball rolling. You can do it, and it will work. Good Luck, GrandpaNate
OBAMA
It is easy to understand why people like Obama. The first time, I heard him deliver a speech, I thought he was awesome. There is no doubt that he will be long remembered for his ability to write and deliver a speech.
And I almost completely agree with him about what facets of our government needs fixing.
But, the Reverend Jim Jones and Hitler taught me one thing I must never forget. The ability to write and deliver a great speech, which enthralls the masses, does not prove a person has the wisdom, ethics, foresight, judgment, nerve and resolve to be a great Leader.
I have a gut feeling that Obama may be a lot like some convicts who formulate a perfect escape from the penitentiary, and then don’t have the foggiest notion of how they are going to get out of the state, let alone the Country. One con after executing a brilliant escape plan, was picked up on the Interstate Highway trying to thumb a ride out of State. Another, after spending a cold fall night hid in the brush, walked back to the front-gate and said he wanted to give himself up.
I don’t doubt that Obama is gifted with great talent, but I fear he has spent the last five or six years developing a brilliant plan to get elected, and has actually formulated few, if any, concrete plans as to how he can fix what is wrong with America.
During his stint as Senator, Obama initiated no brilliant legislation, in an attempt to enact any of the changes, which he so elegantly advocates, now that he is running for President. One of the very few suggestions he has initiated, about how to bring about change, was his asinine idea that we should take NASA’s budget and spend it on domestic problems. He vowed we shouldn’t be spending money in outer space when we have hungry people on Earth.
I was suddenly keenly aware that Obama sure isn’t any JFK. It sadly appears that this country has lost its ability to produce leaders with any vision. About the only prestige we have left in this World is our Space Program, and he wants to scuttle it? AND MAN WILL EITHER CONQURE SPACE OR BECOME EXTINCT.
Obama couldn’t have tromped on my toes any harder. Not only does mankind’s future lies in Space. But NASA’s budget has been cut to less than 2% of our national annual expenditures, and if we cut that budget in half it would contribute little to any of our double-digit domestic programs. But it would curtail all space exploration, and barely leave use enough to maintain the Space Station, for a few years. If we don’t come up with the money to replace the Space Shuttles soon, we are going to be completely grounded.
Of course, that is what the fanatical Religious Right wants. They don’t believe God wants man venturing out into Space. I suppose Obama’s opinions come from that Radical Black Church he attends.
Taking care of today, and to hell with tomorrow, is Bush’s idea of how to run a Country. Obama said he wants change. But he has given no hint he even understands what is causing America’s slide into mediocrity, let alone offer any cures for our many problems.
If you have read my latest article, you know that the greatest problem America faces today, is our nine trillion dollar debt. Bill Clinton is the only President in the last 50 years to pay down, reduce, the National dept.
Now I have written all of this to no avail, because the true will of the voters has again been subverted. The Democrat Party Lords will choose who challenges McCain. We are quickly losing the last vestiges of our democracy; our right to choose our leaders.
They may have me so messed up I don’t know, for whom I will vote, for President. But for the rest, you can bet your house, I WILL VATI. [Vote Against The Incumbents.]