A Dose of Reality in The Land of Delusion

Privacy in America Is Dead

What in the hell is going on? Have most all in this country lost their minds and their spirit, or concerning freedom, is apathy all that remains? Oh to be a conspiracy theorist! Everything today in actuality is conspiratorial, and those who have been continuously demoralized for their constant suspicions of government are now the only sane ones left. This is evident because "1984" is no longer fiction; it is reality!

The latest crime in a long line of usurpations of liberty by government evildoers has now effectively eliminated privacy as we know it. As reported on LRC and told by Glenn Beck, anyone accessing the "cash for clunkers" program literally gives up ownership of their computer to the federal government...

...Many brutal political "leaders" of the past like Hitler, Stalin, Mao and Mussolini attempted to monitor and control all citizens and their behavior. The end results were telling, and they were horrible. Mass murder at the hands of the state was the rule not the exception. Starvation was prevalent and sickness was constant. Wars consumed production and economies collapsed. Freedom was unheard of during the reign of these monsters. Can you imagine the political and monitoring capabilities of today being available to those brutal tyrants of the past? There is a reason that the U.S. federal government has taken over and co-opted all the means of society. This same government now controls and monitors all money, banking, transportation, health care, police, and communication, including the internet. Those dictators I mentioned above did not have this capability, and still mass oppression won the day. If this history is any guide, our future looks bleak.

Monumentally Tragic Disappointment on the Horizon

Whenever the herd mentality lines up along a compass point leading to “permanent prosperity,” or a yellow brick road lined with green shoots, or something like that, I tend to see the edge of a cliff up ahead. We are now completely in the grips of the deadly diminishing returns of information technology. The more information comes to us about How Things Are, especially from TV, the more confused or wrong the conventional view gets it.

A broad consensus has formed in the news media and among government mouthpieces and even some “bearish” investors on the street that “the worst is behind us” in this tortured economy. This view is completely crazy. It will only lead to massive disappointment a few weeks or months from now, and that disappointment might easily transmute to political trouble. One even might call the situation tragic, except a closer look at the sordid spectacle of what American culture has become — a non-stop circus of the seven deadly sins — suggests that we deserve to be punished by history.

America the Great ... Police State

For those of us who had hoped that the Obama administration would present us with a rebirth of the old republic that was so rudely erased a few years ago by that team of judicial wreckers, Bush and Gonzales, which led, in turn, to a recent incident in Cambridge, Mass. that inspired a degree of alarm in many Americans. But what was most alarming was the plain fact that neither the president nor a “stupid” local policeman seemed to understand the rules of behavior in a new America, where we find ourselves marooned as well as guarded (is that the verb?) by armed police who have been instructed that they are indeed, once armed, the law and may not be criticized verbally or in any other way and are certainly not subject to any restrictions as to whom they arrest or otherwise torment.

This is rather worse than anyone might have predicted, even though the signs have been clear for some years that ours is now a proto-fascist nation and there appears to be no turning back; nor, indeed, much awareness on the part of our ever-alert media. Forgive me if you find my irony heavy, but I too get tired of carrying it about in “the greatest nation in the country,” as Spiro Agnew liked to say.

How can an entire nation completely ignore reality? How can they blindly take the word of a government that has blatantly lied, time and time again. Despite the obvious, REAL signs of economic, political, and societal meltdown, the majority of Americans choose to believe the official line...you know the one...where they give us a patronizing pat on the head and say that everything will be juuuuust fine if we just believe it to be so. Close you eyes and wish really hard folks....worked for the Germans under Hitler ...right? Or the Russians under Stalin? Or for the...well, I could go on and on with the examples, there have surely been plenty....but we all know don't we...Americans are not a stupid people, we have just made a CHOICE to ignore our troubles in the vain hope that doing so will make them disappear. Well, folks, fairy tales are for children., and these monsters won't disappear when you pull the blankets over your head....facing the harsh realities of life and dealing with them isn't an optional excercise for adults....time to grow up already.

Winning the "War on Terror" is Easier Than it Looks

The world's most prolific terrorist organization is funded by our tax dollars. Every single target of this supposed "War on Terror" is a CIA creation....from Al Queda and Osama Bin Laden to Sadam Hussein....and now it comes out, the Taliban. Oh and the nuclear power plant they wanted to attack Iran over?....We gave it to them as a gift. Seems most of the world's terrorism is sponsored by the good old US of A. The "War on Terror" could be won without one soldier leaving our shores if the root of the problem were to be addressed...ABOLISH THE CIA.
CIA and ISI together created Taliban: Zardari

You Might Be a Terrorist If..............

You happen to have the audacity to disagree with the government.....

400,000 still on terror watchlist, including author of book on Rove
Over 1 million records on government’s combined watch list

James Moore, a Texas journalist who wrote two searing books on former Bush White House Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove, found himself included on a no-fly list, a component of the combined terrorist watch list, and has not been able to get his name removed. It is unclear why Moore was listed and why he remains on the list — but Moore told RAW STORY that the list hasn’t made anyone safer.

“The terrorist watchlist is an icon for government malfunction and abuse,” Moore wrote in an email message Wednesday. “Politicians can seemingly nominate their enemies for the list or have it done by proxy using their bureaucratic influence. And the lists are maintained using outdated matching software that is incapable of finding discrepancies in all of the various data formats used by federal agencies. The list has made a lot of work for a lot of bureaucrats but it hasn’t caught a single terrorist or made safer one American soul.”

These misidentifications are generally explained as affecting only individuals with common names which they might share with actual terrorism suspects. However, last year Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX) called for a probe after learning that the name of CNN correspondent Drew Griffin had appeared on the no-fly list shortly after he had done an investigative report on weaknesses in the federal air marshal system. A TSA spokesperson insisted that any connection between the two events was “absolutely fabricated.”

And look what they can do to you.......

The most visible case of consequences for an individual wrongly placed on the watchlist was Canadian software engineer Maher Arar. In 2002, Arar was detained at a New York City airport, then rendered without a court order to Syria, where he was imprisoned and tortured—all because Canadian officials had wrongly asked for his name to be included on a watchlist.

Still think you live in a free country? Oh, right,I forgot.... we've been exporting freedom all over the world for years now, must be why we haven't got much left at home.

US interrogators may have killed dozens, human rights researcher and rights group say

United States interrogators killed nearly four dozen detainees during or after their interrogations, according a report published by a human rights researcher based on a Human Rights First report and followup investigations.

In all, 98 detainees have died while in US hands. Thirty-four homicides have been identified, with at least eight detainees — and as many as 12 — having been tortured to death, according to a 2006 Human Rights First report that underwrites the researcher’s posting. The causes of 48 more deaths remain uncertain.

Hit the link in the title for the rest of the story...but be warned, the details are pretty gruesome. Very sick...very depressing that this is what our country has become in recent years. All this is done in our names folks, we should be VERY ashamed that we have allowed this to happen.....and continue to allow it today. What exactly is it that makes us any better than the "terrorists" these days? Why isn't there any outrage over these vile acts? Have we lost our humanity completely? And, isn't it grand that our own citizens can be treated this way? After all, any one of us can be declared an "Enemy Combatant" these days and exposed to those "enhanced interrogation techniques" ....just ask 16 year old Ashton Lundeby.

Remember When........

Our government assured us that fears of “Enemy Combatant” status being used against American citizens on American soil were unfounded, entertained only by paranoid conspiracy nuts? Well guess what? They lied. A 16 year old child from North Carolina is being held as an Enemy Combatant...detained without benefit of his rights as guaranteed by the Constitution, and with no formal charges filed. Land of the Free indeed. Here is a link to his story.
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Oh Look....Terrorists Can Investigate Themselves These Days.....And Find Themselves Innocent Too...

Well, the result have come back from one of the many investigations I instigated on the abuse of power issue with CPS that I wrote about in my last post. In a letter I received this past week from the CPS Consumer Affairs office.....a rather Orwellian name for this office, as if anyone CHOOSES to be a CPS “consumer”......they state that they have investigated themselves, and ...SURPRISE!!!!....they have come to the conclusion that there was no wrong doing. Apparently, this “investigation” entailed asking the CPS investigators involved whether they had abused their power, and they ...of course...lied. None of the impartial witnesses on the scene when this visit took place ....two Sheriff's deputies and one local Constable...were questioned as to what occurred, nor was I contacted. Mr. Ramos denies threatening me over keeping dogs indoors, having a camp fire in the yard, or giving my girls a bath rather than a shower, and his partner in crime, Ms. Carrasco lied for him as well. I guess I am supposed to accept that I must have been hearing things and go along my merry way. Fortunately, there is another witness to this misconduct that CPS has yet to become aware of....who remained inside listening at an open window to all threats made that day.......so things are going to get interesting. ....To be continued.......

It's Been a While Since I've Had Time to Post....

Well, I guess one should never joke about some things.....CPS for instance. In my last post I made a sarcastic comment about such things, and next thing you know, CPS is at my door...so I've been a bit busy. Someone called their hotline and made a false report about my family. The caller reported that we were living in tents with the children, and that there was no food, water, electricity, or heat available to them. Quite interesting. Even more interesting were allegations that we were allowing our children to be abused by strangers at the local American Legion post, where my family helps in the preparation and serving of a weekly community dinner. I also work there part time, as does my sister. This abuse supposedly took place right in the legion hall, in full view of 30 or so witnesses, the regular dinner crowd on Saturday evenings.

So, two investigators arrived at my home to do their duty. I gave them the grand tour, showing them that we all have roofs over our heads, there is 750 gallons of water on the premises, several generators, solar power, heaters of several varieties, and plenty of food. Even the family's milk goat is housed in a trailer...no tents here. So, given that 99 percent of the accusations on the list were proven far-fetched and clearly false within ten minutes of their arrival, one might reasonably expect that these people would move along their merry way. At this point, it would be obvious to anyone smarter than a box of rocks that this anonymous report was false and malicious, as are a full 80 percent of the calls placed to the Child Protective Services Hotline. Well, unfortunately, that's not what happened.

One of the investigators seemed quite determined to invent a problem, since the list he came with were clearly false. He informed me that I couldn't keep dogs in the house with children. I asked him if this was some new law that I was not aware of, and stated that if so, millions of Americans are in violation of it. And, our dogs are gentle family pets that the children love and would worry about were they to be left outdoors with the snakes, coyotes, and other hazards at night. He stated that even if they are gentle, they can bring germs and fleas into the house, and I would have to keep them outside. He informed me in a rather threatening tone, that of course, I had every right to ignore his “suggestion” at my own risk and that of my children. He also “suggested” that I should no longer have a camp fire in my yard, and stated that my practice of giving my two youngest children a bath....which they prefer....rather than a shower, was unacceptable, since our bathroom had no standard bathtub and I was bathing them in a plastic 20 gallon tote....which, by the way is safer, less slippery than a regular bath tub....and not against any law. In short, this man was determined to enforce his personal lifestyle preferences as if they were law, and he informed me that he would be back in ten days to see to it that his “suggestions” were implemented to his satisfaction.

Well, since my children happened to be out of town with family when this first visit took place, they had no hostages, leaving me free to fight this abuse of power. I called every politician and state agency between home and Washington DC to file formal complaints against this man. I contacted a lawyer for advice and guidance. I would have sought out support from local community members, but there was no need ....the community rallied behind us without being asked.

During this supposed “investigation,” no members of the community were contacted for information on how our children are cared for, nor was any inquiry made into the charges of abuse at the legion. If there were truly any questions remaining about these matters after the initial visit, it would seem quite logical that these steps be taken. I begged these people to speak to the community, do a REAL investigation......as these accusations were far too ridiculous to withstand even the most feeble attempt at finding the truth. I also refused to produce the children for interview until these steps had been taken. It seems that Anthony Ramos, the investigator on the case, was much more interested in inventing reasons to harass and intimidate my family than he was in doing a real investigation. It was never done. Finally, since the “investigators” refused to investigate, the officers of the American Legion post and my family arranged a meeting between community members, my family, and CPS workers at the legion hall. My children were interviewed and community members and legion officers spoke in support of us. We had to bring the witnesses to them, as they refused to do the investigation necessary to clear us.....and we have, finally, been cleared.

However, while CPS may finally be done with me, I have not finished my business with them. Anthony Ramos is a problem. I wonder, how would this “investigation” have turned out if I hadn't stood up against his abuse of power, or if I hadn't had the benefit of the strong community outrage and support in my corner? What would have happened if I hadn't called my senators, the governor's office, or any of the 20 other agencies I contacted? People were watching my case closely.....and CPS knew it. Would Letticia Garcia, the supervisor of this Ramos character, have been as willing to listen to my complaints without this publicity? I doubt it. My family is NOT the first to be subjected to the abuse of this man, and she still keeps him in her employ.

I wonder how many families have been bullied and intimidated by this man, or have even had their children removed from their home on the basis of his testimony. How many innocent families have had to tolerate CPS monitoring and jump through hoops for months or even years to please this little man on a power trip? He is clearly unfit to wield the immense power that CPS workers are given over the lives of the families they investigate or work with. And, while he is spending his time and taxpayer's money heckling families like mine, who have done nothing wrong, how many children who actually NEED help are ignored. I am driven to see to it that he is no longer in the position to abuse families in the manner he attempted with ours. And....what about the agency that continues to employ such a man, with his long history of abusing his power? That is another problem that must be looked into.

Furthermore, where I live, making a false report to CPS is a felony. I intend to pursue the malicious caller and prosecute them to the full extent of the law. My family has been disrupted, my children have been traumatized. All for no good reason. Because someone lied. I have done nothing to anyone that would merit such a malicious act, but even if I had, what sort of person would take it out on innocent children? A very sick and sadistic one. My children will be a long while in recovering from the anxiety and stress caused by this incident, which is made evident in a multitude of ways every day. For example, one of my children, after YEARS of dry nights, has suddenly become a bed wetter, while another, who is typically well adjusted and self assured, is fearful every time I leave her sight.

This type of abuse of the CPS system, unfortunately, is quite common these days, with a full 80 percent of hotline calls found to be false. Abuse by the CPS system is also very common...just google CPS abuse of power and you'll be reading about it for days. These are issues that desperately need to be addressed folks....for the good of us all. I'm muddling through to do what I can in my area....I'd surely appreciate any comments or advice from anyone with experience with this type of situation.

A Crisis of Epic Proportions: Congress is "Scrambling" to Find Funding to Avert this Looming Catastrophe

This story was brought to my attention by my brother, who said it was making his brain melt....

TV Converter Program Runs Out of Funding
The government's billion-dollar program to help people prepare for the transition to digital television has run out of money, potentially leaving millions of viewers without coupons to buy converter boxes they need to keep their analog TV sets working after the switch.

As of this past Sunday, consumers who request a $40 coupon to help offset the cost of a converter box are being placed on a waiting list. They may not receive the coupons before Feb. 17, when full-power television stations will shut off traditional analog broadcasts and transmit only digital signals.

Members of Congress are now scrambling to find ways to allocate more money to the program.

Unbelievable. This is worth "scrambling" over? This is a priority in the minds of lawmakers and the Washington Post? Never mind the multiple wars and economic meltdown....hell...millions of tax paying citizens are about to become unable to tune it all out with the idiot box. Our government, in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, has spent a BILLION dollars making sure the morons can get American Idol on the boob tube, AND are "scrambling" to find more money to devote to averting this unthinkable crisis....Please...could this society get any more shallow and MORONIC? Shhh...Don't tell anyone....wouldn't want the swat team or Child Protective services to swoop down on us....but my kids and I have survived quite nicely without a television for more than a year now....it really can be done folks.