Recession or Depression?

  Recession or Depression?

 

      Are we in a recession or a depression? When I listen to the news on the radio or television I often hear: "We may be heading into a recession?" Are they kidding us!? We have been in a recession for months, if not years due to Dubya Bush-enomics, the unnecessary and exorbitant war in Iraq, profligate spending by every level of government, the dangerous myth of  "trickle-down" or Supply Side economics, our over-dependence on imported fossil fuels, etc. If we are not in a depression we are damned close to it. Just about everyone I talk to or hear is complaining about their finances and the economy. I hope Obama has the cojones to change our country and its absurd health-care system and energy policy significantly. If the bugaboo of 'Socialism' is necessary to achieve a better nation, then so be it. Public libraries are a good example of where socialism works. Hopefully, soon "Single-Payer" health -care and insurance will be another. It works well for Canada and many parts of Europe.  Perhaps we are in the combination of a Depression and a Recession, a Re-pression. Of course, with George W. Bush still in charge, at least until January 20, 2009, we have been in  repression since 2001. 

    At Thanksgiving dinner a guest with diabetes came in for a brief visit. Due to health-insurance inequities and hard luck, she was once denied needed insulin because she was poor and she lacked adequate insurance. If something like that happens, it is about time to scrap our health-care system, even if greedy insurers suffer financially. 

Poetry: "Enron Crooks"

Poetry: "Enron Crooks"  [Originally posted in my poetry and short fiction blog : Monkeys with Typewriters Productions: http://www.monkeyswithtypewritersproductions.blogspot.com]

               Exploiting a loophole, they flouted the law.

               Deceiving the people, their character flaw.

               While we were distracted they stole all our money,

                Not even comics would call this crime funny.

                Many corporate marauders get off scot-free,

               'Cuz CEO crooks are more politically important than we.

               

Election Night Eve

Election Night Eve:

                   If you're still not convinced that Barack Obama is the most deserving of the U.S. Presidency contemplate the following: Obama plans to stop the war "responsibly". As long as Obama doesn't allow neo-con artists to make policy for him pre-emptive war may soon be just another American disgrace in the dustbin of history.

                Obama plans to emphasize alternative fuels more than fossil fuels

                Obama plans to improve our health-care system. Unfortunately, he doesn't advocate Single-Payer health-care, but with a political trifecta: Democratic President, filibuster-proof U.S. Senate majority and a House of Reps. majority maybe he'll change his mind.

                Obama is pro-choice so he own't use opposition to abortion as a Litmus test for judges, plus he won't likely make the Supreme Court into a Right-Wing Gestapo, which ignores the rights of the weak, the poor and the vulnerable. There are many other reasons to choose Obama/Biden over McCain/Palin, but I have run out of time.

Michelle Bachman's anti-American Speech

On Michelle Bachman's Anti-American Speech:

       

                 According to the Minnesota Independent newspaper and NPR news, in an interview with journalist Chris Matthews recently, U.S. Representative Michelle Bachman from Minnesota said, "...

 I wish the American media would take a great look at the views of the people in Congress and find out, are they pro-America or anti-America?"

 Also, in her opinion, Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama "may have anti-American views."  Who is she to decide what is pro-American or anti-American views?  

As a result of her speech, her Democratic rival in the upcoming election received a huge infusion of campaign contributions. If the election wasn't so close I would consider making a contribution to help defeat this right-wing harpy.  I'm sure she falsely believes that "pro-American" means having rigid, inflexible radical right-wing views.  McCarthyism and the very existence of the House Committee on UnAmerican Activity from 50+ years ago was not merely a blight and a huge disgrace in American history, but were ironically "Anti-American" themselves.   I sincerely hope that McCarthyism isn't coming back.             

Politically Subversive Poetry

Politically Subversive Poetry:  [Simul-posted on my other blog: http: monkeyswithtypewritersproductions.blogspot.com]

                    "I Pledge Allegiance to the U.S. Constitution"

                    I pledge allegiance to the U.S. Constitution, not the flag

                    Under Bush the Bill of Rights is burning like a rag

                    If burning flags becomes a crime

                    The first amendments not worth a dime

                    Bush's minions can't take dissent

                    To Iraq or Afghanistan our sons are sent

                     Let's put McCain's campaign to bed

                     'Til Right-wing thinking is buried and dead.

                     "Failin' with Sarah Palin"

                     With [Sarah] Palin [John] McCain is failin'

                      His campaign it ought to be bailin'

                     Democratic contributions keep mailin'

                     The 'Grand Old Party' is ailin'

                     So into the White House Obama should be sailin'