Non-voters are often categorized as ignorant, indolent, and apathetic. But voters, as a class, often adopt those same characteristics.
Many vote the straight party because they are too lazy to think, too apathetic to inform themselves, and too ignorant of the issues—not to mention the proper role of government—to make enlightened choices, assuming they were allowed any.
Saturday, July 31, 2004
If voting could change things it would be illegal
It's the same message every election year: "Get out and vote - It's your civic duty." Those who audit the sound bites of the candidates, read headlines about the debates and finally pull the lever at their local precinct are touted as moral, upstanding citizens; those who find among the candidates no agreeable representative, no platform worthy of espousal, and who then refuse to turn out on election day, on the other hand, are labeled apathetic and the legitimacy of their opposition is denied.
George Orwell Lives On In Political Buzzwords
"Voluntary compliance" -- This term explains the Internal Revenue Service's
notion that taxpayers donate their money to the Treasury. According to the IRS
publication "Why Do I Have to Pay Taxes?": "Voluntary compliance means that each
of us is responsible for filing a tax return when required and for determining
and paying the correct amount of tax." Those who violate this compulsory
voluntarism can wind up in handcuffs.
"Compulsory Voluntarism" -- now there's an oxymoron for ya!
notion that taxpayers donate their money to the Treasury. According to the IRS
publication "Why Do I Have to Pay Taxes?": "Voluntary compliance means that each
of us is responsible for filing a tax return when required and for determining
and paying the correct amount of tax." Those who violate this compulsory
voluntarism can wind up in handcuffs.
"Compulsory Voluntarism" -- now there's an oxymoron for ya!
Why Americans Believe Only American Deaths Count in Iraq
"The privileging of American lives over those of other countries--soldiers and civilians--is one important way the U.S. government (and a corporate media biased in its favor) displays its nationalistic tendencies through the guise of the rhetoric of patriotism. "
Friday, July 30, 2004
Eating candy a U.S. capital offence
WASHINGTON—A government scientist finishing a candy bar on her way into a subway station where eating is banned was arrested, handcuffed and detained for three hours by transit police.
Vaccination parties geared to college-bound.
Terry Czekaj, mother of a 17-year-old high school graduate, hosted a meningitis party Thursday, putting out multicolored plates, a tower of plastic cups and homemade zucchini muffins.
--A "meningitis party"? Um, ok.....
--A "meningitis party"? Um, ok.....
Wednesday, July 28, 2004
Tuesday, July 27, 2004
student suspended for jaywalking
She said she was told she could not appeal the decision because it was a single-day suspension, but was assured it would not stay on Kelly's permanent record.
Well, that's nice. I mean, common sense be damned, but it won't stay "on your permanent record." Yeah, suuure!
Well, that's nice. I mean, common sense be damned, but it won't stay "on your permanent record." Yeah, suuure!
Monday, July 26, 2004
Homeschooling for Liberty
To the rational thinker, handing off children to paid agents of government makes as much sense as hiring the hangman as your babysitter. Yet today otherwise sane people consider it normal to frog-march a terrified five-year-old child to the bus stop, and send him off into a penal system peopled with monsters and manipulators. "After all," the gulled parent says, "public school did me no harm!" Other than damaging your critical faculties to the point where you are unable to perceive the harm done to yourself ...
This is a joke, right?
"Planned Parenthood is proud to offer yet another t-shirt in our new social fashion line: "I Had an Abortion" fitted T-shirts are now available. These soft and comfortable fitted tees assert a powerful message in support of women's rights."
This is just sick.
This is just sick.
The Official DNC/Boston "Free Speech Zone"
Last night, I had my first direct experience with the so-called free speech zone. It left me with one conclusion: whatever you do, do NOT go inside. It’s not only a blatant offense to free speech, but also highly dangerous and unsafe. I would suggest protesting anywhere in Boston but inside of it. No amount of hyperbole can accurately describe how disastrous the interior actually is. It’s like a scene from some post-apocalyptic movie – a futuristic, industrial detention area from a Mad Max film. You are surrounded on all sides by concrete blocks and steel fencing, with razor wire lining the perimeter. Then, there is a giant black net over the entire space.[Pictures of the Boston "Free Speech Zone"]
That’s not even the worst part. 80% of the space is actually beneath a construction site. You heard me, most of the zone is actually under a partially constructed building, broken up by gates, iron girders and wooden rafters, in the darkness. No helicopter will ever be able to see an aerial shot of the people assembled, negating the major points of mass protest: to let the rest of the public see your numbers. This forced'invisibility' is so painfully obvious, that it is hard to believe it resulted from pure negligence. What's more, the space fits only 1000 maximum by law, so the 1001st person who wants to express their rights, is shit out of luck. That’s not all. If you go inside, you won't be left safely alone with your fellow protesters. Right above you will be a suspended catwalk of wooden rafters traveling down the middle of the protest area. This strip is not only covered with reams of barbed wire, but officers (or national guardsmen) will be strolling above you just feet from your head.
After walking in, it took us about 2 seconds to agree; “there is no fucking way we are stepping into this trap”.And if you think that the civility of individual officers will make up for it, think again. As we were casually walking through the pen, our jaws open in dis-belief, a group of officers quickly surrounded us. Twenty-four of them. The first officer (Officer ‘Gately’) approached us swiftly, and declared, “Do you know that the willful destruction of public property in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a felony that carries 5 year in jail!” We were taken aback by this introduction. Other people in suit and ties were walking by, using the zone as a pedestrian shortcut. a bunch of peaceniks were walking through in our shorts and backpacks and we were immediately suspect of committing a criminal act. I guess this explains the meaning of the rule about those wearing ‘inappropriate clothing’ being searched. The overtly intimidating tone of the interaction didn’t cease, so we soon left. I called the BPD headquarters and asked to talk to the district 2 duty officer, in order to file a complaint about the rude treatment. When I asked him (Sgt. Ross) for Officer Gately’s ID#, he stated that he could not give me that information because after all, I could be “a member of the press, or an anarchist”. I guess myself (along with the press and anarchists) are no longer allowed to hold the police accountable for their actions.
A word of advice: Do not make the mistake of making your first visit to the free speech zone on your day of protest. It will be too late to realize what you are getting into. It’s crazy to think that this is happening in Boston, a city that fronts a reputation of being a cradle of constitutional values. The city has tried to force free speech into a cage where it cannot survive. The only reasonable response is to exercise our rights everywhere but the protest zone.By giving free speech an unacceptable location, the City of Boston has unwittingly declared that the entire city is now a free speech zone.
That’s not even the worst part. 80% of the space is actually beneath a construction site. You heard me, most of the zone is actually under a partially constructed building, broken up by gates, iron girders and wooden rafters, in the darkness. No helicopter will ever be able to see an aerial shot of the people assembled, negating the major points of mass protest: to let the rest of the public see your numbers. This forced'invisibility' is so painfully obvious, that it is hard to believe it resulted from pure negligence. What's more, the space fits only 1000 maximum by law, so the 1001st person who wants to express their rights, is shit out of luck. That’s not all. If you go inside, you won't be left safely alone with your fellow protesters. Right above you will be a suspended catwalk of wooden rafters traveling down the middle of the protest area. This strip is not only covered with reams of barbed wire, but officers (or national guardsmen) will be strolling above you just feet from your head.
After walking in, it took us about 2 seconds to agree; “there is no fucking way we are stepping into this trap”.And if you think that the civility of individual officers will make up for it, think again. As we were casually walking through the pen, our jaws open in dis-belief, a group of officers quickly surrounded us. Twenty-four of them. The first officer (Officer ‘Gately’) approached us swiftly, and declared, “Do you know that the willful destruction of public property in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a felony that carries 5 year in jail!” We were taken aback by this introduction. Other people in suit and ties were walking by, using the zone as a pedestrian shortcut. a bunch of peaceniks were walking through in our shorts and backpacks and we were immediately suspect of committing a criminal act. I guess this explains the meaning of the rule about those wearing ‘inappropriate clothing’ being searched. The overtly intimidating tone of the interaction didn’t cease, so we soon left. I called the BPD headquarters and asked to talk to the district 2 duty officer, in order to file a complaint about the rude treatment. When I asked him (Sgt. Ross) for Officer Gately’s ID#, he stated that he could not give me that information because after all, I could be “a member of the press, or an anarchist”. I guess myself (along with the press and anarchists) are no longer allowed to hold the police accountable for their actions.
A word of advice: Do not make the mistake of making your first visit to the free speech zone on your day of protest. It will be too late to realize what you are getting into. It’s crazy to think that this is happening in Boston, a city that fronts a reputation of being a cradle of constitutional values. The city has tried to force free speech into a cage where it cannot survive. The only reasonable response is to exercise our rights everywhere but the protest zone.By giving free speech an unacceptable location, the City of Boston has unwittingly declared that the entire city is now a free speech zone.
"SHOVE IT!"
Thank you Teresa Heinz, you classy lady! You fit right in with Dick "Go Fuck Yourself" Cheney. Bones will be bones.....
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