War and the debates

I now have three debates under my belt. I certainly need to improve my skills in this area.
I have noticed the urge of some to spew as much out as possible in the alloted time. . I stumbled on questions relating to current events in Montpelier but that was to be expected. My strength which I need to rely on is my independence from party politics and my willingness to discuss the war and its stranglehold on our economy. I have come to the conclusion that the failure of our economy is due to the manipulation of money by the Federal Reserve and Wall Street, the use of the Pentagon as a police force for these agencies and the impotence of Congresss and the President in regards to these policies.
The more I examine what is going on the more I am convinced that we need a revolution. Ron Paul has suggested it and so have many others. I am not in favor of something resembling the French revolution but we are at a point quite like early Americans in relation to the British.I recently read a long passage from Thomas Jefferson and if the word Federal Government was inserted in place of British the similarities were frightening. Our liberty,freedom,and justice have been squashed by abusive laws and fear rules the day. King George is back with a vengence and its time to liberate ourselves again and restore civility,humanity,and peace.

War Profiteers

Today the U.S. announced the sale of 13 billion dollars in weapons to Iraq. Wars are all about profit not terrorism or nation building. War profiteers sell weapons to the enemy. They sell weapons to the U.S. We destroy the enemy and their weapons. The war profiteers sell more weapons to the depleted enemy and replenishes the U.S. The cycle repeats with four rounds of profit for each cycle. War profiteers don't take sides . That would be bad for business. U.S. companies financed and supplied Hitler before and during WWII.
The U.S. invades a country destroys its infrastructure, depopulates, destabilizes its government and then sells them weapons. What do we think might happen? Its like letting someone out of jail and denying them food and water but giving them lots of guns and ammo.
Just wait till we act suprised when they use the weapons without reading the instructions.
Cluster bombs, white phosphorus,and aerosolized uranium should only be used for peaceful purposes like crowd control. Just follow the model of our friends in Israel.
We live in a society that values profit above life. If humanity is to survive this must change.

F-35 meeting

Went to a meeting last night concerning bringing the new F 35 jets to Burlington. I was one of about 20 hostile anti-military, anti government people in attendence. One retired military man gave a speech quoting Eisenhower and talked about the fact that the Military Industrial Congressional Complex has taken over our lives. I talked about the corruption, incompetence and waste of the Pentagon. I also spoke about how politicians are afraid to take a stand against this slaughter and I think it is cowardice. The choice between slaughter and non-intervention is an easy one. Many expressed the difficulty of denouncing the war and not saying we don't support the troops. I will continue to say I do not support killing and support the troops if they are home in Vermont protecting Vermonters. I do no support war or intervention. The Pentagon is using our children as corporate goons . It was a great meeting and I met a lot of nice people who were passionate about the same things as I am.

Who's the terrorist?

The term terrorism has become very confusing to me. The U.S. invades a country i.e. Iraq and one million people die. Depleted uranium, a weapon that is banned under international law, is spread in huge quantities across the country ensuring toxicity of soil and water for a million years. I know of not one Iraqi citizen or soldier that has invaded the U.S. and done harm to one American.
If a citizen of Iraq attacks one of our invading troops that is occupying his country and uses a car bomb he is labeled a terrorist. Is this because we don't approve of his primitive weaponry? His weapons certainly do less damage than ours. Why is he just not a warrior defending his country or part of a grassroots civilian militia?
I will take this argument one step further. Not one person from Pakistan has invaded our country and killed an American yet we are bombing their country using remote control devices, and the targets are chosen from the advice given by enemies within this country. This is the same thing that got us into the quandry in Guantanamo. We gave ransoms to people and they turned in their enemies regardless of their crimes against the U.S.
Would it be O.K. if someone who hated my neighbor told me he was planning on doing me harm so I then dropped a bomb on his house and killed his whole family? Who is the terrorist here? A man has his whole family killed by a drone and then walks into a CIA station and blows himself and 7 agents up. Why is this man labeled a terrorist? He is simply fighting back. We invaded his country and killed his family. Would he have still been a terrorist if he used an f16 to drop a bomb on the CIA agents?
Recently a man in NYC failed to detonate a car bomb. Why is he labeled a terrorist? He would be called a freedom fighter if the shoe were on the other foot. He owns no advanced weaponry so he makes do . He invaded our country and tried to kill someone because we invaded his.
Another sad twist in this war of words is that if THEY think about doing us harm or display patterns of movement consistent with terror activities we kill them . U.S. forces kill people who have not attacked them but they are not labeled terrorists. Is it worse to think about doing harm or actually doing it?
War is terrorism. War is murder. No ground rules apply. All participants are warriors and potential muderers. The media and our government has twisted the english language and helped foster the belief in some Americans that our methods of killing are not terrorism. This is false.
Depleted Uranium is worse that a car bomb. Cluster Bombs are worse than rifles. Our invasions have caused the death of over 1 million people. Their invasions of the U.S. have killed not one person. Martin Luther King once said "My country is the greatest purveyor of violence in the world today." This is even more true today than it was in 1969.

NYC false flag

Sometimes I do get tired of blogging about the war but it is tough because we are wasting so much money on silly cowboy and indian games that it makes me ill. Bad dark skinned man on land that we want. We try to take his land. He fights back with crude weapons. We exterminate them with better weapons. We take their land and tell our people that it was rightous. Our people believe us because we of course always do good.
The latest fake terrorist who could not shoot straight in New York City just happened to be from Pakistan. Wow so now we can kill more innocent people and feel good about it. Sorry if I don't buy it or any other manufactured attack that helps justify U.S. terrorism abroad. It is amazing how the bombs always work in their country but never in ours. Bad fuses I suppose.
Gotta keep the 50% believing in this illegal war and it ain't easy when the rest of the world don't.
Thou shalt not kill always seemed like a good rule to me, if you only had one. No exceptions.

War and Oil

Any energy policy for the future that includes oil is a bad policy. Oil is a non-renewable resource. The U.S. economy currently is thoroughly reliant on oil. The United States has no local supply of oil, and the acquisition of oil necessitates war. Corporations trading on Wall Street now own all of Iraqi oil and the citizens of Iraq own none. Anyone who tells you that wars are about freedom, Saadam Hussien, The Taliban, or 9/11 is lying. These lies have led to servitude and misery,for our soldiers,their families, and the people of the Middle East. War is about energy and keeping Wall Street afloat.
Renewables can solve most of the worlds energy needs. Vermont can solve almost all of its needs with local renewables. Solar energy does not require anyone to leave town and sacrifice their life. Wind Power will not poison the earth, soil, water, and bodies of those who come into contact with it. Hydro power does not require the toppling of governments and installation of puppet regimes to keep the energy flowing. Vermonters can stay right at home and enjoy this local, guilt free source of energy.
Transportation is a problem that does need to be addressed. We cannot transport with wind, solar, hydro, or any other present energy source effectively. The good news is that if we eliminate oil usage in other areas we can buy a little time and work on the transportation problem for the future. The reality of one million dead in the Middle East and one half million permanently disabled U.S. Vets should be enough to change our energy path now. Cuba survived quite nicely during a long oil embargo. They all had gardens and walked a lot and became a very healthy society. Communities got together and helped each other to survive. This may be the key to our future and our survival, because no matter what devastation our leaders inflict on the world, oil will not become a renewable resource, it will eventually run out.

War and Taxes

I attended my third Democratic candidate debate last night in Shelburne. I asked the question about how we as citizens can stop paying taxes to fight wars. We have a deficit yet 1.5 billion of our money is being used to murder people. The candidates all claimed they opposed the war and were helpless to keep us from paying for it. Only Doug Racine choose to say he would not always walk heel to toe in regard to the Federal Governments demands. I knew they had no grand plan for keeping our money here in Vermont. My main goal was to point out that we as a state are wasting lots of our tax money on something that benefits us in know way. In fact it is a major detriment, and will burden our taxpayers for years to come. I still believe education is the key. Burlington College has a course on war that is being taught by an anti-war activist. We need to have these courses in every high school so that children learn the truth about conflict and we can help fight the propaganda delivered by the Military Industrial Complex. The best way to stop war might be to have nobody willing to join the military.

NO DEBATE

The latest in a series of gubernatorial debates this time in Montpelier has shown us that we have no diversity in government. Once again the debate featured only Democratic Party candidates showing how homogenized and sterilized our system has become. Third party candidates are not being invited and Republican candidate Brian Dubie has failed to show at even one of these many debates .Why should he? He’s decided to use the very successful Jim Douglas approach. Do nothing, say nothing, achieve nothing and watch the other guys fight over the scraps. High school pep rallies have more conflict and independent thinking than these debates. If the invited panel agrees on 90% of the issues is it really a debate? If they are trying to choose the runner up for governor then just get Patrick Leahy to flip a coin so we can proceed.
We already knows the policies of the Democrats and Republicans. They’re the ones that got us into this mess. War is profitable therefore they support it. Wall Street is financially strapped so the middle class must help pay their bonuses. Health insurance companies need mandatory compliance so they can milk the system more thoroughly. The people of Vermont deserve a real choice. So far the debates have been neither enlightening nor entertaining. Debate organizers need to invite all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, not just the ones from the vanguard.

Obama's Desperation

Todays news announced by Barack Obama that he is willing to break the 20 year moratorium on drilling is just one more desperate last attempt to extend the age of oil. It is a feel good band aid approach to a much bigger issue. Out economy is in the decline because it is dependent on cheap energy for its survival. All new forms of energy are not going to be as cheap or as inexpensive to harvest as sweet oil close to the surface of the earth. This source for all purposes is done. It is time to adjust our economy to deal with this fact. In the near future it will be impossible to transport items long distances economically enough to make it worthwhile. A more local approach to agriculture, and most other consumer items will be necessary. Sending jobs abroad that require transportation of goods back to America will end. We can only hope that the military machine we have created shrivels and dies an oil starved death also. My fear is that we will continue the scourge overseas until we have consumed every last drop of oil. We need to use our resources wisely to build for the inevitable future of energy needs without the availability of cheap oil.

Collapse

Went to the showing of Mike Ruppert's Collapse at the Green Mountain Film Festival last night in Montpelier. Very good crowd. 100-150 for a film that was announced late. The crowd was mesmerized by the film and most stayed for the Q & A. The moderators were not real well informed and started out by being critical of the doom and gloom no way out theme in the movie. I pointed out that Ruppert devotes half of his book to solutions. The people in attendance all seemed like folks that may have both a garden and a gun, two things necessary for survival in the post peak oil world. Optimism continues to pour forth wherever I go and it bothers me that few people point out that our failed policies have been the cause of our fiscal and ecological collapse. We have no lack of money to solve these problems. we have a lack of leadership. Until someone in power in the state of Vermont denounces the war on terror and the war on drugs we will continue to live the destructive lies that have created these situations. One and one half billion dollars of Vermonters tax dollars are being used each year to fight wars for oil and opium. These wars do nothing to protect Vermonters. Corporate Entities are the sole beneficiaries of these invasions. The Defense industry profits from the slaughter in the Middle East and Big Pharma profits from the 350,000 permanently disabled U.S. soldiers. The state of Vermont is a big loser in this game. We need to refuse participation in both these fraudulent wars and use the 1.5 billion for health care, clean energy, education, and other things that are a benefit to the citizens of our state.

Vermonts Genetic Code

I went to a lecture by Frank Bryan who authored The Vermont Papers a secessionist guide of sorts. He spoke of the unique nature of Vermonters and attributed it to our having missed the Urban Industrial period of America from the late forties through the early sixties. He spoke of our differences being in part due to the large number of diary farmers who by nature are more empathetic and nurturing than the average man. These qualities made for a better democracy and helped keep the tradition of town meeting alive. He also talked about how centralization is bad and small is almost always better. This has all been covered in his book and in many others that deal with the benefits of direct democracy. I asked how we could ever expect decentralization to cease and revert to smaller community based government in the face of corporatism which is antithetical to these policies. His answer was vague but he believes people will come around when they realize that the old way of smaller government works better. After the talk I introduced myself and we talked briefly about secession. He said that he still feels patriotic in many ways, in the old sense, but if he was raising kids he would push them towards independence.

eric holder

Attorney General Eric Holder recently announced that Osama Bin Laden would not be taken alive or receive a trial. What was the purpose of this random statement? Is Osama still on anyones radar. Most intelligence officials believe he is dead. No verified contact has been made since December of 2001 . Politics was the motivation for this bizarre staement. The justice system of the United States is at an all-time low. The people in charge just can't seem to decide what to do with Khaled Shiek Mohammed. Since they have no evidence that could be used in a court of law they are flip flopping on how to convict him. Evidence is no longer needed to convict criminals in the U.S. so Mr. Holder is reiterating the fact that our 200 year old system is defunct. Terrorists being the most evil, devious, and intelligent adversaries we have ever faced cannot be tried before juries. They are so brilliant that they don't even leave a trail of evidence. How can you convict someone who has covered his crime so completely? We have perfected a new system just for this modern criminal. The judge ,jury and executioner all wrapped up in one. Eric Holder has assumed the duties in the case of Osama and Barack Obama has taken responsibiltiy for the verdict in the KSM case. The best news is that this should save a lot of money and time. Alas this does not seem to be the case as KSM has been awaiting execution now for 7 years. Good boogie men need to linger, they help sell the war on terror. Ka-Ching!! $$$$

Health Care

I attended a meeting about Single Payer Health Care at UVM last night. All who spoke and I believe most in attendance including a large contingent from the tiny Vermont Socialist Party were in favor of this plan. House bill 100 and Senate bill 88 are the items that need to be pushed through to achieve this goal. Like the Vermont Yankee forum last week there was tremendous optimism and delusion about the federal government allowing little old Vermont to do what we want. Peter Shumlin and other candidates for office were present. The main sticking point in the minds of the panel of experts was the money. Not the money Vermont would be taking from the insurance companies by excluding them but the cost to the citizens of Vermont Dr. Andy Coates explained quite clearly how a less complicated system would save money by reducing costs and taxes at the same time. He also called Health Insurance companies a 780 billion dollar tumor.
This is all common sense and as the panel pointed out there is much evidence that supports this system that Thomas Douglas started in Saskatchewan 50 years ago. Funding it would also be easy and the common sense approach works best. Don’t increase income tax to pay for sick people. Increase taxes on the things that make them sick. 75% of hospital visits, which are the most expensive part of health care relate to the effects of alcohol, tobacco, and obesity. We know that the cigarette tax has reduced consumption, making a healthier less health care dependent population. Success!!! We need to repeat this with alcohol and the number 1# cause of obesity and dental work. Sugar. Maybe just tax soda since it would be easy. All of these are easily taxed and could pay all health care costs in Vermont. If people buy less of these products Vermont get healthier and costs go down. Success!!! Unfortunately common sense rarely wins in Washington when confronting big money interests.

I recently wrote the Vermont Guard to see if they supported a move by the legislature to bring the troops home . This was his response .
Due to Federal law (the Hatch Act) I am unable to help you shape yourplatform. We now have 1500 members of the Vermont Guard who are preparing toserve overseas. All members join the military under their own freewill...there is no longer a draft. I suggest they do not join the militaryor Guard blindly...and know they could serve their country overseas. Irespectfully suggest that you might not find much support from the Militaryor Guard on your platform. I personally don't know too many people who are pro-war....they are pro serving their country even if it requires going to war.....
I wrote
In all due respect sir I know a lot of people who are pro-war. Halliburton, KBG, Lockhead Martin, General Dynamics , and apparently most of Congress. I can appreciate the fact that you want to serve your country but I believe that can be done in a more humane manner by protecting our borders from within and not invading soveriegn nations and killing innocent people. The idea that the most powerful military on earth can't protect itself from within its borders , from the poorest countries on the planet, is a lie that has fueled every war since WWII. If no profit were made from these wars , no wars would be waged. I will never ask you or anyone to protect me or my freedoms by attacking innocent people. In my mind it is the equivalent of killing your neighbor because you heard through the grapevine that he might do you harm. I have spoken to Guard members who have stated that they must go to fight the Taliban because they attacked us. I have heard Vermont army recruits boasting that they can't wait to go kill some bad guys. This disgusts me. The Taliban never attacked us as you know. Killing is murder, war is terrorism. Despite your reply I will still fight to educate these unfortunate young people so they do know why we are over there. Hopefully then they will choose a career based on facts , not on propaganda and bounties paid with my tax money.
Respectfully yours
Peter Garritano

Phil Scott and Entergy

The Senate vote is in 26-4 to close Vermont Yankee. The best part for me is that Phil Scott was one of the four who voted in favor of leaving Vermont Yankee open. He will run as Lt Governor and be Brian Dubie's running mate. Mr. Scott just might be showing us who shines his shoes and it does not appear to be the citizens of the Vermont. I am fairly certain that the Senate vote reflected the wishes of the people of Vermont. Mr. Scott appears to feel that Entergy(Vermont Yankee) trumps the citizens voice. That is just wrong.

Nato reports 10 more civilians accidently killed in Afghanistan today. More pissed off innocents. More potential freedom fighters created for the resistence to U.S. aggression. Maybe that is how we fuel the war on terror. With all of our practice we seem really inefficient at this war thing. Maybe we should give it up and try something else like organic farming. It would help me sleep better at night.

Talked to a few attorneys yesterday who said the Federal Government will sue if our Senate votes to close Vermont Yankee. One more nail in the coffin . The federal government needs to stay out of our lives. If the people feel it is unsafe, unreliable or environmentally toxic its their rite to boot the business out of their backyard. Should we really be trusting any government agency like the NRC? Don't they almost always side with big business?The lobbying has already been in full swing with both sides spending considerable sums. If we let the people vote then it would save all this money wasted on propping up or fighting big corporations. Its hard to bribe 300,000 people.

More news about the slaughter in Pakistan. More innocents killed. No trials, no evidence, no juries ,just the word of the Pakistani governmnet passed to the CIA, passed to XE our mercenary army abroad. Do we really have a reason to trust their judgement? Bad track record for all involved. Due process at home and abroad is a thing of the past. If you suspect your neighbor was thinking of doing you harm would it really be OK to kill him and his whole family? Killing people is never just. Killing them without due process is immoral. 1.5 billion of Vermonts tax dollars a year fund these horrors. Time to put our money to GOOD use. Lets refuse to participate in the slaughter.

Big vote next week.....

Big vote next week on Vermont Yankee nuclear power. Feb 24^th in Montpelier. My hope is that they shut it down. It only supplies 10% of our energy is responsible for 80% of our surface water withdrawals. We need to help patch the hole in Brattleboro’s economy if it leaves. Most residents of Brattleboro seem more scared of having it than losing it. It will take three to five years to seal it up and in the interim maybe a new business can move in. Bottling companies need fresh water and our groundwater is already being exported by Nestle and Coca Cola. A good place for tax revenue also. We should earn money off of our resources like Alaska does off of its oil.