Since the year 2000
Health care cost up 87%
Income up 20%

I just read a great piece from my Friend Earl over at The Peace Train. Apparently the Pentagon is developing microwave and focused sound weapons. But, before they deploy them for use in places like Iraq, they want to test them on American civilians by letting law enforcment agencies use them on demonstrators. I guess the adminstrations definition of enemy has expanded, and that torture isnt just about getting information. Are you concerned yet?

I just finished watching the movie Press for truth...Shortly after 9/11 four women came together because they had questions about why their family members had died in the attack. Prior, these women had little in common. One was a Democrat, One was an independent, and two were Republicans. They spent thousands of hours researching and reading everything they could about the lead up to the attack, and actions taken after. About the same time, another man started collection news items about 9/11. He began to create a time line on his internet site. A time line that took thousands of stories that when viewed separately may seem inoculous enough. But when put into a true historical perspective on a time line, portrays the true picture of what really happened. This movie is about these two groups. There is no “tinfoil hat stuff”, there are no conspiracy theory's. This is about what is documented. When put together as is done here the result is powerful and compelling. I urge you to watch this movie. I've seen all the conspiracy movies, and the one done by popular science. This is nothing like those. Please watch it. Home website for the movie can be found here.

Keith Olbermann rips Bush a new ass.

So Iraqis have officially taken over operations at Abu Ghraib prison. Time for the tortures to commence. Screams can once again be heard coming from cell blocks as those that would replace the monster Saddam continue with practices just as barbaric. Welcome to freedom, liberty and Democracy Iraq! Terrorism suspects are also being moved there from the infamous detention center in Jadriyah, where American troops found 169 tortured and starved prisoners. Now at AG it's reported that screams can be heard coming from the cell blocks again. Or should we say, “The Rumsfeldian symphony”. Not to let Saddam be the best at mass killings, 27 prisoners were also hanged in the first group execution since the fall of the Bathists. Just another Iraq success story I suppose.

Walmart, under siege from all sides has recently gained new allys in their effort to bring cheap foreign made goods to American shoppers. Groups like the ultra conservative Heritage Foundation are rallying to the WalMart battle cry. Why, because rich, conservative white guys get richer when companies can bully their way into every neighborhood, make the state pay for their employees benefits, and import goods made overseas at slave wages. Read more here.

I just watched Elaine Chao, who is the Labor Secretary, tell lie after lie after lie. Solodad O'Brien from CNN was interviewing her, and she just smiled and told lies. O'Brian cited statistic after statistic about the fact that people make less money now. O'Brian talked about real wages and the growing cost of health care. She also talked about the minimum wage which has not be raised in nine years. Chao just smiled and lied. Time after time she said “Thats not true.”. She blamed Democrats for killing the new minimum wage act. Even though it was tied to Republican wanted tax cuts. She talked about the new jobs being education based even though the cost of educations goes through the roof. She talked about retraining. Again real people with real families have neither the time or the money to constantly be retraining just so they can have a job with reduced benefits and pay. Elaine Chao, you are an asshole.