Another year, another mess

Well, it is a new year folks. Yep, old 2010 is gone. Welcome 2011. 
Big deal. Yeah, I know, where is they "happy new year" from the old cynic? Well, what is there to be so happy about? We are still stuck in endless damn fool wars of choice with the very real prospect of more endless damn fool wars to come. The economy is still in the dumps. 
Oh there has been a bit of "good" news of late. Since I now have had TV since late May, I catch a bit of what now passes for "news" on the tube every so often. According to one "news" item a few days ago, we should all be happy as the new jobless claims are down. Well of course the new claims are down, there are so few who have any jobs now. Most businesses have cut their staff to the bare minimum so that means fewer folks still employed and fewer to be laid off or fired. Just wait a week or two, those temp jobs to get through the "holiday" shopping season will be unemployed so the new claims will go up soon.
Oh yeah, Gobomber gave a "new years" speech where he claims he will now be working for the "middle class" this year. Oh joy, where the hell was he the last two years? Working for the rich? Well, he sure aided them getting a totally un-needed tax break. Oh joy. I see where some of the "left" are over joyed at the speech and are saying things like "here is the president we voted for". Sure, just count me a skeptic. I'll believe that he is working for the real people when I see some serious actions. I remember being told many times as a kid that actions speak louder than words. I will hold Gobomber to that same standard. 
How am I to be expected to seriously think he is now for the working class? The elephant gang now has control of the House. When dear leader had large majorities in BOTH houses of Congress, neither he nor his own party managed to get anything worth while passed. Where is a decent national health care program? Not in America. 
How many of the banksters who caused a global economic melt down are even charged with any crimes? Only in Russia, where Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been sentenced to serious jail time. It seems that the Russians are the only folks who have the guts to go after the banksters and other super rich crooks. On the subject of high level criminals, when will we see any investigations into the war crimes of Shrubbie and his administrations?  Best not hold your breath waiting for that to happen. Remember, Gobomber said he doesn't like to "look back". Yeah, just let those who are guilty go free, no trial, hell, not even a charge nor an investigation. And yet we really think the country can recover without this? Somebody explain to me how this country can ever seriously recover if we allow criminals to go free. this sure blows what I was taught as a kid out of the water. I was taught that you had to pay for your crimes. Now it seems that if you have a high enough rank, you do not have to even admit to any crime, let alone get punished for the crimes you commit. America, what a country.
When we allow those in a high ranking position to escape any punishment, any investigation, we send a message to the world. We even send that message to our own people, if you have any power, you can get away with anything. Wow, what sort of morality is this? Some lessons we are "teaching" to our children. And still, a large number of Americans keep telling me that this is a "Christian nation"?  Yeah, well, it looks like I will continue to be a heathen/pagan then. 
I'd really like to be able to sit here and write about how this new year will be so much better than last year was. I'd seriously like to believe that. Well, I do not live in a fantasy, I live in the real world and the new year does NOT look so grand. It looks like more of the same old bull crap that we have had since the days of "saint" Ronnie of Raygun. And by the way, this year marks the 100th birthday of the dear sainted Ron. Yep, I caught that bit on some web site early today. No doubt we will be bombarded with a flood of programs telling us how "great" a man the guy was. What a "great" president he was. Sure, he WAS our very first acting president is what he was. End of story. During his time in office, the country really started the downhill run we have been on ever since. Thanks loads there Ron. I mis the guy like I miss the plague, not at all. 
The only bright spot regards Ron is that his birthday is in early February so maybe we will not have to endure much of the crap about him after early March, I hope. 
How could 2011 be better than 2010? Well, for starters, Gobomber could pull ALL troops AND mercenaries out of Iraq. Yeah, I know, he pulled the "combat" troops out last year. Big deal. "We" still have over 50,000 troops plus many more mercenaries (aka contractors) still in Iraq. Speaking of which, the new prime minister wants all our troops gone by the end of this year. No doubt Gobomber will find at least one excuse why that cannot happen. Bets are that they already have a few on hand now. Got to be prepared you know. Yep, smoke and mirrors. Some things never change, like government lying. Yeah.
Funny, the environment is a mess. The economy is in the toilet, we have no decent health care. All these are as they are because we have no money for those things. And yet, "we" always seem to find plenty of money for damn fool, useless wars of choice. 
Well, there isn't much profit in a decent national health care system.  There is no profit in schools that teach our children to be critical thinkers. There is no profit in cleaning the environment. There is no profit in decent unemployment benefits. Ah, but there IS big time profit in war. Huge profits indeed. Just grab a copy of War is a racket by old Smedley Butler. Now, he was talking about the profits made by various businesses in World War One.  Even the companies that made socks and under wear made money. Well, sure, those troops need clothing. And food, and vehicles and all sorts of tools, blankets etc. The list goes on and on. War is big business and until we figure a way to take the profits out of war, we will, unfortunately, have more wars. And yet, some folks still tell me that America  is a "Christian nation".  Yeah, "we" sure do follow that commandment to "love your neighbor as yourself" don't we? 
I honestly do think that if each of us would try and treat everybody else as we want to be treated, that we can make a difference. Just give it a shot. Next time you go out, any where at all, just try it. Treat all you come in contact with the way you would like them to treat you. No, there won't be a great uplifting, no flash of light, no clap of thunder. Nope, no "special" effects at all. But, maybe, just maybe, you might feel a bit better for it. Hey, you might even make some other person feel a bit better also.
I keep reading different comments on various sites. Some folks are looking for a "magic bullet" or something to change the world. Some think we need a new leader, a new Gandhi or some such. I don't buy that. WE are the change that we are looking for. It has to start with each of us. True, nothing much will change any time soon, but if we all just try, it could be a nicer place for all of us. Maybe I am totally wrong here, but I refuse to be completely negative.  Yes, I am very cynical and very sarcastic at times. Still, I think that each of us has the ability to make this a better place for all. It won't be easy. Not everybody will respond positively, but don't quit. Hell, failin' Palin is a quitter.  
Have the best possible year you can have.
p.s. Please stop by a blog I found. I think you may like it. It is "Dangerous Creation". The blog is by David G. and he really has much worth reading. The link is in the link section on the right side of this blog.
semper fi