America is in a crisis on many fronts while it appears the American people seem not to notice.
In this column, I highlight issues in the areas of health, politics, the econother issues. I also discuss some new findings in many areas of living. I also comment on issues that need to be addressed by Americans now. The time has since past that these issues can no longer be ignored. If we fail to address these issues now, we are doomed to disaster in the coming years.
HEALTH IN AMERICA
Americans are now more obese than any other time in our history. Contribute this to the fast food industry. Not to mention the issue of hydrogenated oils/trans fatty acids that cause coronary heart disease, diabetes type II, cancer, auto-immune disorders, attention deficit disorder just to name a few. We have super-sized ourselves literally to an early death. Because of the fast foods the baby boomer generation have consumed, it is estimated that over 55% of the baby boomer generation soon to retire will develop more serious health problems earlier than previous generations. What is very disturbing is that the generation today of 8 to 18 years olds are developing more health problems than any other generation.
I've said this many times, it is all due to diet. What we eat is what our bodies become, either healthy or sick. Be careful of those hamburgers, chicken fried sandwiches and super-size meals at fast foods outlets. You are increasing the bad LDL choleslerol and trans fatty acids in your body every time you eat one. This is the bad cholesterol that causes buildup of plague in the arteries. Trans fatty acids affect the heart, pancreas and immune system in a very unhealthy way.
In 1986, 1 out of 200 adults were classified as obese, overweight. Today, 1 out of every 10 Americans are overweight. In a recent study performed at Duke University, it was found that sedentary people that were overweight between the ages of 40 and 50 had more health problems than those of their counterparts that were not overweight. Bottom line, being overweight will take years of health and life from you, so lose the weight and stop overeating.
The standard rule of advise I have given for years, never eat a serving of food that is any bigger than your fist. And chew your food at least 30 times before swallowing and never eat seconds. The more you eat, the more you are getting the normal body metabolism out of balance. And as times goes by, you will find yourself eating more and more. If you practice the fist serving size, and do not eat seconds, watch comsumption of fats, kinds of fats and sugars, carbohydrates are fine in small amounts, you will lose weight and come to what is called your normal body weight. This also means no junk foods!
Colognes, Perfumes, Hand Soaps, Cosmetics, Laundry Detergents, Fabric softners
Are They Slowly Killing You?
There is a very serious problem in the U.S. of the exposure to pesticides, herbicides and toxic chemicals found in colognes, perfumes, hand soaps, cosmetics, laundry detergents, fabric softners and other products. Natural colognes and perfumes are made from natural substances not chemicals. Did you know those $50.00 bottles of colognes and perfumes are made from deadly chemicals such as Bezonic acid, Ethanol, ( yes the same stuff they make from corn to put in gasoline ), Ethanone, Hydrocinnamaldehyde, Phenol, Benzene just to name a few.
Why is it that several hospitals across the country are now telling employees they can no longer wear colognes or perfumes to work. Hospitals are even posting notices to entrances for patients coming for tests or visitors coming to visit the sick to please refrain from wearing colognes or perfumes to the hospital. St. Jude's Children Hospital in Denver is one such hospital. Why? Because researchers have found that these chemicals are causing severe asthma, lung disorders, immune disorders, Attention Deficit Disorder and other serious health problems not only in children, but in adults as well.
Some schools across the country are telling their teachers they can no longer wear colognes or perfumes to classes. I first wrote about this epidemic in October, 1999 in my column, Perfumes, Colognes, Pesticides - Are They Slowy Killing You? Why is the FDA, EPA or OSHA doing nothing to halt the production of these deadly chemicals in colognes and perfumes? The FDA lists most of these chemicals as hazard materials and they must be dealt as a bio-hazard. Yet, the FDA lets manufacturers continue to sell these deadly and toxic chemicals in the form of colognes and perfumes?
Author, Connie Pitts, who herself was diagnosed with Multiple Chemical Sensitivities after using perfumes for years has written the book, "Get A Whiff Of This", with a forward by Rosalind C. Anderson, Ph.D.
I encourage to you purchase this book and help spread the word about these deadly toxic chemicals to help countless millions that are suffering from asthma, allergies, migraines and other countless health problems due to the exposure to these deadly toxic chemicals.
What you will read in Connie's book will astound you. You will read how the FDA has failed to act upon Calvin Klein's perfume, Eternity, a perfume that over 40 different toxic chemicals in it. And she will answer the question why the FDA does not enforce manufacturers to label all colognes and perfumes with the mandatory warning, "Warning - The Safety Of This Product Has Not Been Determined", and why the FDA, EPA, and OSHA does nothing about these deadly toxic chemicals that re in many tolietries and household products.
Connie also shows you how these deadly chemicals are in soaps, hand lotions, laundry detergents, fabric softners and other products you would never think they would be in. Be sure to purchase Connie's new book to save you and your family's health. And after reading it, give it to your physician to educate him on these deadly chemicals.
You can purchase Connie's book, Get A Whiff Of This at:
1st Books in the following formats:
Hardcover $17.95
Paperback $12.50
Electronic Book Format $3.95 - OR at:
BARNES and NOBLE in paperback format for $14.50, Barnes and Noble Member price, $13.05. OR at
AMAZON.COM for $14.50 in paperback format.
ENERGY CRISIS IN THE HUMAN MITOCHONDRIA
Mitochondria are tiny structures within cells that convert sugar and oxygen into energy. These tiny energy powerplants so to speak, circulate by the thousands in every cell in the human body, except red blood cells. With the mitochondria being damaged, more and more defects are being seen in children being born the last five years in the DNA or DNA nucleus of the cell.
Today, some 120 DNA defect causing mutations have been identified. In addition, The National Center For Science, a division of the Center For Diease Control has officially recognized nearly 400 newly described mitochondria disorders. There is a tremendous increase being seen in heart disease, endocrine problems, subtantial increase in asthma/ling problems both in children and adults, thyroid problems, hearing loss, eye vision problems, pancreas problems, liver problems and epilepsy, because of these defects.
The bottom line is, something is damaging the DNA of the mitochondria of these cells. And this is occuring worldwide. An international task force needs to be set up to find the causes. My opinion... they will find that air pollution, food pollution, and genetically altered foods to be the main causes. For example, a long awaited study of 180 agriculture fields show a negative impact on local wildlife. Animals, birds and simple things as butterflies are avoiding genetically altered crops they once visited. What is it that the simplest form of life knows something we do not want to see?
CHILDREN BEING DRUGGED MORE SO THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME
What are the side effects years later?
Children between the ages of 5 and 18 are being heavily medicated with drugs such as Adderbal, an amphetamine to help organize thoughts better. Concerta, a drug which keeps neurons bathed in nonrepinephrine which reduces hypderactivity and inattention. Strattera, enhances norepinephrine levels in the brain to prevent hyperactivity. Ritalin, its active agent is methylphenidate, a stimulate to filter and prioritize incoming information. Methypatch, delivers the same medication as Ritalin, but through a skin patch. Prozac, an anti-depressant regulating serotonin, a brain chemical involved in mood swings. Zoloft, is another anti-depressant. Paxil, is another anti-depressant like Prozac and Zoloft. Effexor, it targets two brains chemicals, serotonin and norepinephrine to regulate mood. Depakote, used to treat mania in children. Zyprexa, a mood stabilizer to balance serotonin ind dopamine in the brain. Lithium, it stabilizes episodes of elated joy and moods associated with mania.
The drugging of American children has not only gotten out of hand, but there has been no research to see what the side effects will be down the road for these children. Are we making drug addicts out of these children, who when they become adults will be addicted to drugs? Recent research that has followed up on children that are now in their early 20's show a high percentage are addicted to drugs. An example is one such girl in Michigan. She was treated with several of the above drugs starting at age 10. She is now 18 and is addicted to several of the drugs.
I believe this issue of children having hyperactivity, mood swings, depression is because the parents are not using discipline enough and not having have the proper diet and nutrition. And they are allowing their kids to consume junk foods and too much sugar. Parents are spoiling their children into drugs.
The other day, I was at a grocery store, and there was a young boy about 10-12 years old that started pitching a fit because his Mother would not purchase him the pizzas he wanted. First, she gave in and got the pizzas, but the boy still pitch a fit for Pepsi's. She then took a pill box out of her purse and said, "Here take one your Paxil's to calm yourself down." The boy smartly replied back to his Mother ,"No, bit...( it was a dirty word ), you gave me one this morning. I want my Pepsi's." Finally, I just couldn't take it any longer. I asked the Mother, "When is the last time you took him to the wood shed and gave him a good spanking for acting like that." The Mother replied, "Oh, I don't believe in child abuse like that and anyone that does is a monster." I replied to her, "But you'll stand there and take abuse like that and expect everyone else around you to put up with your ranting kid in public and expect teachers to put up with your kid, nice," I said. I then just walked away shaking my head telling myself, "No wonder there are so many problems in the world because of this people like this woman."
And we are all wondering why this younger generation of 10 to 18 years old are lacking responsibility and character?
Need I say anything more?
PARENTS ARE GETTING THEIR CHILDREN'S STOMACH STAPLED
Obesity in children has exploded over the last ten years. It is estimated that 3 out of 7 children are severely overweight. So what are parents starting to do? They are having their children's stomachs stapled to reduce food intake. How dangerous is this? Very! For one, 1 out of 100 such surgeries, the patient dies. Doing such to children will severely effect their health. Stapling the stomach causes sugar dumping. Once the top third of the small intestine is tied off, the body can no longer easily handle sugars and other refined foods, ( yet that is what children mostly consume at schools ). Ingesting them leads to violent vomiting and or diarrhea. In addition, bones don't mature completely in a person until their late 20's. Gastric bypass stapling makes it harder for the body to absorb calcium. And most of the children that are having this done are seeing severe anemia because the body cannot absorb enough iron when the stomach is stapled.
Parents, please do not do this to your child. Take the child off refined sugars, carbohydrates, junk foods and read by column, Hydrogenated Oils-Silent Killers.
DRANO FOR THE HEART
For years, I have written about consuming the correct oils to raise the good HDL in the bloodstream to lower cholesterol levels. And experimental drug called APOA-1, manufactured by Esperion Therapeuctics in Ann Arbor, Michigan is showing what I have been writing about for years concerning good HDL. This new drug is a synthetic version of what the human body produces, good HDL. By injecting test subjects with this synthetic HDL version, they are seeing that the drug reduces plague buildup in the heart coronary arteries by 4.2%, better than any of the current anti-cholesterol drugs on the market today.
I still say, if you eat the correct oils, high in Omega-3 essential NATURAL fatty acids, and take 400mg of folic acid daily, you will see the same effect or even better.
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTIONS
Certain members of Congress have finally gotten their way regarding this issue of partial birth abortions without any regard to the welfare of the mother. The law passed by Congress no longer allows a mother to have an abortion, even if her life is in danger and the fetus has grown to a certain number of weeks or if the parents chose to abort because the baby is known to have severe birth defects.
Presently, a child that is born with severe birth defects, costs in excess of $1 million dollars after birth to care for. If the child lives even ten years, the cost is between $2 and $10 million dollars in medical care depending on the nature of the birth defect. Now I am not trying to apply a dollar figure to a life, but the bottom line here is very simple. Who is going to pay for these costs? Who is paying? Taxpayers, because most children born with birth defects are on Medicaid. What concerns me the most is the part of the law passed that does now allow for the welfare of the mother. If her life is in danger, she cannot abort the fetus. She will die. Anti-abortionists can scream all they want about being against abortion, but to me, allowing a mother to die because of a law is nothing but sheer MURDER to me.
MEDICAID IS BANKRUPTING HOSPITALS
Did you know that if a person on Medicaid goes into a hospital emergency room for anything like even a minor cold,
the hospital cannot bill Medicaid for the first $300.00 of the emergency room bill. And then, Medicaid only pays
30% of the amount over $300.00. The average emergency room medical bill for minor illnesses is approximately $740.00.
This means the hospital has to write off the first $300.00, and then will only receive $102.00 payment on the amount over $300.00. This is a total of $638.00 that the hospital has to write off on every Medicaid patient that walks into the hospital emergency room.
As of 2001, approximately 39% of all emergency room care was being provided to Medicaid patients. The reason? A high percentage of people on Medicaid do not have a regular physician. So, even if a person has a minor cold, they run to the emergency room. No wonder in the last two years, hundreds of hospital emergency rooms have been closed by hospitals across the country. That has left only the county or state hospitals to attend to Medicaid patients. However, these hospitals are being overwhelmed and are in financial crisis themselves. Due to lack of revenue in many states, state legislatures are not allocating more funds to these county/state run hospitals.
Medical care in this country is heading to a point that even if you are wealthy or have health insurance, the risk of you dieing in an emergency room is 4 times greater because these emergency rooms simply do not have the space or manpower to take care of every life threatening emergency because they are being overwhelmed with Medicaid patients.
The medical care system in this country needs a complete overhaul before it completely fails.
And the recent medicare prescription plan that is being pushed through both Houses in Washington is a joke. It is only lead to privitization of the medicare program, exactly what certain members of Congress have been trying to push for years. And will it really help seniors in need? Not really, there is still a high deducted and even after that is met, they still have to pay 25% of the drug costs on top of a high preminum monthly that will be deducted from their social security benefits. Our Congressmen in Washington need to look at Canada's medical system as an example of how medicare program should be revamped. And they to first start with firing all the bureucrats running it that have only complicated teh system and hire people that have worked in hospitals to run Medicare properly.
I WROTE ABOUT THESE DEADLY OILS FIVE YEARS AGO
Five years ago, I wrote my column, Hydrogenated Oils-Silent Killers" and warned my readers and public that these deadly oils causes diabetes type II.
A recent 14 year on going study has been published by researchers from Harvard School of Health. Reseachers examined the long-term relationship between different types of dietary fat and the risk of type 2 diabetes.
More than 84,0000 women aged 34 through 59 were involved in the study. All were free of diabetes, cancer, and cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. After 14 years, slightly more than 2,500 cases of type 2 diabetes were documented. This is 3% out of the test subjects that developed diabetes type II.
As they looked at the detailed dietary information that had been gathered periodically over the course of the study, the researchers concluded that hydrogenated oils/trans fatty acids increased the risk of type 2 diabetes in women. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (Omega-3 essential fatty acids found in fish and flaxseed, pumpkin seed, olive oil and walnuts) reduced the risk.
The researchers concluded, "Substituting non-hydrogenated polyunsaturated fatty acids for trans fatty acids would likely reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes substantially."
Did you know that Americans eat an average of 51 lbs a year of french fries that are loaded with as much as 24-42% trans fatty acids. If you have not read my columns, The Right Foods To Eat, or Your As Healthy As What You Eat! please do.
If you have not read my column, Hydrogenated Oils-Silent Killers", please do so. You will save yourself and loved ones from developing serious health problems.
Did you know that each year, 212,000 women come down with breast cancer. Recent research shows that women that consume hydrogenated oils/trans fatty acids are 50% more likely to develop breast cancer.
IBS, ( Irritable Bowel Syndrome), Crohn's, Diverculitis, Colitis Can Be Reversed.
If you did not read my August, 2003 column and you suffer from these diseases, please do so. You will read a treatment plan outlined by Dr. Paul Eck.
OFFICE BASED SURGERY BY DOCTORS INCREASING
Due to high hospital costs, more and more physicians are performing office based surgeries that should be performed in a hospital. The problem is, the death rate or injury is 10 times higher than if the surgery had been performed in a hospital. My advice, don't have surgery in a doctors office that should be performed in a hospital.
SILICON BREAST IMPLANTS OKAY AGAIN BY FDA
Talk about stupidity. Ten years ago, women were coming down with all kinds of auto-immune diseases when their breast implants would leak silicon. Sales of silicon breast implants were halted in 1992. However, thanks to lobbyists from the makers of these deadly implants, the FDA has now approved their sale again. To make matters worse, all the doctors have to disclose is a warning that silicon implants may pose a health hazard to keep from being sued. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
CLONED ANIMALS SAFE FOR FOOD USE?
The FDA has issued a draft proposal that says that cloned animals are safe for food. Will we soon be eating cloned chicken and beef ?
HIGH LEVELS OF POLYBROMINATED DIPHENYL ETHERS
High levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers are being seen in mothers breast milk in 14 states. These are chemicals that are everywhere, including dashboards, computer shells, sofas. Medical research has shown that these ethers are linked to causing thyroid hormone problems, child development brain damage and cancer. The Environmental Protection Agency is reviewing the data. These types of polymer plastics should be outlawed in the production of any type of plastic.
SEVERE EPIDEMIC OF VITAMIN D DEFICIENCY
According to professor of medicine, Michael Holick at Boston University, there is a severe epidemic of vitamin D deficiency occuring in this country. Vitamin D regulates the body's ability to use calcium which is required for building good bones and teeth. A mere 10 to 15 minutes, three times a week exposure to the sun is all that is required for the body to produce vitamin D. The body cannot produce Vitamin D without exposure to sunlight. The problem is mainly in the winter, where children at day care centers are not taken outdoors. The elderly stay indoors mostly. And even the healthy, many people simply do not get enough sunlight in the winter.
Aging reduces the ability of the skin to convert sunlight to Vitamin D. The recommends RDA dosage by the Institute of Medicine and Nutrition for ages 51 to 70 is 400 IU's a day. For 70 years old and above, 600 IU's a day. For those under 50, 200 IU's a day, including children from age 6 upwards. Vitamin D also helps to ward off breast, colon and prostate cancer. William Grant, a senior scientist at NASA who has done research concerning this issue for astronauts estimates that more vitamin D usage would result lower incidences of 13 cancers, 30,000 less annual deaths to cancer and save 47 billion in health care costs alone. Higher Vitamin D levels would also make healthier children.
DECLINING JOBS IN AMERICA - WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO?
A small company in Chicago who used to make a small part for Ford pickups from 1949 until last year for about $18.00, had to lay off 12 workers last month. Why? Because Ford now purchases the same product in China for less. Why? Because a worker in China earns $207 a month for making the part. And this same type of situation is getting worse.
This year, a $130 billion trade deficit will exist between the U.S. and China. That means, the U.S. will purchase $103 billion more goods from China than China buys from America. What has this cost in American jobs? Over 800,000 manufacturing jobs have been lost since 1993 to China.
Since President Bush has been in office, it has been over 260,000 jobs lost to China and Eurasia, India and Paskitan, and this is just in manufacturing jobs, clothing, textiles, machinery. Since President Bush came into office, over 80,000 jobs each month have been lost in all work sectors. If you look at the manufacturing output of the U.S. in the early 1990's, factories here in the U.S. churned out over 28% of the GDP. Today, it is less than 11%. Since President Bush has been in office, over 2.7 million overall jobs have been lost to these countries that were once held by Americans. America, why are you not getting angry about this?
Banks, tech firms, security firms, customer service firms have been exporting white collar jobs to China, India an Pakistan. It is predicted by Forrester Research, that another 3.7 million jobs will be lost in the U.S. to these countries within the next 5 years.
Bethelem Steel, a 200 year old steel plant had to file bankruptcy, laying off hundreds of workers because the company could no longer complete with foreign steel prices. Bush's plan to create a "manufacturing czar", ( excuse me, but what is with all this czar business from Bush, this is not Germany or Russia ), has drawn anger from manufacturers. Kent Bradley of Blue Sea Systems says, "It's nothing but lip service, there is no funding for this." Blue Sea Systems is a small manufacturer in Bellingham, WA, who has had to layoff 50% of the employees due to jobs being taken overseas. And they say the economy is getting better? Now this is what is ironic. Did you know that nearly 75% of all American flags sold in the U.S. are made overseas. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture. The numbers do not lie.
Honeywell, IBM and DHL has moved many operations to the Czech Republic. General Electric, EDS and Alcoa have moved many operations to Hungary. EDS has a 150 employee call center now in Budapest. Philips, Lockheed Martin have moved many operations to Poland including its' plant, building the new F-16 fighter jets. Why? Because in Poland, average salaries are just $7000.00 a year. In the United States he average is $36,000.00 a year. What is amazing is, Lockheed is still charging the U.S. Defense Department the same amount for each jet. The recent order was for 48 F-16 jets at a cost of $3.5 billion to the american taxpayer. So with this extreme labor savings, my question, who is making all these millions, it certainly is not the stockholders of Lockheed-Martin.
In addition, EPAM Systems, a New Jersey company, whose clients are Colgate-Palmolive and Reuters have moved operations to Belarus. Exigen, a San Francisco company whose clients are Allstate, Prudential Financial and others have moved telephone customer operations to Latvia and Lithuania. Goodrich tires now has a plant in Poland that once was in the U.S. Scores of textile and garment making plants have disappeared to the Phillipines, China and Thailand. How many jobs in the last three years in these industries, nearly 320,000 jobs lost. And the exodus of once American jobs continues overseas. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
MICROSOFT AND CHINA
Bill Gates wants so badly to place Windows on every computer in China that he is willing to open up the source code to Chinese programmers for inspection and use. To gain access and sell Windows to the potential 1.7 billion computer users in China, Gates is willing to open up the source code of Windows to the Chinese if they will crack down on the sale of bootleg copies of Windows and let him only sell Windows in China.
I find this totally hypocritical of Gates. For one, he has fought computer companies and the U.S. Justice Department for years in refusing to open up the source code to Windows to make things easier for other programs to work with Windows. I can't even begin to imagine the security issues if the 6,000 plus computer programmers that China has been training the last 3 years if the source code to Windows is given to the Chinese. They would literally have the capability to hack into Windows very easily while users are online anywhere in the world. The U.S. government doesn't even have the source code to Windows. Here again, greed is raising its' ugly head instead of doing the right thing.
POLITICS, THE WAR IN IRAQ - AFGHANISTAN
In a recent TIME/CNN poll, 72% of Americans,( + or - 3.1% ), no longer trust the Saudis. They believe they are continuing to finance terrorists groups. There are now over 140,000 active troops in Iraq, and over 24,000 still in Afganistan according to Department of Defense figures.
In Arab countries that are suppose to be our friends in the War Against Terror, Abu Yahya, the leader of the al-Muhaljiroun group has printed millions of postcards that shows pictures of the 19 hickjackers and the wording on the postcard says, "The Magnificent 19", and talks how they are martyrs in the name of God. These same so called friendly Arab countries, Saudia Arabia, Pakistan, India are allowing these postcards to flourish. The U.S. has given hundreds of millions of dollars to these cronies since 911. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
Osama bin Laden is estimated to have over 200 million in various banks in Syria and other Arab countries, yet these countries have done nothing to help in this matter. Americans who depend on Saudi oil and provide most of the funds for the royal Saudi family have long financed terrorist groups. Whose side are we on here?
In addition, Saddam Hussein has as much as $3 billion sitting in Syrian government controlled banks according to a senior official that told a Time journalist. How do you think all the terror acts against our soldiers in Iraq are being funded.
Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
The huge loss of soliders lives in Iraq is mounting daily. There have been 240 killed in action, 1,424 wounded in action.
How many more American soldiers lives will be lost before we pull out of Iraq. The question that everyone needs to honestly answer themselves, "has it been worth it?"
JESSICA LYNCH - GREAT PHOTO PRESS OP
Although, Jessica Lynch did suffer severe injuries and I feel for her, I cannot help but remark how the government simply used her for a great press oppportunity to gain support for the war. Jessica is not the only soldier that suffered mutilple injuries in Iraq. The fact that she was being held was the opportunity in my opinion for officials high up in the adminstration to use Jessica as a press opportunity to gain support of the war. It is sad when our own government resorts to such tactics. I can see a corporation creating a mirage smokescreen for a new product, but our own government doing this? In the early press reports that the Pentagon was releasing, they said that Jessica had killed several Iraqi's during the firefight before she was captured. In addition, several other lies. Now that Jessica gas been interviewed by several talk show hosts, we find she didn't even fire a shot. Talk about deception from our own government.
JOSEPH WILSON
Anyone remember back in October about Joseph Wilson, an author and columnist in Washington who spoke out against Bush Administration. He called the Rumsfeld-Cheney foreign-policy a "band of zealots", who did not understand the underlying problems around the world. Wilson also said, "Vice President Cheny and Secretary Rumsfeld see this fighting terroism as a game of mole whacker, the boardwalk game where a mole pops up and you whack it." Wilson also spoke up and said somebody from the Bush Administration gave false information to Congress as part of the effort to win support for the Iraqi war.
Shortly after making these statements, two senior officials at the White House leaked to another columnist, Robert Novak, that Wilson's wife was a CIA Operative working uncover through the State Department. This outing not only put Wilson's wife life in danger, but him and their children as well. The outing of a CIA covert officer was the last straw for those in the intelligence community that are trying to protect American citizens.
President Bush supposedly instructed Attorney General Ashcroft to investigate and find who the two leaks were, but evidently this has been brushed under the carpet and no outside independent investigation has been done on this matter. Just something else brushed under the carpet by the Bush Adminstration. Why is it that nothing more has been heard of this and why is it that the person(s) that leaked this information are not being fired by the Bush Administration and going to jail? This is a felony is disclosing such information.
ALL THESE FUNDRAISING TRIPS - WHO IS RUNNING THE COUNTRY?
During the last six months, President Bush has been making an average of 10-12 day trips a month to raise funds for the Republican Party. Vice President Cheney from September 5th to October 3rd alone made ten such fund raising trips to different cities, all on days during the week, not weekends. If you take five business days times four weeks, that is twenty business days Cheney's ten business day campaign trips represent 50% of the month that he was out fund raising. And they both are traveling more and more to various cities to raise campaign funds for the upcoming election. With them out of the "office" so to speak what appears to be 50% of the time each month, it makes you wonder who is running the country?
MOVEON.ORG
MoveOn.org is the fastest growing non-partisan group of Americans that are trying to get things corrected in this country. People joining MoveOn.org are frustrated with both parties. It was startedby husband and wife team, Wes and Joan Boyd. They have helped to raise funds for people running for office that would not have had a chance with all the political party money out there. There membership now totals over 1.6 million Americans and yes, they are raising money for the Democrats at this time. Members joining MoveOn.org are coming from both parties though. These members have had it with both parties and are backing only those politicians that the membership wants to back based on surveys. It is a counter effort against the huge Republican campaign finance war chest of over 80 million dollars. The organization is expected to raise over $10 million dollars for people wanting to run for office. If you are fed up with both parties as I am, you might want to check out MoveOn.org
TERROR IS CLOSER TO HOME THAT YOU THINK
The oil-rich and politically unstable country of Venezuela is emering as a hub of terrorism in the Western Hemispshere. This country is providing assistance to Islamic radicals from the middle east and other terrorists say senior U.S. military and intelligence officials. This is more of a threat because Venezuela is only 1,000 miles from the cost of Florida. Iraq and Afganistan are half way around the globe, 8,000 miles away.
IRAN AND NORTH KOREA
Iran has been devloping enriched uranium that can be used to produce nuclear weapons. In addition, they recently tested a deploying missile that can reach Israel. Although the Iran goverment last month pledged to disclose everything about their nuclear program to the United Nations panel on nuclear energy, they still have not done so. Recent developments in Iran from chanting radical Iranians are denouncing the government's pledge to open its nuclear facilities to unfettered U.N. inspections.
Kim Jong II, the dictator who is literally starving his people to death has openly admitted they are developing nuclear weapons. Jong is nothing more than a new "Hitler". He tortures and kills anyone that does not agree with him. It is estimated that North Korea will have delivery missle systems in 1-3 years that could hit the United States.
Are these two radical countries that we should be more concerned about instead of chasing non-existing weapons of mass destruction in Iraq?
ARNOLD SCHWARZENNEGGER
Arnold Schwarzennegger the newly elected Governor of California has had 14 allegations of sexual harasement made against him from women. Before being elected, Schwarzennegger announced he would hire an independent investigation company to investigate the charges and turn over the findings to the State Attorney General. For some reason, that has now changed. The findings will not be turned over the State Attorney General, and if the state wants to pursue the matter they will have to get funding from the cash strapped California legislature to do so. What I find interesting is this. The Republicans made a huge case out of the Clinton-Lewinsky episode. This was just one woman with Clinton. Is something amiss here?
Here we have 14 women making allegations of sexual harasement against Governor Schwarzennegger, but it appears everyone is looking the other way and saying it's okay. I simply find this is total hypocrisy in the search for truth. Whether the allegations are true or not, they should be investigated and the findings released to the public. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
TEACHERS KILLED A DREAM IN MICHIGAN
In 1999, Bob Thompson in Detriot Michigan sold his construction company for $449 million dollars. He and his wife wanted to do something worthwhile with this money, to give back to the community. The Thompson's offered to literally $200 million to build 15 small independent schools for the city. Thompson only ask that the schools be run a certain way. Thompson based his requirements from research led by Doug Ross, founder of University Preparatory Academy in Detroit. Thompson would build the schools and lease the schools to the city for $1.00 a year. His requirement was that the 90% of the students going to these schools had to graduate both from the schools, and that 90% had to also attend college. If the schools did not meet these conditions he would take the schools back. What happened?
The local teachers union stepped in and performed a strike and work stoppage and demanded that the city not take the offer. The reason? They did not want to have to make the 90% graduate requirement. This tells you alot that our education system has gone to the dogs.
GROWING POPULATION AND FARMLAND DISAPPEARING
The U.S. population is growing at a rate of 3 million a year, while 3 million acres of farm land are being lost annually. Presently, the United States food and agriculture business exports $ 40 billion dollars a year. By 2025, the U.S. will not be exporting any food or agriculture, and as many as 50,000 people a year by then could starve to death in the U.S. You can thank the huge food conglomerate corporations that have been running the small farmer out of business and ruining the other farming land they own by over use of the land. All of this being allowed by the government. Black farmers have been abused by the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and U.S. Farmer bank. Black farmers were denied loans whereas white farmers for the last 20 years have gotten more help, loans, grants, ten times more often than black farmers. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
AIR QUALITY AND SICKNESS
Thanks to Bush's veto on the changes and amendments to the clean air act last year, the air quality in the U.S. is worsening. It is estimated from hospital reports, that 150,000 people a year go to hospitals to be treated because of some kind of air pollution. It is estimate that within 5 years this number will increase to over 10 million people a year that will be treated for air pollution. Bush us still ignoring the reality of global warming and what air pollution is doing to this country.
WHY DO WE KEEP BUILDING WHERE WE SHOULDN'T
Hurricane Isabel this October will cost over $ 1 billlion in damages as it swept the East Coast. It will pale in comparison to hurricane Andrew in 1992 that cost $26.5 billion. Overall, the last nine hurricanes have costs insurance companies over $110 billion. And this is not counting the billions of dollars that are in ligitation from homeowners in these areas that suffered only mold damage caused by the extreme moisture of the hurricanes.
Between 1990 and 2002, insurance companies saw $1.17 in losses for every $1.00 earned in premiums. This is a 17 cent loss on every dollar earned, ( premiumns paid in ) that had to be made up raising homeowner policies on everyone else. Just last year alone, insurance companies doled out over $3.5 billion dollars more in claims for these hurricane damages than they collected, and guess who pays for it. Homeowners that are in areas where only 25% of the homeowners ever file a claim on their polices.
What makes this worse is the fact that those homeowners in these hard hit areas that had no insurance receive funds from the FEMA Disaster Recovery fund in excess of $24.2 billion dollars. Again, the taxpayer picking up the tab.
The solution is very easy. Prohibit re-building of homes in areas that are hit time and time again by hurricanes.
Strict building requirements need to be enforced that if people want to build homes in these areas of hurricanes and floods that they build homes that can withstand the damages. It can be done. Otherwise if this continues, insurance premiums for the rest of homeowners will be so costly, it is estimated that 30% of homeowners that could afford it, will no longer be able to afford it. The final solution is simple. Homeowner insurance rates should be based on a state by state, city by city basis. This means that homeowners in a small community would pay alot less because of fewer claims and damages. Areas that are hard hit, those would be charged more. If people want to keep re-building in areas where they know they will average damage once every five years, then they should be the ones paying the higher premiums.
NO LONGER A TAX-FREE ZONE ON THE INTERNET
Earlier this year, Wal-Mart, Toys "R" Us and Target began collecting local and state sales tax on products ordered through their websites depending on where the person lived. Estimates are that a $26 billion loss of tax revenue is being seen on sales through the internet. The Direct Marketing Association opposes such collection of taxes. Because Federal funds are diminishing to the states, cash hungry states are looking for more revenue. Don't be surprized if Congress or states legislatures in each state don't make a move sometime in the next two years to make it mandatory that sales taxes be collected on all sales through the internet. One such state is looking at taxes set up by zip code.
THE ECONOMY
President Bush, since taking office has increased federal spending 21%, yet continues to hawk for more tax reductions. The real truth in the so called tax reductions, the average American worker is geting much less than those earning $200,000 or more a year. The Bush Administration while all the while talks about less government has boosted the number of people working in the Federal Goverment to a 15 year record high. And on top of this all, he is touting a $400 billion prescription drug benefit for seniors, ( which they desperately need help with ), and spending $87 billion in the reconstruction of Iraq. Here is just a sampling of where some of the money in Iraq is going to.
1 billion dollars to train Iraqi police and fire fighters.
400 million for new new jails - ( that's 200 million each ).
6.7 billion to rebuild the electrical grid system in Iraq. - ( While our own 75 year old grid system in the U.S. suffers breakdowns.
2.1 billion to import petroleum products and oil refinery repair. - ( I guess we are getting into the oil business in Iraq).
303 million to repair railroads and three major airports - ( While our own railroad track system in the U.S. is in dire need of repairs.
150 million to build a childrens hospital in Basra. ( However the toatl cost could reach 700 million by the time it is finished.)
20 million for Executive Job Training - ( Yes, I said executive job training, we are going to be training Iraqi's how to be executives.)
1 million to build a musuem documenting atrocities that Saddam Hussein did to his people. - ( Now is this really needed and should the American taxpayer be footing the bill on this?)
I could no on and on about what they are spending things on in Iraq, but it would only make you
angry. Where is the money going to come from to pay for all this? A money tree? The U.S. Government now has a 480 billion dollar deficit, the largest ever and it is estimated with all this spending that the Bush adminstration is doing will reach 1.4 trillion by 2005. Bush has literally bankrupt this country.
To make matters worse, it is the people and certain corporations that are getting the contracts in Iraq for reconstruction. And if you do not believe that corruption is already rampant in Iraq, guess again. Take for example the awarding of the mobile telephone licenses in Iraq. They were recently awarded to Eqyptian telecom giant, Orascom. Who is tied to Orascom? Iraqi billionaire, Nadhmi Auchi who gave Orascom , a $20 million loan to pay down its' debt of $500 milllion to the World Bank. It makes Auchi the largest stockholder now in Orascom. And guess what...Auchi is already facing prosecution from French prosecutors for corruption and embezzlement. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture?
Every year since World War II and before President Bush took office, the U.S. grew an average of 4.7% a year. Since Bush has been in office, it has averaged only 2.6% and even that is an inaccurate percentage, because defense spending was 3.1% this year. If you subtract that from 2.6%, the U.S. this year has actually grown backwards more or less by .5%. In addition, the government spent 38.4 billion in computer spending this year. Without this, it would be much worse.
So what you are hearing that there has been a 7.2% growth this year is a bunch of hogwash. To make matters worse, the the middle class that is suffering. The Bush adminstration has reduced funding for child care 460 million this year.
N.Y. STOCK EXCHANGE AND MUTUAL FUNDS SCANDALS
Richard Grasso, CEO of the New York Stock Exchange was asked to step down after board members found out that he had a $ 140 million parachute class in his employment contract. This was in addition to $48 million in other benefits due him through 2007. This is nothing but sheer greed that has gotten out of hand in this country. The mutual fund scandal is hitting an all time high like the ENRON scandal. It is estimated that half of the $7 trillion dollars in mutal funds have been manipulated with excess charges and fees to shareholders from the major broker houses. Most of the broker houses and executives in these mutual fund companies are getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist. When does the greed stop in this country?
RUSH LIMBAUGH
Here is a news personality that has done nothing but bash anyone that does not agree with him.
He has several times talked very negatively about other personalities abusing drugs, yet is caught being addicted to drugs himself. I am so tired of the political right wing in this country thinking they know what is best for everyone else.
ENRON/WORLDCOM SCANDAL
EMPLOYEES/INVESTORS LEFT HOLDING BAG
Between the two companies, executives and officers stole from these companies over $2 billion dollars. Yet, only $399 million has been set aside for investors that have lost nearly $1.3 billion dollars. Regular employees are even worse off. They have lost over $200 million in wages and retirement accounts. Yet, none of the executives from these companies have gone to jail, some haven't even been charged by the Justice Department.
For example, Kenneth Lay, the Chairman of the Board who made $37,683,887 million, Jeff Skilling, former CEO, $14,480,755 million, Lou Pai, Unit Ceo, $62,936,552 million and Andrew Fasto, the fired Chief Financial Officer, $30 million? Jeff Skiing has taken the fifth. Andrew Fasto was finally charged by the Justice Department. And what about Lay and Pai? Poor Martha Stewart has been charged concerning a mere $340,000.00 while Lay has walked away with nearly $38 million and Pai, nearly $63 million and both have yet to be charged with anything. Something wrong with this picture you asked? And, as you know, Rockefeller's Exxon/Mobil (formerly Standard Oil) is the world's largest corporation, with his JP Morgan Chase and Citigroup. These two banks financed the Enron scandal. Hello America...what's wrong with this picture, where is the justice for the common folk?
NEW TECHNOLOGY
Dean Kamen who invented the mobile human transporter Segway, has now invented a water purifier that supposedly will make pure water using heat in a closed system. His unit supposedly can take the nastiest of water and purify 10 gallons of drinkable water an hour. The cost of the unit, about $1000.00 in mass production. The neat thing is, it can use any fuel that is on hand, gasoline, wood, diesel, anything that will generate high heat in the closed system that recyles the heat to distill and purify the water. According to the U.N., there are over 6,000 deaths a day due to bad drinking water worldwide. I wonder in the poorest of countries like Africa and Southeast Asia, will this machine be worth a king's ransom and will water in these countries suddenly become like gold and controlled by mobs out of greed?
JUDICIAL SYSTEM
The judicial system in this country in my opinion has become a huge joke. All one has to do is to see how recently, men that were convicted of crimes 30 years ago are now being released based on DNA evidence that they did not committ the crime they wre convicted of. That means the real criminal for the crime was never caught. And if anyone says there is still not rasicm in teh judicial system in this country. Think again! And if you are poor and innocent. Well, I could list hudreds of innocent people that have gone to prison because they were poor and could not afford a good attorney.
And look at the powers that the U.S. Attorney now has under the Homeland Security Act. It reminds me of the stories from people that survived the Holocaust in Germany of how rights were slowly be taking away by people in Germany as Hitler started to rise in power.
CONSUMER ALERTS
The Consumer Alerts section on my website has been updated in all areas. You can find all areas in the Consumer Alerts section.
Here is an important Health Consumer Alert:
All drugs containing PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE are being recalled. You may
want to try calling the 800 number listed on most drug boxes and inquire about a REFUND. PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE is causing strokes and seizures in adults and children. Here again is yet another example of how the FDA took clinical studies paid by the same corporations making these products that said they were safe. Another screwup by the FDA putting the lives of adults and children at risk.
The following over the counter medications contain PHENYLPROPANOLAMINE
Acutrim Diet Gum Appetite Suppressant
Acutrim Plus Dietary Supplements
Acutrim Maximum Strength Appetite Control
Alka-Seltzer Plus Children's Cold Medicine Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold medicine (cherry or orange)
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold Medicine
Original Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Cough Medicine Effervescent
Aka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Flu Medicine
Alka-Seltzer Plus Cold & Sinus Effervescent
Alka-Seltzer Plus Night-Time Cold Medicine
BC Allergy Sinus Cold Powder
BC Sinus Cold Powder
Comtrex Flu Therapy & Fever Relief Day & Night
Contac 12-Hour Cold Capsules
Contac 12 Hour Caplets
Coricidin D Cold, Flu & Sinus
Dexatrim Caffeine Free
Dexatrim Extended Duration
Dexatrim Gelcaps
Dexatrim Vitamin C/Caffeine Free
Dimetapp Cold & Allergy Chewable Tablets
Dimetapp Cold & Cough
Liqui-Gels
Dimetapp DM Cold & Cough Elixir
Dimetapp Elixir Dimetapp 4 Hour Liquid Gels
Dimetapp 4 Hour Tablets
Dimetapp 12 Hour Extentabs Tablets
Naldecon DX Pediatric Drops
Permathene Mega-16
Robitussin C
Tavist-D 12 Hour Relief of Sinus & Nasal Congestion
Triaminic DM Cough Relief
Triaminic Expectorant Chest & Head
Triaminic Syrup Cold & Allergy
Triaminic Triaminicol Cold & Cough
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And I wish each and everyone a Happy and Blessed Thanksgiving!
~ David Lawrence Dewey
