Monday, May 30, 2005
In 1864, Abraham Lincoln wrote, "I see in the near future a crisis approaching that unnerves me and causes me to tremble for the safety of my country. As the result of the War, corporations have been enthroned. . . . An era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money power of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people . . . until wealth is aggregated in a few hands . . . and the Republic is destroyed." [From p. 18 of William H. Boyer, Myth America: Democracy Vs. Capitalism (Apex Press, 2003).]
Enron. World-com. Tyco. Global Crossing. And so many more. Fact: Halliburton has made more than $7-billion in profits in slightly more than two years, thanks to all its no-bid contracts with the Bush Administration. Fact: Because Dick Cheney was Halliburton's CEO before he became Vice President, Halliburton has the legal right to give Mr. Cheney up to a million dollars a year, just because they like the color of his eyes.
Fact: The U.S. Supreme Court decided Bush v. Gore because five of the justices were appointed by Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush. Fact: Antonin Scalia, George W. Bush's favorite justice, is and in 2000 was a close personal friend of Dick Cheney.
Opinion: Mr. Lincoln may have been a Republican, but that was because he cared about a Republic that was free — not one that was purchased, gerrymandered, Newspeak-ed, spin-doctored, fat-catted, and Patriot Act-ed into submission.
I think today Abraham Lincoln would not be trembling for the safety of his country, but weeping.
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