Consider this...

"...we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt. We must make our election between economy and liberty or profusion and servitude. If we run into such debt, as that we must be taxed in our meat and in our drink, in our necessaries and our comforts, in our labors and our amusements, for our calling and our creeds...we [will] have no time to think, no means of calling our miss-managers to account but be glad to obtain subsistence by hiring ourselves to rivet their chains on the necks of our fellow-sufferers. And this is the tendency of all human governments. A departure from principle in one instance becomes a precedent ...till the bulk of society is reduced to be mere automatons of misery. And the foreshores of this frightful team is public debt. Taxation follows that, and in its train wretchedness and oppression.

President Thomas Jefferson

Aah! Couldn't have said it better.

Rep. Pete Stark (California) has a way with words. And, acoording to a CNN Poll, 88% of those polled agreed with him. (Click 'read more' for the whole story and a link to watch the video)

read more digg story

As you were...

There’s been much written regarding General “P”’s report on the status of the war in Iraq. “Predictable”,” expected”, and “questionable” are a few of the responses I’ve heard. I have a few comments (and questions) myself. My comments and questions, however, are for the other General “P” – Powell. (Remember him?)
In an interview last week he voiced his opinion(s) regarding Iraq. First, he said that leaving Iraq would be a mistake. Later, (in the same interview) he stated that we would be forced to withdraw our troops in 18 months. This, he said, would be out of necessity from over-taxing our troops.
Am I the only one confused by this double-speak? If we’ll be forced to withdraw our troops in 18 months (out of necessity), why not withdraw now? What does this General “P” think we’ll accomplish in the next 18 months that we haven’t been able to accomplish in the past few years? And why would he think a tired and worn force would be able to accomplish something that couldn’t be accomplished when they were less tired and worn?
The news is replete with Generals and their opinions lately. It’s almost enough to make me gag. How wise they seem to be ‘following retirement and pension approval’ – or, at least they try to appear wise and thoughtful once on the CNN payroll or ‘paid talk circuit’. Such wisdom, I suppose, comes only after retirement it seems. It’s a shame that these men can’t find their voice while in command of our troops. If they could, perhaps the death toll wouldn’t be so high, nor the list of injured so exhaustive. The late Colonel Hackworth (a true American hero) was right in referring to these men as ‘perfumed princes’, more concerned with their careers than their troops. Would that they be ‘wise’ when it mattered – when it would make a difference.
There’s an old saying: “Opinions are like Generals. Every President has some, and they all stink”. Wait, did I get that right? Hmm… Get back to me in 18 months.