So today my gynecology teacher came to class with the announcement that Bush had signed something into law giving him permission to enact martial law anytime he wants...which wasn't exactly true, because I looked it up just now, and actually, Bush signed the law she's referring to back in 2006. But now, apparently, he's threatening that if the rest of the government doesn't go along with his $700 billion "recovery package" or whatever the hell they are calling it, maybe "economic stimulus package" (remember that, just a few months ago, and how that was suppose to revitalize the economy...guess it didn't work hu?,) then he would use the power he gained with the signing of that law, and perhaps declare martial law.
What does martial law mean anyway? I had to look it up, because I honestly didn't know. It means Bush could basically declare war against his own citizens, it means that at any time, for any reason, if he didn't like something people where doing (say, for example, people got together to protest his newfound power,) then he could call in the military AND civilian police from any part of the country he wanted, bring them to the spot where the people where protesting or whatever, and arrest anyone he wanted, without reason or just cause. And, torture them as well, and hold them for as long as he deemed necessary. Basically, Bush is no longer hiding the fact that he wants to be an unquestioned dictator, and probably still will be after the whole sham election thing blows over.
Did you know, for example, that part of Washington DC is now blockaded off, and that only people who show id proving that they live in that neighborhood are allowed to come and go? Does that sound like the ghettos set up by the Nazis for the Jews to anyone else? This happened over the summer, and was suppose to be to help control crime in DC....but who, exactly, is this suppose to help protect? Obviously not the people who live there, since criminal or not, they are held behind a fence with everyone else...
Recently I've heard the same thing is being talked about being enacted in Seattle, WA. The reasoning is that Seattle is a sea-port, which would make it easy for overseas "terrorists" to dock there and enter our country. But I have to wonder if maybe Seattle is just a little too left, a little too progressive for Bush's liking, and if the whole sea-port thing really holds any weight. Is Bush afraid of the people in Seattle? Will Portland be next on his list of cities to sort of "quarantine" off if you will? I'm personally a little freaked about all of this, and, like the rat smelling danger, am ready to flee. But where do you go when your whole country is a dangerous place to be? Will hiding in the woods somewhere make one any safer? Will I be safer in say, Upstate New York then I would be here in Portland? I will certainly be safer from hipsters and the continued "yuppization" of Portland (sorry, just had to throw that in there,) in Upstate New York, but would I be safer from the manically obsessed-with-world-domination dictator named Bush? I'm feeling a little frightened here people...and it doesn't help that, simultaneously, our economy is flat-lining and ice caps are melting, water, food and oil is all apparently becoming scarce, basically, the natural and artificial, economic world are both fucked.
What can we do?
Love ya,
Carrot
I come from a country where almost every president or leader has not completed his or her term...they are either assassinated or the government is taken over in a martial law, sometimes it is also known as a coup de tat if it is bloodless.
"He who awaits much can expect little."
- Gabriel Garcia Marquez, No One Writes to the Colonel
(me thinks...I will meet GM in another life)
I'm wondering why a "re-wilder" would fear this stuff?
You will be fine. Unlike the rest of us normal people you are not dependent on the modern economy. You can always gather wild rice and eat road kill and move deeper into the woods. Heck, if things get really grim you could even experiment with a little cannibalism.
Bush will be out of office in less than 100 days. I doubt very seriously we will see either martial law or economic collapse before then. We will probably drift deeper into an ugly recession. Bush certainly deserves some of the blame for all this but there is plenty of blame to go around. Congress set the stage for this by writing laws that forced banks to make loans to people with dubious ability to re-pay. These laws were written in the Carter years and got worse in the Clinton years. And Congress refused to heed the alarm bells about the Fannie Ms when Bush rang them about rampant fraud a couple of years ago. Alan Greenspan and the Feds, allowed the economy to over-heat by printing too much money with artificially low interest rates. Of course there are several Wall Street executives that deserve some Chinese style 9mm justice and I would welcome martial law to be imposed on them. And there were the scumbags that committed fraud while applying for loans that they could not possibly afford to repay. It is naive to pretend like this is all Bush's doing.
It will also be interesting to see Obama fix the problem. Don't expect things to get better anytime soon.
an economic meltdown? Because regardless of how well prepared I might be to take care of myself (not very prepared at all; so I know a few things about harvesting wild rice and skinning road kill, this does not make me a wilderness guru,) there are going to be billions of other folks all running around trying to care for themselves as well, which could lead to a very dire situation. We are all interdependent, whither we like to admit it or not...after all, much of the food I eat is either a) hit by a car, which is very much a part of this economy/system or b) dumpstered, again, very much a part of this economy/system. So no, i am not naive enough to think that I'll be a-ok without this system...after all, I'm sitting in a house right now, with electric lights on, writing on a computer, after having just had a nice warm bath while bitching on a cell phone to a friend about how hard my life is..so really, I'm super dependent upon this system which I know is killing the planet. Woe is me!
anyway, as far as Obama fixing everything and all that...who says Bush is gonna be gone in 10 months or whatever...if he declares marshal law, don't you think he'll stay in office?
Love ya,
Carrot
ps at the same time, I think fear is a very terrible motivator...I'm trying to stay as positive as possible, but everything looks really insane right now.
I already knew you were one of those who *know,* your mention of our interdependence only confirms that.
Regarding Obama, I am really glad he won. Maybe he won't have the answers, maybe some things will become worse, but at least it will be different than what has been cooking.
I just watched another documentary about the seven signs of the apocalypse. In reviewing the characteristics of the antichrist, i thought, "Wow, that could very well be Obama," a man who appears to bring peace and healing.
Of course, I don't necessarily believe that there will be a Biblical apocalypse, but i also wouldn't be surprised if we did. I do like Obama, and unless he is some such antichrist, I think we have a good chance at turning things around.
Jackbenimble is right. We are going to be working our asses off, especially if we decide on a national level to reverse, or at least stop, the damage we have done to our planet.
Here's a thought, left wing liberals don't believe in the Bible or God, yet think that the world is long overdue for some serious vengeance and is ready to reject all of our shit, by resurfacing itself the way it is known to do every so many hundreds of thousands of years.
Right wing conservatives who believe in the Bible literally believe we are going to see the end of the world, and all the natural disasters described in the book of Revelation. At the same time they balk at evidence of global warming.
Either way, it is definitely within our reality based consciousness, no matter the source of beliefs, that the world is about to shift, and humans are going to have to adjust, or die.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
the world is long overdue for some serious vengeance and is ready to reject all of our shit
I haven't heard the bit about Earth resurfacing - where'd you hear it from?
caused by *global cooling.*
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ice_age
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Beware of Generalizations. Yes, conservatives tend to support the bible and believe in God, while a liberal is likely to be agnostic or an atheist, but you can't rely on that. Liberals don't even have to be democratic. My friend is registered as a republican, from a very conservative family, watches FoxNews, yet is a wiccan and pro-choice, whereas I identify mostly with the liberals and am a practicing Christian.
Also, many religious folk are of the thought that the end of the world is a long way off. Most likely not in our life time.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
so much. I said "Right wing conservatives *who* believe in the Bible literally..."
I did not say all.
I know many Liberals who are Christians. "Right wing Conservative Christians" do not represent all Christians, they are just one particular group.
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"left wing liberals don't believe in the Bible or God"
That phrase made me think that you were generalizing. I realize that you did get more specific with left-wing, but I still think you were a little to close to generalization for comfort. I just never here anyone on FoxNews taking about raining fire and the apocolypse even in biblical terms.
Like what you've read? Well, then here's more:
http://www.progressiveu.org/blog/tricia0711
I meant to say, "left wing liberals *who* don't believe in the Bible or God,"
Most of the conservative voices we see in the media know how to play by the rules. They know that they won't get away with preaching.
You probably won't hear many conservative voices in the media talking about global warming. They don't believe in it, and they don't want to think about it because it would challenge their entire way of thinking, even though it does point to an end of life as we know it on this planet, just like their apocalypse.
What I find to be very interesting is the trend I am seeing in the discovery channel especially, but also on the learning channel and the history channel, of documentaries about "mysteries," such as prophecies related to 2012, and parallel what *science* has discovered and predicts. The similarities between the prophecies and the science are striking.
Does this mean we all need to start reading the Bible and praying for our souls? Maybe, but I think what would be better would be for all those Bible believers to start participating in the science in order to work cooperatively on finding solutions to very real problems.
Sadly, they don't want or need to look at the science because they would rather not do anything, continue living in their complacence, and shrug, saying "Well, it's in God's hands." By leaving it in God's hands, they relinquish any personal responsibility whatsoever.
For the record, I am not generalizing. I am describing a certain type of conservative christian thinking. Sadly, my own father is one of these and makes me want to beat my head against bricks because that would be less painful than any conversation I get sucked in to with such ignorance.
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We balk, because the evidence keeps turning out to be wrong.
The Global Warming climate change models predicted steadily warmer temperatures this decade as a result of increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Do you remember the hysterical doomsday predictions that were made for this decade a few years ago? The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased steadily but most scientists now agree that there has been no warming since 1998. Apparently the models don't work because there has been no warming.
As recently as a year ago the global warming doom sayers were saying that arctic sea ice would completely melt in 2008. But as of about a week ago, arctic sea ice has returned to 1979 levels when satellite first began measuring. In the past 30 years there has been ZERO net change in sea ice. Despite all the hand wringing this summer the polar bears are going to be just fine! During that period, the extent of sea ice ebbed and flowed as it has throughout history. For example, in 1903, 1941, and 1943 which were all years prior to significant man-made carbon emmisions, the sea ice retreated and broke up to the point where ships were able to navigate the Northern Passage. After each of those episodes of melting, just as it has done this winter despite all the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, the Arctic ice returned.
How many times are we going to have to listen to the doomsaysers "cry wolf" before we can finally start ignoring them?
Yellowstone is set to blow any day. We are long overdue for a meteor to hit us. There are all kinds of possibilities in this unstable universe.
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Yellowstone is a super volcano of the type that can cause geological epic changes similar to the extinction of the dinosaurs. When it goes off it would not surprise me if more than half of humanity died and we might be wiped out completely. I live only a couple hundred miles downwind of it so I will be mercifully spared the ugly part of the suffering. It has a habit of going off about every 600,000 years give or take a hundred thousand or so. It has been about 600,000 years since it last went off so it is due. It could happen tomorrow or anytime in the next 100,000 years. I'm not going to hold my breath waiting. The chances of it going off in our lifetime (despite the recent spat of mini-earthquakes) is probably similar to the chances of Obama balancing the Federal Budget this year.
I'm just not going to worry about a meteor. First we will shoot some nukes at it and then we will send some people from Hollywood up to blow it up.
I am so resisting the urge to do the happy clappy dance in the oh so very quiet computer lab over your post.
That was until you said "It will also be interesting to see Obama fix the problem." as if you believed he would win and do a good job. Personally, as given by the evidence I have seen, I believe that government involvement and regulation is what keeps digging our hole deeper and deeper... Sen. Obama likes government involvement and will more then likely make things worse or better in a good socialist way.
Other then that excellent comment.
Were is that rock I use to live under, it was so peaceful there.
~T
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
I do believe Obama will win. There is less than a month to go and the polls are going the wrong way for McShame.
I think McShamnesty is slighlty better than Nobama but they are both miserably bad choices. I agree with everything you said about Obama and in the end he is going the make things worse by increasing socialism. It will be interesting to watch.
Thank goodness I am close to retirement age. Working age people are going to have one hell of a hole to dig their way out of to pay for the socialism that we have already committed to and all the new socialism that is yet to come. I'm glad I'm not going to be one of the tax slaves.
Damn it....Wait can I say that? Yes...Damn it.
You are so lucky to not have to worry about being a tax slave.
I had just calmed down from some other bad news I heard about the political climate if that’s what you want to call this blog. I can only hope the polls are as wrong as what AM radio says they are and that we do not end up in some mass civil war over the voter fraud that’s going or whatever the election outcome is.
*Sigh*
Okay I still have the utmost respect for you.
~T
A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins. ~Benjamin Franklin
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out. ~T
Now that I am stiffling back a panic attack while trying to avoid a break down.... I had not heard of these Martial Law things before and I have a question. While it be transfered to the next president? Oh god we are closer to not democracy then I thought.
Feeling motivated to over turn something
Love is like a box of chocolates; if you chose wisely you won’t be disappointed and have to spit it out.
~T
A nation of well informed men who have been taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny begins. ~Benjamin Franklin
the one to overturn things. :please:
"Consistency is not a human trait" - Maude, from Harold and Maude
Sorry. What I mean is that Canada and/or Europe are very appealing in the present climate. They seem so much... safer. Sorry I didn't make myself clear.
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
Canada...Europe?
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
I don't understand your comment....
I think at the moment I might be moving to Minnesota, which is neither Europe nor Canada...anyway, maybe I'll be going farther away, I'm not sure.
Love ya,
Carrot
We all carry fear, therefore carry a good reason to guide this fear towards the source for all to see.
To openly question why you feel the way you do will inspire more people in doing so.
You are part of the solution in order to bring change!
http://www.wowzone.com/monkey.htm
That IS scary, Carrot. To think such a medival tactic could be used in today's time just sounds so unsavory. What now, if Pres. Bush gets a bug up his butt about anyone, he'll just send in the military? Sounds wrong to me, especially when our president resembles a monkey in a suit, and you know what they say about monkeys.... watch out for what they throw!
Canada is sounding good right now, isn't it? I'm going to work on developing more of a taste for round bacon, maple syrup, and coins with Moose on them.
~ *~
This is a signature, an automated thingy that pops up when I comment, not a demand to see my blog!
Mind Control is Easier Than You Think
Joy. I've just been made even more paranoid about our government. It's reasons like this that make me want to get out of the country...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
leave this country and go where? the more I look into the basics of government in other places, the more frightened I become...although actually, Canada looks pretty appealing right now...
Love ya,
Carrot
Somewhere smaller. Yes, there will be problems everywhere. But a smaller country would be nice. Maybe Ireland... my grandmother says it's a very nice place, and everyone's friendly. Of course, I should probably look into what's going on over there, too...
And that's comin' at ya' from yer local redneck hippie.
--
Ooh, ooh, pick me, pick me!!!
Pelosi inacted an act putting the House under her Martial Law if the bill wasn't passed. She's just as bad as Bush.