Military Industrial Congressional Complex

Giant defense contractors like Lockheed-Martin, Halliburton, and Blackwater are allowed to funnel taxpayer money from government contracts into lobbying and secret political contributions for their friends in Congress. 

I just joined former Labor Secretary Robert Reich in asking President Obama to ban all political spending by corporations that get most of their business from government contracts. Can you join me at the link below?


http://pol.moveon.org/militarycontractors/?rc=militarycontractors_letter.fb.v1.g3


"Our President must tell is like it is -- not with rancor but with the passion and conviction of a leader who recognizes what is happening and rallies the nation behind him."  Robert Reich.


"Washington's establishment -- journalists, think tanks, military, Congressmen, security bureaucracies nearly all thrive on war and conflict overseas--think of hundreds of thousands of dollars expenses and weeks in the best Italian hotels for a CIA group to kidnap one Arab.  Pro-war Think Tank intellectuals, subsidized by the Complex, are a new, major force for promoting wars.  Their trained, practiced,credentialed spokesmen with lifetimes as Washington insiders give authority and academic gravitas to War Party objectives.  When Bush first came in, before 9/11, they made aggressive tones towards Russia, then conflict with China was strongly promoted, now it's the Muslims, but any war will do."  From http://www.iraqwar.org/micomplex.htm


"Not only did they lie to get us into the disastrous war against Iraq, but their failed policies have left us less safe, less respected and less well off than we were in 2000. We cannot wait and allow them to lead us into another war, when our economy is failing and our army is already stretched to the breaking point.  Lying about the nuclear threat of Saddam Hussein and the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq is closer to the constitutional standard of "high crimes and misdemeanors" than engaging in a sexual act..."  From http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2007/09/11/3756


Even in 1961, Dwight D. Eisenhower warned against this very issue.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y06NSBBRtY


The citizens of the United States have too long been quiet and allowed Congressional representatives do as they pleased, which, as evidenced by our current whoas, hasn't been good for anyone, except the ones receiving the money.  That same money is our tax dollars, being redirected to corrupt politicians.  If you're not upset, angry, and ready to get involved in a revolution for change, then you should be!


Here's an article about the current Military budget:  http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/148365-the-defense-budget-ignorance-is-not-bliss


To help you, here's two websites devoted to helping you stay informed and up-to-date on the issues in Washington DC, and to contact your representatives:
http://www.opencongress.org/
http://www.congress.org/signon


Writing to them isn't enough, as the written messages are never read by them, only a staff member pulls your name and address and then sends you a standard response.  It's time for ACTION!

Thunder shook the walls

The thunder shook the walls, the lightning filled the mysterious darkness, sirens wailed and thoughts of what was happening and if we were secure emerged.  A glance out of the front door only to confirm the thick pounding rain and watch the large Oak trees dance like doing the Salsa.  A bit later and it was all calm, except for other areas near here.  A tornado hit just North of Dallas and several more further Northward into Oklahoma.  Golf ball sized hail hit hard and even brought a sports fans in the pro stadium scrambling for protection.

Radar weather reports showed the storm and even commented on where it was the worse, but tonight wasn't really about the storm, it was about giving.  During all of the compotion Ken, my friend in Dallas, came and told me that his dog, Sleepy, was convulsing.  I asked if I could see her, so we walked down the hall to where she lay on her side, every muscle in her tiny body rythmitcally pulsing and her mouth foaming.  There could have been many causes, from the recent Flea & Tick drops to the wasp we found struggling to live.  What ever it was, led to a few hours of providing love and comfort to this small dog.  Her convulsions were so great that she had to be held to help her keep calm.  In my lap with my arms tight around her, we sat.  My sleeping pills kicking in and I pull out the bedding from her crate and put it on the floor.  I lay her down and then, like a mother dog would do, curled myself around her so she could feel my heartbeat, my breath, and know she was OK.

A sponge to drip water slowly into her mouth seemed to help, but I wasn't sure how much she actually got.  The foaming stopped, but the convulsions continued, so there we lay on the cool laundry room floor asking the animal spirits to gather to help her.  About an hour later she is calming, so we sit her up on her stomach and help her drink water.  Me holding her up and Ken cupping water in his hands for her.  She began to respond by slapping up the water.  Before the hour was over, she lay curled up on my arms peaceful.  Now, after a quick shower, I'm sitting here and contemplating a thought.

When someone or something ix going through a great ordeal, do we run away, know we should help but are unable to do anything because we don't know what to do, or do we offer or own love, energy, and comfort? Tonight I gave the gift of love to a small dog, who's been struggling for some time now.  I could feel her tiny heart pounding rapidly and feel each muscle contract.  She's peacefully resting now, but tonight she gave me a change to share my love.

Thought for now:  How many people (or even animals) do you know really need help?  What do you do to help them?  I believe the greatest gift we can give is our love, as pure love has no agenda, only the desire for the well being of the other.

Seven Days, One Week, Until

Seven days, one week, until another year has passed in this physical reality of time and I'll be 49. So much has happened in the last year. My thoughts wander to times past, of laughing with my grandmother, fist fighting with my mother's husband, of my wonderful animal friends I grew up with (especially my baby goat I hand raised, who was brutally shot by a mean old neighbor), of riding my horses every day, of family camp outs filled with entertainment, of places I've lived, of people long since not a part of my life but never forgotten, of dancing through the night, and so many memories of my last 48 years. My grandmother was my greatest fan, she supported me in ways that no one else understood. She was a gracious, loving, and caring woman and we shared many laughs over the years. To this day I still miss her, but I know her energy has always been with me. She used to say, “It's not the years, it's the miles.” I understand her now, as the years are relatively few, but the miles are many.

There are moments you remember all of your life, and those wonderful moments, even the sad ones, fill my mind. As I tell my friends and my doctors, “I've lived a thousand lifetimes within my years, especially considering that most people never even live, not even for a moment.” I've lived, boy have I lived. Freedom has always been the motivating factor for many of the key decisions that have shaped my life, favoring it over love, family, and even some friends. Yes, I'm free, but there are times when I ponder to reflect why and ask myself, “what have I missed?”

Living single, with only one real love, I suppose there are two (Larry and Ellen). Yes, a man and a woman, both beautiful beings who brought love and laughter into my life. If there are ever times to question the idea of gay or straight, I can see the questions in your eyes. I've always preferred relationships with men, but at the same time I have always found women most delightful company. I'm free, but at this moment, I question at what cost. There is a price to pay for everything, every decision, every action, and I've paid the price for my freedom. I see friends with husbands, wives, boyfriends, and such and curiously drift into thoughts of those I said no to so long ago, favoring my freedom over their love. What did I miss, will I make it up in the next life, will the lessons learned in this life guide me further in the next?

Pictures are always in mind, even though I do not have the actual photos now. I can see the old Chevy truck with the camper, the horse trailers, the boats, the motorcycles, and the old log cabin. I see me running happily with my new colt, which I was so proud to have. I see the wrestling and boxing matches with my older brother, even the day I kicked his butt and left him crying on the floor, all because he said, “I'm going to keep kicking your butt until you can kick mine.” Such are those moments that have shaped my life, brought me to the place of “I am.” It was those moments, those hurts, pains, loves, laughter, and triumphs that brought me here.

Is there more in this life for me? Whatever it is, I'm sure it will all be revealed, but for now, I'm content in knowing that I have lived my life for me, not based upon the ideas or limitations of religions, family, or society. Yes, there are moments you remember all your life. Even now, as I struggle to listen to one of my favorite singers, I hear what should be a sweet melody and soulful voice as shrieks and pounds upon my ears. The song is special and the message one I shall embrace.

Loreena Mckennitt: “Night Ride Across The Caucasus” Lyrics

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

There are visions, there are memories

There are echoes of thundering hooves

There are fires, there is laughter

There's the sound of a thousand doves

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

In the velvet of the darkness

By the silhouette of silent trees

They are watching, they are waiting

They are witnessing life's mysteries

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Cascading stars on the slumbering hills

They are dancing as far as the sea

Riding o'er the land, you can feel its gentle hand

Leading on to its destiny

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Take me with you on this journey

Where the boundaries of time are now tossed

In cathedrals of the forest

In the words of the tongues now lost

Find the answers, ask the questions

Find the roots of an ancient tree

Take me dancing, take me singing

I'll ride on till the moon meets the sea

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Ride on Through the night Ride on

Find the answers, ask the questions, find the roots of an ancient tree is how most of my friends would describe I've lived my life. Now, the message portrays a different idea, take me dancing, take me singing, I'll ride on till the moon meets the sea, Take me with you on this journey where the boundaries of time are now tossed, In cathedrals of the forest, In the words of the tongues now lost. Adventures await and I shall live as I have, free, outspoken, creative, and incorrigible.

Question for now: What are your 'moments you remember all your life' and have you lived, lived to enjoy the beauty in the smallest flower, lived to marvel at the sunrise, lived to feel the spray of a cooling ocean mist upon your face, lived and loved, and lived by questioning everything?