WATCHING THE TITANIC

I should really be enjoying the self-destruction of the Bush administration, but I can't help thinking that these bozos still have three years left to do great harm to our country. Maybe we should have a Parlimentary system and be able to call for a "vote of confidence" like they do in England and Canada. They throw the bums out and elect someone new. I have no doubt that this adminstration will go down in history as one of the most inept, if not downright corrupt. These people couldn't run a McDonalds, let alone a country. Bush's war has turned on him and is about to devour him and all his little petrol-playmates. In the meantime, the country is going down the tubes. Is there any relief in sight?

Don't look to the Democrats for much help - they don't have a clue either. I have yet to hear one Dem (with the exception of Rep. Murtha) say anything remotely intelligent about anything. Their mantra seems to be "We're not the Republicans". Maybe not, but exactly who are they? What do they stand for? What would they do about Iraq? The economy? New Orleans? Anybody?

I've heard some people say that we need a hero on a white horse to ride in a rescue us. No thanks. If charisma were the answer, Bill Clinton would be on Mount Rushmore. What we need is for more ordinary citizens to rise up and take back the power that has been taken from us by greedy corporations, lobbyists, lawyers and professional politicians. President Eisenhower's advice to keep an eye on the "military-industrial complex" looks like sheer prophesy from here and now. If we took one tenth of the money spent on "defense", we could send every kid to college, rebuild the railroads, feed the hungry, house the homeless and have plenty left over for a big party.

Our entire political system needs a tune-up. We must get big money out of the process before we can hope to have a government that works for us rather than for the highest bidder. We can start by rejecting big money campaigns and voting for write-ins or third party candidates. We should challenge candidates to compete to see who can spend less money on a campaign. Some time should be allotted to candidates on the public airwaves to state their goals and ideas. Until this happens, we will get the best politicians money can buy.