Want a free vacation to Bermuda? Become a terrorist. Since Obama is trying to close down Guantanamo Bay, he has to send its detainees somewhere, and in this case, it was the tropical island of Bermuda. Four men were sent there as "guest workers," with the potential to become naturalized citizens, which would allow them to travel in and out of any country they choose. Worse yet, the British government, who owns Bermuda, was never consulted about this matter.
But here's the other side of the coin: there has not been much news coverage of this story, and consequently, it is difficult to determine what, if anything, these men are guilty of. One news source claims that they were simply victims of a tense political climate and were captured in Afghanistan after fleeing persecution in China. So if that's the case, and they are completely innocent, why didn't Obama bring them to the United States? Why didn't he use them as an example of how unfairly we've treated our prisoners, show the American people their plight, and offer to help them start a new life here?
Instead, he quietly tried to settle them in Bermuda without even going through the proper channels within the British government. And now, he has offered the Pacific nation of Palau $200 million in "development and budget aid" at the same time they've agreed to take 13 more detainees.
Where do these actions fit into Obama's promise for a "transparent presidency?" He is certainly more communicative than many other presidents, what with his weekly YouTube updates, frequent press conferences, and repetitive declarations about the "historic" nature of his leadership. But transparent? I don't think so. In fact, he is totally silent when it suits him. (For example, when Dick Cheney asked that information gained from enhanced interrogation techniques be made public.)
And finally, where will we be if we have to spend $200 million on every 4 terrorists we've detained? Oh - right. We'll just print more money.
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Commentary on current events with specific information and links that enable busy Americans to engage in the political process in a meaningful way.
What You Can Do
June 4, 2009 - In 1989, Congress voted that they should have an annual "cost-of-living adjustment" (COLA) made to their salaries. Since then, they've been getting a $4,000-$5,000 raise every year to salaries that range from $160,000-$210,000. This is already far more than the average American makes, and Congress's job performance hardly seems to justify a raise. But enough people complained, and next year the members of Congress are going to forgo their annual pay hike! The online petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-the-congressional-pay-raise.html, along with many others, gave Amerians a voice that their representatives could not ignore. So be encouraged, and know that even taking five minutes of your time to sign an online petition can make a real difference. Finally, some good news in these tough times!
May 4, 2009 - Educate yourself about term limits for Congress. Many believe imposing limits is the only hope for any real change in Washington or our poitical system. The desire to be re-elected seems to dominate most politicians' agendas, no matter what party they come from, making them less interested in the best interests of the people they represent, and more interested in keeping themselves in power. They make themelves look more necessary by continually increasing bureaucratic rules and regulations and trying to make the role of government bigger.
Running for office is hugely expensive, and many people who would like to challenge the current system and group of leaders simply do not have the funds to do so. So once a politician is elected, he may never face a serious threat to his position. This makes it all too easy for politicians to become complacent and out of touch with their electorate.
If you are concerned about the direction this country is headed, or more particularly about the lack of accountability in Washington, become proactive. Visit http://www.termlimits.org/ and sign their online petition.
May 4, 2009 - Educate yourself about term limits for Congress. Many believe imposing limits is the only hope for any real change in Washington or our poitical system. The desire to be re-elected seems to dominate most politicians' agendas, no matter what party they come from, making them less interested in the best interests of the people they represent, and more interested in keeping themselves in power. They make themelves look more necessary by continually increasing bureaucratic rules and regulations and trying to make the role of government bigger.
Running for office is hugely expensive, and many people who would like to challenge the current system and group of leaders simply do not have the funds to do so. So once a politician is elected, he may never face a serious threat to his position. This makes it all too easy for politicians to become complacent and out of touch with their electorate.
If you are concerned about the direction this country is headed, or more particularly about the lack of accountability in Washington, become proactive. Visit http://www.termlimits.org/ and sign their online petition.
About Us
- Steven and Anne Duchac
- Anne and I have found the need to become "political hacks" in order to preserve our rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In our particular case, we want to protect our ability to be successful small business owners. This means speaking out against excessive taxation, government interference in the free market, ever-increasing spending, and the debt that comes with it. This is still the land of the free, but it won't be for long if average people don't get involved and demand change.
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