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Off Shore Drilling - Don’t Buy the Lie
CAN WE DRILL OUR WAY TO LOWER FUEL PRICES?
Argument 1:
Drilling more oil and gas wells will reduce gasoline prices.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the total additional oil that could be
brought into production from drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the Outer
Continental Shelf, and the Rocky Mountain states is likely to be only about 1.2 million
barrels of oil a day at peak production. This only adds up to a $1.20 reduction in the price
of a barrel of oil, which is currently well over $140.(footnotes) i ii iii
If this drop were to reduce pump prices at all, the savings would be mere pennies (only about 3 cents a gallon according to Department of Energy figures) and would not be seen by Americans for at least another 10 years.
Even in the most optimistic case, drilling in those sensitive areas combined would
possibly garner a savings at the pump of only 4-5 cents a gallon in 2025. Even the
Department of Energy admits that: “Because oil prices are determined on the
international market, however, any impact on average… prices is expected to be
insignificant.” (footnote)iv Any oil pumped here would go right into that international market, where we’d have to bid for it right alongside India, China and other nations.
In fact, a record 1.6 billion barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were
exported from January-April of this year, up 33 percent over the same period in 2007.
This surge in exports seems to contradict arguments of supporters who want to increase
domestic drilling in order to help alleviate fuel shortages in the U.S. The bottom line is
profit –domestically drilled oil will not stay in the U.S. if another nation is willing to pay
more for it.
Despite the fact that drilling will not help consumers at the pump, the industry continues
to push for more drilling permits on public lands. This strategy is little more than an
attempt to control more land and reap bigger and bigger profits. Between 1999 and 2007,
the number of drilling permits issued for development of public lands increased by more
than 361%, yet gasoline prices have also risen dramatically. There is no correlation
between more drilling and lower gasoline prices.
Even if increased domestic drilling could affect the price of gasoline, there is yet no
justification to open additional federal lands because oil and gas companies have shown
that they cannot keep pace with the rate of drilling permits that the federal government is
handing out. In the last four years, the Bureau of Land Management has issued 28,776
permits to drill on public lands; yet, in that same time, 18,954 wells were actually drilled.
That means that companies have stockpiled nearly 10,000 extra permits to drill that they
are not using to increase domestic production.
Argument 2:
Vast quantities of oil and gas beneath public lands are closed to energy
development.
According to the Department of the Interior, only 38% of the oil and 16% of the natural
gas are excluded from leasing – largely because those resources are underneath National
Parks and wilderness areas that have significant scenic, recreational and wildlife values.
Industry already has more lands than it can drill. Of the 44.5 million leased acres, most -more than 30 million acres -have not been used by the oil and gas industry.
Industry isn’t developing most of the public lands it already has under lease. Although we
object to some of the areas under lease, we believe that the oil and gas industry should
make better use of existing leases before it attempts to lock up more public lands in
environmentally fragile areas.
Argument 3:
Opening the 19.2 million acre Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in Alaska to
drilling would reduce today’s gasoline prices.
The Energy Information Administration (EIA) estimates that it will require 8 to 10 years
after opening ANWR before oil is produced. According to the EIA, opening ANWR
could reduce U.S. crude oil imports, but not until 2022-2026 and only by a few
percentage points.
Oil prices are set on a global market. Historically, increases in U.S. oil production have
had little impact on those prices. If commercial quantities of oil are discovered in
ANWR, the effect would be a reduction of just a few pennies per gallon during peak
production.
During the next two decades, US oil imports as a percentage of consumption will
decrease, a dramatic shift in US energy policy. The reasons for this decrease are
improvements in energy efficiency and conservation and the use of alternative energy and new technologies that will reduce our nation’s need for oil between now and 2050 by 100 million barrels – that’s 10 times the amount of oil that ANWR could provide.
Argument 4:
We need to increase domestic drilling in order to achieve energy independence and
increase homeland security.
More drilling will not achieve “energy independence.” At current consumption levels,
U.S. resources are inadequate to achieve energy independence. The United States
contains 2.5 % of the world’s oil resources and 3% of world natural gas resources.
But we account for 24% of total world consumption of oil and 22% of natural gas
consumption. The U.S. could drill every national park, wildlife refuge, and coastline and still be importing 60 percent of the oil we use. Opening more areas to drilling in the U.S. can never make us less dependent on foreign oil or natural gas.
Additionally, because oil and petroleum products are traded globally, there is no
guarantee that oil drilled in the U.S. will stay in the U.S. In fact, a record 1.6 billion
barrels a day in U.S. refined petroleum products were exported from January-April of this
year, up 33 percent over the same period in 2007. The bottom line is profit -
domestically drilled oil will not stay in the U.S. if another nation is willing to pay more for it.
The only way we will ever reduce our dependency is to reduce our consumption. Federal
legislation that promotes clean, alternative energy and cuts global warming pollution will
reduce our oil imports four times more than drilling in the pristine wildlife habitat of the
Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, off our beaches, and in the Rocky Mountains combined.
A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that under the Climate
Security Act, U.S. petroleum consumption would drop by nearly half by 2030—saving
far in excess of the amount of oil we could ever pull from Alaska or the coasts.
Argument 5:
There are too many environmental restrictions on drilling.
Many of these environmental restrictions are what help keep our drinking water and the
air we breathe clean. They also help conserve wildlife and lands for recreation.
Even with current environmental restrictions, wildlife and clean water and air are taking a
hit from drilling. During the first four years of development on the Pinedale Anticline
natural gas field in Wyoming the overall wintering mule deer population dropped by
46%. The Greater sage-grouse may require listing under the Endangered Species Act, in
part, as a result of damage to its habitat from oil and gas drilling. This past year in
Colorado, over 1 million gallons of polluted, industrial drilling mud was accidentally spilled into the West Parachute Creek on the Roan Plateau.
Drilling also pollutes the air. The oil industry on Alaska’s North Slope annually emits approximately 70,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, an important component of smog. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, this is more than twice the amount emitted by the city of Washington, D.C.
The small town of Pinedale, Wyoming (pop. 1412), which sits just 100 miles south of Grand Teton National Park, experienced its first hazardous ozone alerts this past winter as a result of emissions from nearby drilling operations.
These are just a few examples of the impacts to wildlife, water and air from drilling. We
would see many more if current environmental restrictions are loosened or relaxed.
Our facts are from credible sources –the U.S. Department of Energy and the Bureau of
Land Management (under the U.S. Department of Interior). A lot of other “information”
is out there (mostly based on opinion)
i
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “Analysis of Crude Oil Production in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge” May 2008
iii
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Information Agency, “State Energy Profiles”
The Debate Last Night - by For Profit Media
When Corporate America (the powers that be) took the debates from the League of Women Voters - they delivered a death blow to our democracy.
Some of the issues Corporate America and their talking head hacks didn’t want you to think about last night are as follows;
Electric cars, mountain top removal, global warming, overfishing, pollution leading to cancer, pesticides and run off polluting the food chain and putting people out of work and at risk, overpopulation, desertification of the planet, the collapse of the Bee Colonies (it sounds minor but it has a huge impact on our food supply and the cost of that food supply), the mortgage crisis, the tax payer BAILOUT of Bear Sterns, the impeachable offenses of the Bush administration, the fire in Cheney’s record room. The tax cuts for the uber wealthy, becoming permanent or not, the deficit, the trade imbalance, the interest on the deficit, THE WAR, veteran benefits, Walter Reed Hospital Conditions, Health Care, Education, the root cause of violence. The erosion of Separation of Church and State. The widening divide between rich and poor, the over taxed middle class, gasoline prices, energy sources clean energy vs. dirty energy…the budget, the budget, the budget!
No one seriously considering the candidates gets their news from corporate sponsored television or newspaper. Reporters might want to ask or write about the larger issues but questions of profit and who your boss is, who you are working for, and what are their interest play a HUGE factor in the information you get from these profit driven sources.
Certainly the tabloid issues, gotchas mis steps (and lies) need to be mentioned at some point but two hours devoted to non-core issues is just diversionary. There are bigger issues at stake that will have a real impact on the actual function and performance of our government bodies.
Who are Obama’s financial contributers, who are Hilary’s. Why are they taking money from these people? Are they going to work for them or the American people?
When a major political financial contributor, player and entity owns the media - you won’t get those questions.
The only way to address this problem is to legislate that a non-profit organize and hold the debates. Take money out of the equation and we will get a return to the issues and a return to Democracy.
The powers that be do not want an informed citizenry. They can’t pull the wool over our eyes and pocket our tax dollars if we know what they are doing behind closed doors and trying to extract through hidden or unheralded legislation.
Where was Ralph Nader he would have addressed the issues? But because the powers that be control the media - you won’t see Ralph get any air time…
…and that’s the way it is and unless we the people make a huge noise and take the debates back from the profiteers and their corporations they hide behind that’s the way it will always be…good night and good luck!
The Real John McCain 10 Things You Should Know
This is a repost from MoveOn.org
1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has “evolved,” yet he’s continued to oppose key civil rights laws.1
2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain “will make Cheney look like Gandhi.”2
3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.3
4. McCain opposes a woman’s right to choose. He said, “I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned.”4
5. The Children’s Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children’s health care bill last year, then defended Bush’s veto of the bill.5
6. He’s one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a “second job” and skip their vacations.6
7. Many of McCain’s fellow Republican senators say he’s too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: “The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He’s erratic. He’s hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me.”7
8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.8
9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his “spiritual guide,” Rod Parsley, believes America’s founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a “false religion.” McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God’s punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church “the Antichrist” and a “false cult.”9
10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year.10
_________________________________________
Sources:
1. “The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day,” ABC News, April 3, 2008
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/04/the-complicated.html
“McCain Facts,” ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008
http://colorofchange.org/mccain_facts/
2. “McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq,” Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aF28rSCtk0ZM&refer=us
“Buchanan: John McCain ‘Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,’” ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/06/buchanan-gandhi-mccain/
3. “McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill,” ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/20/mccain-torture-veto/
4. “McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned,” MSNBC, February 18, 2007
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17222147/
5. “2007 Children’s Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard,” February 2008
http://www.childrensdefense.org/site/PageServer?pagename=act_learn_scorecard2007
“McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion,” CNN, October 3, 2007
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/03/mccain.interview/
6. “Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady,” Associated Press, April 3, 2008
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h-S1sWHm0tchtdMP5LcLywg5ZtMgD8VQ86M80
“McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,’” Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aHMiDVYaXZFM&refer=home
7. “Will McCain’s Temper Be a Liability?,” Associated Press, February 16, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=4301022
“Famed McCain temper is tamed,” Boston Globe, January 27, 2008
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2008/01/27/famed_mccain_temper_is_tamed/
8. “Black Claims McCain’s Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: ‘I Don’t Know What The Criticism Is,’” ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/04/02/mccain-black-lobbyist/
“McCain’s Lobbyist Friends Rally ‘Round Their Man,” ABC News, January 29, 2008
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=4210251
9. “McCain’s Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam,” Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
http://www.motherjones.com/washington_dispatch/2008/03/john-mccain-rod-parsley-spiritual-guide.html
“Will McCain Specifically ‘Repudiate’ Hagee’s Anti-Gay Comments?,” ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
“McCain ‘Very Honored’ By Support Of Pastor Preaching ‘End-Time Confrontation With Iran,’” ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/hagee-mccain-endorsement/
10. “John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record,” Sierra Club, February 28, 2008
http://www.alternet.org/blogs/environment/77913/
Happy Birthday Angus!!!! AC/DC is ROCK!
I love Angus and Malcolm and the band more than life itself. I kid you not. AC/DC is just sheer joy, a thing of beauty, a band that is what it is and it is ROCK! It’s a long way to the top if you want to rock n’ roll and thank god Angus and Malcolm took that Journey together. I love that band in all it’s forms in all it’s sounds in everything they do. I can not wait to see you guys back in the States. Come when you are ready. I’ll be there and along with everyone else we will bring the rock n’ roll of the gods down upon our collective heads, and have it resonate through every fiber of our beings. Happy Birthday Angus! You my friend ROCK! You are the very definition of ROCK. You are the embodiment of ROCK. No one else comes even close. If you want ROCK pure and direct from the gods themselves go see Angus and Malcolm. Thank you, thank you, thank you and Happy ROCKIN’ Birthday!
Paul
Author-Journey Home
Bush Corporate Welfare and Parkinson Disease
Keep stickin’ it to us Georgie Boy. You figure the next guy will clean it up. Well unless it’s Ralph Nader I’m not so sure. More corporate welfare is being given away as our miner in chief, our oil well exploiter and our failed businessman in chief continues to ravage the country side and economy. Thanks for f’in the whole thing up so completely George. The dollar ain’t worth squat, and that’s on your watch. Wall Street is being bailed out by the tax payers, and that’s on your watch. The deficit is at a trillion dollar all time high, and that is on your watch. Clean air and clean water standards have been rolled back, and that is on your watch. An unnecessary war draining the economy, and that is on your watch. More corporate welfare for the screw ups on Wall Street, and that is on your watch. George heres a news flash. Your a complete idiot and a complete and utter failure at EVERYTHING you do. Hell you can’t even get being “born again” right.
George want some help? Here’s a clue. Dirty energy is killing us - literally. As you send our sons and daughters to die for oil wells and profits and a few of your close buddies get rich the rest of us breath in the cancerous fumes and try to wipe of the Parkinson disease giving pesticides off our bodies. It’s funny that such an anti-science religious right guy has so much faith in made made chemicals and exploits. It’s time to balance our lives, production and consumption and be more in tune with the world as created by god. You wouldn’t go up to god in the kitchen and say,” hey god nice Earth Soup your brewing there how about some man-made chemicals to spice things up? Here’s some mercury for the air and fish and how about more carbon we need more carbon? Oh and this nuclear waste will really add some spice to your perfectly balanced and organic recipe. The time is now big boys. We need to align ourselves with what is actually provided by the Earth and not get so enamored with our own creations. Besides most of what we create gives us cancer or kills us.
To help stop Bush’s latest forest give away click here.
To learn about Parkinson’s disease and the pesticides and herbicides in our homes click here.
To end the one sided representation of Corporate America in our political system click here.
To learn about clean energy sources click here.
U.S. Forest Service
The proponents of mining, logging, oil and gas drilling and their rather calloused representatives in Washington don’t not care about anything other than their own pocket books. Our public lands belong to the citizens of the United States. We need them to buffer and keep in tact our fragile environment. As our Captains of Industry tear down and drill everything they can get their hands on it is up to us to make sure there is enough of an environment left to counter balance their reckless pollution and disregard for life on Earth and all of creation. This planet was not put here to just be mined it has an eco-system. It is a vast array of interdependent parts including animals and environments of all shapes and sizes. It’s important to our watershed and the health of our children to preserve as much of the planet as we can in the pristine condition in which it was created by God. To do otherwise is arrogant, selfish, ignorant, and completely foolish.
Participate in democracy, stand up for your rights and take action here.
Land of Plenty is another movie I’m glad I gave a chance. First off Michelle Williams acting job is very nuanced. She has to dig down deep to come up with her conviction and not look like a fraud. Michelle’s character is a child of missionary workers, and she wears a cross around her neck. It never once looked out of place because of her countenance and vibe she brought to the character. There is a scene at night when she is in bed alone that just blew me away. In the hands of a lesser actor it would have been hackneyed, overblown and far less convincing. I was thrilled and stunned and almost had a knee jerk incredulous reaction but she pulled it off. It was and is very inspiring and still with me today. It felt like real conviction to me and has informed my sensibilities and enhanced my outlook. It’s hard to fake that kind of conviction and certain type of enlightenment. That a movie and actor can do that is why we watch. We have a very fine actress here and kudos for a magnificent job to Michelle.
John Diehl is a face you will immediately recognize. The man has worked character studies for decades and his turn in this lead role is equal to Michelle’s. This is a story of subtle reactions competing with overt actions as revelation tries to creep into well established modes of behavior. John Diehl is very convincing and so much so the viewer is left with some doubt as to just exactly what may happen. The film is done in such a way that it is entirely possible that the naive are not so naive and the delusional might be absolutely right. I contribute that to acting as well as script and the themes, lighting, pacing, and art direction.
I really, really liked this movie it’s messages, it’s despair, it’s hope and it’s glory. The fact that the actors characters are not one dimensional is never done in a ham fisted way but unveiled in nuanced responses, facial expression, a well placed curse word and well I’m just happy I stumbled into this movie.
I am seriously going to dig further into Michelle and John’s work and can highly recommend this movie. The passion that Michelle brings to her role reminded me of all the unknown souls trying to do good things in this world of tabloid headlines and sensationalism. She really got to me and with that in mind let me link the following sites:
Doctors Without Borders
Amnesty International
The Peace Corp
The Orchestra of Piazza Vittorio - Movie Review
This is another movie I can highly recommend especially for movie lovers, dreamers and those with the ability and who appreciate the effort of bringing dreams into reality. It is a lot like giving birth both wrenching, powerful and fulfilling. As I put this documentary into the DVD player I winced at the subtitles (long day at work) and slow pace of the introductory credits - just fast forward to the start and within a few moments (give it a chance) the apparent odyssey of the journey begins and takes hold of you. The sheer joy in playing reveals ego, dissension, ability, understanding or lack there of but also the unbriddled joy of the creative process. This film is that good and another highly recommended movie for your NetFlix list! I really loved it and musicians and music lovers will chuckle at the insights, missteps, warts and all harmony of the players, orchestra and organizers. It’s a marvelous piece - ENJOY!
Paul
Author- Journey Home
I actually think Nader getting into the campaign is great - will they let him debate????
Here’s an eye opening issue link
I’m not so sure that middle class tax payers are duly represented in our process, and could make a case to boycott paying our taxes based on the old refrain - “no taxation without representation” - this isn’t a joke. However, as I have maintained all along the power is in the legislature to make laws, and we as citizens, must and I mean must be active in the advocacy of the issues we find important.
Advocacy links
Advocacy links
Advocacy links
That’s where the rubber hits the road in our form of government. The republicans shut down everything I stand for including a balanced budget, smaller government, reduced funding of the military, and the redistribution of that money (up to a third) into education and research and development. The elimination of the payroll tax, the separation of church and state, getting government out of our bedrooms, lobby reform, the protection of the environment and the species that god (not you and I) put here, being better stewards of the planet (that we did not create) increased fuel mileage to 50 mpg (not the paltry 35mpg by 2012)and transparency in government, the elimination of lobbyist writing the rules, regulations and laws, and the public financing of campaigns, paper back up to voting machines, the return of the debates to the League of Women Voters (impartial, neutral, and unfunded by Corporate America), universal health care, sensible gun laws and on and on the Republicans have turned a deaf ear to everyone and everything except big money and the status quo.
We should all stop paying taxes until we get what we want. We should at least be able to target our tax dollars when we send them in and that one simple change in legislation could make a world of difference. Tax reform is not even being discussed. Or another idea the elimination of the payroll tax would jump start this economy like a defibrillator. Where is the creativity and “outside the box” thinking. It’s certainly not being promoted by the three front runners.
Our representatives are blind to their own ambition, devoid of any new ideas, unable to stand up to the status quo because their egos are tied to their jobs and perks and do not consider the big picture of sustainability.
What runs our government is the election cycle itself, getting elected and being reelected and padding their incomes, and connections by any means necessary. The actual stewardship of the Republic and the good of mankind is a distant second. It’s pathetic that not even the Constitution is put first above the self interest of our dubiously elected (mass media marketed) politicians.
It would do us no harm to have Ralph banging away at these issue for the next 9 months.
He has my vote!
Paul Burke
Author - Journey Home
Not that long ago Move On members voted 70% to 30% to support Obama. Since then all the information I have received from the MoveOn Organization has been cheer leading. Here is a letter I sent to them.
Dear Move On,
I want to know why you are supporting Obama it should be listed by bullet points on your homepage. Never mind the vote count of those swept away by the fashion of Obama I want to know what are the specific policies he states that have lead you and your members to this decision, and not campaign rhetoric. What has he done in the past ? What legislation has he supported on any level, local, state and federal that leads you and your members to believe he is the right choice for the job?
That’s the kind of information I need to make a decision. Testimonials about how wonderful he is because he is handsome, well spoken, and delivers pulpit like Sunday morning speeches are empty. The rubber hits the road on his legislative agenda, the planks in the party, his supporters who have financed him with the BIG dollars, and his track record.
Please for the good of the country stop cheer leading and get the facts out.
Then we can all make an “educated decision” other than being swept along by a fad or because Oprah says so. Come on Move On is supposed to excel in this area. I am hearing about big coal and nuclear power funding him early on in his career. Nuclear waste in toxic drums leaching into the water system is another example of dirty energy solutions gone bad. King Coal is the thief who has designed mountain top removal and blasts the debris into the valleys and waterways destroying everything in it’s path. If these two big, corrupt, well heeled corporate monsters are in bed with Obama you are all being duped and guilty of group think. If these are rumors you owe it to your members who you actively solicit for money to ferret the rumors out and dispel them.
Don’t fall for the song from the pulpit and his glowing persona and charisma, but who are his big money backers? Let’s do some real homework here.
I’m repulsed and dismayed at the quotes from the Obama supporters who just gush at his “leadership” style. I want to hear more than the word “change” ! You have a duty to inform the MOVE ON members just what change he has supported and what Senate votes has he ducked. Your daily emails and homepage have been extremely lacking in that regard.
I thought we were all a little more sophisticated than all that, and who’s this radical preacher in his background - his mentor? Come on guys lets do our homework and help educate the Move On members to this unknown, fashion of the moment, almost cult like figure named Obama. Maybe he is the real deal, maybe he’s just good at public speaking either way I assure you the Swift Boaters are laying in wait to dismantle him spreading rumors about dirty money already. They are doing their homework or making it up either way are the Obama supporters in for a big surprise along the way? The lockstep frenzy surrounding Obama has me worried. So let’s talk policy, actual votes and legislative action and money, and actual background and education the serious questions instead of promoting hero worship and adulation?
This is not a popularity contest. We need to make an educated decision about real documented substance and rely on the candidates track record and ignore the rhetoric. This election of personality is bogus and does our country a great deal of harm. After all everyone thought George W. Bush was a “good guy”. Well look what that “good guy” left us after eight years.
Without a doubt that is no way to choose a president!
Paul
Author- Journey Home
Related link - Nuclear Waste
Related Link - Congresspedia
Related Link - Voting Record
The Wolf Slaughter - a message to hunters
It’s too easy to sit in a helicopter and chase down a wolf and blast it with your rifle from the air. I’ve got news for the hunters who pay to do this: You are not men. Zero challenge, zero degree of difficulty and zero sportsmanship. You’ve got nothing. Blasting a wolf from a helicopter is a joke. People actually pay for this service to prove what - they didn’t fall out of the helicopter? If you want to feel like a man ACT like a man. Shooting bears and wolves from helicopters is lazy and virtually child’s play. Do you actually think anyone respects you or admires your dead wolf? Sorry boys it’s too easy, no challenge and only a fraud would fool themselves into thinking it was righteous.
To the helicopter pilots who have sold out - there is nothing rugged about you either. All you are doing is wasting fossil fuel and stealing from a bunch of retards. You want to hunt and shoot living things for sport get your ass out of bed early and hike into the wilderness and meet your prey head on in their house. Maybe then you aren’t a fat ugly American looser who thinks shooting things makes him a man. Mounting a dead animal on the wall proves nothing except that you need some sort of misdirected praise for “your accomplishment” try curing cancer. Anybody who thinks what you do is anything other than wrong is just blowing smoke your way because you have a few dollars.
You and your pilots are arm chair outdoors men with no real stones and an overblown sense of ego. Your closest friends and family are either frauds or laughing at you. Yeah nice kill dad. Nobody in their right mind respects you. Do you respect suicide bombers blowing to bits open air markets and citizens minding their own business? Well….do you - hey genius news flash you are no different.
Yeah real tough guy afraid to get his feet wet. If you knew what being a man was I wouldn’t have to tell you.
For the rest of us with a true sense of honor and integrity click here
Alaska is the last place in the U.S. where a few hunters still use aircraft to chase and kill wolves. They shoot these animals from the air or chase them to exhaustion before landing and shooting them point blank.
Thirty five years ago, Congress passed a law to put an end to aerial hunting. But Alaska is exploiting a loophole in federal law to resume the practice, not only for wolves, but bears as well. Hundreds of scientists and the Alaskan citizens have twice voted and condemned what a few Alaskan’s making money off of this practice are doing. Some of the lower 48 States threaten to follow Alaska’s lead. It’s time to stop aerial hunting once and for all.
Rep. George Miller (CA) has introduced the Protect America’s Wildlife (PAW) Act, legislation to close a federal loophole and curb Alaska’s brutal aerial hunting program — and prevent programs like it from spreading to places like the Greater Yellowstone region.
Please urge your Representative to sign on as a cosponsor to Rep. George Miller’s PAW Act.
Paul Burke
Author - Journey Home
Maybe this movie appealed to me because I’m a writer, maybe this movie appealed to me because I love Ed Harris, Amy Madigan, and Will Ferrell in a toned down role, but most of all this movie appealed to me because of Zooey Deschannel. There is just something lurking beneath the surface with her. You just know she’s a major goof ball but she is currently playing all these deeper, conflicted roles, and the depth she brings to her characters isn’t faked. As you can tell I really like Zooey and look forward to her career expanding. Hopefully one day she’ll record an album of standards. Her turn on “Baby it’s Cold Outside” (Elf) had everyone including James Taylor recording and rediscovering that chestnut from yesteryear. Hat’s off to Zooey. So how about the movie?
It’s an angsty film with bizarre characters. But as in any good story as with real life the more layers you peel back the more you see, and then all of a sudden it’s not so unusual after all. So without giving any of the plot away the characters are not one dimensional and the light they are seen in is varied. Kudos to the director and writer for serving up three dimensional characters. If you are looking for fast paced, action shoot em ups this is not your movie. No guns - I love movies without guns! If you are looking for brilliant, subtle acting with some over the top hi jinx for periodic comic relief - this is a great choice. One of Zooey’s love interest although fleetingly in the movie exposes the audience or rather gives the audience a chance to ask why is he a hero.
It’s a question worth asking and answering and the directors and writer do not spoon feed you all the answers - good stuff, good for them. It’s a thinker and respectfully pulls the audience in and allows them some creativity and the opportunity to put something of themselves into the movie. There’s nothing wrong with a little pondering and after all are the loose ends really that important. Well that’s for each one of us to decide. It makes for a good movie.
A quick word on Amelia Warner Zooey’s foil in part of the movie - she brings an understated role to life and plays it subtly. I’ve seen the word eccentric used to describe this movie but that’s just the outer layer of the character development. It’s a device to put inner pain out there and before the audience. Do not be put off by that description or the weird promotional photo. It’s not so weird after you have seen the movie - you’ll have an oh yeah moment. It’s good to use the brain.
Winter Passing is another movie I can highly recommend.
Paul
Author - Journey Home
Freedom of Choice = The Right to Choose
Why is there a war on freedom of choice? This country was founded on religious freedom and an “individual liberty concept” that should be guaranteed, and taken into consideration with every act this government takes. The right to manage one’s own life within the tenants and arc of one’s own experience should never be impinged. It is not a one size fits all world but a tapestry of experiences and awareness that runs from the enlightened to the obsessive and power hungry. Sacrificing the bedrock foundations of this Country to the whims of fanaticism in order to gain power jeopardizes the very freedoms and virtues that make this country the land of freedom, opportunity, and great in every sense of the word.
A womans right to choose and to govern her very existence should not be dictated by anyone save her own mind, heart and soul. If we do a good job with education, including sex ed, and have easy access to birth control then we are fulfilling the “planned parenthood” mission. If we impart the wisdom that there is a difference between having a child and raising a child, and the life long commitment that entails then we will achieve responsible parenting.
If you believe every sperm is sacred and your 14 year old daughter gets pregnant what does she do? Is it up to the 14 year old? Should the parent give guidance? It could be argued that your 14 year old didn’t receive good guidance in the first place, or she wouldn’t have become pregnant. So you can see this is a very tricky issue based on the specifics of the situation and blanket rules, assumptions and attitudes do not apply.
That the government provides for safe medical procedures is its duty not only for staph infections in hospitals but abortions as well. That the government tell each and everyone of us what to believe or not believe is most definitely the largest affront on individual liberty that man can come up with short of the holocaust.
Paul Burke
Author - Journey Home
PROTECT ALL ENDANGERED RED LIST SPECIES
We did not make this world or even ourselves, we did not make the universe or the stars in the sky, we did not make the plains or the mountains, or animals that dwell in them. We did not make the oceans or the sky. We did not make the weather, the rain or the apples that grow from the trees. We did not make anything accept destruction and war, and consumption. How arrogant are we to hold this magnificent creation in disdain as we slash and pollute, burn and kill, destroy and extinguish all that has been given to us. It should be revered, used sparingly and manged with care. We have been given the free will and intelligence to accomplish great things. We have been given the consciousness to know the difference between right and wrong. Mankind needs to evolve and quickly to a forward thinking less self absorbed being and realize his/her true place in the universe on a tiny rock in a distant solar system with a wisp of air and sea to sustain us.
Paul Burke
Author Journey Home
Clear Channel Won’t Play Springsteen’s New Album!
Using excuses Clear Channel has banned it’s stations from playing Bruce’s new album. They want this quiet very quiet and not to have a Dixie Chick back lash reaction when they banned the Dixie Chicks for exercising their rights. It’s important to remember the airways belong to the Public. I was on the bubble about buying Bruce’s new album but now I’m buying it out of spite!
The serious issue here is the consolidation of media (across the board TV & Print) and the control of information to the vast majority too busy to dig for it. What gets played on the radio is what is being marketed. The commercial radio stations are just marketing arms and the cycle for marketing is a short one. I was psyched for a promo copy of one artist a while back but because it was thirty days after the release the record label didn’t want to send me a promotional copy. Talk about short sighted but they have very clear marketing strategies.
Back to the main issue - if there is money to be made they’ll play anything - artistic quality has zero, zilch, nada, absolutely nothing to do with what you are hearing on radio - it’s about unit sales and target markets. So what’s with banning Bruce? His album is selling well. Clear Channel’s strategy runs counter to their typical business model?
A Free Press was singled out in the Constitution as being essential to our democracy.
“Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom…of the press.”
If media across the board is consolidated into the hands of the few because of laws made by this government cleared the way then rights and freedoms are restricted by the whims of the few and the political leanings of the few. In essence the vast liberty that freedom requires and leans on has been SOLD OUT by the establishment, and those wide ranging freedoms guaranteed under our Constitution become the dictate of the few.
The essence of this issue is freedom, dissemination, availability and variety. As the public we not only own the air ways but the public lands they are mining for next to nothing. Some of the worst deals of all time have been foisted onto the American public concerning mining rights and the lost revenue that could /should be plowed back into our public institutions and needs.
Back to Freedom of the Press: Without those broad parameters of freedom of information, and broad dissemination in place and available we more than risk we guarantee that the powerful who wish to remain powerful will restrict pertinent information when it runs counter to their special, specific and highly individualized wants and needs.
Unfortunately, those needs may and often do run counter to what is best for the majority. Including being able to pollute the Delaware and Chesapeake because a company would sell less of something.
Paper back ups for voting machines is a great example although essential for voting integrity they cut into the profit margin of the manufactures. Whats more important here - obviously voting count integrity, but because we have a warped sense of the importance of profit margins trumping all other concerns we have a fight on our hands to get paper back ups for our new electronic voting machines - so much for defending the Constitution.
We shoot ourselves in the foot time and time again even to the point of the destruction of the actual air we breath, water we drink and land and oceans we harvest. It’s mind boggling and devoid of common sense.
In order to fix this mess profit has to be dropped from the number one priority of all time and considered only after the Bill of Rights, the Constitution and the health and welfare of our society as a whole is taken into account. Unbridled profit for profits sake is not a panacea or cure all for what ails us. Never has been never will be! In fact unbriddled profiteering is the quickest way to destroying our planet, each other, and ourselves.
I hope we learn this lesson before it is too late.
Did you know there were cars already in production that run on compressed air? This should be front page news. The big boys don’t have their hands around it (yet) so we don’t hear about it.
Just think how peaceful and clean the world would be today if the guys that make the most off of oil weren’t in control of the White House and Congress for the past 60 years. Don’t get fooled or roped into a phony fight Republicans versus Democrats. It’s the have mores (that’s W.’s quote) versus the rest of us.
It’s time to put the oil monopoly and their minions their dirty oil money, politics and schemes out to pasture and reclaim our country of the people, by the people, for the people!
Paul Burke
Author - Journey Home
A friend of mine sent me the link below (or click on the title) to this two hour documentary. I’m happy to report that it is compelling viewing and worth the time. Even if some of the conclusions or predictions might not stand up to other points of view this is still worth watching. The first ten minutes if historically correct offer a very fascinating overview of world religions that will give you more than a pause in your assumptions. It’s a very well put together montage and the whole documentary is split into three parts. I watched a part then took a break freshened up my apple juice and then hunkered down for the next part. So take the time to review this feature. The worst thing that can happen is that you get another point of view to assess or are spurned on to do some of your own research and fact checking, and always, always, question authority.
Paul
Author - Journey Home
Zeitgeist Movie Link
Let me get this straight
We don’t support Child Health Care but we give uber tax breaks to the richest 1%, subsidies to the super profitable oil companies, promote nuclear energy that piles up radioactive waste both a threat to national security and our health in a very real and serious way, we underfund the inner city public schools and pretend the lack of sex ed doesn’t lead to teen pregnancy and more poverty, we stuff our seniors into cold and sad nursing homes to wait out their deaths in loneliness and despair and we wage war and devastate the landscape and all of god’s creation to prop up dying industries and outdated modes of transportation.
We overtax the middle class and dump mountain tops into valleys and streams destroying communities because big coal doesn’t want to pay actual people to mine for their dirty fuel source. We politicize the Justice Department and strengthen the Executive Branch in direct contradiction of the Constitution and the laws governing this land - and to reconfirm we are against Health Care for Children.
What a ridiculously, absurd and ugly country we have become. The Bush family, their cohorts and their legacy are a bunch of frauds and self promoting thieves who cloak themselves in the Flag and the Bible while they violate every principle those two icons represent. Bush can’t figure out away for his family, cronies and funders to profit from the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) so he is against it - plain and simple!
Is it any wonder that Human dignity has all but evaporated. From the willingness to blow up people in a market getting their daily bread to the visceral, violent and ugly words and images from our entertainment industry the idea of human dignity has all but disappeared. Somewhere along the time that it became hip to be stupid we have trended downwards. Look at the talking heads screaming at each other on television (pathetic, immature, irrational and stupid) or the trash that is sensationalized and paraded on daily television for what we have become. It’s not funny it’s sad. Decorum, respect, dignity, class, education, elite, excellence, work, awareness, liberal, sharing, kindness, tolerance, peace, patience, understanding and love these have become the dirty words. How about our politicians and the examples they set with lying and corruption justified as the norm and how much one can get away with the goal. That’s the petulant behavior of a five year old and not very wise. You can only lead by example. We show up on foreign soil with Christianity in one hand and an empty basket to fill up in the other pathetic hypocrites.
No Human dignity is a thing of the past. It’s hip to be an aggressive punk. Throwing trash in the street and crying about being dis-respected we don’t see that our actions are what actually earn respect. Religious bigotry, intolerance forgetting to live and let live or simply ignoring the golden rule (do unto others as you would have them do unto you) are all symptoms of an immature world petty and futile with no real vision beyond greed and ego. The world is flipped out. I guess an era of uncivilized behavior is necessary to re-educate man that ignorance is self and globally annihilating.
Well World in order to survive the word we must relearn is civilization. Without it we reduce ourselves and our neighbors to less than nothing defecating in our water, poisoning our food, polluting our air and waging war all for profit. A respect for all humanity (including yourself) is the cornerstone of success. Jefferson called it the obligation of the good citizen. I call it common sense.
Paul
Author - Journey Home
Amnesty International
“when Ghandi was asked what he thought of Western civilization he said he thought it would be a good idea”
John Stewart, Petreaus, and Bin Laden - Duck Soup
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that since the 1920’s Western Europe and the United States have been trying to control that Mid East Oil. Being in Iraq to get Bin Laden is like O.J. looking for Nicole’s real killers (complete and utter bullshit). Anyone who denies that is delusional and doesn’t have the guts to realize their beloved country has been hijacked by a bunch of liars.
Thou shall not lie is one of the ten commandments. How is it that the war liars got the support of the religious right and the good god fearing people of middle America? Because they lied and continue to lie to them. Why is Al Gore vilified and treated like the enemy? He’s an American citizen. Anyone who turns Americans against one another is the problem. A house divided can not stand. The simple truths born out through history proved again and again are completely ignored by our media talking heads who will say anything to get on Television and grab a pay check.
The good of the Country isn’t on their radar. Profit is the false god we worship (oops another commandment we aren’t following). When profit and money trump all other concerns we can’t even manage our plentiful resources successfully. If we did we would have the highest fuel efficiency standards in the world. As it stands we are way down on the list with Canada, Europe and China selling vehicles with better fuel efficiency. Why (?) Because…..drum roll please….it’s about profit and the more oil we consume the more the big boys sell. But in the end it’s a house of cards and when it comes down we better all pray it’s not horrible. Nuclear weapons make this little game of sacrificing the poor as soldiers to do the big boys profiteering is dicey for all of us. There is no hiding in the Caymans from nuclear warheads.
A targeted, elite special op’s operation to get Bin Laden (who’s parents do business with Bush, James Baker and the Carlyle group) would have been the honest way to go - unless Bin Laden himself (who received arms and covert contact from the Americans when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan) is really a CIA operative, a double agent, a god damn independent run amok, or a red herring.
Isn’t anyone struck by the timing of Bin Laden’s press and video releases being counter productive and counter intuitive towards what Bin Laden says he wants? They just “happen” to coincide with our elections and this bogus dog and pony show (report) by Petraeus.
Bin Laden is supposed to be so smart orchestrating a world wide terror ring - so he opens his mouth right before an election to help elect the “one party” that can defeat him? Bin Laden pops up after months and years of silence right before the reading of this report? For what…to remind us we have something to fear and should stay at war?
Bin Ladern wants our bases off Saudi soil. The last thing he would do is use his terror shtick to scare us into staying at war with our bases in the Mid-East. This evil overlord who successfully hides from all of our efforts to find him and slips away at Torra Bora when we have him surrounded (and then pull back) is so savvy that he throws himself out there to re-elect Republicans and pump up support for Petraeus’s report and our continued war presence?
Dear lord people get a clue. Up is down in the world of politics, espionage and war profiteering. The so called “Clear Sky Act” actually weakened environmental standards and on and on. Don’t be such unthinking dupes.
As for comedians being unable to have insight and pierce the smoke and mirrors with a lightening bolt of truth just because they are comedians - that’s completely bogus - everyone from Groucho Marx, George Carlin, Carlos Mencia, Lewis Black, to Mark Twain and Ben Franklin were able to elicit in a few words, “truth,” that the powers that be would rather we not see or deal with.
For another brilliant comedian watch Robert Newman’s History of Oil http://video.google.com/videop…..5741878159
It’s been out for a while but deserves another look unless of course your mind is closed.
There’s a lot of things going wrong in the world; peak oil which claims in 40 years all the oil reserves will be gone, our arrogant cowboy diplomacy, polluted water, polluted air, polluted food, melting ice caps, massive daily species extinction, unaffordable health care, a devastated and destroyed public educational system, corporate monopoly over the political system, media and commerce, mountain top mining, slaughtering wolves from helicopters, dog fighting, rape, murder, depleted over fished ocean resources used as a sewage dump, theft of the public treasury by private corporations, an unrepresentative government spewing out ideological non-sense to divide and conquer, religious organization that kill, hate and destroy themselves and each other, music that spews vial and disgusting attitudes, the erosion of civil liberties, greed, hatred, jealousy, fear, indifference, apathy, diet, 5% of the worlds population consuming 25% of the energy. We are a decidedly out of balance, corrupt, disingenuous, angry, selfish, ignorant, lacking knowledge of history and culture, blundering nation. Like a huge headless colossal buffoon blindly in the night we trip over ourselves, exploiting and hustling the angles and the angels until we come apart at the seams. We need to get right. Our pool of candidates and politicians are a vapid, self indulged, corrupt, hypocritical, dangerous bunch of loonies because of the culture from which they come. A society which puts profit above even survival is indeed ludicrous.
As individuals in each of our tiny little corners of life in every moment, every day and in every way we make a difference creative or destructive. Hope is a living thing and there is nothing we can not do or accomplish. Make the world around you a better place. You know what to do and the difference between right and wrong. Listen to that small quiet voice within and be the change you seek.
American Farmland Trust
Bio Gems
Earth Justice
Green Mountain Coffee
http://www.greenmountaincoffee.com/
Mountain Top Removal
Natural Defense Council
Oil Change International
Peak Oil
http://www.energybulletin.net/primer.php
Union of Concerned Scientists
World WildLife Action
http://wwf.worldwildlife.org/site/PageServer?pagename=can_home
Paul
The link above takes you to the original article by Stu Bykofsky from the Philadelphia Daily News a huge sports town. Here is his definitive article on Michael Vick and the seriously flawed, unenlightened individual he is and those of his friends and worshipers all who define not having a clue!
Thank you Stu!
______________________________________________
Stu Bykofsky |VICK’S NOT QUITE ‘THE LOWEST’
ATLANTA Falcons star quarterback Michael Vick is not the lowest, most detestable scum imaginable.
He is not the lowest of the low.
On the bottom rung of the ladder to hell are child molesters, the human garbage who prey on the innocent and the defenseless. That’s why decent people feel gut-rage at their offenses.
Animal abusers are one rung up, but they also target the innocent. When Vick yesterday agreed to plead guilty to one felony conspiracy charge, defense lawyer Billy Martin said Vick took the deal “to accept full responsibility for his actions.”
That’s certified crap. The plea bargain is Vick’s attempt to avoid “full responsibility” for acts that were not only criminal, but also heartless and vicious.
He took the deal under the pressure of a grand jury that was thought to be preparing even more federal charges against him. I don’t blame Vick for trying to dodge the bullet, but don’t tell me it’s contrition.
It’s bad enough Vick bought a property and with pals (aka other defendants) bought, bred and trained American pit bull dogs for the purpose of turning them against each other, according to the 19-page federal indictment.
Even worse was what Vick and his dog pound did to pit bulls that didn’t measure up, according to the indictment - they were shot, or hanged, or drowned, or electrocuted, or killed by being slammed to the ground. Man’s best friend.
I suspect national outrage tackled Vick because he violated the special compact we have with dogs. We are closer to them than any other animal, even “companion animals” like cats, horses and hamsters.
Dogs helped searched for victims at 9/11’s Ground Zero; they are the eyes of the blind, the ears of the deaf, the legs of the disabled; the comforter of children, the protector of women; the puller of sleds, the sniffer for drugs and explosives. They help humans in so many ways and ask for a pat on the head in return.
The unique bond between human and canine can’t be explained, but if you’ve lived with a dog, you’ve felt it.
An anonymous writer explained the human-dog relationship in “A Dog’s Plea,” which you may have seen before. It fits here:
“Treat me kindly . . . for no heart in all the world is more grateful than the loving heart of me.
“Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hands between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.
“Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.
“Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.
“Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life, should your life be in danger.
“And, my friend, when I am very old, and I no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. . . . Please see that my trusting life is taken gently. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath I draw that my fate was always safest in your hands.”
That is the heart and the trust betrayed by Michael Vick - who despite his fame and fortune is a wretched waste of DNA. *
I recently rented this gem from NetFlix the other day. I haven’t seen this movie since the 70’s. If you have never, ever in your life sat down to watch this movie you really should. Interestingly enough I found the content very timely in regards to the politicians of today and the blatant hypocrisy of those in power. Dustin Hoffman gives a great, hilarious performance along with Faye Dunaway. Why is it that Faye seems to be in every great honest movie from this decade. Chief Dan George (who was in The Outlaw Josey Wales) also plays a subtly nuanced role. When he gets caught in the rain his line delivery is perfect. There’s also a lot of Native American culture and wisdom portrayed in this movie. Indeed the White man does see everything as dead.
This movie will make your heart soar like a hawk. For those of you out there in generation next take a clue from an old boomer - go see this movie - rent it now - it’s a classic - the portrayal of Custer is hilarious but probably horrifyingly close to the truth as any good parody would have it.
Paul
Homeland Security - oh really…?
The peculiar use of the word “homeland” is an indicator of the hay wire, jackbooted mindset that has the instigators of jihad licking their chops. Like a bear to honey we did exactly what they wanted and they have their multi front war and their vehicle to whip up more violent dissent here and abroad. Acknowledging this isn’t unAmerican.
Saying the Left hates America is just sad - nobody hates this country - people hate our politicians, and current set of leaders and their misguided arrogance and jackbooted mindset.
Rooting out terrorism is going to require a much more nuanced approach, a