StemPAC

Join StemPAC -- the Stem-Cell Political Action Coalition. The group is being formed by concerned citizens who believe it is time to go on the offense against the extremists who have held up the promise of stem cell research. We will do whatever we can to educate our elected officials about the importance of sensible stem-cell laws -- and to defeat those who refuse to learn.

If you're not getting military pay, you shouldn't be letting President Bush kill and maim your friends and family. If 51% is a "mandate," then 72-80% (including 76% of moderates, 64% of conservatives, and 62% of fundamentalist or evangelical Christians) should cause nothing less than rioting in the streets if President Bush defies our will and panders to the minority 20%.

Strict Constructionism

I realize that we're all supposed to think that the founding fathers were infallible and that their intent was completely noble and unbiased, but I think we shouldn't get so wrapped up in trying to read the minds of dead men that we forget to think for ourselves. Nor should we disguise our own agendas by claiming that they are the original intent. I think, indeed, we should try to act in the spirit of the founding fathers and take care of freedom and liberty and the best interests of American citizens, but we need to avoid reading more meaning into things than is or was ever there.

War, fear, and sheep

Goering: "Why, of course, the people don't want war. Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

Gilbert: "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

Goering: "Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

US Army Intelligence officer questioning Hermann Goering: Hitler's Reichsmarschall, Founder of the Gestapo, by Gustave Gilbert at the Nuremburg War Crimes Tribunal.