Yearly Archives: 2008

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.
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:::Quote of the Day:
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:::”The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed (and hence clamorous to be led to safety) by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.”
:::– H.L. Mencken
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:::Fact of the Day:
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:::U.S. policy is at war with itself in Afghanistan. The Afghan army is destroying poppy fields in the service of America’s “war on drugs.” Meanwhile, the American army is fighting the Taliban to protect the Afghan government, and Afghan farmers are paying the Taliban to protect their poppy fields from the Afghan army. Thus, the harder we fight the “war on drugs” in Afghanistan the harder it becomes to win the war against the Taliban. Source: Newsweek, April 7, 2008
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:::Subject: Bush administration continues lying
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:::Courtesty of Ed Brayton, more evidence of lies from the Bush administration . . .
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:::Our new Attorney General, Michael Mukasey, gave a speech to the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco on March 27. In the speech Mukasey asserted that national security secrets would be exposed in court unless the telecom companies that participated in the Bush administration’s warrantless spying program receive immunity for their actions. 
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:::This is a lie.

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .::::::Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.
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:::Quote of the Day:
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:::“Democracy is the theory that the people know what they want and deserve to get it good and hard.”
:::– H.L. Menken
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:::Fact of the Day:
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:::633 Iraqi civilians were killed and 701 wounded in February — a 30% increase over January.
:::1,720 Iraqi civilians were killed in March and another 4,140 were wounded — a 31% increase over February.
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:::Subject: Government stupidity
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:::The most incompetent institution in the world — otherwise known as the federal government — has a new plan to protect you from terrorism. Get this . . .
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::: Fishermen on Lake Erie must now carry passports, in case they cross the invisible border with Canada that bisects the lake. Then, thanks to the so-called Department of Homeland Security, when the fishermen return to shore, they must drive to a government office and have their pictures taken.
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:::Do you feel safer?

Today’s Downsizer-Dispatch . . .:::Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.
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::: Quote of the Day:
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:::”Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.”
:::– Oscar Wilde “The Soul of Man Under Socialism,” 1891
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::: Fact of the Day:
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:::British dentists have been forced to go on holiday because they’ve fulfilled the annual work quotas allotted to them by the National Health Service. The dentists are denying treatment to patients because the government will not pay them to do the work. More than 7 million British citizens are unable to find an NHS dentist. Universal access?
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::: Subject: End the Ethanol Scam
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:::The politicians want us to burn more ethanol in our cars. Like most plans concocted by politicians, this one is a terrible idea that is having devastating consequences. Here are the facts about ethanol . . .
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:::Ethanol consumes more energy than it produces. A study by Cornell and UC Berkeley found that corn converted to ethanol consumes 29% more energy than it creates. Most of these energy losses come from the burning of extra fossil fuels. Energy losses from other sources of ethanol, such as switch grass (45%) and wood (57%) are even worse.
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:::Strike one for ethanol.

We received word, and have confirmed, that Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen’s office is accepting feedback on Real ID. Tennesseans, just call 615-741-2001 to voice your opinion.::::::We don’t know if it’s that easy in the rest of the states, but the phone numbers for governor’s offices are easily found on the web. Calling your governor about Real ID certainly won’t hurt, and may help a lot in defeating it.::::::

Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.::::::Quote of the Day:::::::“..the Bill of Rights does not come from the people and is not subject to change by majorities. It comes from the nature of things. It declares the inalienable rights of man not only against all government but also against the people collectively.”:::– Walter Lippmann::::::Subject: Ron Paul’s “American Freedom Agenda Act”::::::Please ask your Congressperson and your two Senators to co-sponsor Ron Paul’s “American Freedom Agenda Act.”::::::This bill would . . .

Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.
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:::Quote of the Day:
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:::”The shallow consider liberty a release from all law, from every constraint. The wise see in it, on the contrary, the potent Law of Laws.”
:::– Walt Whitman (“Notes Left Over” 1881)
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:::Subject: Government reports a future flood of red ink
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:::The Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare programs released their annual report over the spring break. They continue to project a future flood of red ink.
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• The 75-year unfunded liabilities are projected to be $42.9 trillion

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• The “infinite horizon” liabilities are projected at $101.7 trillion

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:::Please note that these figures do not include projections for continuing to service the ever-growing national debt, which are included in the report from the Government Accountability Office we use for our “Unfunded Liabilities” campaign.

On today’s Downsize DC Conference Call, my two-hour Sunday RADIO show, which airs at at 3:06 PM Eastern (2:06 PM Central, 1:06 PM Mountain, and 12:06 PM Pacific), we’ll be talking about the Real ID Act.
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:::Not only do I contend that Real ID is not good for America, but I also believe it is anti-American. I’ll give you a great many details about what’s going on in the fight because we’re now at the point where we need to turn up the pressure at a national level. This will be a show that has some good news in it.
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:::For the last two years the battle has shifted to the states on this issue and I really want to hear from the activists working in the states. What’s happening in your state?
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:::Please let me know at

Quote of the day:
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:::”Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”
:::– Mark Twain
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:::Subj: Radio and More
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:::In this message . . .
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:::* Volunteer Wanted: We need a body-builder/model
:::* A radio appearance this afternoon on Straight Talk with Jerry Hughes
:::* A radio appearance on Free Talk Live with Ian and Mark
:::* An action item to support a Downsize DC partner
:::* Downsize DC on Free Minds TV
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:::But first . . .
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:::Real ID on the Downsize DC Conference Call
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:::We are now just a little more than a month away from the original deadline for implementation of the Real ID Act (Real ID). Because of 17 states who have, at various levels, refused to cooperate, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has pushed back the required implementation date. But May 11, 2008 still remains a deadline of sorts.
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:::The deadline situation is kind of complicated, but on my Sunday radio show

Change the political environment. Recruit more Downsizers. Share this message with others.::::::Quote of the Day:::::::“The Senate being tied is a start. Now, if only it could be gagged.”:::– Bob Thaves, from his comic strip “Frank & Ernest” ::::::Subject: Gridlock is good::::::The President wants unlimited spying powers, through the renewal or replacement of the Protect America Act (PAA). Fortunately, he isn’t getting what he wants. Congress seems to be gridlocked on this issue, and gridlock is our friend. ::::::The gridlock involves two versions of a new spying bill, a Senate version, and a House bill – HR 3773. The Senate bill is basically the President’s wish-list for expanded surveillance powers. He’s threatened to veto anything short of this bill. ::::::The House is resisting. It’s bill would permit the administration to do broad surveillance, but not in the unsupervised, un-Constitutional way the President has dictatorially demanded. ::::::Republican leaders have responded with petulant whining, tantrums, and lies. They assert that “We are now vulnerable to terrorist attack,” because the PAA no longer exists. This claim ignores the fact that all the surveillance authorized by the PAA can be maintained for twelve months, and new surveillance can still be authorised under the old FISA law.::::::The Democrats and the media are well aware of these facts, so the GOP’s scare-tactics haven’t worked, yet.::: :::But there’s still talk of a “compromise.”

Jim Harper of CATO was my guest, and the primary subject was the Real ID Act. This episode was previewed here.::::::The “attachments” to this blog post are mp3 files you can download and listen to hours one and two of show. ::::::The Downsize DC Conference Call is Jim Babka’s private radio show (and he’s entirely responsible for the content), and DownsizeDC.org and Gun Owners of America are sponsors of the show. The views expressed on the program are not necessarily those of the staff, management, or sponsors of the show.