The Demise of Jerry Falwell, the Epitomy of What's Wrong With Organized Religion

In case you haven't heard by now, Jerry Falwell, one of the most prominent leaders of the Religious Wrong, has died of heart trouble. This is pretty ironic, since when it came to nonbelievers and those who lived their lives contrary to his sanctimonious rhetoric he seemed to have no heart.
Rev. Falwell epitomized what is most wrong with Organized Religion today. Particularly, as preached by Right-Wing firebrands like Falwell, Pat Robertson and such domestic terrorists as the spokesmen of Operation Rescue and the like. Jerry Falwell may have meant well and been sincere in his beliefs, but his espousal of bigotry, intolerance, misogyny,actively attempting to impose his narrow-minded beliefs on everyone else through the political process, plus barely disguised hatred or contempt for those who disagreed with his Orwellian misnamed 'Moral Majority' (which was neither). In my book, he is a disgrace and gave religion a bad name, much like Jim Jones and poison Kool Aid, Falwell poisoned his followers with bigotry and intolerance. We also have Falwell to thank for many of the worst Right-Wing conservative con-artist politicians like George W. Bush.
Religious leaders like Falwell seem obsessed with sexual matters, in a repressed kind of way. People like him, who preach intolerance and expect everyone to think and act as he does are no better than Iranian or Talibani theocrats. I don't so much celebrate Falwell's death, but truly hope for the demise of the Reigious Wrong's political and censorial influence on all our lives. Unfortunately, at this time George W. seems to be the secular leader and standard-bearer of the Religious Wrong. Once he is gone, on or B4 January or 2009 hopefully this country will be more op0n and tolerant.

Help Retire Romney

The radio program "On Point" had about Republican Presidential contendor Mitt Romney today, former Massachusetts governor and a man who apparently will say anything to get elected President. It is fairly obvious that Romney shares much of the ideology that George W. Bush espouses. For instance, Mitt advocated sending up to 100,000 more troops to Iraq if he were elected to the Oval Office. Now, he is conveniently, anti-choice and anti-gay marriage when in the past he campaigned for governor and/or Senator (losing to Ted Kennedy) supporting gay rights and keeping abortion safe and legal. Now, he is cozying up to the Religious Wrong (right-wing Christian conservatives) and the extreme right-wing of the Republican Party, the very people who brought us the disastrous and pernicious and insidious policies and agendae of the Dubya Bush administration. Unless you want more of the same, I urge you to reject Mitt Romney, JOhn McCain And Rudy Guiliani, but especially the hapless but well-heeled Romney.
As for McCain and Romney, both men supported George W. Bush at the last Republican Presidential Convention, which John Kerry should have but didn't win, largely due to the lying bastards from the phony "Swiftboat Veterans For Truth" ads. One thing that ticks me off about McCain is that he had the opportunity to be John Kerry's running mate in the last Presidential election, but he turned it down. He stayed loyal to his party and George Dubya Bush, a man who shirked his National Guard duty during Vietnam and later questioned McCain's courage.
Tonight on "Nightline" I heard about the "Unity'08 Party" (or campaign), which hopes there will be a bipartisan Presidential ticket not beholden to either major party. I wish them luck, but after McCain refused to be John Kerry's running mate several years ago I'd be very surprised if such "Unity" comes to pass any time soon.

Why Tort Reform Is Not In Your Best Interest

Tonight (5/2/'07) on "Nightline" included a discussion about the latest frivolous lawsuit. An American attorney sued a Korean dry cleaner for many millions of dolars over a single damaged pair of pants. His $85 million lawsuit includes commuting back and forth from court in a rental car plus "emotional damages." No wonder people dislike lawyers. The dry cleaner had a sign advertising "Satisfaction Guearanteed." Every so often there are silly, frivolous or even outrageous lawsuits filed, but George W. Bush would like to curtail the rights of ordinary citizens to sue in nearly all cases, especially against corporations and corporate interests.
Tort or lawsuit reform may have some good points or intentions, but if it ever passes there will be a disparity of justice between the elite or affluent and the ordinary or the poor. The justice system is supposed to serve everyone, not just the wealthy Bush supporters and the corporations. If justice only serves the few then there is no justice at all in this country and the court system. In many cases, we need protection from the powerful, not the other way around.