LEAVE IT TO PEEVER
Washington needs a clyster
— Bumper sticker of
the week: They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Joni Mitchell
— Quotes of the week:
ÒIt is horrifying to have to fight our government to save the environment.Ó
Ansel Adams
ÒI can remember when the
air was clean and sex was dirty.Ó George Bums
ÒNature is not a place to visit.
It is home.Ó Gary Snyder
— I heard on the TV
that we have 19 new start-up businesses in Galesburg. So I tracked them down to
see how many new jobs they created. It didnÕt add up to a hill of beans. More
economic development nonsense.
— Power bills create
problems: ÒThe Great American Swindle.Ó Power companies are making a killing,
as are the gas distributors. Nothing better than a nature disaster to help the
bottom line. After all, who can muster up an argument against Mother Nature?
ItÕs about time we did. You would think eventually the American people are
going to say enough is enough. Well, maybe not. Corporate America promotes
confusion between capitalism and democracy. They want the two to remain
synonymous. They are not synonymous. One is a license to steal, the other is
the right to make it right.
— Iraqi fiasco:
Another election. Another fiasco. Anyone in their right mind canÕt possibly
believe an American forced election would be anywhere close to fair. They say
the results will be let out in a month or so. I suppose Bush is on vacation
until then. It wouldnÕt surprise me a bit to see Jeb Bush win. His brother owes
him big-time.
— Can retail stores
revive a community? IÕm hoping yes, but betting no.
— Maytag and Butler
bail out of real estate tax obligations: You can move a business out of a
community, but you canÕt move the buildings. Galesburg has a long history of
real estate obligations burning down, but there are apparently higher-tech
methods nowadays. Enter a California company that buys both properties at a
fraction of their appraised value. The question becomes: Is this what it
appears to be? This is probably a question the City of Galesburg needs to take
up, but who am I kidding. TheyÕll invite this California company to town and
treat them like kings. ThatÕs the Galesburg way. Close your eyes and bend over.
This wonÕt hurt a bit.
— A stamp scam: I
never go looking for irregularities in human behavior, but they just seem to
follow me around. I need to pick up some stamps at HyVee around December 22.
All they have to sell me are 39 cent stamps. I tell them that the rate increase
is not approved until Jan.8. They tell me tough. So I call the USPS. Seems the
stamps can be sold now, but you donÕt have to use them until Jan. 8. Nice
little quirk in the law. WhoÕs going to buy them now and not use them? So, of
course, itÕs our, the public's, fault. I should have known.
— How do you spell
relief?:
¥ A special recall election to replace the President would
help.
¥ How about no more war?
¥ How about at least one or two politicians in Washington
developing a conscience?
¥ IÕd like to see all the oil and gas companies
nationalized. That would be some fun relief.
¥ It would be a relief to see anyone scamming the poor
turned into a frog. Washington would immediately become the frog raising
capital of the world, and the frog leg feeds would be a great way to feed the
hungry.
¥ Relief comes in the form of universal health-care.
¥ How do you spell relief: CLYSTER.