Bush's Economy is a Lie (as if we didn't know that)

Ask Bush about why he lowered taxes, and he'll probably say something along the lines of "people should do what they want to with their own money." In other iterations, he says that lower taxes encourages economic growth, because people and companies are more likely to invest in future growth areas.

Well, I'm not saying he lied, but at the very least he was dead wrong. As if we didn't know this was coming.

Look-ee here!!

Here are some excerpts:

U.S. corporate profits have increased 21.3% in the past year and now account for the largest share of national income in 40 years, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

BUT!!!!

Meanwhile, the share of national income going to wage and salary workers has fallen to 56.9%. Except for a brief period in 1997, that's the lowest share for labor income since 1966.

Interesting.

"It's a big puzzle," said Josh Bivens, an economist for the Economic Policy Institute. "If this is a knowledge economy, how come the brains aren't being compensated? Instead, the owners of physical capital are getting the rewards."

Now I'm going to kick it up a notch with the punchline:

Despite the flood of cash coming in the door, corporations are investing comparatively little in expanding their operations. Capital spending has been below average, especially considering the strength of the economy, the level of profits and the special tax breaks given to boost investment.

In the fourth quarter, business fixed investment increased just 4.5%. In the past year, investment has risen 6.8%. The growth rate has been falling for the past four quarters.

BAM!!!

I don't know who Josh Bivens is, but I think he's an idiot. It's not a puzzle at all. Tax cuts to corporations in no way encourages growth. The right wingers would have you believe that putting people on Welfare makes them lazy and unwilling to work - the argument is that getting a "free lunch" takes away any incentive to work (and seriously, we all know how well those people live!!). But just like the way they are pro-death penalty and anti-abortion, their logic twists when they are talking about hand outs for corporations.

For some reason giving corporations a "free lunch" will make them energized and more likely to spend money. Hmmm... so if I'm Exxon, and I make $6 Billion in profits... and that is raised to $8 Billion with absolutely no work what so ever, raising my stock shares and making my CEO look great, what should I do? Risk the money on growth, or keep the money and bask in its glory? Tough call.

So while the money holders expand their wealth through complete inaction, the men who actually sweat and work for a living get shafted through poor/stagnant wages, no health care, loss of pension plans, stripped public service programs.... but at least they get that $300.

Bush Reads a Bedtime Story About the Environment

Did any of you read STATE OF FEAR by Michael Crichten?

I did. It was the work of the truly deluded. It was about how Global Warming is fiction... a fiction propagated by the ever rich environmentalist faction of the world.

You see, in the book, the super rich CREATED environmental mishaps (like tsunamies - I'm not kidding) so that they could propagate the myth of Global Warming and the "evil" scientific establishment could get paid. It's all about money for those environmentalists, you see.

Bush read the book and agrees with it.

READ IT HERE

He agrees that the crazy non-profits like the Sierra Club have WAAAAAAAAAYYYYY more money to propigate disinformation than OPEC, or Chevron or EXXON.

That make total sense. If you are retarded.

Here is an excerpt from the article -

In his new book about Mr. Bush, "Rebel in Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush," Fred Barnes recalls a visit to the White House last year by Michael Crichton, whose 2004 best-selling novel, "State of Fear," suggests that global warming is an unproven theory and an overstated threat.

Mr. Barnes, who describes Mr. Bush as "a dissenter on the theory of global warming," writes that the president "avidly read" the novel and met the author after Karl Rove, his chief political adviser, arranged it. He says Mr. Bush and his guest "talked for an hour and were in near-total agreement."

Once again, it's great to see a truly visionary president - one that bucks the trends (of commen sense and scientific fact).

Jesus said...

I'm pretty sure that Jesus said we should care for every man as we would ourselves.

To put in in Republican terms: "Every man for himself."

Because this is the time of year for layoffs.

We'll see countless "let goes" from the new Dreamworks-Paramount" merger, from Ford, from Airlines (pick one) --- oh, not to mention any reductions from their pension funds, while their executives parachute into golden pastures.

White House B.S. Talking Point...Denied

On FOX News today, a "legal expert" talked about how obtaining a FISA wiretap warrent would take "hours" but the "paperwork is complicated and could take much longer" hinting that obtaining a necessary wiretap by going through legal FISA means could jeapordize the nation.

He used the example that if we obtained the phone records of a terrorist in Afganistan, we would be held up in paperwork that would take a long time to get through before we could wiretap all of the people that terrrorist called in the US, thus leading to another attack.

Not true.

While it IS true the paperwork absolutely could take days to fill out, THIS IS AFTER THE FACT of the wiretapping.

The FISA statute stipulates that the government can wiretap first and apply for a warrant later, within 72 hours. So long as it can provide "probable cause," the court will approve.

That's right... the court can get a warrent AFTER tapping a phone.

In the light of the law and the court's record, the only reason to avoid it would be because the government felt the court that had acted almost as a rubber stamp would deny its requests.

Why would Bush think that the rollover FISA court (all members by the way were appointed by the late Reinquist) wouldn't approve of his wiretapping?

I have no problem with a "rollover FISA court" by the way. It may indeed be very beneficial to our security.

But with such a lax standard, why would Bush subvert it?

Well...

The FISA court would reject an application on two grounds.

First, that there was no probable cause. The court must adhere to the law and cannot authorize dragnets. But Attorney General Gonzales has declared that any spying is triggered by "reasonable basis" -- not probable cause. "Reasonable" means anything the government decides it is, lacking a scrap of potential evidence.

Second, the court would reject an application in which the evidence supporting "probable cause" had been produced by torture. But it is unlikely that the government would provide the court with details of the interrogation technique used. In any case, Bush apparently opted to launch trawling expeditions, lacking concrete evidence beyond lists of telephone numbers, and without the lawful imprimatur of the court.

So even given all of the improbabilities of NOT getting an after-the-fact OK, why did Bush not bother?

My guess: laziness. He has no time to abide by the laws that he's never in his privelidged life had to follow.

I Hate My Freedom

Ok, the real question is: do you value your freedom?

I'm kidding.

The real question is: If these "wiretaps" were soooooooo important, then why didn't GW follow the law?

It really wasn't a hard thing to do.

I mean, getting these taps are probably the EASIEST thing to do in the world, especially for the prez. All he had to do was tell someone (a secret court judge) he wanted to do it... and BAM!! instant gratification.

But he didn't.

Why?

Could it be that the taps had as much to do with the "War on Terrorism" as "WMDs" in Iraq?

Just read this:

Fact Sheet on Domestic Intelligence Wiretaps December 17, 2005

*

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) was enacted in 1978 to provide a statutory framework for eavesdropping on individuals within the United States, including U.S. citizens, who are not suspected of having committed a crime but who are likely to be spies or members of terrorist organizations.
*

FISA established a secret court that could issue wiretap orders if the government showed probable cause that the individual to be tapped is an “agent of a foreign power,” meaning he or she is affiliated with a foreign government or terrorist organization. This is an easier standard to meet than the criminal wiretap standard, which requires that there be: (1) probable cause that the individual to be tapped has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a crime, and (2) probable cause that communications concerning that crime will be obtained through the electronic surveillance.
*

In the 27 years since it was established, the FISA court has turned down only a handful of applications for wiretap orders. The number of approved FISA wiretap orders has jumped since September 11, 2001, with 1,754 FISA orders issued last year, up from 934 such orders in 2001.
*

FISA already addresses emergency situations where there is not time to get pre-approval from the court. It includes an emergency exception that permits government agents to install a wiretap and start monitoring phone and email conversations immediately, as long as they then go to the FISA court and get a court order within 72 hours.
*

FISA makes it a crime, punishable by up to five years in prison, to conduct electronic surveillance except as provided for by statute. The only defense is for law government agents engaged in official duties conducting “surveillance authorized by and conducted pursuant to a search warrant or court order.” [50 U.S.C. § 1809]
*

Congress has specifically stated, in statute, that the criminal wiretap statute and FISA “shall be the exclusive means by which electronic surveillance . . . and the interception of domestic wire, oral, and electronic communications may be conducted.” [18 U.S.C. § 2518(f)]
*

The target of a FISA wiretap is never given notice that he or she was subject to surveillance, unless the evidence obtained through the electronic surveillance is ultimately used against the target in a criminal trial.

A Temp Post (Sorry No Original Content)

I know I suck. No new posts. My Bad,

I swear I'm working on one. And it doesn't concren Axl Rose. I swear!!! It's about how my dog is a republican. It's got comparitive pictures and all! You see, my dog's an ass and...

Well, since I don't have that, here's a funny article. It's Mad Magazine's Dumbest people of the year. En Joy.

THE COMPLETE LIST OF MAD Magazine's 20 Dumbest People, Events and Things of 2005:

1. Hurricane Katrina: The Bush League Response
Shattering his old record for totally ignoring a national disaster (8 minutes of slacking following the 9/11 attacks), President Bush set a new standard this year for utter cluelessness. As Katrina grew to a class five hurricane and smashed the Gulf Coast, leaving New Orleans underwater and thousands stranded and suffering, Dubya spent his time clearing brush, presenting a birthday cake to John McCain, strumming a guitar at a GOP fundraiser, and sleeping. By the time he apologized to the nation two weeks later, it was painfully clear that the President had a lot in common with the citizens of New Orleans: he, too, was in way over his head.

2. Tom Cruise: From Pretty Boy To "Hoo Boy!"
As a Scientologist, Tom Cruise believes that all human suffering is caused by the galactic tyrant Xenu, who stacked billions of alien ghosts in volcanoes 75,000,000 years ago and then blew them up with his H-bombs. To us that sounds completely plausible, especially when compared to Tom's recent super crazy rants against psychotherapy and his wide-eyed, maniacal declarations of love for Katie Holmes. (Note to Katie: Get out now!) Damn that Xenu for making us all suffer through Cruise's weird, pathetic meltdown.

3. There Goes The Bride: Jennifer Wilbanks Says "Adieu"
Here comes the bride, all dressed in...whoops, not so fast! Just days before her upcoming nuptials, spooked bride-to-be Jennifer Wilbanks faked being kidnapped by a "Hispanic man" to avoid tying the knot. After an entire police force and 150 volunteers spent days looking for her to the tune of $60,000, she admitted that the story of her abduction on the eve of marriage was even phonier than the story of Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey's happy marriage. But still, the most troubling and highly disturbing aspect of the whole story? Her freaky-assed bug-eyes!

4. Russell Crowe's Telephone Tantrum: Dial "M" For Moron
Russell Crowe may not get a Best Actor Oscar nomination for Cinderella Man, but if there was a category for Best Real Life Temper Tantrum Thrown By a Pampered, Spoiled Multi-Millionaire Crybaby, then he'd be a sure-fire winner. The only performance of Crowe's that anyone paid any attention to this year was his caveman-like hotel lobby hissy fit during which he chucked a malfunctioning telephone at the head of a hapless desk clerk. All we can say is it's a good thing Russell wasn't having any problems with his toilet.

5. Karl Rove: A Man For All Treasons
There's an old saying that goes, if you piss in the wind enough, sooner or later it's bound to come back and hit you in the face. And so it was with White House advisor and political smear-meister, Karl Rove. When Rove heard that former diplomat Robert Wilson was issuing a report debunking the Bush administration's main reason for invading Iraq, and unable to refute Wilson with the facts, Karl did the only thing he could do: attack Wilson by secretly leaking to the press that his wife, Valerie Plame, was an undercover CIA agent. There were two problems with Karl's plan: 1) It's against the law, and 2) He got caught. Next thing Karl knew, he was in front of a federal grand jury probing his verbal incontinence. Bad boy, Karl. Bad boy!


6. Prince Harry: Not Knowing Reich From Wrong
Nearly a year after it happened, we're still trying to figure out why in Himmler's name Britain's Prince Harry thought it was a jolly good idea to attend a costume party dressed in full Nazi regalia. As part of a family that says it doesn't want to attract undue attention, parading around with a Swastika armband isn't exactly the way to go unnoticed. Note to His Highness: Next time you get a hankering for dressing up as a Nazi, play it safe and go as the Soup Nazi. Unlike you, he's funny.

7. Dave Chapelle: Must Flee TV
Everyone handles success differently. Some immediately embrace it, some slowly adapt to it and others panic, crap their pants and haul ass to South Africa. Just after signing a record-breaking $50 million contract with Comedy Central, guess which category Dave Chappelle fell into? Even though his impersonations of Lil John, Rick James and Prince made him a star, Dave is now most famous for a baffling new impression: Runaway Bride Jennifer Wilbanks.

8. Pat Robertson: Hitman Of The Cloth
Pat Roberston has long been respected and admired as a leading authority on sanctimonious, pea-brained, hateful ideas. This year, however, the Reverend's disturbing slide into advanced dementia reached a new low point when he called for the assassination of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. We're not Biblical scholars, but we missed the part in the Good Book where Jesus advocates killing. Perhaps Robertson's Bible includes The Gospel According To Jack (Ruby). We'd take issue with Pat more fervently, but honestly, we wouldn't want him to put a hit out on us, too.

9. Scam Artist Gives Wendy's The Finger
It was a fast food scam so stupid, it made the Hamburglar look like a criminal mastermind. Anna Ayala thought she had cooked up the perfect swindle — plant a severed digit in her Wendy's chili and just wait for that easy lawsuit money to come rolling in! Only one problem: for some crazy reason, Wendy's wanted to figure out exactly how "Chili con Fingertip" ended up on their menu. It didn't take much investigating before Ayala's Biggie lies were exposed and she and her husband were arrested — but not before her stunt cost Wendy's millions of bucks in lost business. Amazingly, in a story that involved a woman almost eating a severed human finger, Ayala's greedy, dumbass behavior managed to stand out as the most disgusting part.

10. Rafael Palmeiro Testifies Negative, Tests Positive
When people say an athlete's had quite a year, they're usually referring to his on-the-field heroics. Not so with mustachioed, unnaturally tanned baseball star Rafael Palmeiro.

After waving his finger in Clinton-esque fashion in front of Congress and testifying that he'd never used steroids, Rafy tested positive. Ever defiant, he then claimed that he never "intentionally" used steroids. But soon it was revealed that the heavy-duty 'roid he tested positive for is never found in tainted supplements, so he went to his next lame defense and blamed a teammate for giving him a tainted vitamin injection. Not long ago Palmeiro was hired to pitch Viagra to people who had trouble keeping it up. A good choice, because when it comes to dishing out the heavy BS, Rafy can keep it up forever.

11. The Terry Schiavo Circus
When a living creature perishes, eventually disgusting maggots appear to feed on its dead flesh. In the case of Terry Schiavo, the maggots — the self-righteous politicians, sanctimonious preachers, cable news talking heads and partisan grandstanders — actually fed on poor Terry while she was still alive. Upon hearing of this personal family tragedy, they quickly seized the opportunity to push forth their own selfish agendas. And an entire nation watched as these lowlife freaks whipped themselves — and the public — into a feeding frenzy. If only we could have disconnected the feeding tube on those bastards.


12. Michael Jackson's Touching Tale
Even after being acquitted on his latest round of boy-touching accusations, Michael Jackson's story was as full of unexplained holes as his kabuki face. But you'd never know it, if you checked out the self-adoring celebration that erupted on his website. The King of Perv compared his "innocent" verdict to the birth of Martin Luther King, the fall of the Berlin Wall, and the release of Nelson Mandela. It's good to see Michael finally gets it.

13. Brajelina: The Lame Of Love
Like a cockroach that you step on over and over that will not die, so it is with the Brad Pitt/Jennifer Aniston/Angelina Jolie love triangle. Supermarket tabloids, TV entertainment shows and gossip websites fulfilled their brain-dead audience's insatiable desire for The juicy details...The sordid confessions...The smoldering fury! (Even when they had to make it up.) So much money has been made by the parasitic media feeding off these three people's private lives, we figure it won't be long before the ever-greedy comic book business jumps on the bottom-feeder bandwagon.

14. Teen Queens' Extreme Weight Loss: Into Thin Err
Unhappy with their images as robust, beautiful and healthy young women, Lindsay Lohan, Jessica Simpson and Nicole Ritchie decided it was time for an extreme makeover and quickly transformed themselves into sickly, walking skeletons. They probably think they look drop dead gorgeous, but to us they look more like they're just about to drop dead.

15. Saddam Photographed In Jail: The News In Briefs
We're continually being told that for America to be successful in Iraq that we have to win the "hearts and minds" of the people on the Arab street. Our first efforts got off to a somewhat shaky start. There was that whole Abu Grahib naked prisoners on dog leashes thing, followed by the accidentally dropping and flushing the Koran down the toilet several times. This year we hit the trifecta when humiliating photos of the incarcerated Saddam Hussein, wearing nothing but tightie whities, were leaked to a British tabloid. The Pentagon, of course, promised to get to the bottom of their latest "crack" in security. Meanwhile, they're suffering from yet another public relations wedgie any child could relate to.

16. Homo-Neurotic: Right-Wing Group Outs SpongeBob
Early this year, Focus On The Family founder Dr. James Dobson claimed there was a "sinister agenda" behind a children's video because it featured "pro-homosexual" cartoon characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, singing the 1979 Sister Sledge hit We Are Family. We can't help thinking that Dr. J has actually lost his focus on the family — isn't it much more sinister that the video is trying to revive disco music? And, given that SpongeBob works as a deep-fry cook churning out Krabby Patties, shouldn't family groups be more worried about childhood obesity? As right-wingers continue to warn us about harmful influences in the fictional world of animation, they better take a look at this utterly shocking information we've uncovered, as it is indeed cause for grave concern.

17. Paula Abdul: Judge Juicy
We always knew that Paula Abdul was super-nice to American Idol contestants, but she apparently took it to the extreme with Season 2 contestant (and all-around loser) Corey Clark. Corey claimed that the once-sexy Abdul had an affair with him while he was on the show -- and also that she secretly coached him, chose his songs, designed his new look and even paid for his wardrobe, hairstyling and cell phone. The former Laker babe was cleared of any wrongdoing by FOX . (Note: Given that FOX's new fall line-up included The War At Home, Head Cases and So You Think You Can Dance, they're clearly experts when it comes to wrong-doing!) Well, one thing's for sure: we'll never be able to look at Ruben Studdard again without wondering if maybe, just maybe...

18. Kevin Federline: From Beer to Paternity
It was April 12th when both People Magazine editors and readers spontaneously wet themselves as Britney Spears announced that she and second husband, former dancer/current bum Kevin Federline were — Oh! My! God! — expecting. While makin' babies was sure to be a new experience for Spears, it was old hat for Federline who had already fathered two kids — not even waiting around for the second one to be born before hooking up with Spears. A healthy baby boy was born on September 14 — and while Britney had cause to worry over Kevin's lack of employment, drinking, partying, gambling and forays to strip clubs, she might take comfort in the knowledge that all those lap dances he's been enjoying (and she's been paying for) are good practice for when he bounces little Sean Preston Spears Federline on his knee.

19. "INTELLIGENT DESIGN"

20. What Screws Up Must Come Down: The A-list of A-holes
Lately, when someone does something really stupid, illegal or immoral, they're "punished" with a fat book contract or their own reality TV show. But that's not always the case. Occasionally there is a God. Someone does something wrong and there are repercussions. And so it was with a bunch of notorious lowlifes this year. In one way or another, from fraud to professional ethics gaffes to racist remarks, each of these once-esteemed people screwed up and lost. Some lost their freedom. Some lost their job. Some lost whatever credibility and respect they had. But they all found at least one thing: a place among this group of unquestionable morons.

Media For The Masses

This is a long-brewing responce to many politicians... Democrat politicians. This is a responce to Tipper, to Leiberman, to Hilliary, and to every single other politician that has used poplular culture as a way out. As a way to define themselves when they have nothing else to say. As a way to gather attention and support from lazy parents who think it's the record companies' fault their kids are listening to Rap or Heavy Metal instead of thier own. So when those kids do drugs, those parents can have someone to blame... other than themselves.

Those politicians are shooting themselves in the foot by raging against not only a lost cause, but a bullshit one.

Let's start with the obvious -- the only time the politicians care about any of this is when it sells to white kids. That's right. White kids.

Rock and Roll? It wasn't invented by Elvis, but when Elvis shook his pelvis, politicians RAGED.

NWA -- "Niggas Wit Attitude" for the unenlightened. So, NWA? No problem; let the darkies have their music.... that is until they started selling millions of albums to middle-America white kids.

Remember Ice T's "Copkiller" album? He rode the white-teenage-middle-class of hardcore-rap-buyers that NWA created. Remember the "outrage" of politicians? (NOTE: this is when Tipper started her campaign.) Yeah, it had nothing to do with the fear of blacks shooting cops. It had to do with anti-establishment sentiments that had actually taken hold in white kids that had never seen a ghetto, let alone ever thought about shooting a cop. (But, in fairness, they all probably owned shotguns... thanks, second amendment!!!)

The key word in the last sentence was "ideas". Those idiot politicians were fighting against teenage rebellion. Something that was unheard of before a middle-class was created in America (back when you were either too poor or too rich to be a rebel), but grew throughout this century, and is currently peaking with the post-Baby Boomer generations. You've got a bunch of spoiled kids that are dissatisfied with what they have, while at the same time they don't respect what they have.

I'm not critisizing them, mind you, I am one of them. Ah, life in the middle class. Nothing is good enough for us.

So, this is the post for all those who think that RAP is killing our moral values and the literal fabric of our society.

I remember the first time a tape (that's right -- "tape") was taken away from me by my parents. It was "G'N'R Lies". I think it was because a naked lady was on the cover. I'm 28 (just 28 today actually), but when I was in fourth grade, I memorized Slash's riffs on air guitar... think I listened to that tape about 60 nights in a row (before it was taken away from me). I can't describe to you how good it felt to hear someone expressing the (unfounded) anger I possesed. Axl Rose was PISSED and he belted his lyrics like I'd never imagine anyone actually speaking. Slash spoke with his guitar. Adler banged his drums as if he was going to die right after each song. Guns 'N Roses were my Gods. And honestly, I had no idea what they were singing about half of the time. Listening to Mr. Brownstone years later... yeah, ok, it's about heroin. When I was young, the only thing I heard in that song was aggresion. And that's all that mattered. They were pissed, and they talked to the world for me.

But what Axl was to me, Lennon and Jagger were to my parents, as I'm sure Eminem was to 4th graders a few years ago.

And to be honest, I can't wait for what my future kids listen to. It won't be something I approve of, but I would like to think that I'd at least respect it for what it will be to them -- a way to defy convention, and break away from me. I'd rather them act out their agression through music or video games, or whatever is the medium at the time, than to act on what I consider even more harmful things.

Axl talked about screwing whores, shooting herion, and getting arrested like they were badges. I never did any of these things, and I like to think that my parents were a strong factor in that.

I got to live THROUGH my rock heroes, and get out aggrestion by listening to their songs. But I was taught right from wrong, and I knew the difference between real and Nintendo (or PS2 if you will).

A ton of pop culture is aimed at kids, and kids eat it up becuase it is an escape that they need. Just like Horror Comics in the 30s and 40s, or Elvis in the 50s. The real test is what type of influence the parents have on the kids. Keep in mind, both Horror Comics (like EC) and Elvis brought about legistlaion concerning the "corruption of youth".

And not to get political, but both Dems and Repubs want to legislate pop culture... distracting the public from real problems -- while they are doing nothing to cure poverty, which is the true culprit of most blue collar crime (and they turn a blind eye to greed, which is the culprit of most white collar crime). Hell, the only reason we have rock or rap is govenment's blind eye to inequality.

How many crimes are commited strictly because of pop culture? I'd say none. None at all. Crimes are commited out of desperation and greed and lack of sympathy for victims. Does pop culture give future criminals ideas? Absolutely. But criminals will commit crimes regardless of what songs they've listened to.... and I'd wager there was far more rampant crime and aggression during Bach's time than ours.

Let's face it... we as Americans are enlightened. Well, most of the time (NOTE: I do not count Dick Cheney's willingness to torture people enlightment). Crime has gone down every year since Clinton took office (yes, even during the Bush Jr. years). We have a decently strong middle class that has great values. And no matter how many murders you hear sensationalized on FOX News, the murder rate is way, way down.

And yet, you have politicians preaching the end of moral values because of pop culture.

I call them idiots who are emotionally retarded. They talk about fake sex and violence as if they were real. And to call any music or video games to task regarding violence when you can plainly see graphic murders and violence on CSI, CSI:Miami, CSI:NY, Law & Order (all 18 of them), Bones, Ultimate Fighting, Boxing, ER, Killer Instinct, and top it off with casual sex on Desperate Houseives, is plainly and disgustingly disingenuous.

But then again... kids can't vote. And adults always - ALWAYS - seem to forget what it was like to be a teen.

If the worst I have to deal with is a long-haired kid in my basement who listens to music too loud, then I'll be a happy man.

But then again, by the time I have kids, I may have forgotten I wrote this, and I'll be the one condemning MTV and the XBox.

A Cure and a Trumped Up (Non) Controversy

This I can't understand. I just can't put my head around it.

There's a new vaccine that's about to be released (it's targeted for next year) that prevents cancer.

Let me repeat: IT PREVENTS CANCER.

That's right, a VACCINE FOR CANCER!!! (Note: it's actually a vaccine against a virus that causes cancer).

Cervical cancer to be precise. When's the last time a drug was released that actually helps REAL ailments? We're inundated with ads for drugs we never even knew we needed, and they're advertised in a way that's so vague that anyone could think they have the symptoms described in the commercials.

Ever have trouble sleeping? Try Cialis!

Tummy hurt? You've got acid reflux and must buy Zyrtex!

But now we have a vaccine for a cancer that kills thousands of women every year. That's right women - men don't have cervixes (or is it cervixi?). The "women only" thing is important to my next statement... don't worry, I'll tie it all in, I promise.

THE HIJACKED CHRISTIAN RIGHT DOESN'T WANT THIS MIRACLE DRUG TO BE RELEAED!!!

Why? Because it provokes and promotes teenage sex.

Because as I'm sure you know, nothing deters teens more from sex than the threat of getting cancer at some point 20 or 30 years later. That's why none of them smoke or drink. Teens really do look ahead, and none of them think the only things that matters are the here-now and what they're wearing to High School tomorrow.

Here're some fun quotes:

Because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted virus, many conservatives oppose making it mandatory, citing fears that it could send a subtle message condoning sexual activity before marriage. Several leading groups that promote abstinence are meeting this week to formulate official policies on the vaccine.

And this one:

The vaccine appears to be virtually 100 percent effective against two of the most common cancer-causing HPV strains. Merck, whose vaccine is further along, plans to ask the Food and Drug Administration by the end of the year for approval to sell the shots.

So what have we got?

On the one hand, we've got a vaccine that's 100 percent effective.

On the other, we've got people who don't want to send a wrong "message". I can only assume that message is "sex is bad!!!!!" (exclamation points added by me for effect).

Are they saying that getting cancer is an appropriate punishment for doing something (possibly reckless and stupid) when you're a teen?

Ah, but it's more than that. As noted above, this cancer isn't an equal opportunity offender (i.e. lack of a cervix in males). Women are the only ones at risk. It's the Right's little way of saying women should be punished for having sex. They'd rather see their daughters die than actually take responsibility as a parent and talk to their kids about sex. They'd rather shape society to their own narrow view than have confidence in themselves that they can teach morality to their kids. And in doing so, they are putting all girls at risk.

Why not just lie to their kids in the same way they tell their sons that masturbation causes blindness? They can say they're going in for a flu shot instead of the vaccine. Just an idea.

So what will happen when someone develops an AIDS vaccine? Same thing, I'd wager. For this group of people, AIDS is punishment from God sent down to kill the gays. They would rather have millions die every year than send "the wrong message".

This is the crowd that calls themselves "pro-life" and swears on Jesus Christ. For all their life talk, they sure do love when their enemies die (not just lose... but die). What was it Jesus taught again?