Political Whispers: A Look Into Today's World of Dark Politics

BAIL OUT OR NO BAIL OUT: THAT IS THE QUESTION

2008-09-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Despite all the reshuffling of our belongings to storage–as we are going to become homeless by next Tuesday–I’ve been keeping up on the developments surrounding the firestorm with bailing out Wall Street to the tune of $1 trillion dollars or more. (Because $700B is too low a number.)

What I find disturbing is how John McCain thinks that this can be his “shining moment” where he comes in to save the day–in classic John Wayne style.

First he makes contradictory statements that the bailout plan will be approved and that Congress is making progress, but apparently things have gotten so bogged down with resistance from conservative Republicans and some Democrats; that the realistic chances of this passing any time soon–even by next Monday (at the White House’s insistence) is almost next to nothing.

But then McCain does a curious flip-flop by first suspending his campaign–and then claims he needs to hurry to Washington to get things going. (Even though he has already stated that he knows next to nothing about the economy.)

However–he has time to do some media interviews and then pisses off David Letterman all at the same instant; by claiming he “can’t make it”?

(I don’t blame Dave for being upset. I would be too!)

When McCain finally gets to Washington, his role in the bailout becomes even more clear: He’s just a minor functionary at best. His place in the crisis is nothing more than a small footnote and an unimportant one at that.

Not a real player at all.

Because what it boils down to is whether or not Congress has the stomach to swallow this massive bailout plan–which is mostly the GOP’s cause in the first place. (With their love affair for a deregulated market.)

Democrats on the other hand face little backlash from this appropriation measure–because in classic Democrat style–they are always the ones to come in and clean up the Republicans’ mess–long after they leave office.

But it still leaves the American people with two choices: Do something now and delay an even more painful recession down the road.

Or do nothing at all, watch everything collapse, then pick up the pieces afterwards.

If I were a betting man, I would go for the latter.

Because we may need that $700B later to rebuilding our shattered financial system–not use it to bail out the fat cats of Wall Street.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR TRILLIONS IN BANK BAILOUTS

2008-09-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

When Bush said that the Iraq war would only cost taxpayers $50B back in 2003; he should’ve grabbed Cheney’s crystal ball and fast-forwarded the real amount of the conflict by a factor of 3000; by presenting the American public in 2008 with a staggering bill that will reach anywhere between $1.3 trillion dollars and $3.2 trillion. (The latter used as a safety-net in the event that a future President Sara Palin decides to stick it out in Iraq on the likelihood that John McCain kicks the bucket prematurely during his first and only term in office.)

So when the media and the government tells the people that we are only going to be on the “hook” for as little as $25 billion to $50 billion, I wouldn’t be cashing in your chips just yet.

The true staggering amount that the government will have to bail out one major institution after is far retching than just a small paltry amount revolving comfortably around the $25B or $50B number in retrospect.

Many of the banking institutions and mortgage lenders hold trillions of dollars in holdings, liens, and treasury notes–which are being sucked down the hole of debt created by the foreclosure market meltdown.

Do you honestly think that both the mortgage industry and the banking institution–which has been deregulated by the Republican Party these last 8 years or more–will only be slapping each one of us lightly with pitiful amounts of accrued debt by the time all this mess is sorted out and taken care of?

Dream on.

The American taxpayer is going to be screwed up the ass over the next couple of years or so–depending on how long this foreclosure crisis lasts–and be stiffed for hundreds of billions in higher taxes; just to cover the huge losses incurred by the mortgage industry and possible trillions tacked on by the failing banking system–as each major bank falls prey to sour and bad loans.

Then we have the credit crisis which has yet to be addressed. And when that costly endeavor is over too…?

There may not be much of an America left to by cheap beer with anymore.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

WHY SEX EDUCATION AND CONTRACEPTIVES ARE STILL VITAL

2008-09-02T19:11:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Teen pregnancies are no laughing matter–no matter how much the Republican Party keeps cracking jokes and making fun of the whole idea; while denying funding for sex-education programs and covering contraceptives all the same time. (Like McCain has done.)

The truth of the matter, is that abstinence is no substitute for proven sex-education programs and contraceptives.

Abstinence just means you abstain from partaking in sex. It doesn’t protect you from unwanted pregnancies or sexually-transmitted diseases. (Should it occur.)

Contraceptives–in conjunction with sex-ed programs–will to some extent.

Bristol Palin is paying the price for such a mistake–either on her part as an uninformed teenager, her lack of a solid education, or her mother’s staunch opposition for sex-ed and contraceptives. (Which could’ve saved her from being pregnant in the first place.)

But she is paying that price nonetheless.

The sad fact to this whole affair is that McCain’s supporters, the religious right, and the so-called social conservatives whom are against teen pregnancies from the start (but have no problem with voicing their opposition to abortion) are rallying around Palin–acting like she’s some kind of heroine for allowing her kid to get pregnant at such a young age and seeing the baby to full-term.

But they don’t see just how hypocritical their stance on such a matter really is. They refuse to see why sex education and the use of contraceptives is so vital to our society is these days.

Whatever the down side to this matter eventually becomes, it won’t make the problem go away overnight. Bristol still has to deal with being a young, unwed mother–the same problem which thousands of teenage mothers have to go through every day here in the United States.

But the issue is still there. And sex-education and contraceptives are still a much needed deterrent against unwanted pregnancies.

Even if the Republican Party doesn’t want to deal with it–especially during one of their election years.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

TWO ISSUES THAT NEITHER PARTY ADDRESSES

2008-08-17T15:56:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Over the last three decades, I’ve noticed a curious thing about our society.

We often bitch and complain about our material needs, the national deficit, high energy prices, food prices, wars, conflicts, the Cold War, social injustices, AIDS, women’s rights, abortion, gun rights, government corruption, infringement of personal rights, the environment, global warming, gay marriage, cronyism, corruption within our own government, the draft, military readiness, the war on terrorism, global warming, government incompetence, negative attack ads, our patriotism, values, a lack of morals, religion, God, the Bible, our stance in the world community, science, technology, warrantless spying, lack of affordable healthcare, universal healthcare, pensions, living wages, minimum wages, education, a lack of good education, college tuition, national security, borders, illegal immigration, school shootings, the right to live, the right to die, assisted suicide, free speech, dissenting opinion, the Constitution, racial intolerance, racial bigotry, xenophobia, terrorists, Muslims, Roe v. Wade, and so on.

Literally, the list is endless on how much we focus our attention on everything but two outstanding problems which has been a mainstay in this country of ours: Poverty and homelessness.

Why hasn’t our nation devoted more of its attention and resources to these two problems than just go about acting like the above list is more important while constantly condemning millions of Americans to a life of both?

Whatever happened to compassion and caring in this great nation of ours?

Certainly, there could be more done to address these glaring issues by ourselves. But neither the government, nor the two-party system has shown that much willingness to buckle down and really start addressing and fixing the problems which cause both poverty and homelessness.

If we are the richest nation in the world, why do we still have these problems? Why do millions of Americans constantly live in the throes of abject poverty and in the grips of being homeless every day?

Why does the majority of Americans spend their waking moments living from paycheck to paycheck, while others spend yet another year out on the streets of the United States?

Can anyone answer me these questions?

Our two-party system cannot. None of our candidates won't. They are too busy beating each other over the head--then addressing the real core problems our country has endured for a generation or more.

One of the things that the foreclosure and credit card meltdown had created was a glut of people seeking a place to live until this hellish mess that the current administration had created blows over.

But in the process, it started jacking rents up so obscenely that not many people have been able to escape the nightmare that was once considered the American Dream: Living in your own place.

What was once considered reasonable rent has now left millions of Americans struggling to make the monthly rent on such stagnant incomes.

And every year for the past 4 years now, rents have skyrocketed to levels not seen in recent memory.

What is our government’s response to this problem? Nothing.

The Bush administration and Congress had no plan for renters getting caught up in this catastrophic mess. But they did have an answer to mortgage lenders and roughly 400,000 struggling homeowners though: By bailing them out to the tune of $25 billion dollars or more.

What about a renter’s rescue package–hmm? How about diverting some money to the rental industry so that some financial pressure can be taken off people like myself; whom is facing the all too real nightmare of being homeless in the next six weeks?

Why do we constantly keep diverting billions of our own dollars to rescue financial institutions whom create these fucking messes in the first place? All it’s doing is giving these big business conglomerates more incentive to do more of the same damned thing over again–years down the road!

But not surprisingly enough, neither party really cares about the little guy. People like myself–whom is in the process of packing and wondering where the hell my wife and I are going to go next: Into a smaller bedroom unit or will we be spending the next several years out on the streets because we lack the money and resources to find affordable housing?

No…

Both the Democrats and the Republicans have both shown considerable indifference towards the poor, the homeless, and the impoverished by continuing to bail out Corporate America at the expense of the taxpayer–and leaving us all to fend for ourselves the best we can.

Because this is America, right?

This is what it means to aspire for our own American Dream? To live in constant poverty or be homeless–because our system of government favors the rich and wealthy than it does the concerned welfare of its lower-caste citizens?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

MCCAIN'S 'LATCH-KEY' WAR FINISHED BY 2010

2008-08-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

For weeks now, John McCain’s desperation was only beginning to set in–soon after Barrack Obama returned from his successful tour of the Middle East and Europe.

But ever since the Iraqi government wanted the US to start withdrawing our troops from that battlefield, John McCain’s desperation only increased ten-fold.

From his negative attack ads portraying him as a ‘celebrity candidate’ rather than a real Presidential candidate–to his false troops ad which openly accused him of ‘shortchanging our wounded troops’–John’s perfect little ‘hero’ world has begun to fall apart at the seams.

Since the surge has worked to some degree, it’s only perfectly logical that we withdraw our forces and focus them elsewhere–like Afghanistan for example. (But that’s only if either candidate has a clue as to what is really going on over there. This other war is totally different from Iraq.)

But why is John McCain accusing Obama of wanting to ‘legislate’ failure from the bench–when we are clearly winning in Iraq?

Simply put, McCain is still trying to paint Obama as an inexperienced candidate whom can’t make the right decisions as President.

Unfortunately, what John McCain fails to grasp is that his unwavering support of an unpopular war has led the majority of Americans to say that this conflict was a mistake–similarly echoing American opinion from another failed conflict only a generation ago. (Vietnam.)

Secondly, since we are winning the war in Iraq, why not leave? The one question that John McCain has thus far failed to answer is this one: Why do you feel the need to overextend our stay in a country that clearly wants us out?

Is it because John wants one last ’gasp’ of a Cold War victory over an enemy that he can neither see nor properly identity in Iraq? Is it because he wants to put the ghosts of a painful past–finally to rest? (By sticking us in place inside a war that is now largely over?)

Or is it because John McCain himself doesn’t want to embrace the very victory that he originally set out to have? A latch-key victory with strings still attached?

Whether or not he wants to accept it, John McCain must face the reality of the new Iraq. That when October 2010 finally rolls around–we are gone largely from a country we illegally occupied for the last 7 years.

Victory or not, our job is done.

It’s time to focus our troops onto something else.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

OBAMA TAKES THE JOHN MCCAIN CHALLENGE AND WINS BIG

2008-07-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

I feel sorry for John McCain: The current lame-duck candidate for the GOP.

No one asked him to challenge Obama a few months ago to take a trip to the Middle East–let alone expect Obama to call John’s bluff.

But he did both and now McCain is grinding his government-paid dentures in agitation and frustration over just how popular Obama was seen over in Berlin this past week.

While John had perhaps a dozen voters join him in a German restaurant in Ohio for a quick photo-op, Barrack Obama had over 200,000 people attend his speech over at the Wall in Berlin, Germany; speaking to a crowd of people whom represented the hopes and dreams of better US-European relations. (Which have soured considerably under the Bush presidency.)

And what does John McCain have waiting for Barrack Obama when he comes back? Nothing but bitter acrimony and divisive comments about the same trip he once challenged Obama on the matter of foreign policy.

Why?

Because John McCain was expecting Obama to fall on his face when he went.

He was expecting Obama to eat crow over the recent success of the surge and come back feeling humiliated and subdued; while getting an invigorating boost in his lackluster polls and standing with most American voters.

That didn’t happen.

What did happen was the exact opposite!

Malaki actually endorsed Obama’s 16-month troop withdrawal plan; rather than give McCain more hate-filled political rhetoric for his GOP campaign!

That in itself boosted Obama’s foreign policy credentials, while his trip to Berlin shored up his stance as an able-bodied Commander-in-Chief.

Someone whom could talk at the same level of everyone else–instead of treating our allies like chumps and every event in the Middle East as some kind of video game that we can win simply by force and numbers alone.

Neither Bush nor McCain have proven themselves as capable leaders in either field. They still harbor the same Cold War malaise of the past 40 years; with one looking for a pariah-ic victory in Iraq, and the other still fighting the ghosts of Vietnam.

Obama on the other hand? He spoke from the heart and spoke of everything which has not only kept this country divided for the last 8 years, but of things which most Europeans have long since abandoned since the Cold War ended: Walls.

You won’t hear this kind of talk from John “Lame Duck”-McCain. On his mind, anyone who isn’t with him is a ‘defeatist’ and only looking for America to “surrender” to the same invisible enemies that he still hasn‘t been able to identify to this very day.

But in the long run, McCain has already surrendered his chances of obtaining the White House Presidency.

While Obama on the other hand–? Has won big by taking the very risks that McCain simply refuses to candidly embrace as a whole.

Only because he’s plain afraid to.

John McCain just simply doesn’t have the courage necessary to face today’s changing world–while embattled with his own fears of the past.

Obama does. And that makes him a more worthwhile candidate for President.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

IF THE MILITARY SURGE IS SO ‘SUCCESSFUL’–WHY NOT JUST LEAVE?

2008-07-20T18:26:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

The moment this Iraq war started to turn itself around, the military brass started to panic.

What if things do calm down–then what do we do?

No one had any answers to that question. Neither did Bush nor McCain–both a strong advocate of ‘staying the course till victory is declared’.

The military surge was in answer to the spiraling, out-of-control violence that threatened to tip Bush’s Iraq war into complete chaos without any way back.

So in went 30,000 troops whom pacified much of Baghdad and the surrounding areas. And while that did seem to shake things up a bit, there was still no progress on the political front.

Just recently, Malaki demanded that the US draw up a time table by next year–a withdrawal date for all US troops to leave his country.

That–in effect–set off alarm bells all over the place. Not just for the Bush cabal, the military brass, but McCain’s camp and his supporters.

“We can’t leave!”--was the rallying cry for all involved. “Setting withdrawal dates just plays into the enemies’ hands!”

How odd that they would make such a statement–wouldn’t you think? After all, if the military surge is a ‘success’–why not just take Malaki on his offer and get the hell out of Dodge?

Pull all our troops out and push them into Afghanistan–where the real war is presently?

Trouble is, this would play right into Obama’s campaign strategy of troops withdrawal within a year and a half of him getting elected President; whereas McCain just wants to continue Bush’s feeble excuse for victory–by keeping our troops in a country that wasn’t even a threat to begin with, but no longer poses much of a challenge for our military forces in the here and now.

And neither Bush nor McCain wants to see Obama get a boost from a viable plan that clearly countermands what they've had in play for the last 6 years.

The insurgency has pretty much died out by the time the surge was completed–with no measurable amount of enemy casualties to show for an effective campaign. The only thing that the military brass was using were ridiculous charts and bar graphs to show our incremental surges of progress–but in the end, it didn’t have that electrifying of an effect on Congress as it did have on Bush and the war profiteers.

You would think that they would've been happy by now!

But no...they still aren't.

Now–with Malaki demanding that we leave his country far sooner than McCain or Bush would’ve liked–the military brass is now more worried about everything being ‘undone’ by such a withdrawal or even a ‘timetable’ for such.

Why–if things were such a ‘success’? Why worry at all? It’s a bit puzzling how the military should be the exact opposite instead of fearful and agonizingly uncertain.

As they are now.

Which means, that all this talk of “success” is either vastly overstated, or the plain fact of the matter is that the Iraqis and Malaki have finally grown tired of the US’s mess left at that their doorstop to clean up after 6.5 years of brutal occupation–and have demanded that they leave.

No if’s, and’s, or but’s about it.

And we have to leave; having overstayed our welcome.

That is the nature of a war-torn country growing fed up with their incompetent occupiers--is it not?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

DUMPING THE CONSTITUTION AND RULING BY PROXY INSTEAD

2008-07-10T16:38:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

With Bush’s latest move as a lame-duck President, this man has effectively sealed our fate as a nation governed by rule of law and democracy.

The rules regarding FISA have been tossed out and warrantless spying on the American public is in.

I’m so excited by this prospect of having an outlaw government run one of the world’s largest superpowers, I just don’t know who to thank for providing the needed inspiration: Richard M. Nixon or Adolph Hitler!

Naturally, Bush is claiming that this has to be done in order to protect the American public, but the truth is, is that Bush just wants to know what each and every one of us are doing every waking moment.

And that includes his party opposition as well.

Why do you think he went out of his way to shield telecom companies from breaking the law–as they have for the last 6 years?

Whether it’s by product or design, the fundamental declarations made in our Constitution have made it clear that our rights will not be violated, nor will they be infringed upon!

But–as you can see–even the US Constitution is finally no match for a man who has taken it upon himself to declare himself god and king of one of the most powerful nations on Earth.

Nixon tried to–as President–to get above the law precipice; to show to the American public back then that he wasn’t held accountable for his criminal acts.

But Congress reigned him in, slapped him down with impeachment proceedings, and almost had him removed from office–had he not resigned.

However, Bush is one step above that and on the level of what Hitler managed to accomplish as supreme dictator of Nazi Germany.

Hitler turned that once proud nation into a despotic horror show by stripping their citizens of their rights, jailing or executing the opposition, and making it so that the Nazi Party wasn’t challenged or held accountable by its actions.

Much like the Republican Party has done already.

Bush had just simply taken a page from ol’ Uncle Adolph and stripped us of our Constitution and settled on ruling by proxy instead.

And it is all perfectly legal.

And Congress’s reaction to all this?

Nothing.

They just do what Bush forces them to do–without question.

Just like good little soldiers.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

DRILLING OUR WAY TO OIL INDEPENDENCY ISN’T THE ANSWER

2008-06-22T18:09:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

As much as many people would like to believe…

Drilling in our own backyard for that limited supply of oil; isn’t going to put us on the road to energy independency any quicker today, let alone tomorrow–especially from the unwavering grip of foreign oil.

For once, Bush had said the one right thing in his entire failed Presidency: It would take ten years to bring all this refined oil to market.

And from market to US consumers.

In ten years!

Imagine for the moment, that oil and gas prices aren’t likely going to subside from their current peaks–and they just continue to rise and rise, and rise.

Think paying $4.50 a gallon is bad enough here in the States? Think double that in just ten years–as global demand outstrips supply; especially if countries like China and India continue to use more and more oil.

Oil prices will most like have surpassed $200 easy, even $300 a barrel; in concordance with a dollar that’s as worthless as the German mark was during the second world war–with most oil-producing countries now trading in other forms of currency like the euro–instead of the greenback.

US consumers are beyond pinched for money–as sky-high gas prices and food prices have forced many Americans to fall back on other means of getting food or growing it themselves.

By the time oil from these allegedly built refineries comes back to America, the average drop in gas prices wouldn’t make much of a real difference to the consumer strapped to the core by high has prices.

The sad truth is, most of the 68 million acres of land leased to Big Oil has gone unused these last 10 or 20 years. Big Oil doesn’t want to build new refineries or refine further more oil into gas.

What they do want is more free handouts from the federal government. And in the meantime, production at most US refineries in the here and now continue to drop here and there; in a transparent effort to artificially inflate the price at the pump and elsewhere.

Combined with a weak dollar and many other geopolitical factors, there just simply isn’t enough oil in our own country (that being 3% of the world's total reserves held by the United States of America) to sustain our current burn rate of 21-28 million barrels of oil per day.

Blaming past administrations for opting out of drilling in our own backyard is not going to make our problem go away either.

The harsh reality is, is that America is finally at a crossroads with its oil dependency. Call it an apex if you will–a peak which must only start downwards until we hit rock bottom again.

In light of that, we must start developing alternate sources of energy–and wean ourselves off this oil trip. Nuclear power is a limited option, because disposing of all that waste is even more trickier now, than it was back in the 70s–prior to Three Mile Island.

Building ten more–like McCain envisions–would take billions of dollars and years of political and environmental wrangling from all sides, before they can even be started; let alone completed.

What we can do as a country, as a people, and as a nation, is to start addressing our failing transportation infrastructure and obsolete power grid.

Rebuild both so that we can go green. The South and the Southwest have the two abundant sources of energy which has been surprisingly overlooked for the last 30 years: Solar and wind.

The Northeast can also benefit strongly from wind energy. But they can also start building tidal-generating stations to run clean energy from the ocean that way.

The Midwest has more of the same wind and solar benefits as their southern cousins. And they can build a hydro-electric generating station along the Mississippi River and use its power to generate clean energy.

The West Coast presently is using both wind and solar to power a small portion of their energy needs, but are also into hydroelectric power as well.

However, it’s not enough to give the country its needed independency from fossil fuels.

If we could only apply what we know about improved wind and solar technology nation-wide, we would be close to our oil independency 10 years hence than we are now.

Unfortunately, what’s standing in the way of that nice vision is Big Oil, one-sided politics, and of course…blind ignorance.

And those will take a long time to get over than our immediate need to exploit our environment for a few years’ worth of black gold.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

SUPREME COURT GIVES BACK WHAT’S BEEN MISSING: RIGHTS

2008-06-13T10:11:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

This week’s ruling in the Supreme Court dealt what many see as a severe setback in denying these 270 detainees their rights under the criminally negligent, Bush administration.

Yes, that’s right:

Detainee rights.

Not prisoners of war. Not captured enemy soldiers.

Detainees.

Remember that word and let it roll around in your head for a second: Detainees.

Go ahead. Say it one more time with me kids: Detainees.

Have you heard enough yet? I sincerely hope so. Because this travesty will be with us for decades to come. It’ll become a blotched stain on our nation’s history–as a country whom upheld the rule of law and was a foresworn runner of all things freedom, democracy, and rights.

Need some more convincing?

Then let me explain.

Someone whom is detained by the cops for questioning and or suspected of a crime are always given their rights under our laws. It’s been the bedrock principle in our nation’s illustrious history ever since George Washington became this nation’s first President.

Our founding fathers made it so that the Constitution was a solvent document that could be used to keep our nation and its government alive and in check.

But ever since 2001, the Bush administration had taken upon themselves to ignore that fragile document and become masters and kings themselves; without just cause.

Simply by detaining 270 terror suspects in a camp not on US soil is against every standing law created by this country since its inception.

But to deny them their rights and hold them indefinitely without trial or charge?

Not even the most egregious regime on this planet does these things! They recognize that in order to be convicted of a crime, you have to be charged with such said crimes and then be giving your rights under law!

But sadly, the Bush administration has made their intent quite clear: We don’t recognize your stinking laws! We’ll do whatever we damn well please, and you’re going to like it!

The victory handed down by the Supreme Court is a direct slap in the face to Bush–by the very judges that he himself had appointed to tip the court vastly to the right.

To inherently validate every crime that this bastard government had committed so vagrantly these last 8 years.

Denying people their rights is just another nail in this administration’s coffin.

And history will not be so kind to them–once the next administration takes over and starts digging into the last two terms of this corrupt one.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

MY ONGOING FIGHT WITH SOCIAL SECURITY OVER DISABILITY STATUS

2008-05-30T22:01:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

In less than a month, my fate will most likely be sealed for me at an ALJ hearing that‘s been almost 2 years in the making.

The bone of contention is the SSA’s charge that I’ve been committing fraud against the administration for making up stories about problems that they don’t see in my file as existing.

But they do–leaving me with the frustrating feeling that this administration simply doesn’t care.

Either I will stay on disability as a result of this hearing, or lose everything I’ve spent my life accumulating.

Including my life.

It’s no joke, people.

I have a genetic blood disorder that causes my blood to clot spontaneously whether I’m injured or not. It’s called Factor Five Leiden.

With medical treatment, my chances of survival are excellent–so long as I keep my Coumadin dosages regular and I see an anti-coagulation specialist once or twice a month to do blood draws. (In some cases, it’s three times.)

My pro-time numbers tell the story. Tells me how thin or thick my blood is. That’s my safety net. Too high and I start to feel the effects in my body.

Too low?

And my body risks another lovely round of DVTs. (Another word for blood-clots.)

Without treatment? I die. Plain and simple. Senator Jennifer Dunn of Washington state died of a pulmonary embolism not too long ago–because a blood clot broke off inside her body and traveled up into her lungs and killed her.

That, or one to the heart, or to the brain, and its end game for this modest opinion writer. This is what doctors and specialists here are trying to prevent me from having.

My left leg is rife with old and new clots. And my right leg is an exact mirror composite of my left–in terms of underdeveloped circulatory pathways; an unnoticeable defect brought on by a condition which landed me into the unconscionable grasp of the state, the government, and lastly Social Security?–in the first place.

What was it?

Cerebral palsy.

Combined with asthma, underdeveloped lungs and with the frontal lobes in my brain burned out as a result–I’ve been unabashedly been the unwitting victim to years of battery, abuse, and endless fights with Social Security over my status as being classified disabled.

Because these idiots can’t see it.

Everything problematic is inside me–not outside. Nothing to tell the casual observer that: “Yes, we are dealing with someone whom is disabled.”

Sadly–in my case–it just isn’t so.

And this has led to numerous clashes with the SSA over just how disabled I am. And for the most part–I’ve found that I can give as well as get. I’ve often had to rely on my mother to do my battles for me, but in the years since she left, I’ve stepped in and started standing up for myself.

17 years ago, I was under the state’s care in a private schooling system. My development as a person and as an individual was still in its infancy–and I was without any sense of direction.

Until I left state care and moved to the West Coast.

That’s when things started to take off.

Yes, I was placed in an adult-care facility in the beginning, but later, I started working things out on my own. I instantly realized that I could function independently of the state–after my second job started–and often chuckled to myself when I got letters from the state telling me about my changes in case workers.

The last one I got was in 1996.

Since then, I didn’t hear from the state on a number of matters–except for the ones involving terminating me from my disability checks because I wasn’t doing this or doing that–with Social Security declaring on a number of occasions (over the last 6 years) that: “Since you don’t want to attend treatment, then after this certain date, we will consider you cured.”

Cured?

I dearly wish that were true. Then I can tell these uncaring sons of a bitches where to stick my next piddley-assed check from them.

Unfortunately, I can’t simply wish away my disabilities with a snap of the fingers, or with a blink of an eye. No matter how much improvement I’ve personally achieved with myself, I still am very much aware of the fact that I am disabled.

I still have problems that need tending to, issues which needs to be addressed, but I can’t very well do this with an administration that is content to playing “God” with my life.

Given my past history with the state, is it ever a wonder why I wanted to function independently of everyone else? Why I wanted a life of my own so badly?

Because from this disabled writer’s POV, it was a dream like no other. Past all the ones that I held so close my heart.

It was a chance to lead a somewhat normal life despite my disabilities.

And I took it. What pisses off Social Security is the fact that I’ve progressed much further than anyone else in my situation.

They can’t understand how someone with my disabilities is able to do what I’ve gone and accomplished strictly on my own accord. And why I haven’t stayed the same.

By no means am I using the system to simply gain pity or sympathy. What I am doing now is simply fighting the old misconceptions that the disabled aren’t able to contribute to society like everyone else.

I’ll find out June 30th how good I really am.

Wish me luck everyone.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

MYANMAR JUST ANOTHER KATRINA EXAMPLE

2008-05-11T20:31:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Almost 3 years to the day, New Orleans was devastated by a Category 5 storm.

Almost 3 years to that fateful day, the Bush administration did everything in its power to forget the people of New Orleans.

Forget the French quarter. Forget the people of the 9th Ward.

Nearly three years later, New Orleans is nowhere near its former glory–but the people there are still struggling to rebuild: Without the help of the federal government.

Because our government had essentially abandoned them to their fate.

But it doesn’t mean we (the people) have forgotten how the Bush administration has neglected and forgotten a major US city–destroyed by a natural disaster aggravated by the effects of increasing climate change and/or global warming.

Even if Bush has.

Three years later, a powerful cyclone named Nargis made landfall along the coast of Myanmar–formally known as Burma–going from a Category 1 to a Category 4 storm seemingly overnight; then slamming into the coast with unrelenting ferocity.

Death toll? Some estimates are placing the overall tragedy at 100,000+.

With over two million displaced, the Myranmarese government controlled by an unforgiving military junta has essentially left its own people to a fate worse than death.

Much like the Bush administration, the military junta controlling Burma’s democratically elected government has turned indifferent to the people’s needs; rather instead focusing on ways to entrench its power and position at the expense of the people it is supposed to serve.

While the people of New Orleans was warned of Katrina’s approach, the military junta did not warn its people and thus far have been inclined to help their people or accept foreign aid from outside sources–especially the US.

And that has become not only a crime of gross negligence, but a crime against humanity itself.

It must not continue. Either here at home or abroad.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

GAS TAX HOLIDAY A JOKE IN ITSELF

2008-05-05T15:43:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Today, oil went to $120 a barrel on news of a further weakening US dollar. (That means it will take more dollars to buy our oil and many other precious commodities.)

But despite acknowledgments that a gas tax ‘holiday’ will not work in the best interest of the American consumers’ pocketbooks (not to mention the devastating ripple effect it will have on our nation’s roads and highways infrastructure system), both John McCain and Hillary Clinton are still advocating such a thing–even though passage of such legislation is in the realm of impossibility.

The whole notion behind the new political ploy is just a classic Washingtonian gimmick designed to buy people’s votes–at least the stupid ones anyways. (More than likely? They are from the same voting bloc whom gave Bush his second term of office.)

Getting down to it, a $30 savings in gas over the summer isn’t going to buy you, me, or anyone else peace of mind or financial security. Not when we are faced with (still), high energy prices, high food prices, the mortgage meltdown, the credit crunch, and job insecurities.

Most of the people whom are against this idea knows this. But those who are for it…? They either must be dumber than a stump, or blind as a bat–if they think that this money saved is a good idea for all of America.

In reality, it isn’t. Like I said before, this will have a deeply negative impact on our nation’s roads and highways. This gas tax that both McCain and Clinton are in favor of eliminating for the next 3 months will also eliminate much needed funding for our nation’s infrastructure!

Roads, highways, even bridges. Does anyone remember the W-35 bridge which collapsed last year? McCain was quoted as saying that it was due to state government waste–but he backed off the unproven claim before that gaffe damage could be made permanent.

Well–in any event–every bridge span, road section, or highway overpass is going to be vulnerable should this tax be eliminated. And not just that, but all those hundreds of thousands of jobs (300K+ by some estimates) whom depend on this vital gas tax to keep things going and them employed.

Our foreign oil needs are so severe that we need to start taking a real look into how we can safely develop alternative energies and ways to wean our butts off the Saudi teat.

But we can’t do it when we have politicians like Clinton and McCain going around and parading idiotic (and destructive) energy policies which will do nothing to address the problems of energy dependence at home. (That includes drilling in the Alaskan National Wildlife Arctic Reserve–or ANWAR–for oil that won‘t even put a dent in our daily consumption levels. Or current gas prices.)

We need strong energy legislation that is designed to address the problems forthright and constitutes a positively lasting impact on our energy needs.

And only then will we be off the oil kick which has held the US hostage for the last century.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

THE REPUBLICAN FANTASIES JUST KEEP ON SPINNING

2008-04-29T19:17:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Once again, Bush has proven to America just how out of touch he is with the rest of Main Street.

Not just him, but John McCain as well. Both share in the ideology that things will be okay, we just have to go along with whatever they think will happen.

From the economy, the recession, Iraq, and so on.

The make-believe optimism never stops with these two. And it is costing this nation so dearly--in terms of credibility and international standing.

Let's look at a fresh example, okay?

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

For years this tit-for-tat fight has centered on land disputes and official state recognition between the Palestinians and the Israelis. The Israelis think that they are entitled to the land and have been trying to drive the Palestinians out--with the blind support of the US--for decades.

But the Palestinians didn’t go away quietly. For years, they kept the Israeli Defense Force at bay. And the Israelis have been committing murder and genocide against the Palestinians and no one has been able to (or even wanted to) put a stop to these actions.

They managed to drive some of the Palestinians out of the occupied West Bank a few years ago, but they haven’t been successful in driving the Palestinians out from the area at all.

Then Hamas won democratically in 2005–stunning both the US and Israel. As a result of those elections (which Bush condemned), aid to the West Bank was cut off.

Just as recently, the UN suspended aid to the Palestinians.

Whereas force has failed in the past, the Israelis have tried on numerous occasions to starve the Palestinians out of their land by instituting a border embargo–preventing food, medicine, and basic essentials from reaching the people.

But the Palestinians had an answer for that–when Hamas blew a large in the barrier separating the Palestinian people from Egypt.

And a flood of refugees surged forth and started snapping up much needed goods and essentials–not weapons as the US and Israel claimed they would initially buy.

Things that Israel had been stringently denying the Palestinians.

As a result of this and so many other problems, the split Palestinian government (Fatah and Hamas) hasn’t been able to come to a single peace agreement yet–one of which Bush and his hopeful successor, John McCain–will be able to conclude with a landmark peace agreement before the end of Bush's term of office.

Unfortunately, neither man truly understand the gravity of the situation embroiling the Middle East. Simply to wish that peace will happen by this so and so date (or at the end of Bush’s term) will not happen.

No matter what Bush may think or imply.

But actions speak louder than words in all cases.

And the actions by this administration illustrates that they aren’t as committed to peace in the Middle East as they are to war with Iraq, Afghanistan, and possibly Iran.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

PRESIDENT JOHN MCCAIN--A DISASTER IN THE MAKING

2008-03-24T22:18:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Ask me again as to why some people want to repeat another disastrous mistake in the coming election–by voting in more of the same bellicose policies which have train wrecked our nation’s economy and worn out our military past the breaking point?

Despite recent attacks on the Green Zone and the increase in violence (plus the apparent unraveling of the cease-fire by the Mahdi army), McCain has clearly signaled that he won’t change course either–echoing Bush’s recent comments on how history will perceive his failed Iraq policy: "One day, people will look back at this moment in history and say, 'Thank God there were courageous people willing to serve, because they laid the foundations for peace for generations to come.' "

McCain himself believes that the US troop surge is ‘succeeding’–despite the ratcheting violence and the fact that we have hit another grim milestone (or two): 4,000 dead American troops and almost 30,000 wounded.

Does he care? From his recent statements: “Sen. John McCain declared Monday that "we are succeeding" and said he wouldn't change course -even as the U.S. death toll rose to 4,000 and the war entered its sixth year.”

Apparently not.

Imagine for the moment that McCain is President for the next 8 years–having won the 2008 primary by a slim margin (2016):

Iraq has descended into complete chaos by 2012; 8,200 troops are now dead–with as many as 62,000 US troops wounded; with many more raw recruits having to come and fill the gaps left behind, through an unregulated draft put into place 2 years into McCain’s presidency.

On top of that, $1.5 trillion dollars have been spent on the conflict so far (not counting the money needed to take care of our wounded troops), Malaki’s government no longer exists in the form that the previous administration had installed–forcing the current administration to take steps to ensure that some semblance of democracy still exists in that war-torn region.

Between 160,000 to 1.2 million Iraqis have died so far and as many as three million more displaced by the war. Iran’s influence in the region is simply overpowering, but there is little that McCain can do to affect any real change with that country; after it succeeded with its uranium-enrichment program the year before.

At this stage, McCain is consistently accusing Iran of wanting to destroy the world with its phantom nuclear arsenal–while Afghanistan has collapsed into complete anarchy. (NATO left in 2011-2012–having been unable to turn the tide against a now entrenched Al-Qaeda; with the country in complete control of the warlords which now operate without fear.)

Pakistan is now no longer our ally in the war against terror; having given up its pursuit of democracy. That in turn has left Al-Qaeda a new place to call home--even as its operations have started to expand on a global scale; instead of just isolated to one or two countries. (As many analysts were quick to point out that the Iraq war conflict has deeply inflamed anti-American sentiment abroad and given groups like Al-Qaeda the money, resources, and manpower to carry out their deadly terrorists attacks against European and American interests; and a few recent attacks here in the states.)

Public opinion has so soured over the war (with a scant 15% still supporting the administration), that they see themselves unable to connect with their representatives over the war–let alone the government that’s supposed to represent them.

However, things at home are much worse than they were when Bush took office. The economy is still mired in a deep recession brought on by the collapse of the housing market, the credit crunch, a near worthless dollar, and $170 oil. (Not to mention nearly $7 gas.)

High energy costs have left the majority of Americans dependent on their federal government to make ends meet–rather than the now scuttled wage earners which had helped prop up many of the former middle-class Americans in years past.

Chronic homelessness and rampant poverty now grips the nation, with no end in sight.

McCain’s tax cuts for the rich and the continued war has pushed the US deficit to nearly $14 trillion dollars–as federal revenue has fallen to its lowest level in recent memory; coupled with the strain of the insurgent population of baby boomers on Social Security and Medicare (whom retired in 2008), healthcare costs which have transcended levels not seen in a generation, and the surge of illegal immigrants into our country has put a severe strain on our country’s medical and social services. (Thanks in part to McCain’s successful ‘amnesty’ bill; pardoning many immigrants from breaking federal law and not paying their share in back taxes–while working here illegally.)

But McCain is up for re-election and he’s once again claiming that despite the high costs of lives and money, the US is “winning the war in Iraq”. (The same ploy which Bush used in his last year in Iraq.)

And this time, the majority of the country doesn’t support or share his views. Even a larger majority of Republicans whom blindly supported Bush’s push for war during the early 2000s, don’t rush to his defense of the conflict as they did before many years prior.

But will a change in the American public’s perceptions finally end what McCain said would be a “100 year occupation” of Iraq by 2012–almost 10 years after Bush invaded that country?

It all depends on how the people in there and now vote.

The above scenario is little less of a fantasy and more on the reality we all face if we let someone like John McCain in the White House–based on current trends and an equally dismal future for all Americans.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

BUSH DESIRES A REPEAT OF LEBANON

2008-03-13T23:00:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Oddly enough, Admiral Fallon’s departure represented not just a shift in US foreign policy, but another example of how rational minds are no longer wanted within the US government of high-rollers and shakers.

To disagree with Bush is inviting getting your ass fired in a relatively short order. The President has made it clear to everyone that he doesn’t brook dissidents within his own administration.

Many have questioned his policies and paid the price for it. Many prominent figures within the administration like Colin Powell have left because of such disagreements.

And what was replaced? Neoconservative war hawks whom belie the administration’s continued beating of the war drums.

In this day and age, this administration has made it their mission to wreck as much havoc and misery on other countries in the name of freedom and democracy; jingoistic propaganda that would’ve sounded great during the days of the Cold War–where we actually had an enemy, and adversary, a clearly defined threat.

But where is the fire now? Where in the world can the United States still call itself a superpower by standing up against such evil despotic countries suppressing their people and their rights to such freedoms and Western-style democracies and ideals?

Unfortunately, the world today is not the same as yesterday. The USSR that I grew up with is gone–to be replaced by a Russia that no longer has the reach it has.

As such, there are very few countries which could threaten us militarily.

Whatever possessed our President to invade Iraq on fixed intelligence and a distortion of the facts–we may never know for awhile yet. But the end results were not what the Bush war machine envisioned: That Iraq would be a Western bastion of democracy and freedom.

Instead, Iraq is not even a shadow of that. The country is continuously wracked with violence.

The government we helped install doesn’t seem to get the Bush idea that it’s supposed to rule in the traditional democratic fashion. Since 2005, the Malaki government has shown a severe disinclination to speed up reform and institute a democratic rule of law. As a result, there has been no democracy, no freedom, no “Hail to the Chief”-type patriotism. Just a lax of enthusiasm, a sense of urgency, or anything that would normally instill a recently created government body.

In short, the Bush administration had sold its soul on the idea that–if–it could remove such despotic regimes by force, democracy would soon follow.

Sadly, history has been against us every step of the way.

And the bonofide mess in Iraq was the result of such grandiose visions. But do you hear Bush harbor regret for dragging one of the world’s most powerful armies in the world through one of the worst blunders in modern civilization?

Nope.

The way Bush tells it, we should be glad that we removed Saddam. We should be glad that we wasted a soon-to-be record $3T dollars, thousands of American troops, and even more innocent Iraqi lives–just so we can have an endless war, and endless occupation of a country that is about the size of California and posed virtually no threat to this nation.

And have no democracy or resolution in sight.

But it gets better.

How?–you ask?

With the departure of Admiral Fallon, it pretty much clears a path to Iran’s door.

A war that’s been in the making since 2001.

With Iraq under US occupation and both our troops and their equipment wearing out past the breaking point, Bush and Cheney have tried their hardest to paint Iran as a growing and visible threat to the US.

Last year, they ramped up the “World War III” rhetoric–implying that if we did nothing now, we could be faced with Iran raining nuclear missiles down the United States.

Would be more credible; had the Bush administration not lied about the threat that Iraq posed to the US and the world.

With Fallon out of the way, there is little to stop Bush from launching a third Middle East war with a crippled military. However–before anyone gets excited over that prospect–maybe we should time-warp ourselves to the summer of 2006; where Israel tried to take out Hamas using only airpower and very little ground support.

As a result of that botched conflict, Israel came away deeply embarrassed and in no better position to do anything about that entrenched terrorist organization then it was when it first attacked.

The word on the grapevine is that Bush wants to launch punishing air strikes against Iran’s nuclear facilities–in hopes that it would spur the overthrow of Ahmadinejad’s democratically-elected government.

But didn’t Israel try something similar against Hamas in 2006?

Just makes me wish that Bush had been paying more attention to what was going on in 2006 instead of trying to cement his failed war legacy in 2007.

Or 2008.

Then he would’ve seen how much a fruitless exercise it would be to try and take out Iran with such limited resources at hand.

Given how he's reacted to imaginary or realistic threats to our national security, my guess would be...?

A resounding no!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

TERRORISTS AREN’T THE THREAT–OUR GOVERNMENT IS

2008-03-05T11:25:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Thanks to the bastard legislation–known as the Patriot Act–our government is now worse of a threat to our own civil liberties than any terrorist we are supposed to fear like a scared little mouse.

The Bush administration contends that it has the right to spy on us without any legality in place, no checks or balances, no nothing that demands any oversight. (Kinda like the failed war in Iraq right now. Paul Bremer ring a bell?)

Because if they don’t–as Bush claims–Al-Qaeda will rain down hellfire and brimstone down on us.

Well, since the provisions of the Protect America Act had expired 2 weeks ago…nothing has happened.

No attack by Al-Qaeda. No nothing.

Curiously enough, Bush is silent on the matter. Where is his bravado now? Where is his righteousness that spells out all the doom and gloom–if he doesn’t get to spy on us right this very moment?

Funny thing about law: Once it is in place, even an “above the law” President is contend to follow it–even if he doesn’t like it!

So maybe there are some checks and balances left in place–which haven’t been trampled yet by the Bush administration.

But tell that to the FBI.

Turns out they are worse gross violators of the law than the President is. Under secrecy and covert operations, this little outfit has now replaced the “Dirty Harry” of the mob and done away with being an organization which once prided itself with being thorough and fearless.

Through national security letters, it has gone after just about anyone it sees fit–even if they are innocent.

E-mail? Regular mail? Bank records? Everything and anything is fair game to them. It doesn’t matter if you are suspected of being affiliated with Al-Qaeda or not.

The FBI has your number. Quite literally.

Director Robert Mueller says that they’ve done nothing improper and that everything is within the law.

Right.

And this is the reason why the agency violated the law between 2003 and 2006–misusing the national security letter protocols on such levels that it is beyond baffling?

Sure, it’s so easy to blame human error when overzealousness is clearly involved.

In this case–not seen since the McCarthy era–both our own government and the FBI is now treating everyone from every walk of life as the enemy and a distinct threat to the nation as a whole.

Which is why they have been so adamant that we allow them to ignore the laws set forth by past administrations, the canon principles set forth by our own Constitution, and the overall definition of what a democracy should act and function like in the real world.

They need to act above common decency and right–in order to protect us from our own worse fears.

And that…makes them a much bigger threat than any terrorist on the planet.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

IGNORANCE STILL PREVELANT IN SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

2008-02-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Am I the only one around here who sees what’s going on as wrong? Like in Virginia Tech, people are still calling for a small laundry list of things:

Continued discrimination against the mentally-ill and troubled teens.
Tougher gun laws that don’t do anything more than to further restrict people’s rights to bear arms–regardless of circumstance.
Allow the states complete and total access to personal and medical records; not including the federal government.
Ignorance of the root problems while suggesting outmoded “band-aid” solutions. All because of one young man’s rampage through a Northern Illinois University campus.

Let’s examine the above list:

The mentally-ill and our troubled teens have been singled out because of the problems borne out from society’s ignorance of their situation. We believe that by talking to them, holing them up in some mental institution and the like; doping them up with drugs and then shutting them out of sight or out of mind–will somehow make all our problems go away.

In all essence, it just makes incidences like Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois more common–while the ignorant public continues to rally for more stricter gun laws–than enforcing the ones already on the books.

Taking away our rights to own firearms because we ourselves are to blame for the continued degradation of our own society’s delicate fabric, underpinnings, and basic support foundations–doesn’t make any sense whatsoever.

As a matter of public record, the United States has the highest gun crime incidences in the world–and the mentally-ill and troubled teens make up only a small fraction of the total deaths committed by them overall.

Most of the shootings involved these days are from gang-related violence, issues stemming from spousal abuse, and convicted criminals whom are repeat offenders.

Why not enforce laws or create new ones which address these problems? The mentally-ill are not a factor in this equation. Our troubled youths aren’t either.

The calls for complete and total access to our personal psych records and health records by all states–is just asking for trouble. We’ve already seen the flagrant abuse by the feds with regards to our rights to privacy, and the telecoms’ illegal actions involving turning over our personal records to fight terrorism to our own government.

And having unqualified or vindictive people poring through personal state medical records is just plain wrong.

Just because we have some high-profile murders on university campuses doesn’t give people the overall right to start a glorified witch hunt against the mentally ill or our troubled teens.

Not everyone should be treated like a criminal because of the acts of a few individuals.

This isn’t what the system is set up for. We–the people–still have rights to privacy. Nobody–including myself–wouldn’t like it if we had our whole histories open to public scrutiny because that in turn would lead to a whole host of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and further neglect.

As before, we have always ignored the root problems of these issues by professing ignorance and applying “band-aid” solutions in the form of stricter gun laws that do nothing to address the root problems facing our society.

So long as we continue to neglect those whom need help the most, incidences like Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Northern Illinois, will surely become a common place occurrence.

And we only have ourselves to blame for that.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

THOSE WHO ARE IN MOST NEED LEFT HIGH AND DRY

2008-02-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

I’m pissed at my government for allowing them to walk all over us.

I’m pissed at Congress for caving in and not giving those whom need help the most.

Yes, I am talking about the tax rebate legislation–which axed financial aide for those whom need energy assistance, extra food stamp money, and those whom are currently unemployed–and would all enjoy the tax bate relief.

I know I would. I just spent three-quarters of my food stamps on food within the last 24 hours. Most of it on meat, bread, cheese, and soy milk.

I saved a little bit on the side so my wife and I can get our monthly chocolate fix. The rest I’ve set aside for later–when I need it.

To the outside observer, what I’ve done may not be such a big deal. But trying living on nearly $300 in food stamps a month–for 2 people–with the current high food prices; and you would begin to see why people like myself were rooting for Congress to pass that extra legislation for those like myself whom have been financially hurting all this time.

And came away gravely disappointed.

Why did the Republicans block the legislation that would’ve given us an extra boost? According to some insiders, they said it was too much money.

Too much money!?

Let me guess: We can blow hundreds of billions of dollars on an ill-gotten war, but we can’t blow the same amount on the home front–making sure that those whom need help…get it?

What does the Republican Party have against people like me? What did we ever do to piss them off so much??? Why must we be made to suffer so they can waste our tax-paying money on corporate ventures and oil interests? (Not to mention all those tax-cuts for the rich?)

I didn’t ask to be born into this world under the dogging weight of extreme poverty. But I certainly made many efforts to dig myself out of it--and failing each time. But it seems that the mechanisms which tells us that we can aspire to better ourselves in the long run–are the same entities which controls the purse strings of Congress.

These are the same machinations which tells me that not only can I not better myself, but I must be permanently slaved to a system that won’t allow me to do the same.

In essence, I am an unwilling prisoner in a corrupt system of democracy.

To make matters even worse, Bush’s latest budget proposal has gone ahead and cut funding from the very programs which help people like me.

Those whom need energy assistance, housing, Medicare, and food stamps.

And if you have noticed something peculiar about his allocated funds? The majority of it goes to the military and defense industries.

So they can have their precious wars.

But why not the people whom need help the most?

Because they were never a priority with the Republican Party.

The poor and the downtrodden have been made to suffer since Reagan was President. His slanted fiscal budgets heavily favored the wealthy and the rich–while giving those who needed help the least amount of money.

Thus setting into motion, a series of events which has made it harder for people like me, to get ahead a little bit in life.

We’ve never asked for the world, all we are asking for is a boost in the right direction.

Unfortunately…? Both Bush and Congress doesn’t seem to be listening.

Which means?

People like me are left high and dry. Again.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

WHEN IT COMES TO THE ECONOMY, GOP HAS NO CLUE

2008-01-27T14:12:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

The recession is here and still the Republican candidates have no clue as to how to deal with it.

How can they? Terrorism and war is the only two things they know now.

Have a family of four approach John Boy and Ghouliani and their response would be: “Huh?”--when asked what they would do about their stagnant wages, rising healthcare costs, and job security.

See, the problem started back when Reagan was President. He was a pure capitalist by heart. He believed that being rich gave you huge entitlements that weren’t yours. (Namely tax cuts.)

Hey, you're rich and need money, right?

So Ronnie began a destructive process which deprived trillions of dollars of needed monies to go towards working families and the middle-class–and started handing out “grab bags” to the rich and wealthy.

Money that they didn’t need, but it was good politics, right? Deprive people of funds needed for education, job training, and assistance programs?

And so it began, a long and hard road for the many millions of American families, singles, and of course, the disabled and the elderly–primarily because good ol’ Ronnie Reagan believed that “trickle-down economics” would benefit from giving money to the rich and that would translate to strong job growth and increased wages.

Sadly, the Gipper had his signals crossed. The man was blinded by ideals that made absolutely no sense to the average tax-paying American.

As a result, Big Business capitalized on Reagan’s generosity and started a process which has now cheated people of a living wage, quality healthcare benefits, and job security 25 years later.

Bush I was no better. Clinton tried to level the playing field for at least 8 years during the Roaring 90s, but Bush II thought that the rich and wealthy had suffered long enough at the hand’s of Bill’s prosperity–and made the working American pay for it by denying him and her an increase in minimum-wage for 10 years, access to affordable healthcare and prescription drugs, and education needed for higher-paying jobs.

Not to mention adequate job security.

But it didn’t stop there. The Decider encouraged Big Business to take their business elsewhere by offering such generous tax exemptions and breaks in exchange for shipping the bulk of America’s manufacturing complex overseas; and replacing it with low-paying wage jobs here at home.

As a result, personal debt exploded seemingly overnight as the average American family had to face the struggle of making ends meet with what little was being offered to them.

And let’s not forget that Bush’s son also gave away tax breaks to the wealthy, the rich, and Big Business–just like Reagan did–expecting the same kind of windfall to be seen.

But it never materialized.

As a result, America’s social and domestic infrastructure has been left in ruins because of the Republican's inept economic policies.

And that’s why–when you ask any of the current GOP candidates what they plan on doing with the economy and the recession now–all you get is a few mumbled words and a blank stare.

Because they have no clue!

The GOP never had any experience in dealing with Lower Class America. All they’ve been doing since Reagan took office has been catering to the wealthy and the powerful.

That’s all they know. All they ever will know.

As a result, people like you and me will only continue to suffer at their gross incompetence.

But it's no big deal. After all, who is better to take care of us than the Republican Party, right?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE NOT SO 'STIMULATING'

2008-01-18T20:40:00.001-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Just occured to me last night--as I was going to bed--that this economic package that Bush proposed lacks any real substance or teeth to be of any real help to the sagging economy.

Pay close attention to his words: "This is designed to help big business stay afloat, and whatever's left--we'll give to the middle-class and working poor."

Think that $1600 is going to you because you're married, have a job, and two kids? Think again.

In 2001, I was promised $300 for a single person, $600 for someone who is married.

I got $75!

Wow!

I can certainly go to town on this amount! I was completely fucked by my own government! Ass fucked so severely, my butt's permantly puckered here!

Surprised? Actually, no. The reason why I got that amount (and not the $300 I was promised), was because I was working minimum-wage. I could only qualify for the $300 if I was making (minimum), $20,000 or more. $600 if I was making $40,000. (Families making this amount got double or even triple the amount.)

So $75 was my damned consulation prize.

And this is the reason why I curse my fucking government for being such stingy bastards.

Everyone talks big and all, but who gets reamed in the ass like a corner-plodding whore?

It's people like me whom make less than $15,000 a year on minimum-wage. (Back in 2001, I was only making $11,000.)

That's who!

No one ever talks about us. We just focus on the high-rollers whom make $20K or more. (Like good little sheeple.)

And that's why these stimulus packages are such a joke and waste of tax-payer's monies.

They aren't designed to help those who truly need it. They just package it in such a way that gives the *illusion* that we are helping you out.

We're not.

We're just adding to the deficit (to the tune of $150B), and the working poor and some lower-class Americans get the royal shaft once again.

But don't think for a second that this stimulus package is going to be of any use to the economy.

While two-thirds of all Americans spent their tax rebate in the first six months of 2001, the rest saved their money.

And did it jumpstart the economy? It did somewhat, but the problems plaguing us from the 2001 recession never really left us. Our job creation numbers have sucked for the longest 8 years imaginable.

Our debt has grown so bad, many certified public accountants are having nightmares and needing therapy.

All it did was give more money to the rich and everyone else was left hanging high and dry.

This time, the problem is worse. High energy, high food prices, inflation which hasn't been seen in awhile, credit card debt skyhigh, and a housing meltdown that makes global warming look like your average July summer bake sale in the South.

And let's not forget $3 gas--which wasn't the case back in 2001.

Still think that your rebate check is going to save the economy when you're faced with these problems?

Bush seems to think so. But Bush has always been locked away in his own little fantasy world.

Funny thing is, so are the Democrats we helped put back into power.

It would be ironic if it wasn't such a sad thing to witness first hand.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

DIPLOMACY WAS NEVER BUSH’S STRONG SUITE

2008-01-13T19:14:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Though he’s trying to come off sounding and looking like a state-officiate of democracy and freedom, the sad truth is, none of the authoritarian ruling families controlling the Middle Eastern bloc are all that interested in spreading democracy, freedom, or rights for all its ruling class citizens.

But let’s not confuse political fantasy and hubris with reality here.

George Bush was never the type of man whom could link freedom with democracy if it bit him in the ass.

He is more of a showman with hat rather than all talk then action.

For Bush, an opportunity for a photo-op is more plausible than actually having to do the hard work himself. (Explains why he doles out the real job tasks at hand to unqualified cronies.)

This way, he can get off the blame train by saying that at least he tried, but points out that isn’t his fault that nothing fruitful came of his visits.

The sadder part to this whole Presidency is the fact that our own President of the United States never believed in real diplomacy–let alone real democracy.

A product of the Cold War, people like Bush always favored heavy-handed actions and strong, tough talk. People of this constituency rarely relied on real diplomatic overtures and ideals of freedom.

For them, they see enemies whether they exist or not. For them, there is no middle ground. No alternative path to take–in case things get bad.

And for the last 8 years, things have gotten bad for us.

Only because our Commander-in-Chief had completely abandoned the fine arts of diplomacy and democracy; in favor of fear and blind rhetoric.

The result?

We now see the results of an insulated administration trying to get back in touch with the real world.

And quite frankly? It’s quite embarrassing to watch a once powerful man stumble his through the routines of reaching out and claiming to be a champion of freedom and justice.

I know it. Our international allies know it.

But Bush?

I highly doubt that he even knows it.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

GOVERNMENT AND FEDERAL BANK CLUELESS ON RECESSION

2007-12-29T18:28:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

If we all paid attention to what top economists and Alan Greenspan is saying–we’d be still waiting for the recession which has already gripped us all.

Forget waiting till the end of next year–when Greenspan’s forecasts suggest only a 1.5 percent GDP or less for the final three months of 2008–look at what’s happening now.

Now is more important than trying to see into the future by a full year.

We are in the throes of a recession–whether the clueless Fed or the stubborn Bush administration wants to admit it or not.

10 months ago, preliminary housing data suggested a downturn which the Fed, the government, and Wall Street basically ignored–despite persistent prodding from many outsiders to stabilize the housing market through sound fiscal intervention and a strengthening of the dollar–to give homeowners and the average American consumer reassurances and breathing room.

But they didn’t.

Summer of the 2007 gave what many had hoped was a wake up call to Wall Street, but that hope was short lived; as the fear melted away and stock brokers resumed their parochial fantasies that everything was still bright and peachy-keen.

Nevermind the fact that the dollar was steadily losing value and foreign investors were jumping ship left and right.

The Fed’s response in the next three months? Drop interest rates–the single-handedly most boneheaded move that the central bank could ever make!

The subsequent drops in interest rates haven’t made any difference on the housing meltdown or the credit crunch, but it certainly has made a dramatic impact on the purchasing power of the dollar.

Basic essentials are now more costly than they were five years ago. With wages depressed and inflation reaching new all-time highs, living on what you have becomes more of a challenge for those who barely have enough as it is.

And oil and energy prices are continuing their staggering climb towards $100 a barrel, with $4 gas not too far off into the distant future.

But the government’s response to this?

Nothing to help America overall. Nope.

Just 220,000 homeowners out of the estimated 3.3 million that are affected by the housing crisis–based on a ridiculous plan that does little to assist the majority with their mortgage problems. (But what would you expect from the Bush administration? This asshole government has been nothing more of a hindrance for the average consumer than a real-life godsend these days!)

And this trend is already having a devastating impact on the average consumer’s lifestyles.

With housing numbers falling to the lowest levels in 12 years, the cost of renting an apartment has skyrocketed dramatically; forcing many people to re-evaluate their place of living.

But the high demand for affordable housing may become a thing of the past; as tent cities have sprung up in some parts of the country–mainly because people on limited or fixed income cannot find a place to live.

Even those in foreclosure status may not be safe from the specter of becoming homeless themselves.

And the Fed’s new move for the new year? More interest rate cuts. Not what this nation and economy desperately needs.

But tell that to the five banks whom (collectively) injected almost a half-trillion dollars of liquid funds into the US’s sagging banking system in an effort to shore up its loan and hedge fund operations.

Money isn’t what this nation needs to get back on its feet. It needs sound fiscal policy and responsibility. It needs the Fed to stop with its interest rate cuts and start shoring up the dollar.

Or this recession–which has gripped this nation for the betterment of the last five months or so–will only get progressively worse, and not better as government officials are so optimistic about.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

CIA EMBRACES THE ‘IN’ IN ‘INJUSTICE’

2007-12-15T15:38:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Remember the golden years of the CIA? Where the agency was so much better respected and its people admired for protecting America and its interests at home and abroad?

Remember those days?

Well, those days are–sadly–over.

In light of the interrogation tape scandal where the CIA went against orders and destroyed them in 2005, the agency and the people within the Justice Department have shown a strong perchance for injustice.

And torture.

Naturally, the proclivity of the secret spy institution was immortalized in many spy movies as having a ‘tough guy’ image whom could accomplish anything–even if it meant bending the rules a bit to succeed in the given mission; the one thing that set the spy agency apart from the bad guys was that in the end…?

They didn’t stoop down to their level.

But now…? They have.

And no one is batting an eye at that.

The destruction of the spy tapes wasn’t done intentionally to protect the interrogators and their families.

No. That would be too easy a way out.

No, this was done to avoid another embarrassing repeat of Abu Ghraib–where some members of the US military abused and tortured Iraqi prisoners for months on end; before someone on the inside blew the whistle.

The CIA and the Justice Department have been engaged in an age-old game of “you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”.

This time, the Justice Department has been running interference for the CIA to cover its tracks in the destruction of the interrogation tapes.

Tapes which have shown interrogators torturing terror suspects in order to extract information from.

But the CIA doesn’t want this information to come leaking out. And neither does the Justice Department.

In all fairness, this behavior didn’t just start recently. This could easily be traced all the way to the top of the Executive Branch; where we have an imperial President whom believes that he is outside the law.

And as such, this model behavior has reinforced the idea that everyone within the government can also act in part–thus providing the American people a clear and present example of just how lawless their seat of representation has become.

Including the Senate GOP–whom have rejected a recent bill to outlaw harsh interrogation techniques such as water boarding; citing that it will tie our hands in the interrogation of terror suspects.

It just goes to show just how injustice has managed to prevail unchecked all these years since 2001.

The year our government and its agencies declared itself to be beyond morals, rights, and justice.

This latest example just reinforces the notion that such bad behavior within is widely acceptable–while the truth is not.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

THE DEFLATING DOLLAR VS. FED STUPIDITY

2007-12-09T15:12:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

The Fed is set to lower interest rates once again--which will more than likely drive stocks up on this. But sadly, the Fed is just trying to bail out investors, lenders, and borrowers from their own mess.

It's not going to do the economy any good when the government and the Fed are on the side of big money. These people who have been ensnared in these ARMs loans are just going to lose their homes anyway.

They can't afford the increased payments, and they certainly can't afford to keep their homes either.

One analyst said that Bush's mortgage bailout plan was essentially worthless--because it wouldn't stop what's happening with the housing meltdown anyways.

Just extends it.

Regardless of what the Wall Streeters says, this is going to have an adverse impact on our economy. Sending it into recession.

Lowering interest rates are just going to drop the dollar into the toilet further, forcing oil prices back above $90 and...well, start this whole mess over again. (Seeing how artificially low interest rates was the main culprit to this problem to begin with.)

The Fed already lowered rates twice already--thinking that was going to help--but once things snowballed, Bernanke jumped the gun and decided that a third rate cut is going to fix things.

It's not.

It's going to make things much worse.

He says he's worried about inflation, and the idiot doesn't understand is that the inflation he's referring to is core-index numbers. What he doesn't see is the inflation which has struck all of America in terms of the high costs of living and food!

Basic essentials are just going through the roof on price because the dollar has lost much of its value! It's putting a serious hurt on the average consumer.

And if you believe that things are hunkey-dorey in your neck of the woods, try taking a small amount of money--let's say $100--and go shopping for food.

Here's a list of things that I want you to get:

1 plastic bottle of ketchup (24 oz)
1 jar of kosher baby dills (24 oz)
1 jar of green Olives (10 oz)
1 bag of chicken breast tenders (they're like chicken nuggets)
2 bags of mini pretzels
1 jar of mayo (30 oz)
2 bags of mixed vegetables with cheese sauce included
1 bag of corn chips
2 bags of chili cheese corn chips
1 box of taquitas
2 cans of pear halves
2 cans of peaches (sliced)
1 container of cottage cheese

Ready for the end result?

My bill came to $40.27 after these purchases.

You would be left with $59.73.

Think this is normal? Wrong!

This is what the depleted power of the dollar would get you.

Under normal circumstances, this list would only cost you $10 less if the dollar was strong.But because of the weak dollar, you are now having to spend $10-$20 more in basic essentials--just to make up the difference. And for each interest rate cut the Fed dumps on the market, you take another $2-$5 hit on your next purchase.

Because why?

The dollar is being weakened by interest rates--making it less attractive to foreign investors and buyers. If you haven't figured it out by now, our major buyers of the dollar have been supplementing their currency reserves with other monetary denominators (like the euro). The Chinese have been. The Japanese are about to, and last I checked, Iran has dumped the dollar as a major trader in its oil market; supplementing it with another more stronger currency.

So as a result, it is now costing you and me more money to buy things.

But why hasn't the government or the Fed acted on this information to boost the strength of the dollar? To keep it from collapsing?

Because they don't care. It's not important to them--seeing how our national debt is being financed mostly by the Chinese and partly by the Japanese.

All they want is to keep the economy going for Wall Street and big business--no matter what the cost it is to average American consumer! We are being sacrificed for Corporate America here, people!

Wake up!

But the sad part to this latter half of the story is this: We haven't begun to pay off the interest to our staggering debt yet. And when we do in the coming years, it's going to take three times the amount of money to pay off the first loan of interest.

So let's say that you've just financed a car and your first payment is $450--using the above scenario.

Under your terms of contract with the dealership and your starting interest rates of 3.9%; you would be paying an additional $175.50 to that normal amount each month. But if the dollar continues to weaken further and further still, the amount of interest you would have to pay instead would eventually be $526.50--on top of that $450 a month.

Given what the Chinese are going to charge us for interest rates on a $9.3T debt...? It's not going to be pretty when the time comes to pay the Piper's first bill.

Not good at all.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

AMERICA: THE FORGOTTEN

2007-11-26T13:00:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Don’t be surprised if you haven’t gotten any answers from your local or state representatives.

Haven’t gotten anything done which has currently impacted your life.

There hasn’t been anything good which has come out of this government of ours–for a very long time.

Either at the state level or the federal level. Everybody in play appears to have forgotten the people whom voted them in for an X-amount of years now.

We sit here and complain, we sit here and write e-mails, we sit here and phone those whom currently are supposed to represent us.

But sadly, the pattern of neglect and negligence is here to stay.

Nobody in the local government seems to give a damn about those whom are suffering the most. The same could be said of the federal apparat.

Nowadays, it’s nothing more than pandering and counter-pandering. To find out who is more tougher on crime, who is more tougher on terrorism, who is more able to protect the country and ensure that we still have a nation to secure for future generations. (And illegal immigration. Let’s not forget that–shall we?)

But no one running for office or is in office (both at the state and the federal level) seems to care about the people themselves.

No one is really addressing the needs of the populace. From basic healthcare to affordable housing. From an increased allocation in food stamps for those whom need it the most, to job training and job security.

None of these domestic issues have been properly and swiftly dealt with and addressed.

Why not?

Because right now, everyone who is running each state and the US government is fighting amongst themselves in trying to outdo the other.

Sure, they touch base on some of the bread and butter issues that concern Americans like me the most, but in the general plight of things?

It’s in their best interest to forget about them.

After all, 47M Americans in this country have been living without basic healthcare services for quite some time.

10M uninsured children don’t have rudimentary healthcare provisions, thanks in part to Bush‘s recent veto.

37M Americans still live in poverty–with many millions more just a paycheck away from being homeless (or worse) themselves.

But try to get your local, state, or government representative to openly address these issues which hit home on so many fronts.

Try.

You’ll find yourself being quickly laughed at and the door shut in your face.

Because these politicians don’t care about you or me.

This is a political game of power, control, and greed now.

With most of America all but forgotten in the process.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

RECESSION OR NOT--HERE WE COME!

2007-11-18T19:24:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

We all know it’s coming.

A dreaded recession.

Oil is up.

Gas is up.

The dollar is weak.

Gold prices are past $800 an ounce.

Inflation is climbing.

I’m paying $4.19 a loaf for the good stuff. Not to mention $10 for baby loaves of cheese (a piece), along with pricy eggs, butter, and milk.

Heating our homes is going to be costly this winter.

And the cost of living is out of control.

Bottom line: Our nation simply cannot continue on the same path that it has been–spending itself into debt so recklessly.

But despite the warning signs, people like Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke still believe that everything will be peachy and we all just gotta keep believing in the mythical Tooth Fairy.

“Low interest rates are going to keep our economy going!”

“The dollar is weak!” they tell us, “but it will rebound! You just gotta have faith!”

Faith?

Faith isn’t watching our government train wreck our economy by spending out of control to the tune of $9.3T dollars. Faith isn’t watching the Fed play Russian roulette with interest rates–dropping them during this housing and credit crunch; instead of tightening and raising rates to keep oil prices from spiraling upwards and keeping a strong check on the falling dollar.

Faith is asking the US consumer to open their collective eyes and see how much damage that our government’s reckless economic policies are doing to us–the American citizen.

That’s the open reality here. Not these fantasy comments on how the economy is going to continue to weather this and that–when the reality on the ground says much differently.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

FANTASY BECOMES A NIGHTMARISH REALITY

2007-11-10T13:31:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Forget Iran.

Let’s worry about a nuclear-armed Pakistan.

Yes.

A nuclear-armed Pakistan.

This isn’t just some fantasy spiel concocted by the Bush administration over the case of phantom weapons of mass destruction with Iraq–or the possibility that Iran might be developing nuclear weapons.

No.

This is reality.

The US’s worse nightmare imaginable.

For years now, we’ve heard the Bush and neocon cabal tell us that their worse Cold War fears is that terrorists somehow get a hold of some nukes and detonate them abroad or on US soil.

The perfect harbinger to and end to our democracy.

They’ve been telling us that we should be vigilant and fear everyone around us whom is not an American citizen. (a.k.a: Muslims)

They’ve told us that if we didn’t rat out those whom we saw as a threat–we would only play into the terrorists’ hands.

Oddly enough, Pervez Musharraf’s recent actions in Pakistan seems to have born out some of those fears.

But let’s not get a hold of ourselves here and start preaching doom and gloom just yet.

After all, we supported this latest military strongman (for democracy’s sake–naturally), and we’ll go on supporting him until it’s convenient for us to either cut ties with that country and our former ally–or invade.

We did it with Iraq. So why not Pakistan?

Of course, with Musharaff cracking down on dissenters, the media, and the opposition–he’s making the terrorists’ job of obtaining nuclear matériel that much easier.

And given the fact that we practically gave Pakistan the weapons technology and material to make nukes–that Cold War fantasy of terrorists getting their hands on them…

Makes it all the more real.

And to think…we have Bush to thank for that?

Who would’ve thought: A US President supposedly upholding freedom and democracy–by giving the terrorists just what they could’ve wanted and more...?

Only because our esteemed President (George W. Bush) thought it would be swell!–to park some nuclear weapons in the middle of a predominantly Muslim country?

I guess it is really true what they say about people and their ambitions these days: You really don’t need a brain to become President of the United States of America!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

GRANTING IMMUNITY JUST MAKES US LOOK WORSE

2007-10-30T14:01:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

We all saw this one coming.

I mean–after all–the US government is always looking out for its movers and shakers–even if the majority of them are scum and corrupt to the core.

Why should it matter if it’s just some lawless mercs? Nothing’s wrong with that, right?

Condoleezza Rice says that the Blackwater gang is desperately needed to protect US diplomats and other high-target officials in a war zone.

The head of the security company claims that no one died under their tenure.

So why the secret deal to grant these killers immunity–from killing Iraqi civilians out of spite?

Doesn’t the State Department realize that it’s damning itself by doing so and impeding a federal investigation into the criminal acts by these barbarous individuals who care little for human life–except for the almighty dollar?

And how will granting immunity portray the US’s old desire for truth and justice?

I seem to recall a time when our nation stood for that: Truth, Justice, and the American Way.

With the war on terror, I guess that no longer matters.

Everybody has their price these days.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

World War III Is Going To Be Hilarious

2007-10-18T17:02:00.000-07:00

Have to post this!

Your president giggled and grinned while discussing World War III today.

"But this -- we got a leader in Iran who has announced that he wants to destroy Israel. So I've told people that if you're interested in avoiding [grinning] World War III [end grinning], it seems like you [begin giggling] ought to be interested in preventing them from have the knowledge [end giggling] necessary to make a nuclear weapon."

Hahahaha! Yeah! Zinger! That's funny shit. For the record, here's his expression while saying the words "World War Three":

To the rest of the known world, however, World War III a scary thing. It's just below abortion and above rape on the list of the all time unfunniest topics.

Let's break it down.

1. Iran doesn't have a nuclear weapon, and if they ever developed one, they'd be smart enough to know (despite how we caricaturize Ahmadinejad) that using it would invite their own destruction a thousand times over. Thus, there is no Iranian nuclear threat.

2. Yet the administration is drawing up plans to illegally and preemptively attack anyway, based on the lie that Iran is a nuclear threat.

3. Congress, despite the president's 24-percent approval rating, won't stop the White House because of, 1) The Fear, and 2) because Congress has allowed the president and vice president to seize unprecedented power which almost entirely circumvents Article I of the Constitution (among other things).

4. Meanwhile, if we do attack, it appears as if Pooty-Poot might bring Russia in on the Iranian side.

5. And there you go. Knee slapping boners all around. Milk just came out of my nose.

They're marketing Iran with more psychotic voracity than Michelle Malkin attacking an injured baby -- and no one can stop them.

As near as I can tell, there doesn't appear to be a governing body or citizen group who can stop them from carrying this out. Congress won't and, honestly, they can't. Last night's Frontline episode, "Cheney's Law," underscored what we've all been worried about: Congress has been rendered ineffectual against the current power madness of the executive.

For example, has Congress clamped down on the president's rampant use of torture? Sure. (Torture is number five on the unfunny syllabus.) The Republican controlled Congress did this, but the president rendered the law pointless with a signing statement.

Ah yes. Torture. Not to digress too far into this thing, but you know how the president can look us in the eye and say, "we don't torture," as he did in today's press conference? He can say this with impunity because the administration has authored its own definition of torture which is so narrow that anything else -- anything you and I would consider to be torture -- isn't.

If it don't cause organ failure, it ain't torture, Stretchy McStretch-o-rama-funny-pants. In a sense, the president isn't lying when he says "we don't torture." It depends on what your definition of torture is.

This excuse, of course, is the same excuse future enemies will use when they torture... us.

Republican cowards who demand security at the expense of liberty/honor/law have facilitated the Bush executive branch with extraordinary power. Now we're trapped in the shadow of the White House's unprecedented strength, and there doesn't appear to be any conceivable way to stop these people. If Cheney wrangles the military hardware to attack Iran, the air strikes will commence with lightning zealotry. Bet on it. Congress can try to stop him, but they don't have the power any more. According to the Bush administration, Article II is Article II and the Commander in Chief rules.

It's as simple as that. Just try telling him he's wrong on this. You could be the most conservative wingnut ever and you'd lose that debate -- not for a lack of rational arguments either.

Is it any wonder why we occasionally succumb to outrage fatigue: that deflated, windless sense of numbing futility we feel when confronted with the illogical and the absurd? We've only begun to dig into the upper strata of lawlessness this regime has perpetrated over the last seven years. And now, in this desperate dying twilight of their existence -- now that they're gravely unpopular and on their way out the door -- reckless and without anything to lose -- why shouldn't they do all the crazy shit they've talked about? Bomb Tehran? Yeah, that'll be awesome and hilarious. More war means more war powers. If you thought the administration's war powers were crazy huge, just imagine their World War powers. Score!

The president always says that history will vindicate him. 15 months from now, he'll be done. Pretending to be a cowboy down there -- raising melanomas in the harsh Crawford sunshine, laughing at the third hilarious war he started all by himself.

Once he's done, by his twisted reasoning, it's someone else's problem. By "someone else" he naturally means "everyone else."

Just like so many powerful men, he appears to be able to switch off his conscience (if one exists in the first place). It's the same switch that allows him to say "we don't torture," or to smirk and laugh while discussing Iraq casualties and World War III. "Everyone else" won't include him because he'll always be safe. He'll always have Crawford and the twins; his fake accent and his delusional view of history; his nicknames and his eh-eh-eh laugh.

The rest of us -- unless we can find a way to stop this Iran drumbeat -- won't be laughing so much.

RUSSIA’S POWER GRAB SHOULDN’T ALARM U.S.

2007-10-15T17:32:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It’s official: Vladimir Putin’s power grab seems–by all accounts–a threat to democracy and the freedom of the press.

But before we start harping on what Russia is doing, maybe we should–instead–take a look at what we are doing to our own country:

Bush and Cheney have made it a point to disregard the powers of the Oval Office since taking the reins in 2001.

In doing so, they have usurped the power of the government, Congress, and the people–in a concentrated (and visible) effort to build themselves an imperial democracy that pretty much runs parallel to something you see in any of George Lucas’s movies.

The Patriot Act was created to destroy many of the protections afforded by the US Constitution. It allows the government to search and seize personal property with any of us knowing.

It also lets the government consider any one of us a threat to the US and its fight for democracy and freedom (commonly known as the war on terror). This in turn let’s the US seize American citizens and charge them as being an “enemy of the state”.

Holding them indefinitely without charge.

Coupled with the illegal spying, media censorship, torture of prisoners (also known in the CIA as “rendition flights”), why is Condoleezza Rice so up at arms over what Putin is doing in his own country?

After all, he pretty much has seen what we’ve done here in the United States.

Why should he have any worry about what we say and do? After all, one only has to look into the infamous history of the Soviet Union during the Cold War–and you will easily see how the US and Russia are now kindred spirits.

A chip off the ol’ block as it were.

It just took 50 years for the U.S. to finally do what the USSR had done for that long: Become a mirror image of its former enemy.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

NO CHILD LEFT ALIVE?

2007-09-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

For six years, George Bush and the Republican Congress had spent American taxpayer monies to the tune of $9.3 trillion dollars to date–most of it going to tax cuts for the rich and the wars in Iraq, and Afghanistan.

For six years, Bush had vetoed not one spending bill proffered by the GOP.

But suddenly, Bush is flip-flopping on his 2004 promise to expand a children’s health insurance coverage plan; known as SCHIP–in an effort to diplace millions more poor children whom otherwise can't receive coverage otherwise outside the current program.

The President is claiming that the program overreaches into the middle-class–and has become too expensive to maintain.

He claims that Democrats are just in it for the political points, but many of his own party whom support the program openly are dismayed that the President would go against himself and his promise to help expand and continue funding a much needed program for the poor.

A program that currently helps 6.6 million children get the care that they need.

Ironically, Bush just sent Congress legislation demanding that he gets additional money for the wars in the Middle East–totaling upwards of $245B.

But to spend an additional $35B over the next 5 years to keep those 6.6 million kids from getting sick or worse–when we spend on average $120B to $130B a year in Iraq and Afghanistan?

Nah.

Bush just thinks that’s just too expensive.

After all, with just 15 months left his presidency, W is suddenly eager to re-establish himself and his legacy as being fiscally conservative.

Unfortunately for him, it’s come far too late to be anything but a big spender.

All at the expense of our children’s health of course.

But that doesn't seem to bother Bush at all.

And why should it? He's not paying for it.

But our kids are.

Or they will be as soon as Bush vetoes the bill.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

MURDEROUS ACTS ARE BECOMING A BLACK EYE FOR U.S. FOREIGN POLICY

2007-09-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Last weekend, a notorious security firm called Blackwater alleged to have killed as many as 20 Iraqis–in what they claimed was a firefight with supposed insurgents; following a car bomb explosion.

As sensational as this seems, there has been some serious deception on Blackwater’s part–a trend which befits their infamous reputation as the military’s “Dirty Harry” apparat.

These people were hired by the U.S. government to provide security for the diplomat entourages coming in and out of Iraq.

But their dirty little secret had remained in contention over the tactics upon which they used to carry out their jobs: Firing at Iraqi civilians out of spite, having a complete disregard for the people and their culture, sharing an equal disdain for authority and the Iraqi people, and completely acting out of sheer recklessness.

And now it shows. They claimed to have been fired upon first, but a tape appropriated by the Iraqi government clearly shows Blackwater’s security henchmen firing unprovoked on unarmed civilians trying to escape and flee their fire.

Does it come as no surprise that Bush recently sidestepped any questions regarding Blackwater and their latest acts of attrition towards the Iraqis?

Because he had a hand in approving the hiring of these mercenary thugs. That's why.

But this debacle doesn’t end there.

In 2004, the US-led coalition passed an amendment which gives complete immunity to all security firms and US forces–in the event that they indeed killed Iraqi civilians in the same manner they conducted themselves in the Abu Ghraib escapade in 2004 and the Haditha massacre in 2005.

This clears them of any wrongdoing. The perfect “escape clause” from which they freely and openly admitted committed crimes against the Iraqi populace.

Why?

In light of a recent conviction of a 22-year-old Marine involved in the killing of an Iraq civilian in Hamdania in April of 2006, Robert Pennington expressed his squad’s frustration that they could not find a suspected insurgent.

In fact, the murderous act went far deeper than that: Many combat troops felt that too many insurgents were escaping the justice that they claimed to deserve.

Hence the plot to kill the unarmed man and make it look like he was their man. Their suspected insurgent.

And Blackwater is no different.

The problem is that both the security firms and our military has now deemed the Iraqi people as being nothing more than a minor annoyance in their continued occupation of their country-not human beings.

So it has become their mission in life to see that this annoyance is dealt with swiftly and with murderous intent.

Regardless of the consequences for our nation’s future.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

BUSH'S NEW WAR STRATEGY: STAY THE COURSE

2007-09-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Naturally, General Petraeus plays the same tune that Bush wants to here: “Stay the course–because we are making progress.”

But unfortunately, the reality on the ground is proving all that more harder to cover up with optimism and political spin:

Just this week, a leading Sunni sheik was assassinated by an Iraqi bomb.

The Iraqi police force needs to be disbanded and started over from scratch.

The Iraqi government is completely dysfunctional.

Only one of the political benchmarks have actually been met. (Or actually not. The meeting--between the leaders of the sects on August 26th--caused the Pentagon to revise that de-Baathification objective from being "unsatisfactory" to "satisfactory". All because of that meeting! But the funny thing, is that no legislation has been passed!)

The rest have failed.

The Iraqi security forces need another 18 months to be "effective." (Not that we haven't heard this before...)

And the list goes on.

This is the reality of the war in which we have effectively lost to the insurgents.

No amount of ‘good news’ and spin from the White House can erase what many Americans see now as a lost cause.

You don't hear victory, just a "redefining of definitions of progress" and goals which can't possibly be met now or in the near future.

Certainly not when Bush leaves office.

Things are too far gone to simply turn a blind eye towards our failures and try to start things over--which is what this adminstration has been trying to do.

Try to restart a war in which events of the last 4.5 years never existed at all. In reality, Bush is trying to rewrite history before his term of dishonor completes itself.

Sp his idea to bring home the troops is nothing more than an insult, and a slap in the face for our serving military.

Considering that the conditions on the ground mirror a low-level civil war, all Bush is doing is buying time for himself–not the troops. Those troops whom were added to the surge have to be pulled back anyways.

Not because they succeeded in doing anything impressive, but because they are stretched past the breaking point and have no fresh replacements on tap to replace them.

So they have to come home. But rumors are circulating even now that the President and his military crony advisors are planning on extending tours once more and shortening leaves--to make his surge more permanent through 2008.

With no stability, unity, or democracy in sight, Bush is just trying to escape the mess he’s created by announcing that he is indeed the Decider--no matter--and he has decided that no change in course is warranted–until after he leaves office.

Which begs the question:

Is the Iraq war still worth it?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

SUPPORT FOR THE FAILED TROOP SURGE CONTINUES UNABATED

2007-09-06T00:31:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It’s a bit puzzling: Seeing the GOP continue to support a clearly failed Iraq policy.

But that’s what they are apparently content in doing. And the question is why?

What possible political gain could the GOP hope to achieve by supporting a failed troop surge?

The original premise of the surge was to tamp down violence in Baghdad long enough to give the Malaki government enough reconciliation time and get its act together.

But 8 months later--zero political progress has been made by the clearly dysfunctional Malaki government.

Does this stop the GOP support?

Nope.

These misguided fools (and their supporters) still hinge on the idea that “it takes awhile for progress to be made”.

Okay…um…8 months have passed and no progress has been made in political reform, unity, or reconciliation within the Malaki government.

The year before that…? Nothing. The year before that? Nothing.

So what are the GOP and its war supporters waiting for?

A sign from God?

With limited progress on the ground, the Malaki government clearly has shown that it cannot govern. But does this persuade the Republicans that nothing they do or say is going to change the facts on the ground?

That this surge is a monumental failure?

Sadly, no.

The GOP is inherently blind to reality. They still believe that through some unforeseen miracle–Iraq will somehow right itself and fly right.

But both war-weary Americans and Democrats are tired of waiting. And seeing our military abused for clearly selfish purposes.

But take heart. All of this will end sooner than we all thought.

Someone recently said: "When we make a mistake, it is the obligation of the people—through their representatives—to correct the mistake, not continue the mistake. We have dug a hole for ourselves and we have dug a hole for our party. We are losing elections, and we are going down next year if we don't change it."

And that person was none other than Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul himself.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

GOVERNMENT TERROR CONVICTION IS TROUBLING

2007-08-16T14:14:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Nothing could be far from the truth in the conviction of Jose Padilla–a U.S. born citizen.

The government sought to paint him as a “star recruit” in Al-Qaeda’s drive to build a secret terror cell within the United States and detonate a “radiological” dirty bomb–all at the same time.

But where was the proof of such convictions?

Was Padilla actually the terrorist they painted him to be? And why did they hide him away for years without ever trying him in the first place? And was this man grossly tortured into making a false confession?

People, the proof is in the pudding: The government does not want to appear soft on terrorism!

Much like the fake terror plots, our own government is actively engaged in the worse crime imaginable right under our very noses…

Convicting innocent people for crimes that don’t exist!

Who can say exactly what Jose did in the Middle East. Perhaps he was studying and helping with humanitarian relief efforts as he claimed. But the government never saw that to be the truth.

Or wanted it to.

Instead, they fabricated false claims that Jose was a true terrorist, was going to blow up apartments with natural gas and then detonate a “dirty bomb” somewhere in the United States.

They held him against his will, tortured him so bad that he became mentally deficient to the eyes of those whom knew him personally, and to make things worse?

He was an American citizen detained illegally on his own country’s soil–by his own country’s government!

How much is one man’s life worth in order to keep the Bush administration's little-held secret of torture and illegal detention without trial, evidence, or charge–going?

Is this what America stands for?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

HOUSING BUBBLE HAS FINALLY POPPED

2007-07-27T17:14:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Despite Bush’s rosy reassurances that the economy remains strong–there is no disguising the reality of the housing market and the ongoing meltdown in the sub-prime lending sector.

The housing bubble has finally popped–after building up enough steam in the form of expensive homes, low rates, and virtually no checks or balances in the loan application process.

Everyone gets a piece of the action, right? Even for those who can’t afford it?

Now you have skyrocketing mortgage-interest rates, heavy-handed payment practices, a glutton of unsold homes on the markets–and to top it off: Astronomical foreclosures in many parts of the country and delinquencies stretching all around–including those who have good credit!

And Bush still thinks this won’t affect the economy at all?

Boy, is he in for a rude awakening!

What happens in the housing market affects every aspect of our own economy! If there is an upsurge in spending–based on a strong and healthy housing market–then the economy will do well.

But if it’s like this–then don’t expect our economy to do the same. And in fact, it hasn’t. Despite some plentiful jobs in parts of the country, our economy is so saddled in personal debt–that the certain collapse of the housing market was due to follow.

Coupled with high energy and food prices, stagnant wages, and high cost of living expenses, the American Dream is all but dead at this point–with so few families wondering what to do next.

Wall Street certainly woke up to that fact–after months of shrugging off signs that the housing market was indeed in much worse shape than imagined.

It lost 311 points on July 26 and 207 on July 27th, 2007–knocking it off its 14,000 peg.

And with some reports suggesting it will be 2009 until the housing market recovers–if it ever does–both Wall Street and the US economy will be in for one rough ride until then.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

GOVERNMENT'S DUPLICITY KNOWS NO BOUNDS

2007-07-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Remember the pizza guy being accused of wanting to massacre hundreds of Fort Dix soldiers--simply by driving his beatup Honda through the gates of one most heavily secured bases in America--using only an Uzi?

Remember those six alleged terror suspects from the Carribean nation of Guyana who--by the testimony of a drug runner--allegedly wanted to blow up one of the nation's most secure and impossible to wreck jet fuel pipelines connected to JFK?

Now...

It seems as though the Bush adminstration is locking itself into high gear in "preparation" for yet another spectacular (but highly improbable--not to mention transparent)...

"Terror attack"!

Recall, Jerkoff's...'gut feeling'. Recall how the government is now worried about Al-Qaeda staging some "spectacular" attacks on US soil by the end of this summer--or in the next few years.

And today's report showing that the government now confirms what the majority of Americans had figured out years in advance--after the invasion of Iraq: That Al-Qaeda is going to use Iraq as a 'springboard' for future attacks on US soil.

Oddly enough, there is no 'credible' intelligence to support the claim that Al-Qaeda is gearing up for any kind of attack now or in the near future on the US itself.

So why the fear and worry now by government officials?

Because it so happens that a lot of things are going wrong for this adminstration--from the failed troop surge to the GOP revolt over their support of the war--and Bush and the GOP both desperately need something from which to rescue their bacon from a complete obliteration in the upcoming elections by the people in 2008.

But pay attention to the language of both Jerkoff and other administration officials: THEY 'EXPECT' A TERROR ATTACK TO TAKE PLACE BEFORE THE END OF THIS SUMMER.

And we all know that summer doesn't officially end until September 21st.

And what's in September?

2 things:

1) General Panseywaist's report to the Congress on the ineffectiveness of the 'troop surge' on September 15th.

and

2) The 6th year anniversary of 9-11.

What better way to stage another terror attack (false of course) to remind the people that we are still at war with an enemy who seeks to destroy us from within?

But oddly enough, these last 2 attacks (which I mentioned at the beginning) somehow (and mysteriously) got past all the tight securities implemented upon the 9-11 Commission's sterling recommendations--and somehow were "stopped" before they could be carried out.

Why not allow them to go through the motions?

Well, for one thing, it would be impossible. None of these suspects had the operational knowledge to even carry such an attack out in the first place. And two, none of these suspects were ever terrorists at all. Just unwitting victims in a governnment scheme to scare the people into line.

Third, the targets they chose were something of a fool's dream. Realistically, they could never be pulled off unless everyone was in a state of complete stupor--and the government was just happening to look the other way when it was taking place.

IN OTHER WORDS...

These attacks were drummed up by the most inner circles of our own government and unleashed in such a way--that it would make it look like these were real.

Except a couple of things went awry:

1) Has anyone ever heard of a Domino's pizza guy trying to penetrate a high-security military installation with only limited knowledge and an Uzi? And just what was his reasons for doing such a move in the first place? Was his life that bad that he wanted to commit suicide the stupid way?

2) JFK's jetliner fuel lines are impossible to blow up from the outside or the inside--according to pipeline experts. So why would the government rely on the word of a known drug trafficker--as being completely 'honest' and 'factual'?

And Guyana? What does this nation stand to benefit from such an attack anyways? And when did it escape the government's radar list of countries which are state-sponsored terror nations?

So in the end, our government is already telling us now, to prepare ourselves for another faked terror plot.

Not a realistic one, but one that has all the hallmarks of being on the list of: "Non-Existent Terror Attacks".

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

BUSH’S FAILED WAR ON TERROR

2007-07-13T16:01:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Personally, I don’t get tired of saying it: But you cannot defeat an ideology with military force.

You can knock terrorist groups down for a time, kill some of their followers and maybe–if you’re lucky–nab some of their leadership, but in the end–they always bounce back; stronger than ever.

When President Bush was asked about Al-Qaeda’s resurgence and phenomenal strength of numbers, the look on his face and body posture looked clear to me that he was about to throw up.

Why?

Because since 9-11, W has been telling us: “We’re winning the war on terror!” and “We have Osama on the run!” and “It’s just a matter of time before we catch him!”

So the reality of this latest report by some intelligence analysts really shocked Bush to the core.

After blowing billions of dollars, manpower, and military hardware trying to oust and defeat the Taliban–and letting Osama escape at Tora Bora–the stark reality of this “war on terror” has been made perfectly clear:

We haven’t won anything at all.

Because of Bush’s incompetence at Afghanistan, his brazen swaggering into Iraq to topple an impotent dictator–the last 5 years of war in Iraq was just the ambrosia that Osama needed to reconstitute, reconstruct, and literally remake his organization into an even more deadlier, more stronger, entity than ever before.

And this time…?

Killing off Al-Qaeda is going to be even more difficult to achieve than ever before. Even impossible.

All of this because Bush let his eyes off the ball for one split second in Afghanistan.

And do you what’s even more amusing about this whole thing?

Bill Clinton really can’t be blamed for Bush's failures! Because he wasn’t President on 9-11!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

IRAQIS: YOU NEED TO RISE UP AND FIGHT!

2007-07-09T03:42:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It’s official people: The Iraqis are arming themselves.

Not the ill-equipped and under trained security forces of Iraq, but the civilians themselves.

231 years ago, Colonial citizens did the same against British forces in their fight for independence against the Crown of England. They spent years fighting a bloody conflict which gave birth to the United States of America.

Unlike that revolution, the one being fought inside Iraq isn’t for freedom, liberty, independence, or unity.

But survival.

Iraq’s government has been a colossal failure by far in Bush’s model for change and democracy in the Middle East.

The citizens are being threatened by all sides of the conflict: From foreign elements of Al-Qaeda and other groups, to the so-called Coalition of the Willing which is comprised of the ever-shrinking forces of the US-led coalition.

And since Iraq’s own security forces cannot bring peace and stability to Iraq, it’s up to the citizens of that country to take matters into their own hands and bring and end to the bloodshed that has plagued Iraq since 2003.

Take out the foreign elements that saturate your soil! Take out those who continue to impede and marginalize you in every which way!

Take out those occupation forces whom continue to deliver more pain and agony unto your neighbors, your children, and your children’s children–instead of those lofty promises of reconstruction, prosperity, and security which has been in short supply for several years now!

Do whatever it takes to give yourselves hope and promise for a better tomorrow!

Rise up and fight! Rise up and take back your beleaguered country!

Fight! Fight! Fight!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

HOW HARD IS IT TO COMPLY WITH CONGRESS ANYWAY?

2007-06-28T07:28:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

We’ve seen it many times over the past six years since Bush entered office: Congress demanding that the White House and other elements of our own government turn over material which is instrumental in one common aspect of our democracy: Checks and balances.

And the White House and those various elements are saying: “We have executive privilege, and that supersedes law and the Constitution.”

Y’know…

Nixon tried the same thing in the 70s–in face of Watergate. It took the ruling of the Supreme Court to say that no sitting President was above the law, and Congress had every constitutional right to have access to the Watergate files.

But Bush is counting on this. In his defense, he’s stacked court justices that would see him as having no fault of his own–and thus would be able to get away with not turning over documents vital to Congress’s ongoing investigations on a number of fronts.

However, the idea behind not implicating a sitting President (especially a Republican one), is disastrous for the party whom put them there.

Hence the stonewalling and excuses by government officials.

The sad truth is, is that it took an act of the people to change course with both Congress and the government.

But Bush and those under him still believe that they have unchecked powers, unchecked flexibility in their roles as representatives of these United States.

Which is why they have been fighting as long as they have.

Once a group has unlimited power, it becomes very difficult to restrain them, or at the very least–reign them in.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

SURGE PROVES TO BE A MUCH BIGGER FAILURE THAN BEFORE

2007-06-19T07:26:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

If you were waiting for the other shoe to drop on this troop surge in Iraq–than it already had.

Months ago.

Did Bush actually believe that adding another 30,000 tired and worn out troops to the mix was going to make any difference in Iraq–especially in the long run?

4 months ago, Bush said that the goals of the surge was to tamp down the violence in Baghdad and give the severely weakened Malaki government “breathing room”.

But four months into the operation–now at full strength–has proven that nothing has really changed as a whole.

Violence still is at an all-time high, attacks are constant, Baghdad is still under siege, and all Bush can do and say is: “We won’t know for several more months–if the troop surge will work or not.”

But why wait four more months, when we can already see the end results of this failed gamble?

Nothing has changed. The capital is still besieged, the insurgents are still running amok all over the place, and Malaki can’t figure out how to best approach this problem–when the people he was sworn into a couple years ago–has lost all confidence in his ability to unite the country?

For the life of me, I can’t figure out the logic of the Bush administration in this mess. The latest signs point to a complete failure of this troop surge, but we’re being told to wait several more months.

Or another year. Whichever comes first. But whether or not the time comes for the truth to come out, the reality of this troop surge has become clear to me:

It never worked.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1 at yahoo.com

US GOVERNMENT SHOULD STOP FAKING TERROR ATTACKS

2007-06-03T17:51:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Here we go again: Another “alleged” attack involving foreigners with little ties to terrorism, having no operational plan, or even had the chance to obtain any explosives long before the so-called plan ever went into effect.

Never mind the fact that this plan was far from being realized means little to our government hacks.

They are too busy enjoying the hype, dancing around the bonfire and postulating on what could have been, had all these plots supposedly disrupted–been carried out. (From the JFK to the Sears Tower plot.) But sadly, all the US government is doing, is undermining its own credibility in the process.

How many times have they cried Wolf already? And how many people in this country believe anything they say these days?

Don't be surprised if anyone but their supporters do.

In light of 9-11, there hadn’t been a major terror attack on US soil. But curiously enough, fake plots, fake terror alerts started to bloom in 2002, 2003, and 2004–especially around the mid-term elections, or the Presidential ones.

But they weren't based on realiable intelligence. Or from spies abroad.

No. All of these alerts came from our own government. Deep within their own security and defense circles--it seems.

In 2005, we only had 2 such alerts, last year, we had three, and this year, we’ve had 2–those involving the JFK and Fort Dix plots. Why the sudden drop off in alerts?

It might be because the government needs time to come up with something more plausible to sell to the public--to see just how many will buy into their next "staged" plot.

But while the government is claiming success in stopping these faked plots, oddly enough--nothing ever becomes of the men implicated, or the evidence supposedly obtained because of the plots.

Why? Because these people are nothing but convenient scapegoats for the government. Tools to be used at their discretion, and then thrown away when they are no longer useful.

In fact, most of the "plots" stopped in the past–as Bush claims to have done since 2003–have quietly unraveled in the background: The suspects involved not even charged with anything less than common immigration violations, and the charges of terrorism dropped–only because the government itself had little to go on; from the original (and fantastic) charge of terrorism against the country itself.

But what’s even more bothersome, is the fact that most of these suspects aren’t even Muslim in nature. Those dirty "evil" terrorists we call come to loathe and hate. (Right?)

No, these people are representatives of other ethnic groups. They have little or no ties to terrorism, and the information acquired through covert means on these "plots" is highly suspect and dubious at best.

But don’t think it ends there. Even in light of fake plots, our own government is quite capable of manufacturing a real terror plot in itself, and inflicting it upon its own citizens–just to milk more money out of Congress for defense spending and other pet projects.

Something similar was tried in the 60s--to turn the people into a support block for a failed attempt by the CIA to go to war with Cuba.

The operation went nowhere and was eventually covered up: http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/northwoods.html

Now, many suspect that 9-11 was an inside job. And maybe it was–given how lax the government was in the months leading up to 9-11. But we won’t know until years later–at any rate.

But the fact remains: None of these plots disrupted so conveniently by our government have anything to do with the war on terror.

Why?

1) Because our government hasn’t been able to successfully uncover any real terror plots since 9-11, and 2) It desperately needs to keep the people in line and in fear of the next “real” attack. So that in case one does happen again, it can go on saying that it did all it could, but it let one slip through. (Conveniently, of course.)

It's all part of the cycle of terror--perpetrated by our own government. Freely (I might add)--all in the name of democracy.

If you need any more convincing, type the words, fake terror attacks into your search bar, and you’ll get a whole list of what our government is actually trying to achieve through subversive blackmail.

All in the name of fear, control, and now... ?

Oil.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

BUSH’S DESPERATION IS BECOMING CLEAR

2007-05-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

In an effort to paint Iraq the central war on terror, Bush rushed to declassify information that the American public had known since this war on Iraq began: That Osama bin Laden is going to use Iraq as the central staging point for his attacks.

Does W think we are stupid?

That one day we would wake up and say, “Hey! You’re right! We should stay in Iraq until the job is done?”

I think not!

The sad fact is, is that Iraq wasn’t the central stage in our terror war. That was Afghanistan.

We should’ve stayed there.

But we didn’t. Or rather Bush didn’t. Bush made the rash assumption that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction and rushed in to overthrow Saddam–by taking his eyes off Osama at Tora Bora for a split second.

And in that split second, Bush blinked, and Osama escaped. The bulk of his leadership escaped, while a great many of his followers were killed in the ensuing US invasion.

After toppling Saddam’s government, Bush inadvertently created a vacuum in which the insurgency and groups like Al-Qaeda could fill with splintered-association groups, and keep the American-led coalition hopelessly pinned down through constant fighting.

And it’s worked.

Now, Bush is desperately trying to paint this war as the central war on terror–desperate to regain whatever support he still has left to him.

Like he’s done in the past when things have gone south in Iraq. And they have.

But no matter what, neither Bush or any future President can fight what’s begun.

By shifting the war to Iraq–instead of Afghanistan–we’ve created a nightmare scenario that could’ve only come from a fictionalized movie.

And with each passing day, we are paying for it in both blood and treasure.

All because Bush wanted Iraq for his very own.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

DOES HOLLYWOOD THINK ITS ABOVE THE LAW?

2007-05-12T23:54:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Back in 1997, I was living at a men’s mission–and classified as being “technically homeless”–after having some living arrangement problems of my own.

At one point, I had missed the curfew time of the mission and was facing a cold night out on the street.

So–as dumb as I was–I decided that for survival’s sake, I would break into the storage place I had my stuff in, and grab a blanket for the night.

To make a long story short, I got busted for breaking and entering. I spent a week at the jail, then paid my fine and moved on.

But it seems odd don’t you think? In the last 10 years or so, the Hollywood elite seems to think that it is above the law–and so they go out of their way to break those laws–and then whine about it when they get caught.

None of these retards ever serve any serious jail time for the crimes they’ve committed in society!

What? Do they think it’s just some big joke? That their money, wealth, and fame, can save them from spending a few months in jail to more than 20 years in prison for the shit they‘ve pulled?

So why is Paris Hilton so highly rated that she can escape spending 45 days behind bars?!

Take a cue from society, you spoiled bitch: You do the crime, you do the time!!!

And that goes for the rest of you Hollywood throwbacks! Stop treating the crimes you commit as being ‘no big deal’! If you want people to start looking up to you and idolizing you–then you had better start playing by the rules of law and pay a penance to society when you get caught!

You’re not doing yourselves any favors by playing the role of the innocent and expecting leniency when any of you break the law!

This is not the kind of role model my kids should have!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

SURVEY SHEDS SOME SAD FACTS ON IRAQ WAR CONDUCT

2007-05-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

What did we go to Iraq for? To find Saddam’s WMDs? Nope.

To overthrow a once US-supported impotent dictator? Nope.

To give the Iraqis their freedoms and liberties? Nope.

To make Iraq a model of freedom and democracy in the Middle East? Nope.

So what did we go to Iraq for?

Well, according to a latest survey of US troops, we went there to torture the very people we are trying to save, and to mistreat civilians while we’re at it.

Shocking? Yes.

The study by an army mental health advisory team found continuing problems with morale and that acute mental health issues were more prevalent among troops with lengthening tours or on their second and third deployment to Iraq.

So what does this mean?

It means that our troops mental facilities are breaking down with each extended tour. It would explain a lot about the Haditha incident last fall and Abu Ghraib in 2004.

This report says that the burden of extending tours and an endless war is wearing down our military–and as a result–our government is either blind or inherently ill-equipped to deal with the situation.

But more than that, it shows that our troops are beginning to show a hardened, indifferent attitude towards Iraqi civilians: Exhibiting behavior which would almost suggest a teenage mentality.

Examples:

About 10 percent of soldiers surveyed reported mistreating non-combatants or damaging their property when it was not necessary.

Less than half of the soldiers and marines would report a team member for unethical behavior.

More than a third of all soldiers and marines reported that torture should be allowed to save the life of a fellow soldier or marine.

Why is this happening now?

In the words of Major General Gale Pollock–the army’s acting surgeon general: "These men and women have been seeing their friends injured and I think that having that thought is normal."

And while Pollock is saying that because of their military leadership is preventing them from acting on these thoughts, it makes one wonder:

How long will it before the military brass is burned out from constant war–and this mental “instability” starts affecting them?

Just one more reason why this war should end and end sooner rather than later.

But I doubt that Bush sees this as a problem. I seriously doubt that he understands the mental strain our men and women are under.

Because to him, war is a game. But war profiteering? That is a horse of an entirely different color.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

REPUBLICANS AND BUSH DON’T WANT ACCOUNTABILITY IN THIS WAR

2007-04-26T19:35:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Let’s see…

Whose war is this again?

Who sent us off to war on false pretense?

And who gave the President everything he wanted with zero debate and accountability?

That’s right: The Republicans.

And now they’re complaining that Democrats are playing politics and should get down to the business of giving the President another blank check and stop disparaging the troops with political grandstanding.

In other words, the GOP wants the Democrats to be just like them–and continue on the same course in Iraq which has caused the same destruction and chaos already predicted would happen by John McCain and so many other Republican congressmen.

But let’s not attack them for what they did was wrong in the first place. Let’s just focus the spotlight a little on what they don’t have:

Accountability.

With the binding withdrawal date, it is putting Bush on notice that both the Democrats and the people of the United States don’t have the patience for an open-ended conflict that is producing the exact opposite in terms of results.

But the Republicans are crying foul–much like the Democrats and the people cried foul over so many other spending measures passed by the Republican-dominated Congress over the last six years–over this because they don't like having to be put on record and having to defend themselves, admit to their failures, or even the fact that they were so wrong on many fronts.

So right now, all they can do is attack the Democrats and anyone else for their stances in this war–by claiming that neither is supporting them or the troops in general.

But by calling for accountability and a withdrawal date, the Democrats are supporting the troops. They are saying: “Look, we support you. We just don’t think you shouldn’t be involved in an open-ended conflict.”

Something that the Republicans and Bush want–because they have nothing else in terms of soluable war strategies to go on these days.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

A PERSONAL VIEW ON THE VIRGINIA TECH MASSACRE

2007-04-19T18:17:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Feel free to disagree with me on this issue.

After all, this is a free country and we pretty much have our own base opinions.

However, to blame the gunman for the massacre is like blaming the sun for releasing too many solar flares at once--and disrupting our global communications network in the process.

To put things bluntly, we are to blame for the gunman's actions, as much as we were to blame for the teen killers of Columbine.

Think I'm being too lenient on them? No. They did what they did because they felt trapped, had no way out of their current predicament, and saw society as being to uncaring, unforgiving, and inflexible with themselves and their compassion.

Society in itself is the root problem to what ails the world today. We are simply caught up in an endless miasma of sex, violence, drugs, and rock n' roll--to even be able to address the root problems which afflict today's generation of teenagers and younger adults.

So what do we do? We habitually shut them out and lock them away.

"Let someone else deal with the problem!"--is our classic response as a society.

In fact, one letter to my local paper suggested just that: "In order to deal with the problem, we first have to eliminate the danger. So locking them up before they start problems is the best way to go about doing it."

No one wants to deal with this. Just like politicians don't want to have to deal with global warming, gay marriage, universal healthcare, or any other hot-button issue.

Because as a society, we are too ill-equipped to handle our own problems; though oddly enough, we are seemingly content in dealing with other nations--but not our own.

So who gets shoved out of the way? People like Cho and me.

Cho was never a killer by design. His record proved that. The only reason why he lashed out in such a manner is because he truly believed that was his only way out. No one would listen to him, no one would pay attention to him, no one embraced him and asked him what was wrong. In fact, many people shunned him, and laughed at him. And that--in itself--is inherently dangerous and morally unjust.

As a nation, we should feel compassion and humility towards our fellow man. But we rarely do. In fact, we go out of our way to disparage others, put them down into the ground, and literally make them feel worthless--only because we ourselves are even worth less in our own minds--than we are in the eyes of other people.

So Cho acted in the way he did. I'm certain he didn't grow up just so he could kill people. But his actions clearly point to the fact that he was crying out for help, and no one bothered to lift a finger to help him get through this pain he must've been feeling.

Kids these days aren't killers. The guns they buy doesn't make them so. But society is a paranoid and inflexible entity. We only view what we see things as, and label them as such.

So right now, people are saying how much they hate Cho, how much they think of him in such arcane ways, while blubbering for the loss of 32 students.

Truthfully, we could've avoided this had we a better understanding of the young man himself, or the silent triggers which became his ultimate calling card. But we don't.

Kids don't make videos just so they can be on the 'net. They make them to call to witness a statement of their own personal lives, or the pain they feel growing up. Or some problem they can't deal with on their own because they lack the experience and personal understanding of the ordeals which they face on a daily basis.

So they lash out because--as a society--that's what we expect them to. And then we go right back and punish them for it.

Why?

Because we are parents of those trouble-making little varmits, and we expect them to fall in line like little ducks in a row. But even as adults, we have long since failed to understand our own children's inner demons and what drives them to drink on many occasions.

Cho's problems were more social and peer issues. And no matter how often he tried to champion his problems the best he could, he simply had no one to fall back on--to unload his problems with.

And when he couldn't, he turned his focus to his writings. It was his only outlet. But yet again, no one could really understand what he was trying to communicate to the outside world--because he was shunned and ridiculed.

That made his problems even worse--and magnified--Cho began to see the world for what it was: Uncaring, inflexible, and cold--because of a few incidents.

He was left traumatized and badly hurt by what went on. And no matter what he tried to do, he could not effectively deal with it.

So he thought the only way he could solve his problems--as he saw them--was teach society a lesson in pain and suffering (as he saw it), and make them realize their own fallacies in dealing with horror and tragedy.

In many ways, these type of school shootings illustrate why we still won't confront and deal with the problems facing our kids. We can always go on and cry out: "Why? Why did this happen?", demand action from our respective governments, but in the end, we will always push away those troubled youths and teens, because we don't have the capacity to effectively solve their problems.

Let alone our own in society's fragile makeup.

For me, this tragedy, Columbine, and so many other school shootings always opened up a painful wound in myself.

I grew up in a troubled childhood. And like Cho and so many others, I was also shunned and ridiculed by my peers, and sometimes by adults who swore they would help me.

It went on and on, because no one understand the problems I was going through. The struggles which I faced, and the giant obstacles which I had to overcome. I felt on one level--I was going through this alone. I had no one to rely on.

The pressure only mounted, and I was becoming desperate for a way out. I started acting out, treating everything like it was big fucking joke--because I was lost. I had no hope. No future. (As I saw it.)

At one point in my young life (about 14 or 15--I can't say which), I wanted out of this miserable existence. I wanted to kill myself.

And so I went about trying to find ways to go about doing this. For the next two weeks or so, I was looking into methods upon which to end my own life. I debated silently for hours as to what would happen if I did manage to successfully take my life and what the results would be.

Would people pity me or blame me for my own actions--like they are blaming Cho?

Back then, they probably would--as society is blind to the inner wars in which we all carry within ourselves.

But little by little, something inside me started fighting back--telling me that this isn't what I wanted to do with my life. That there had to be another way. All I had to do was find it, and embrace.

I still wanted to kill myself. Buy a gun, shoot myself, do whatever it took to end the pain and suffering I felt as a troubled teen. I even thought about killing other people because I thought it was the only way they could experience the same level of strife I was currently feeling then.

And if you're reading this, then you would understand the words upon which I type: That this is how I was feeling, and still felt--even though it's been almost 21 years since that time so long ago.

The pain and anguish I felt then still resonates within me now. And it won't go away because I've kept it bottled up for so long. I've managed to overcome my problems only because I found another way out--which would help me deal with my own personal demons.

Committing suicide wasn't the answer for me. And as much as it pains me to share this with people I don't know, maybe sharing it will give people a better understanding as to why people like Cho did what they did.

We're not monsters. We're not killers. We're not murderers by choice or design. We're just people. Teenagers and young adults who need help, but aren't getting it.

It took me a long assed time to finally come out of the fog which I had sunk myself into. It took me 6 weeks to stop thinking about suicide and start focusing on what I had to be thankful for.

I wasn't on medication yet, but I knew that my personal battle had to be fought in other ways, and I needed to find it. But eventually, I won because I didn't give up on myself.

I didn't care if the whole world was against me. I only knew that focusing on me would help give me the needed strength to see myself through my darkest hours.

I don't blame my past self for doing what I did or thought about doing. But society needs to do more than just locking people up and throwing away the key--when confronted with people like me or Cho.

The media can have its own show circus if it wants to get ratings, but the problems will still persist at a social level. And we need to start dealing with them as a community--not just as individuals.

And though we can call for stricter gun laws and start blaming everyone for this tragedy, we only have ourselves to blame for not helping those who need it the most.

I still have problems of my own. I am impoverished, living on limited income, facing social strife and federal persecution, health problems galore, and a whole lot of issues--including homelessness.

But as an adult, I am a lot stronger now than I was when I was 14 or 15. I have the experience and knowledge necessary to see me through some pretty rough and turbulent times. I also have my wife of 5 years at my side.

However, I don't have the desire or the intent to kill myself or others because I'm going through a bad spell. Those triggers inside me no longer exist.

Find that surprising? Maybe not. Sometimes, a traumatic experience can "burn out" a desire to the point of dormancy. And no matter what, I won't go down that road again.

I simply have too much to live for. Maybe Cho did or maybe he didn't. But he was a troubled young man who only wanted people to help understand what he was going through.

Just like I wanted people to understand what I went through.

I'm not trying to glorify what Cho did--because it would prove that I condone such actions--but I'm not.

I just wish that people would see the underlying problems which continue to plague our society.
Stripping out the sex, violence, and killings in our various media would have absolutely no effect on what we already have ingrained in our psyches.

What I do as a writer doesn't hype up the sex, the violence, or anything else. I am a passionate individual. I treat my work as I would anything else: With reverence. With respect. With honesty. I don't try to hide behind the issues which so many others have long since avoided out of embarrassment.

I embrace them. But what I pen down doesn't make me an evil person, a sick individual, or a twisted male of 33-years-old. I am simply going through the motions of what was pre-set by society in ages past.

But I look at what I write and I see that what I am doing is having no more influence on people today, than my forebears before me did on their fellows from so long ago.

I can't be held responsible for the actions carried out by my characters. But I won't make any apologies about what goes on in these books of mine. However, I will not change my style and my voice because there are some people out there who believe that we should all go about acting like kittens towards each other--and pretend that we live in one big perfect world.

Because we don't.

But what I write should tell people the kind of person I am in real life. And if you don't have an idea, well here is the official gist of it: I'm a pale fat guy with long auburn hair who loves sitting at his computer in his undies on a daily basis.

And if it wasn't for the fact I had to go do errands, I would be in my BBDs every day.

That's who I am. What I write in my books should make absolutely no difference to others--other than to say: "I'm here to entertain and educate you."

That's my goal in life. That's why I am a writer.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

DEMOCRATS MUST HOLD THE LINE AGAINST BUSH'S GAMBIT

2007-04-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Now that they’ve grown a spine, the Democrats must now play a chess game with Bush.

Here’s how I would play it:

Let Bush veto the damn bill. Why? Because he’s already proven that he doesn’t care about the troops or their welfare. (By the lack of proper equipment, training, and support since this war started. To Bush, the troops are nothing but sacrificial pawns.)

The bill goes back to the Democrats, and they sit on it for a time, and then send it back to Bush to sign–in about three months. (July)

Bush vetoes it again.

Democrats sit on again for another three months. (September.) By this time Bush is in full blown desperation. He goes on the media circuit and blames Democrats for not giving him a ‘clean’ bill with no strings attached.

Democrats are quietly waiting for Bush to accept their bill. They know they have time on their side. The President doesn’t. They send him the bill.

Bush vetoes it for a third time. But by the time it comes back, Republican support is so drained and fragmented–that they sign on for the bill; and the Democrats have almost enough (but not quite) support for a Congressional override.

So they wait just a little longer.

October-November rolls around and it’s become clear that the war in Iraq is no closer to being won; the surge has failed utterly, and the last of the GOP holdouts are breaking ranks with the President to sign on to the bill.

The same bill goes forward and gets vetoed for a fourth and last time. And this time, the Democrats have enough votes to overturn his veto and signs the bill into law–putting Bush in a permanent checkmate.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

THE WHITE HOUSE’S NEW SPOILED BRAT

2007-04-03T20:01:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Simply put:

Bush has no political capital to spend or a united Republican Party to stand behind anymore–when dictating America’s course in Iraq.

The once staunch President is now a lame duck, people. And though he may make enough noise to sound like he’s still got some bite left, the Democrats recent moves on the war funding bills undercuts just how vulnerable Bush is now–compared to 2004.

Bush no longer has the momentum he once had which spelled out his stubborn resoluteness in the face of the reality.

The reality now–for him–is that Congress isn’t going to give him what he wants with no strings attached. That was with the GOP-controlled Congress.

This one’s Democrat.

(And like Pelosi recently said: “There is a new Congress in town, Mr. President.”)

However, Bush’s attempts to lay blame at the feet of the Democrats–if the new funding doesn’t get to the troops in time (when they have until July at the latest–is even more shameful than what the Democrats did to make sure that this latest round of funding came with strings attached.

Crying foul because both the people and Congress wants a marked change in failed war strategies, isn’t the hallmark of a wise and seasoned President of the United States.

It is the sign of a spoiled brat who isn’t getting his way anymore.

And Bush’s latest temper tantrum illustrates just how far out of touch with mainstream America he really is.

Maybe Daddy should spank?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

CONGRESS HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY; BUSH DOESN’T

2007-03-28T20:40:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Regardless of what some people think about who has what in our branches of government, our President may be Commander-in-Chief, but Congress still calls the shots on whether they should continue funding this sad debacle of a war.

By attaching language, Congress is living up to the people’s demands that this war end, and end soon: Not by some open-ended conflict with no end in sight.

That’s what the people of the United States of America wants. That’s what Congress is delivering. What Bush wants is more money from his rubberstamping Congress–with absolute no regards to where the money comes from–just so long as he gets what he wants without regard to Congress or the people.

Why do you think Chuck Hagel called for Bush’s impeachment if he doesn’t listen to the wishes of the people he’s supposed to represent or Congress?

This is one of the things that our Founding Fathers implemented in the creation of our country’s Constitution: They saw the inherent problems one person ruling over one country would present, without one or two more branches to keep him in check!

And while the Constitution does keep separate the powers of both the executive branch and Congress separate, it doesn’t give Bush unlimited power to do with what he pleases–while completely ignoring the people and Congress all at the same time.

This is not how our democracy was built upon.

Calling Bush on this critical matter means reigning in an out-of-control President who has so far had a complete disregard for procedure, law, and the Constitution of the United States of America.

Not to mention the 300 million people inhabiting it.

If Bush doesn’t like being called on matters of state, he shouldn’t have run for President, now should he?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

ADMINISTRATION HAS NO LEG TO STAND ON WITH SUBPOENAS

2007-03-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Since the inception of the US Constitution, Congress has had the constitutional authority to issue subpoenas on any high-ranking official in the US government suspected of wrongdoing or illegal activities which unjustly profits or politically enhances another’s standing–and imperils the function of the standing administration, by no longer representing the will of the people.

Nixon tried to duck the subpoena issue during Watergate, and Clinton tried the same with the Monica Lewinsky affair. But in both cases, the Supreme Court stepped in and ruled that in both instances–the government is not above the law.

It had to submit.

Naturally, Bush is trying anyways; claiming that the “act of issuing subpoenas against some of his administration’s highest-ranking officials is unconstitutional and represents a deliberate attack on the Presidency.”

Unfortunately, Bush was never a student of political history, or otherwise he would’ve already known that Congress is well within its rights in doing what it‘s done–seeing how he’s foot dragged his way through the matters of the US attorneys being fired long enough; by denying Congress and the people the truth.

For the last 2 months, Bush has given out only butterball truths, misinformation, contradictions, and so many other distortions about what really went on with the 8 US attorneys being fired for other than “performance issues”, that Congress had no choice in the matter but to issue subpoenas.

In all respect, this is a perfectly legal and constitutionally appropriate action for Congress to undertake.

And despite some dwindling attacks by some Republicans in regards to this matter, the Democrats may finally uncover other truths in regards to the matters of government secrecy and the Iraq war–only because Bush no longer has a leg to stand on.

Of course, Bush will say he has a trump card in regards to how he stacked the Supreme Court in his favor with conservatives willing to back him–and that may be true. But the court may be inclined not to bail the President out in this instance–seeing how politically weakened he and his administration has become since the November elections.

Let’s hope that this remains true and the people will see that the judicial branch doesn’t serve one man loyally, but the interests of the people as a whole.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

DON’T GET TOO OVERLY EXCITED–U.S. HAS ONLY BOUGHT ITSELF TIME IN THIS TWO-FRONT WAR.

2007-03-14T16:47:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It comes as no surprise that the security operation in Baghdad has lessened some of the impact and horrors of the raging 4-year-old Sunni-led insurgency.

But before any of you war supporters start popping those champagne corks, you might want to just hold off the celebrating permanently: All this has done is bought the US-led coalition forces some time and breathing room.

The insurgency has gone to ground and laid low for the time being, calculating new attacks and new approaches to the security operation–and probing the whole thing for weaknesses. But it doesn’t mean that the insurgency has been defeated by any means.

Even the capture of Al-Qaeda of Iraq’s leader (supposedly captured–no one has actually confirmed this publicly), hasn’t lessened the daily car bombings, the violence, and the killing of Iraq’s vulnerable citizens.

Make no mistake about it: This insurgency hasn’t been crushed. And it won’t be militarily–no matter how many troops Bush sends into Iraq.

And we won’t even be able to hold onto the said areas once things are in place. Because–like before–the insurgency will rise and strike either at will or elsewhere in Iraq; thus drawing away much needed security from other cities and even the capital itself.

While Bush and his cronies are crowing about this latest “success”–they are still dangerously short-sighted in the long term: We still won’t win this war by force or playing it up as a victory in the war against terror.

What will win this war is one thing which Bush doesn’t have or won’t embrace willingly: Diplomacy.

And while he thinks that the talks with Iran this month was still a win for the US, it proved that we have lost a lot of ground with the international community as a whole.

Instead of, “Sure, we’ll sign on board,” Iran has simply offered, “We’ll think about it and let you know the results.”

That in itself is a slap in the face for our long-standing foreign policy initiatives.

And it will be awhile before the nations of the world begin to trust the United States openly again.

A long time indeed…

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

WHICH SIDE ARE WE ON THESE DAYS? FANTASY OR REALITY?

2007-03-07T14:19:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It doesn’t cease to amaze me. You would think that this endless war without a plan or exit strategy would curtail the government and military’s rosy and optimistic views on how this conflict is going–but it hasn’t.

Curiously, it seems to have magnified the symptoms drastically: Though we have daily bombings in Baghdad, with civilians and US soldiers dying pretty much every day, both the military and the government running this dog and pony show still believes that they are making “progress”!

So I guess in this instance, we are in fantasy mode–not reality.

Despite all the carnage going on, both apparatuses are operating under a make-believe mentality that things are progressing regardless of the enormous loss of life done to both occupier and its liberated populace.

Which of course, is making the mission in Iraq less definable and more complex. If the recent surge of troops (scheduled to be increased to 28,000) was supposed to have worked by now, it has failed.

If the recent surge of troops was supposed to have stemmed the bombings and contain the violence, it has failed.

That is reality. But to Bush and the military, that’s “progress.”

To my mind, this is the worst application of military and federal intelligence in any war brought forth by the US since its inception over 200 years ago.

It is no wonder the chaos still goes on unimpeded! We are simply allowing this to happen because we got a bunch of amateurs in both sects of command operating under the mentality of a retard!

This goes beyond anything which the civilized world would be able to understand. And quite frankly, this conflict is creating more instability by the day, than it could possibly do in the exact opposite.

And despite Bush’s claims to progress with Malaki’s government, there hasn’t been at all. Some half-hearted gestures from his side, but in reality, he’s allowed this to go on for far too long.

The Iraqi people are clamoring and demanding that he does something, but he can’t.

However, Bush will still call it “progress” no matter what. The Iraqi security forces are unable to halt the violence. Stop the insurgency, stop the Shiite militias.

And neither can ours.

So in effect, what we are dealing with here is something we all call reality.

But to the Bush administration and the US military, it’s called fantasy
“progress”.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

ELECTED DEMOCRATS PROVE TO BE SPINELESS

2007-02-28T00:26:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It’s a sad, sad day for the American people.

The Democrats that we helped push the Republicans out of power in November, now have proven to the American public that their party lacks the balls to stand up to the President–over his Iraq war policy.

In essence, they’ve rolled over and showed their stomachs when the going got tough.

First they tried a “non-binding” resolution which lacked any teeth–pushing one measure through the House, but hopelessly failing in the Senate; twice.

Now they won’t even embrace a plan which will scale back Bush’s authority over the war, or even consider withholding the war funding from the next budget.

Whatever happened to the tough talk belonging to the once invigorated and powerful Democratic Party?

The one that promised to hold the Democrats accountable for their promises to hold an out-of-control White House accountable?

Apparently, when the tough got going, the going got squeamish and decided to play it safe.

Hate to break it to these political hacks, but if I must, I will: YOU CAN’T GO THROUGH LIFE WITHOUT BREAKING A FEW EGGS YOU MORONS!

RISK IS PART OF THE GAME! IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE STOMACH FOR IT, THEN DON’T RUN FOR CONGRESS YOU INSUFFERABLE PANSIES!

(1, 2,3...? Take a deep breath and let it out…)

Phew!

To borrow a phrase from Independence Day: “They elected a warrior, and got a wimp.”

Makes me wish that we hadn’t gotten rid of the Republicans after all.

In a way, they were driven, focused, and powerful. Maybe that’s why they became corrupt in the long term.

But these Democrats have spent too much time in the shadows these last 12 years–bereft of their spines, and utterly useless to the average American voter in this day and age.

It’s sad that I voted for these people–believing that they could deliver.

Guess not.

Time to start over again in 2008. Pick someone who has the guts to stand up to our American tyrant.

If it's not too late that is.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

WHAT SUCCESS? IRAQ IS STILL IN CHAOS YOU DUMMIES!

2007-02-21T16:46:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Oh, happy days! Basra is a bonafide success! (note sarcasm)

The Iraqis are showering the British with flowers and candy!

Insurgents are laying down their arms and pitching in to rebuild Iraq!

It seems a bit premature to celebrate–don’t you think?

After all, the country is in a state of civil war (no matter what the Bush administration says otherwise), so what little success there is, is 100% guaranteed to replaced by more inroads of failure by both the US and British forces.

Not too long ago, the Brits turned over a base to the Iraqis and almost immediately, the area was quickly overrun by the insurgents. And those same security forces which the US salivated over would help keep a hold of that base–just stood by and let it happen.

(If you’re ever wondering why I am always focusing on the negative aspects of this war and not the positive, it’s because we need to be reminded that some wars are not worth the costs. Maybe pointing these faults out to future generations, it will remind them of the cost we face today thanks in part to the overwhelming ignorance by those whom we placed a lot of faith and trust in executing the powers of Office. Maybe, people will realize that waging war will take more than just political rhetoric and political grandstanding by one party or one like-minded President.)

What about Basra? Well, despite our government’s claims that things “are sunny over there and this represents a good news story”, I wouldn’t be surprised if everything went to pot over the next year–after the Brits eventually leave.

However, seeing how only one town has been successfully liberated (you never hear the Bushbots talk about Fallujah anymore as a grand success story), you still have acres and acres, miles upon miles, to secure and liberate in Iraq.

The problem is manpower. We don’t have it. And with our Coalition of the Willing leaving in drips and drabs, it’ll only be us in Iraq before too long.

It’s just sad that we have to keep liberating Baghdad over and over again with more and more troops–while the rest of Iraq continues to seep in chaos.

But isn’t this what the neoconservatives and Bush wanted all along?

Endless chaos and zero exit strategies?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

BUSH: IRAQ SOURCE OF DEADLY WEAPONS

2007-02-14T20:03:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Not too long ago–4 years to be precise–Bush claimed that Iraq had WMDs and was making nuclear weapons.

Now, Bush is hopping all over some of the recent “evidence” that Iran is the sole provider of some of the munitions found in Iraq–after capturing some arms.

But as before with Iraq, Bush and his administration have very little credibility with this latest claim–because of their lack of the WMD that was supposed to be in Iraq at the start of 2003: Saddam’s cache piles of biological and chemical weapons. Not to mention his “nuclear” weapons that was claimed by George Tenant as a ‘slam dunk’ in terms of ‘darned good intelligence’.

Sadly, Bush doesn’t care. He’s going to milk this one for all its worth–solid intelligence or not. He’s going to keep claiming that another country is the sole provider of arms to the Shiite militias–even if he doesn’t have one shred of irrefutable evidence.

The arms provided by a recent Baghdad briefing to reporters came under fire recently as being ‘too good’ to ignore, but lacking any real points of origin or sources willing to collaborate their authenticity.

So is the military heads using doctored evidence to try and sell another sheep in wolf’s clothing?

Colin Powell did that.

And look at what it left us–4 years later.

Can we afford to make the same mistake twice?

Can our stretched and broken military?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

HOW BUSH GOT AWAY WITH MURDER

2007-02-08T16:07:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

If you were expecting Congress to find the government at fault for lying to the American public over Iraq–through its investigations of the pre-war intelligence–expect to be disappointed.

Through whatever caveat implied, the Bush administration has managed to hide the truth so well from the public, that its buried whatever evidence Congress may have been able to find–through a meticulously orchestrated series of steps which allowed the government to escape the hangman’s noose untouched.

How?

By investigating itself. By not allowing an independent group of investigative hacks to dig up the dirt on this administration’s blatant lies and distortions.

In effect, the criminal was allowed to go back to the crime scene after the murder and conduct his or her own investigation without a second set of eyes.

Take in retrospect, the Pentagon’s recent investigation of pre-war intel which took in Saddam’s WMD stockpile allegations and connections to Al-Qaeda.

While inappropriate, it wasn’t illegal. (Nothing really is with the Bush administration.)

So in effect, the Bush administration has taken lying to be the new standard of truth.

No intentional misleading, no intentional fabrication. Just a fine line of exaggeration which just so happens to not fit the facts.

So in essence, Bush lied to the American public through a series of inappropriate exaggerations of our own intelligence estimates–on Saddam’s WMD capabilities and his connections to terror groups like Al-Qaeda.

Would it not be so tragic, this whole affair would almost be a Shakespearean play of comical proportions–where Shakespeare himself holds up the skull of his best friend and declares: “O’ Horatio…I knew him well.”

Think of how many skulls of the dead Bush would be holding–if he were William Shakespeare?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

DON’T BLAME MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY FOR BUSH’S ILLS

2007-02-03T22:44:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

While you can blame soaring healthcare costs and the imminent retirement of baby-boomers in 2008 as the reason why both programs are in danger of collapse–if they aren’t already–the truth of the matter is in the budget itself.

Bush is funneling everything he can into the war effort–by requesting as much as $345B for both wars for both 2007 and 2008–in hopes that he can somehow stymie the out-of-control violence in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq.

So what goes? Well, right now, it’s Medicare, Social Security, Medicaid, and education for starters.

The President claims that if nothing is done, the growth of these programs will outpace inflation rather soon, and future generations will face higher taxes, larger deficits (like $8.5T isn’t enough now?), and huge cuts in future retirement benefits in Social Security.

Once again, Bush is trying the old-fashioned fear alert where we must make careless and rash acts to slice our own future away–and our kids–by giving into more blind recklessness.

After all, Bush tried it once before with his privatization plan of Social Security–which would’ve given trillions to Wall Street and the rich; and undercut a security net enjoyed by the elderly, the poor, and disabled for decades.

However, don’t blame Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare for Bush’s financial ills.

Most of the problems faced by the entitlement programs is simple: Bush is spending himself against a very large wall.

With his precious tax cuts and low taxes to the rich–not to mention his outrageous spending on this war, George is literally putting all the entitlement programs–and our children’s future education–on the chopping block.

But does Bush care?

No. All he does is make a big stink about how little money he is getting towards his little war ventures, while the domestic side of his nonexistent agenda goes…poof!

As a result, he has nothing to shore up such programs in case something goes wrong.

And it has.

Result?

The poor, the elderly, and the middle-class are expected to pay for King George’s spending mistake for years to come.

However, the only solution to this problem is an easily implemented two-fold idea:

Stop the war and all war profiteering.
Shift all the current defense and tax cut spending towards shoring up our entitlement programs--along with education.

This is the only way we can solve our problems at home--seeing how Iraq is such a mess, and the rich are making a killing off this conflict.

But I doubt Bush will go along with these ideas--hence the ignorance towards his overall 'solutions'.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

BUSH BLIND TO THE REALITY WITH IRAN’S IRAQI INFLUENCE

2007-01-29T13:42:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

You know, back in the mid-90s, there was an attempted coup by the Shiites against Saddam Hussein’s government.

The running theory with the Clinton administration back then was this: If the Shiites were somehow successful and overthrew the powerless dictator, the Shiites in control of Iraq’s government would be more open towards Iran and less friendly towards the US’s Middle Eastern interests.

So what happen?

Well according to history, the CIA pulled its support of the intended coup, and a few prominent Iraqis pulled theirs as well–allowing Saddam to pretty much put down the coup any way he saw fit.

Now fast-forward to 2007, and now we are seeing some of the results of what a Shiite-dominated government is doing to our Middle-East interests.

While Bush is rattling his toy saber at Iran for arming the Shiite militias, it’s funny how he never saw this one coming.

By installing a Shiite-dominated government without any foresight to what had happened in the 90s, Bush has effectively killed our influence in the Middle East–and thus allowing countries like Iran and Syria to grow strong again after a quarter-century of checks and balances by previous administrations.

Iran now has every right to meddle in the affairs of Iraq–by supporting its Shiite brethren in their fight against both the US-led coalition and the Sunni-led insurgency.

So it will do whatever it takes to see this operation through--and Malaki will go along with it willingly.

And there is little we can do to stop them from accomplishing their underlying objectives.

But as always, Bush will be blind to this reality. Because this arrogant man of a President still cannot connect the dots on his own.

Even with help.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

THE BUSH PRESIDENCY: A PARTY OF…UH…? WHERE IS EVERYONE?

2007-01-23T16:01:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Don’t blame yourself if you don’t watch Bush’s “State of Denial” speech tonight about how we must continue to surge ahead and “stay the course” no matter what in Iraq.

Don’t blame yourself if you don’t watch Bush’s “101 Domestic Agenda Failures” speech tonight on how we must cut back on Medicare, Medicaid, education, healthcare, child care, and so many other programs–just so we can spend billions more for a failed war which could’ve revitalized our country’s sagging social infrastructure on so many levels. (But who really needs healthcare these days, right?)

Don’t blame yourself if you don’t watch Bush’s “10 Ways To Screw America out of its Energy Independence” speech tonight on how we must cut back on our oil consumption by 20%–by boosting ethanol-based gasoline derivatives–thus shaving off 8.5 billion gallons of gas over the next ten years. (We use about 54.5 billion gallons every year. So don‘t blame us, blame the GOP‘s “fuzzy math bunnies” on this one.)

With his poll numbers bumping up against Nixon’s for the worst Presidential showing ever, a Republican revolt in the making inside Congress, and an entire nation united against him for the first time since 9-11, the President is not only reduced to a pitiful excuse for a Commander-in-Chief, but now it seems as though he is also reduced to talking to himself whenever he feels the urge to speak to the nation.

Everything he says is just recycled rhetoric, and no matter what Bush does or says, the American public just tunes him out.

Just goes to show: When you cry wolf one too many times, people tend to stop listening.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

PRESIDENCY AND MILITARY BOTH STUCK IN WONDERLAND

2007-01-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Is it too late for a refund?

Because right now we are sitting on almost $540B for the cost of the war–including the $105B Bush wants to spend for this year; plus the “surge” which he is damned determined to go through with–no matter who says what.

And even though the cost of the war keeps escalating into unheard of territories and Bush kept promising that “things will get better; you just watch and see” these last 4 years, we just don’t see any of that “good news progress” which has eluded us since this war began.

Of course, what struck me as odd over the last couple of years is how General Casey proclaimed time and again that we would be leaving Iraq by either the end of 2005 and then when that didn’t happen…?

2006.

Well, 2006 has passed and now the general is saying that most of the “surge” of troops going in may not leave Iraq until late summer–once the US military sees that “the security situation in Iraq is stable, and the people of Baghdad start feeling safe enough to come out.”

Trouble is, is that first, the security in Iraq is so out of control, pacifying the capital alone is going to take more troops than what Bush is proposing and what General Shinseki had originally abdicated for–long before we invaded Iraq on lies and grave distortions of our own available intelligence.

And secondly, making grandiose timetable declarations when the problem is more exasperated than the military will care to admit out in the open–for fear that we are indeed appearing more weaker than Gates claimed recently about the state of our own military (In regards to Iran “overplaying its hand”)– doesn’t make the reality on the ground any easier to deal with.

So what does that mean for the American public in general?

Simple.

We have a Presidency in a constant state of denial, and a military wrapped up in a constant state of delusion.

Tied together, they just created the sequel to Alice in Wonderland.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

WHEN DID THE WH BECOME TOO POWERFUL?

2007-01-14T17:20:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

I wonder at what point that the Executive Branch suddenly became too powerful for its own good.

I think it got started soon after 9-11 when the Republican-controlled Congress decided to forgo all checks and balances, and informed Bush and Cheney: “Do whatever you want, because we are now on a terror war footing.”

Funny how the second world war didn’t change the Executive Branch, but FDR still had to play by the rules and consult not only members of Congress, but also the will of the people.

He didn’t do anything which would necessarily upset the apple cart. He wanted to win as much as everyone else did. But he didn't fight that war stupidly like this current administration has gone and done with Iraq.

Furthermore, this President (or should we say Dictator-elect?) doesn’t seem to understand the political ramifications of what the public is trying to tell him, and also both parties–with the Democrats now running the majority.

Without public support from either the people or Congress, there is very little chance that this ‘new way forward’ can succeed!

But that doesn’t seem to be stopping Bush or Cheney any. They see their plan as the ‘ultimate’ answer to everything–not even caring how much they are pissing of the American public or Congressional Democrats or Republicans.

They actually believe that they have overpowering authority to do whatever they want–thanks in part to the free reigns which the then GOP-led Congress had given them!

So where does it say in the Constitution that the Executive Branch can run roughshod over the other 2 branches of government and the general public its supposed to represent–without the absolute need for essential checks or balances?

Of course, Cheney was quoted as saying that critics fiercely opposed to this plan (he must mean the 70% of all Americans) are actually playing into the hands of Osama bin Laden.

Sadly for him, we already have. By invading Iraq on lies and distortions, Bush unconsciously handed the mastermind of 9-11 everything he could’ve possibly wanted.

Anything afterwards is nothing but semantics for this one-sided visionary administration, and they will do whatever it takes to destroy not only the American economy–in what Cheney has called ‘the long war’ (30 to 40 years)–but he and Bush have effectively crushed what little US military strength is left in the Middle East with this last ‘surge’ of troops.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

JUST ANOTHER “STAY THE COURSE” SPEECH

2007-01-10T20:39:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Like the famous cowboy puppet on Howdy Doody, Bush is now looking more and more like a drunken boxer in a boxing ring: All smashed up and nowhere to go.

He sits there in a daze and wonders just who will come and rescue him.

His speech on Wednesday laid out what looked like a glorious and well-thought out plan, but many people are wondering: Why the hell didn’t he think of this sooner?

Easy.

Bush is notorious for not thinking things through ahead of time. And as such, his failed and–sometimes backwards–policy decisions have cost the United States much more than its credibility with the international community.

It has cost 3,016 lives, $530 billion dollars, and five years of wasted effort–all in a blind-sided attempt to spread “democracy” and “freedom” across the Middle East.

But now Bush is openly defying not only the American people who voted for a change, but a newly appointed Democratic Congress in his push to add a paltry 21,500 troops over the next four months just to Baghdad and the Anbar Province alone.

And if this sounds familiar it should. We tried this four times in 2005 and 2006, and the results all ended with failure.

So why is Bush persistent in following a failed course of action? Because he’s not concerned with the here and now. He’s more worried about what future historians will say about his legacy as President.

And that is a grevious fallacy in itself.

Historians in the present are already pegging his 8 year tenure as either the ‘The Worst Presidency in US History’, ‘The Dark Side Administration’, or ‘The Lame Duck Years’.

History's already called the shots well in advance, and only in ten years, we will already have the full picture to the Bush years in Technicolor or IMAX.

But why should we all wait until the man is dead to have figured this one out? Once again, Bush has yet to catch onto that fact.

And while he does, America must now wait 3-4 months to see if his latest (and last) gamble will finally pay off.

But word to the wise: I wouldn’t hedge any bets on this working out either. Safe money would be on how we will be able to get out, not stay forever in a never ending quagmire-slash-civil war.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

NOT AS PREPARED AS YOU MIGHT THINK

2007-01-03T13:59:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Remember Katrina?

Remember all the chaos which ensued in New Orleans? Remember how ill-prepared and ill-equipped the government and Homeland Security was in dealing with that disaster?

A disaster which could’ve been marginalized had the right people been put in charge of the whole operation–instead of a bunch of inexperienced pack mules and political circus clowns running the show?

Yes, America…

This is your government for you.

But things get even worse.

A report yesterday revealed just how ill-prepared most US cities are in the wake of either a terrorist attack or another Katrina-like storm.

Of the 75 cities listed in a Homeland Security poll, only six of those cities actually have any real chance of dealing with either of the above. But even those six aren’t completely immune.

Why?

Because like with all things, old turf rivalries, political grandstanding, and cultural differences still remains–5 years after Bush promised he would fix these things.

Five years!

But as usual, our own government has turned a deaf ear to the pleas of community leaders, emergency responders, and communication directors.

It isn’t a lack of federal funding which has caused a serious lax of interest in the Bush administration, or the former GOP-led Congress. It’s the fact that most of the monies promised by either isn’t enough to overcome the problems of building a fully integrated and well-drilled response system.

And since Bush is more concerned with blowing billions on his tax cuts and funding his wars–while cutting back on key domestic provisions at home–the next terror attack or Katrina-like storm will just remind all of America once again how ill-prepared we really are.

And since we can no longer rely on our own government for help in times of crisis, I think it’s time we ditched the feds and start looking out for each other.

It’s the only way we can survive.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

EXECUTING HUSSEIN WON’T END THE INSURGENCY

2006-12-29T14:22:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

It seems as though time has flowed backwards to a particular day in December of 2003.

Forget the day, just remember the moment. The exact moment when military officials in Iraq crowed: “We got him!” and the Bush administration cheered.

Cheered over the capture of Saddam Hussein.

And it was then that Bush made the infamous declaration (among many) that the raging insurgency would lay down its arms and help in the rebuilding of Iraq; while under the misguided notion that it was Saddam whom was in control of the insurgency, that it was Saddam whom was guiding and funding it somehow from his foxhole in the ground.

So now–fast forward to 2006–to another December, this time on Saturday, the 30th, and beholden the execution of a man for crimes not against humanity or his own people, but because this man did what he thought was right in an attempt on his life more than 20 years ago.

Malaki and others like him who thirst for revenge for what Hussein did to them while he was President of Iraq–will get what they’ve wanted–but his execution won’t stop the insurgency.

In fact, it may make things worse for the US-led occupation forces–not better.

But that won’t matter. Either on Saturday, or possibly Sunday, Bush will be back onto his podium, declaring that: “an evil man has been brought to justice. And he won’t harm anyone again. This has been a victory for this young democracy, and a blow to all those who seek to topple it.”

You know: The usual Wilsonian jargon which Bush is so famous for lately.

Unfortunately for Bush and his war supporters, the execution of a disposed ex-President of Iraq may in fact be the trigger point for a broader and deeper civil war which will end up toppling this so-called “young democracy”.

Makes me wonder just what kind of a contingency “plan” Bush will have for that instance?

If he has one at all.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

WE NEED OUR TROOPS HERE–NOT IRAQ

2006-12-26T14:48:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Given the fact that Bush’s stubbornness has led the US military to having no plan at all these last 4 years for Iraq–begs this question: What makes people believe that he actually has a plan now?

The Iraq war is a classic case study of ill-preparedness and zero planning. And not only that, but the war itself needn’t be fought at all–had the American public been told the truth on the exact nature of Saddam’s WMD capabilities.

So despite the administration’s declarations that the Iraqis have their freedoms and democracy–and Saddam is about to be hanged–Bush’s new plan for the coming new year may not be so new to the American people after all.

A troop increase in Baghdad was already tried once before in Operation Together Forward in June. The Bush team sent in 4,000 extra troops to try and pacify only the capital of Iraq–in hopes that this would spill over into the adjoining areas of the country and erase away much of the insurgency.

But it didn’t.

Twenty or thirty thousand extra troops now or in the coming months, may not do the job either. And most of these troops are not new. The increase is going to be taken from reservists already serving in Iraq and elsewhere.

But not the US. The reason is that we don’t have the manpower available. The Iraq war and the war on terror globally has pretty much strained the country’s military past the breaking point. And many people see this President’s proposed action as the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’.

Soldiers’ tours are being further and further extended. And that in itself is a morale breaker.

Given what happened to Katrina last year, there was little National Guard troops available to secure the devastated parts of New Orleans after the storm hit.

And to make matters worse, those troops in Iraq could’ve been used to help keep order and aid in the rebuilding of the devastated city.

But if 140,000, or even 170,000 troops in Iraq can’t stabilize a country in less than 4 years, then what hope does that leave for us here– in case of another Katrina-like disaster?

Who will we turn to help us in times of crisis and emergencies?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

NEW BOSS; SAME OLD SCHOOL RHETORIC

2006-12-19T00:27:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Happy days are here once again! Rumsfeld’s out, the new guy is in!

And by new guy, I mean Robert Gates.

Gates was sworn in on Dec. 18th as the new head of the Department of Defense–having served under President Bush’s father as CIA director from 1991-1993.

And he served as Texas A and M University’s president until being asked by the current Bush to serve as Secretary of Defense.

And while considered a pragmatist, Gates (like so many other administration officials these days), is a Cold War hawk.

He favors talks with Syria and Iran, but still reiterates the old fears that if we were to leave such and such a nation, misery would follow.

Case in point:

In the weeks leading up to the US’s withdrawal from Vietnam, many of the war’s staunchest supporters steadfastly cried out that if we were to leave that country, the Vietcong would follow and attack this nation without warning–while many others said that the world would fall to the ravages of Communism if the United States were to withdraw.

Oddly how neither of that happened.

Fast forward about 32 years, and here we go again. Gates is on record saying that “failure in Iraq would lead to a calamity that would haunt the US for years.”

Curiously enough, no one has told Gates that the United States has already failed in many of its objectives to bring peace and stability to the Middle East.

Iraq is no longer democratic in the sense of the word. There is no real functioning government, no stability, no peace, no nothing which would give American taxpayers (and hopefully Congress) any more reason to continue funding this boondoggle.

And what’s worse, the veritable explosion of violence is threatening to engulf the region in such a way that it would make all the wars since Vietnam look like a picnic compared to what may already be taking place in the here and now.

And while we can see it unfolding before our eyes, why hasn’t none of the Bush officials? Are they still blind to the reality on the ground?

They must be, because apparently Gates is now too afflicted in the same manner as the rest: Eager to dismiss what he said as the truth; more eager to embrace all the old school rhetoric of the past six years regarding this dismal conflict.

And the result of such actions (or should I say inactions) may be as disastrous for the US than anything cooked up by the Republican fear machine.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

GEORGE BUSH: THE MOST IGNORANT PRESIDENT OF ALL TIME?

2006-12-13T23:58:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Never before in American history has an American President gone out of his way to snub the public, study groups, and even his own party, like George W. Bush has.

And while some of his dwindling base of supporters may say that Bush is a rock and he is not straying from his bedrock principles of stubbornness and ignorance, many people who want a course change and some ray of hope…may find their ambitions dashed by reality.

Presently, the President still views his plan (or lack thereof) of a solid Middle East democracy as the only viable option, and everything that the ISG proposed as being nothing more than ‘defeatist’ ideas which must be rejected at all costs.

Unfortunately, those ideas may be the only thing which will save American foreign policy for all time.

Primarily because talking to your enemies is more a sign of strength than weakness. And if you were able to sit down and talk without resorting to grand-standing propaganda or Cold War party rhetoric about how this country is a threat to the world (Iraq) and this country is part of the “Axis of Evil” (North Korea), and this country has the capability to produce nuclear weapons–even though it’s 10 years or more away from actually having anything nuclear; but instead has a very limited missile delivery system to boot–(Iran), you would be able to get these leaders and their countries to toe the line a bit; thus giving America and its allies some much needed breathing room.

However…

However…

Not talking to them is more of a weakness than a sign of strength. And that is just telling these said nations that you don’t give a damn about them, this is really all about you and what you want–nevermind the fact that there are reasons why these countries are doing the things they are doing–but it doesn’t matter.

And that behavior is what will turn any future foreign policy directives into a complete and mitigating disaster for future Presidents–because these countries (and many like them), will just point out Bush’s obstinance while he was President, and indicate that unless something changes with America’s foreign policies, these nation leaders will not feel so cordial towards the new girl or guy in the White House.

In essence, we will have to start over and start doing things we have no choice in doing, all because of Bush’s ignorance and dangerously arrogant behavior towards the world.

But it doesn’t end there. A shocking report shows that Saudi Arabia is funding the Sunni insurgency out of mere preservation.

Because in its eyes, if the US leaves anytime soon, it’ll be a racially motivated bloodbath between the Shiites and the Sunni people which will commence, and the Saudis don‘t want to see that happen.

And make no bones about it, Iran is funding the Shiite militia death squads.

And what is Bush’s take on this?

Oddly enough, he hasn’t said a word about his oil buddies involvement. Maybe he’s thinking that the Saudis can bring about peace in the Middle East by funding the supposed “bad guys”.

Who knows?

However ignorant Bush is now, he did make one point clear: We haven’t defeated the enemy. (Whoever that enemy is.) Heck, we aren’t even close. And it’s been almost 4 years since we started this war over non-existent WMDs.

But with the death toll approaching 3000, how long will Bush go before America has finally had enough and demands Congress impeach him?

Not long–judging by the looks of things at the homefront.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

THE NEXT MOVE BELONGS TO BUSH

2006-12-06T18:05:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Today’s recommendations by the Iraq Study Group should be a wake-up call to President Bush.

And I say should be.

Given the fact that Bush’s position on this Iraq war is at best–unmovable–there is no reason to expect the President to act now as opposed to what he stated as in “a timely fashion”.

A ‘timely fashion’ doesn’t preclude the idea that US forces should be foot-dragged through the next two years out of blind stubbornness and inflexibility based on a man’s innate inability to see through his own foolish pride and accept the fact that words alone will not change the current face or landscape of Iraq.

Sooner or later, we are going to have to let go of this fiasco and face the reality that we no longer are in control of this war. That in order for us to leave, we are going to have to start embracing ideas which were given the cold shoulder before, and start acting like a reasonable member of the international community–instead of a complete jackass.

But it’s all up to Bush. The ball is in his court once again–just like it was a month prior to 9-11. But unlike the September attacks, this ball that could have even more deadlier implications for the US...should Bush drop it again.

Eating crow once in awhile isn’t bad. But Bush may have to do just that–in order to save face in Iraq. If not, then we will continue to see ourselves and our capabilities diminish to nothing in the long term.

And watch as Middle East is consumed by an unthinkable regional war.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

BUSH SUMMIT REVEALS EVEN MORE PROBLEMS FOR IRAQ’S FUTURE

2006-12-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

I dunno here.

I was hoping for some kind of change upon the leaked report from the Iraq Study Group (ISG), before the Iraq summit got started (then aborted), then only settled on for as a brief “interview”.

But from all accounts, Bush is still trying to “stay the course” no matter what befalls our troops.

However, it goes much deeper than one man’s stubborn persistence in the face of a growing civil war. (Notice that Mr. Steve Hadley’s comments on this idea were: “Iraq has entered a new phase”. Not a civil war. Clearly, the administration has yet to embrace the reality that Iraq is truly sunk into a civil war–one that got its start after the February 2006 bombing of a Shiite shrine in Iraq.)

Iraq is truly in chaos. And to simply embrace another man (who surprisingly share’s many of Bush’s delusional characteristics about how “swell” things are going in that country) by full supporting him regardless of the fact, is beyond shocking.

Bush has essentially told American voters to do what Cheney instructed Senator Patrick Leahy to go ahead with not to long ago. And that's to: “Go fudge yourself!”

Does it stop there? No.

Now, Bush is giving conflicting signals on what to do next in Iraq. First he tells us that we will stay until the job is done and now he says that we will only be there for as long as the Iraqi government wants us.

Which is it, Mr. President? What do you want us to do? Stay or go?

But Bush’s troubles are just beginning. The Iraqi government may not be around much longer–given how Malaki is facing a clear revolt within his own Shiite-run party. Because of the Bush summit, many Shiites and some Sunnis have boycotted Parliament (perhaps for good–based on some reports), and six of his own Cabinet members have also resigned under protest–citing that Malaki is simply too weak to do anything about the conflict tearing Iraq apart at the seams.

Curiously enough, Malaki seems to mirror Bush’s own dysfunctional behavior. He believes (like Bush does) that things will only get better once American forces turn over security matters to the Iraqi people.

Oddly enough, the people don’t want security, they want a functional government!

So even if the ISG recommends a withdrawal for American troops (latest reports place it by 2008–when the next Presidential elections take place. Coincidence? No. This date was set for a reason. To placate the voters to think that the government was finally getting on the ball, but reality on the ground has proven the Bush administration wrong time and again.), it may not happen.

The situation in Iraq is threatening to ignite the entire Middle East into a fiery cauldron of endless conflict. And not just the three civil wars which Saudi’s king had so eloquently pointed out.

And where would this place Bush if it were to happen?

Without an exit strategy that’s for sure!

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

HOW W’S DYSFUNCTIONAL APPROACH MIRRORS IRAQ

2006-11-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Tit-for-tat killings, and ineffective government, ill-equipped and under-trained security forces…

Ah…Iraq, Iraq, Iraq.

Is this the kind of model democracy that Bush wants to spread for the Middle East?

Apparently so.

Think about it for a second.

Why is Bush still believing that this failed war in Iraq is the only way a heralded democracy will work?

Because that is the way Bush functions. He doesn’t see things in an orderly, judgmental fashion; but rather, a disorganized, and chaotic system of things–based partly on his own ineffective and incompetent leadership.

So what we see as disillusioned and out of the mainstream, Bush sees the exact opposite. According to Rumsfeld (upon his departure as Secretary of Defense): “The war is not well known. It was not understood; it is too complex for people to understand.”

And that right there is also a mirror of Bush’s approach to this war. And to Iraq's fragile democracy.

The people don’t understand, because they are not on the same wavelength as the Bush administration is. They are not as mentally deficient as this administration is. So they can’t possibly understand what is truly going on in Iraq–not without sinking down into the same chaotic instabilities which permeates the current governmental thinking.

And as a result of such instabilities, our own seat of government has become isolated from the rest of the world–and not just from the reality around it.

Unfortunately, that reality is what has become the Iraq of today. Only because our President believes that in order to bring democracy and stability, we must bring forth disorder first, then chaos, and then finally…?

A full blown civil war.

Which may have gotten started over the recent spat of bloodshed; where first a couple hundred Shiites died. The Shiite-run militias enacted revenge by setting some innocent Sunnis on fire–after they left from their daily prayers.

Yes, Bush condemned the violence from the first attack, but he won’t on the second. Because in his mind, the Shiites should be the victors and the Sunnis should be the victims this time around.

But the victims are fighting back–having organized one of the most well-funded, and well-armed insurgencies that this world has seen in a generation.

And the Shiites are paying the price for their own arrogance. (Much like Bush paid for his in the recent mid-term elections.)

But what about the Iraqi troops? Why haven’t they stopped the bloodshed? Because they are unable to.

In a recent Pentagon admission, our own troops were found to be ill-trained to carry out the task of rebuilding Iraq; let alone policing it properly–and training our Iraqi replacements at the same time.

Which leaves us where?

Caught flat-footed in this new civil war.

Of course, the military heads won’t admit it's happened. They say that the government is still there and the Iraqi army hasn't turned against it. But the collapse of the Iraqi government will take place. Because Bush made it happen. It’s what he’s wanted all along: Two imperfect and dysfunctional models of democracy.

One Iraqi. One U.S. of A.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

NO REALISTIC WAY OUT OF IRAQ; NO MATTER HOW WE PLAY IT

2006-11-20T19:18:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

At this point in time, it’s safe to say that Bush is certainly wishing that he had never invaded Iraq on flawed and possibly fixed intelligence in the first place. (The debate over this will most likely intensify in the months to come.)

But Bush felt that the time came for America to take the opportunity to expand its sphere of influence in the Middle East–after invading Afghanistan in October 2001 shortly after 9-11–and take out Iraq as well; by establishing a series of strategic and permanent bases in that beleaguered country from which to do…what? Spread democracy and freedom abroad in some kind of ambitious plan of American influence and power?

Possibly.

However, the whole grandiose plan fell apart more quickly than anyone had originally hypothesized. True to form, we invaded Iraq just as quickly as we did Afghanistan–but based on the fears that Saddam still was a threat to the United States somehow, and needed to be dealt with swiftly.

And just like Vietnam, we believed that both of these countries would benefit from some kind of sweeping idyllic democracy based on our own Western foundations.

Unfortunately, things didn’t come to pass in either war. In LBJ’s or the current sitting President's. Both wars fell apart more quickly than either administration had imagined; leaving both Presidents severely disillusioned that–if given enough time–things would work out for the best and we can leave on some kind of victory note. One of which would vindicate both administrations and silence those critics whom have been verbally attacking the policies upon which had led to both conflicts.

And now–32 years after Vietnam–we are basically in the same position LBJ had placed our troops in so long ago.

With the insurgency unabated in its attacks and Malaki’s government unable to stem–let alone contain–the violent attacks and secure the country, we are now faced with the all too real possibility that we will not be able to withdraw our forces for the next ten years (2016 at the latest), or even win the war militarily long enough to even constitute a significant drawdown of US forces.

Recent suggestions point to the likelihood that the Bush administration will be bogged down in serious indecision and a tug-of-war of its own as it tries to grapple with what it sees as a winnable situation. (Keep in mind that this is the Bush administration we are talking about here. Nothing proffered would faze the White House in the slightest.)

And while the administration continues to rally against those who are trying to seek an end to this failed war and those who are calling for withdrawal, events on the ground may end up forcing Bush to prematurely do what he’s accused his Democratic opponents of doing all this time: Cutting our losses and running.

After all, Bush has a legacy to think about. And a lame-duck one at that.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

THE REALITIES OF WAR

2006-11-15T18:16:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

As the old saying goes, “I only have myself to blame”. I blame myself for voting in change and hopefully a change in course in this lopsided and increasingly lost war in Iraq.

Unfortunately, the realities of war said, “Hold on a minute! You want what again?”

A change in course?

Isn’t going to happen. At least that’s what the vulgarities in this mess is saying.

On Monday, top Democrats and some Republicans were saying that we don’t have enough troops to hold onto Iraq for an indefinite period of time. (That much is a given.) But the other shocker came when General Abizaid said that we don’t have enough troops available to triple our current troop levels.

So does that mean we can leave this nightmare and call it quits?

No.

Surprised?

Don't be.

The frankness of the quagmire Bush and his cadre of corrupt Republicans has put our nation in is this: We cannot win the war militarily, but the untenable situation in Iraq means that we can’t leave either.

What does this mean for our troops?

It mean’s that this is the worst corundrum ever construed by the human mind on an international stage. Essentially, we’ve gotten ourselves trapped in a situation with no real exit. Because with each turn we take, we essentially find ourselves staring at one dead end after another.

Like an infinity loop.

So regardless of what Democrats wish to do may not be realized either. And with Bush at the helm of the decision-making process, he’ll make darned sure that we stay stuck until the end of his term--then leave the mess for the next President to clean up. (Though he or she may not be able to deliver on all fronts then, either.)

The other thing which caught my attention was the comments that Abizaid said: “That the Iraqi government has at least 4-6 months to fix things before everything goes into a full blown civil war.” But many experts are already saying that this time has long since past--as Malaki's government is either unwilling or unable to contain the everspreading violence.

Whatever happens from this point forward, at least we know that we have the next 4-6 months free and clear before we all hear this from the Bush administration: “We didn’t anticipate that the war in Iraq would last this long.” (A play on the words Bush used after Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in 2005.)

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

WILL OF THE PEOPLE…? MAYBE NOT

2006-11-10T14:10:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Be it easy enough in our sometimes tumultuous democracy that the people can freely vote and elect their choice in representatives: Sometimes based on party line, others based on issues which matter most to them.

This time around, the people’s choice has heavily favored the Democrats and so–as such–George Bush is finally getting the message from the very people he had shunned openly for these last six years.

However!

However…

It may not bear as much fruit as one might think.

Welcome to the dark side of politics.

“…we the people of the United States of America; to form a more perfect union…” Obviously…?

Not this time.

Though the Democrats have captured control of both houses of Congress, Republican obstruction now remains a very real possibility.

Such ironies is that the once powerful GOP had once branded the Democrats as ‘obstructionists’, now so the Republican minority in Congress could very well end up being the spoilers of this new Congress for the next 2 years–thus dimming any good intentions set forth by the Democrats.

And their supporters are declaring this to be their intentions as well; announcing that if the Democrats don’t deliver as promised, they will also be kicked out in 2008.

But Bush is also widely speculated to wield his veto power greatly over any bills which the Democrat-led Congress proposes.

And it could very well be known as a ‘lame-duck’ Congress from a ‘do-nothing’ Congress until 2008.

Speculations aside, the only difference worth noting is that this time, one party is reaching out across the divide to talk and work together–despite clear-cut animosities driven in these last 12 years as the minority party.

But will the Republicans and Bush follow suit? Or will it just go back to the way it was for the next two years?

Only time will tell.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

AMERICA MUST CHANGE FOR THE BETTER!

2006-11-04T13:53:00.000-08:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Latest polls and voter sentiment have painted Bush and the GOP with a big fat bulls-eye this November 7th. And right now, the wave is growing. Not since 1972, 1938, and 1894, have the people been so motivated for a change in course!

Of course, the GOP and Bush are desperate to hold onto their tenuous positions of power by saying--and inventing--things which have more to do with lies than the actual truth.

Unlike 2002 and 2004 where the GOP held the upper ground in 'Get out the Vote', this time around, Democrats have one-upped their Republican constituents by doing it much earlier (1.5 years early) and doing it more often.

And while the Republicans and Bush are trying their hardest to paint the Democrats as soft on terrorists and wanting to raise your taxes, the sad truth is that the majority party already is soft on terrorism and has already raised your median taxes for the middle class and the poor.

Now, if you are rich and wealthy, then you would see a reducation in those same taxes. But the burden of the debt has been pushed onto the middle class and the poor--and along with it; generations of unborn Americans who have to shoulder the pain of this administration's spending spree.

As for terrorism, this government has reversed course on its stance in getting OBL; instead content in snagging a powerless and impotent dictator who hid in a coffin-sized hole for 9 months--and thus branding him as the mastermind behind 9-11.

On top of that, Muslim extremism has exploded across the globe, and anti-American sentiment has never been higher. And terrorism itself has seen a 600% increase in attacks over the last year.

As for Iraq? The recent NIE has openly suggested that our presence there in that war-torn nation is doing nothing but feeding the insurgency; rather than stemming the flow.

And here we have, George Bush and the Republicans saying that this isn't the case, and that if Democrats were to win, terrorists win.

Has anyone thought to tell the President the truth about the reality of this world and what is going on in Iraq? Or is he just content to be just as dysfunctional and disconnected from reality, as the rest of his party (and administration) currently is?

Whether Bush likes it or not, change is coming! The people will no longer stand by and allow this travesty to continue unchecked. Our nation needs a serious check and balance!

What we don't need is more of the same from George Bush and the Republican Party!

So what will you do, America? What will your answer be on November 7th?

Will we finally stand united or will we fall further divided?

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

ABSOLUTE POWER CORRUPTS ABSOLUTELY (OR: WHEN A GOOD PARTY GOES BAD.)

2006-10-26T15:59:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Remember a time when the GOP actually stood for something? Fiscal responsibility, smaller government, civil liberty and rights for all? Remember when we were all Republicans when Reagan got shot?

Nowadays, this version of the GOP stands for fear, corruption, and excuses. Not to mention the classic blame game. (“Hey! If we screw up, we can always have someone else take the fall!”)

These last 12 years have proven that to a T. Not only have they ballooned the deficit, enlarged the government, and stripped away every basic right enjoyed by all Americans (not just a select few), but they also become the worst thing to happen to American politics since the Nixon scandal:

The enemy.

In reality, what has happened to the GOP this time around is quite simple: You gain full control of the government, both Houses of Congress, and the Supreme Court, and the rot begins to take root inside that little circle of power. You begin to believe that since you have this full control, the power, and the majority, you can start to let small things like Foley’s inexcusable behavior be covered up. (Or spend millions impeaching a President over a blowjob.)

But it doesn’t end there.

Then you start to look at the little things inside our own society, and believe that things can be changed, if you change people’s perceptions on how things should be run. The first thing which goes is oversight. Then carefully wrought checks and balances. And before you know it, you have people in positions of real authority and power that shouldn’t have been there in the first place.

But it’s all good, because you are the majority and you can do whatever you want.

Which leads to the next level of abuse.

You have everything in place, and everything is going your way. So you start believing that since you are the majority you can now start breaking the law. After all, no one would question you because you have full party support, and after all...it’s only a small law.

No harm there, right? Exactly.

But the old axiom: “A small thing can usually turn into a big something” is true to form in the GOP’s case.

At this point, you are so entrenched in your power base, that you can allow a lot of things to slide, and began to take on a position of outright arrogance and insensitivity.

The Contract with America pledge all but forgotten.

Then 9-11 happens, and right then and there, you begin crafting laws and acts which strips out the people’s rights to privacy, freedom of expression, freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and every other checks and balances which had been set in stone by previous administrations in the last forty years.

(Who needs them! Right? Freedom's waaay overrated these days anyway. 'sides, I've always wanted to live in a police state. No harm in that, eh?)

Because now, you are fighting terrorists, and you now have to treat everyone that you come across as an enemy combatant.

Thus begins the lengthy and secret process of tapping Jim Bob’s phones without a warrant, begin spying on him illegally, and then bug his land lines so that you can sift through his e-mails.

But this is good, because you are fighting terrorists within the borders of your own country–because ol’ Jim Bob here might just be a threat to national security. You have to do it, even though he is a loyal Republican. But then again, party affiliation and/or loyalty no longer matters, does it?

You cannot take that chance. Allies today could very well be the enemy of tomorrow.

Does the Japanese internment camps from the second world war ring a bell? Back then, FDR had every Japanese-American put in such camps because of Pearl Harbor. And if you ever watch Midway, you’ll see why such Japanese-Americans were treated the way they were. It’s a painful lesson in American history–one that we should’ve learned decades later.

Oddly enough, this Republican-led government hasn’t started up internment camps for Muslims since 9-11. But there are persistent rumors that indicate that Bush has begun such initiatives to put anyone (including Muslims) –who isn’t with the government–into such establishments; coined as “Fifth Columnists”.

Maybe they don’t need to–if breaking every law passed down since this country began is enough. (On top of passing acts and laws introduced by both the GOP and Bush have trampled over our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Warrantless spying on the populace, bills which takes away people’s rights to challenge their own government under a judicial setting, and the list (sadly) goes on.)

And odder still, no one in this administration thinks this type of behavior is bad.

In the long run, it all boils down to fear. And the GOP has done everything it can to make us live in fear of one another, just like another generation of Americans had to in another war. And they will do anything to make sure that we do so. Including demonizing us so badly that we will follow them willingly and without dissent. (Nowadays, you can’t question the government without being called a traitor, an unpatriotic American, a “liberal”, a terrorist sympathizer, and whatever other catch-phrase which comes out of the propaganda mill.)

But whatever checks and balances we had have been systematically destroyed by this party's corruption.

And as such, we can no longer call ourselves a democracy if we allow laws and acts passed by this administration and majority Congress to stand.

However, whether or not this country can recover from such a gregarious abuse of power, only future historians can freely speculate.

Assuming they have any freedoms left.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com

CLEAN ELECTIONS REFORM COULD BE THE TONIC WHICH AILS THIS NATION

2006-10-21T14:12:00.000-07:00

By Schuyler Thorpe
Author and Political Activist

Be it for me to watch something on PBS last night (on NOW), which got me to thinking: What would be the result of such clean elections?

How could this nation of ours–plagued by corruption, big business, special interest groups, and dirty money funneled to traditional candidates–benefit from such a change in the status quo?

Well, for one thing, clean elections allows the people to choose their candidates through a process by which relies solely on public funding (much like our schools), and has a limit to what a candidate can accept through token contributions. This process also eliminates the traditional way of funding a candidate: Dumping huge amounts of money and pushing him through the ranks in order to get him or her elected; no matter where the money comes from.

This also gets rid of big business and all those special interest groups who enjoy blowing wads of money on a steak dinner–just so they can have their needs met, instead of the people their candidate is supposed to be representing.

Though you have to get enough signatures to get on the ballot, the people would be able to choose their candidates through a different process of elimination, but would still be able to afford a clean election–without the partisan sniping that we now see saturating today’s political landscape.

And the chances of corruption, mismanagement, and errors through a clean election process shows in states like Maine and Arizona (where it had become law state-wide) have been marginalized to a degree that now California is trying to put the issue on the ballot. And even though it looks like it is going to fail (not enough support), it doesn’t mean that the measure will be dead forever.

Changes like these will take some time to take effect in this traditionalist-run nation of ours.

But if we can launch such measures as these clean election initiatives have done, we can effect real change in how we elect and manage our candidates. Instead of putting career-minded politicians in office like we have done for generations, we can start putting those ordinary Joes and Betsy’s that we have in our communities–people who don’t have a whole lot of political experience, but have years of community experience.

People who know what ticks and what doesn’t.

The clean election propositions and ideals lie with us.

And the only way we can make this work is if we start reforming the way we elect ourselves to public office.

Schuyler Thorpe is an author, a political activist, and a frequent letter writer to The Everett Herald of Snohomish County. He can be reached at: starchildalpha1@yahoo.com