w e l l ~ B L O G ~ t o ~ y o u ~ t o o !

08 February 2005
Freedom isn't free... it costs a buck-o-five.  
An anonymous commenter on a recent post said something to the effect of:

Why aren't the American Press delving deeper into the Bush Whitehouse's activities? Why isn't he questioned publically on his policies and made to answer tough questions? Why is it that there aren't more editorials like this one, that say these sorts of things? Could it be that our "free" American press, really isn't in fact, free? If you turn to the BBC, you will see all kinds of stories that do just that. It is extremely discouraging to me as an American citizen to have to look outside of our country to find out what's really happening here.The only programs I see on the television that question Bush and his tactics, are either on Satellite television or PBS. Note, PBS has lost a large amount of government funding. Hmmmmm....

Interesting points that bring up questions that I have no answer for. I am not in the press. I cannot answer for the press. I know what I hear on NPR--which usually is very good at putting out pieces that make you think. Then again, NPR falls into the same category as PBS--they're donor-supported.

I do know that Bush is remarkably press unfriendly. He doesn't have press conferences. There is no transparency in his administration. Too much transparency, in my opinion, would show that it's all a bunch of smoke and mirrors. Bush has gone to such lengths as to remove the press bathroom in the Whitehouse. Absurd as it sounds, it's just another sign. He also reportedly won't read/watch the news unless it is 100% supportive of his viewpoint. I don't know the truth to that.

One would think that in an atmosphere like that, that the press would feel free to issue critiques and point out inconsistancies. Except it seems that the press attempts to curry favor and not say things that are important to know.

It wasn't until after the election that it was pointed out that Congress had to issue emergency legislation change to up the maximum amount of deficit that the government could go into or the US government would have defaulted. Do you realize how frightening that is? Why wait until after the election? (side note: stupid Democrats for not pointing this out earlier) Sure, it could be construed as partisan, but it was also FACT.

Now, Bush II has put forth his proposed budget, claiming that he wants to lower the deficit in four years, yet this budget has conveniently left out continued funding for the Iraq War/Occupation and he has left out start-up costs for his Social In-Security needless overhaul. Where is THAT money going to come from? More deficit spending. I will not trust this man with my retirement money. He can't balance his own budget, and I'm supposed to trust his idea with the future of my money? I don't think so. True, I'm from the generation that has always counted on working until 65 instead of 55 or whatever, and then probably even having a job in retirement. This is the generation I am from. HOWEVER, minor changes to Social Security could leave the program solvent for another 75 years or so. And wasn't the crash of the stock market in '29 and the Great Depression that proved the source for needing Social Security? So now we want to go back to this volatile market to risk our futures again? That makes sense how?

These are things to think about, American Public. It is probably no secret whatsoever that I did not vote for this man. I did not want this man to be my President. I didn't want it in 2000 and I didn't want it in 2004.

In 2006, the entire House of Representatives comes up for re-election as well as a thrid of the Senate. There is one way to stay this maddness, and that is to get another party in charge. Without the Republican party to back him on his policies, perhaps there can be change and policies that make logical sense. Perhaps there will be less "terrorists are going to get you, so give up all your rights so we can protect you" going on.

People who give up their freedom for safety deserve neither freedom or safety.

Liz the Mischievous renovated @ 10:31