Shutdown

 If the federal government is shut down,what is left?State government?Great!There are myriads of programs,laws,regulations,etc.that are implemented only by or contingent with the federal government.What happens to those?States rights advocates are only concerned with limited areas and issues,blind to the big picture.

The fact is that state government should be limited.Laws that apply or can apply to the majority of the people should be uniform,state to state;the same with policies.We would have much less government if states were uniform wherever possible.

We should not be advocating smaller federal government.We are 50 states,not 50 countries.We duplicate to the extreme with minor unnecessary differences from state to state.Individual states can hold us all hostage.If one state goes bankrupt we all suffer.It shouldn't be.How can one state have law different from the rest of the country?That is ridiculous.The whole system is ridiculous.

Federal government should be primary.State government should be minimal. We are one country.Let's act like it.Let's be a country of United states.That was the original and right intent.

We will eventually have universal health care;it's inevitable and necessary and right.Someday we will also equalize opportunity.A bigger central government can make it easier to achieve.Someday we will quit bolstering the self-appointed privileged and practice what we preach.Why can't we learn that strength in numbers supercedes strength in dollars unless we allow it to be otherwise.

And congress allows the federal government to shut down.What a disaster.We can't survive   very long without.Perhaps the anti-government advocates will be able to see that. I hope so.

What?

The consoling phrase:'and this too shall pass',also applies to pleasant things that don't require consolation.

State Fair

I can appreciate the fair vicariously.It's wonderful when others describe it.But,for me,not in person.I love it-the idea,the ambience of the fair,but I can't be there.I really wish that I could.

Syria-Red Line

Syria:How did we get to where we are?What happens now?What should we do?We should let their civil war play out(as we have in most,other than places that have a material interest,it seems).

Obama,obviously,made a mistake with his red line;but everyone has done that at some time or another.If it's a mistake,it must be retracted.Most of us have done that also.Obama's was a mistake,but what are the ramifications.The evidence that Al Assad crossed that line is either irrefutable or they're afraid that it could be;because it's not logical that Al Assad would purposely challenge the US..What would he have to gain?To show that we are not serious?Why that gamble?No,it's much more logical that the rebels or Al Quaida made it look like Al Assad had crossed the line.It would be beneficial to them;so the evidence must appear to be irrefutable.

But either way,the red line means nothing.As I said,,we have all experienced the line and retraction.If you  feel that you must draw a line,do it in pencil.

We can't act on it.There are a few pertinent asides that should be mentioned.As displayed in Iraq ,etc.,the fact collecting agencies are less than effective and the news media are notoriously inaccurate in reports.Reporters have trouble with the basics,even locations.I've worked with chemical agents,including nerve agents.Disseminated reports about these weapons have been filled with inaccuracies.I'm not convinced that we ,the public,have been given anywhere near a factual account,in any area.I do know that what we have been given does not justify a military attack,not even close;even if the legality can be determined.

We've been labelled imperialists;why must we keep substantiating that label.

Euphemisms

Egypt's military regime is justifying it's aggression against Morsi supporters by labeling them terroristss;sound familiar?  I think that most intelligent people have accepted the take-over as a coup;it's pretty hard find acceptable euphemisms for coup.But terrorists is an even bigger stretch.That's a US tactic.War on terrorism-label anyone that you want to get rid of ,a terrorist.Euphemisms come in handy.Manning &Snowden are treasonists;whistleblower or leaker of any kind,just isn't strong enough.Find an extreme enough euphemism and anything can be justified!

Ramblings

Is the latest terror threat valid?Even if it is,is the treatment valid?If it weren't for Snowden and the NSA hype would this threat be treated differently?I've thought from the beginning that something was amiss.This is not the way that a credible terror threat would ordinarily be handled.It looks to me as if the purpose is to justify
the NSA surveillance.Why the surveillance should not be addressed,I don't know.It just creates another disappointment with the Obama administration and its promise of openness-very disappointing.The irony of  the situation is that if this is a valid threat ,then it is being treated more openly,even if the response is exaggerated.That's precisely why I'm skeptical.Do the embassy closings have anything to do with Benghazi?

Why is all of the secrecy necessary?What should be kept secret?I know that NSA surveillance shouldn't be kept secret.What happened to transparency;of course,if you use a word like transparent instead of open or honest,you can be pretty certain that secrecy is close behind.Transparent usually implies a deceptive intent;at least in most cases.Secrecy is rampant;pandemic.Is Snowden guilty of treason for exposing secrecy?Who is really being betrayed?The government or the public that the government is supposed to represent?I cannot justify secrecy from the American people.There has been established abuse of this surveillance,extensive abuse.Snowden's claims have been pretty well substantiated,so it's time to investigate and abolish or revise NSA surveillance.

Privileged

The pentagon reportedly spends 1.5 billion on mansions,villas,extravagant housing for military generals and  upper military brass.While furloughing 680,000 workers because of the sequester this spending is evidently unaffected(200,000 dollar leases,220,000 dollar maintenance expenses,4 million dollar repairs,etc.).To add insult 320,000 was spent on a study that determined these expenses to be reasonable.And some complain about food stamps for hungry kids! I'm