A Testament to the Idiocy and Corruptibility of Bureaucrats

In addition to my own plight, my attention will focus on larger issues such as the war in Iraq and Afghanistan. I keep thinking of the movie I recently watched called Fahrenheit 9/11. I have heard of the film for some time now and was curious to see what it was about, but I kept putting it off since I was in no hurry to be reminded of the horrors of 9/11. I happen to be flipping channels one night recently and it was on one of the cable movie channels. I decided to watch it and I found it fascinating, as well as quite disturbing. I have read on the web a lot of the hype about the film and also a lot of information discrediting the film. Either way, it presents a lot of food for thought. I'll be honest and say that I didn't vote for George W. Bush. It is not because I have anything personal against the man, I just didn't think he was the sort of person that should be leading the United States (perhaps he could lead a frat house, but not the United States). I didn't feel any confidence in the man as a leader and I need to feel confident about the man who is going to lead the nation.

To me (and I could be wrong about my impression of him), he just seems to give off the air of a spoiled son of a rich man. I didn't feel (and still don't) that he had the level of achievements one needs to see in the man who is going to be President. He was governor of Texas but big deal. The only reason he became governor, president, and is able to get away with any misconduct in his life is because of who is father is (George Bush Sr.). So I guess what we are saying then is that no matter how one behaves, if their parents are rich and well-respected, their children are free from any accountability to their actions, get to use their parents good name (and money) to their full advantage, and get out of any military service that involves actual combat (if they so desire). The privledged few. This is fairness, American-style!

I can't say that I know all the details of what happened, but the whole election fiasco in 2000 seemed just a bit too convenient if you ask me. The one state in question (Florida) with the confusing ballot cards is governed by President Bush's brother Jeb and no one can see a conflict of interest here? I won't make any comments but just remember one thing:

Family always sticks together (unless of course you really hate your family)

The Bush Brothers don't seem to hate each other. The question to me is: Why would it just be Florida with that problem and no other state? My home state of New Jersey didn't have a problem and if it can be done correctly in New Jersey, then something is going on (afterall most people in New Jersey have toxic shock syndrome, just kidding. I always appreciate a good New Jersey joke). The citizens of the United States will probably never know what actually occurred and I suppose at this point it is all moot, but I think as Americans we have a right to know the truth no matter how much time goes by.

In the movie Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore shows a connection between the Bush Family and the Saudis and, in all fairness, I can't say how accurate the film is. Anyone who reads this would have the watch the film and judge for yourself. Osama Bin Laden's cousin is a close friend of the Bushes. I don't have a particular problem with that. The United States has been dealing with Saudi Arabia for a very long time. The United States needs oil and the Middle East is where most of it is. The problem I have is that it seems that the Bushes and the United States government is indifferent or just "looks the other way" when it comes to the Saudis and their funding of terrorism. The simple reasons behind this: money and greed. According to the film, before George Bush Jr. became president his dad gave him an oil company to run. As owner Junior's company did quite badly till Junior made a very nice deal with the Saudi government. I don't know for how much but I wouldn't be surprised if it is in the millions (or billions) of dollars. All of a sudden, the Saudis and Bushes were the best of friends. Junior was even working on a deal with the government of Afghanistan on a pipeline that would cross through their country. The Taliban government was invited to the United States and came to visit the Bushes.

One really big, huge question crosses my mind at this point (and might also cross the minds of any readers as well) which is, how does any of this help the American people which is what the United States government is supposed to be doing? The answer: it doesn't, but it sure does help the pocket book of the Bushes and politicians in Washington. The proof of this is around us. If we are in Iraq and have secured the oil facilities, then why do oil prices continuously rise? If a major source of oil is now in the possession of the United States, then wouldn't that make prices start going down? We could have (and should have) stopped using gas burning automobiles 30 years ago but we didn't because it was always stopped by the US government. Why? Obviously people in our own government do not want us to stop importing oil.

All I know is that the US arrangement with Saudi Arabia is not making me rich nor the average American. The prices at the pump keep going higher and higher so someone is getting rich off of it at the expense of the American public. Perhaps the rapid price increase of gas over the last few years is to try to encourage people to use less gas, although I don't think it is working. It always seems that those people who are more fortunate (such as those in power) determine how the rest of the people's lives will be. They profit from other people's loss. There are always ulterior motives for why anyone does something and United States government is no different. Why our government does something is usually due to greed of politicians and not to benefit the people of the United States. Our government has only one agenda and that is to maintain power and control. That is usually the main mission of any government, and the US is no different. The question that remains is:

How far is our government willing to go to maintain that control?