May 1st, 2006 - Not Setting the Record Straight, but Getting it Straight

Public service or quid pro quo? Critics say it’s hard to tell with congressional earmarks, by Dori Meinert
Setting the record straight on earmarks process , by Ray Lahood      (Follow links to read the articles)

The real problem with the campaign contributions of corporate Political Action Committees (PACs) to congressmen isn’t just politicians returning favors to […]

May 7th, 2006 - Of, By and For Big Oil

On Saturday morning, May 6, 2006, I was driving Southon Interstate 55 towards Edwardsville. Watching thetraffic I noticed most drivers were driving slowerthan usual, but still too many were exceeding the 65mph speed limit and wasting gasoline. Importedgasoline that is the main reason our nation has a twobillion dollar a day foreign trade deficit…asituation that […]

May 10th, 2006 - In Big Oil’s Pocket

America requires an energy policy with goals.  Goals that work for the energy independence of Americans and for a cleaner, pollution-free environment. Apparently, the Bush administration and the G.O.P (Gas, Oil, Petroleum) led Congress’ goal is to keep the American people dependent upon the world’s big oil companies.  Nuclear power, increased drilling in Alaska or […]

May 12th, 2006 - Tip of A Secret Iceberg???

The National Security Agency (NSA) collects the records of millions of Americans, including the records of absolutely every phone call made by every resident with a phone in the 18th Congressional District of Illinois and Congressman Ray Lahood had no knowledge of it.  Can this be?  In a May 12, 2006 article by Dori Meinert of Copley […]

May 18th, 2006 - Fair Weather Patriots

Fair weather patriots are alive and well today.
They didn’t die with the Viet Nam war, they just sort
of went underground, out of sight, waiting for someone
like me to dig them up.  Who are "fair weather
patriots?"   To me they’re someone who supports war,
as long as they don’t have to go.  They cheer from the
sideline, while others head off […]

May 21st, 2006 - Military Service

Since my last release I’ve been asked by several folks to expand upon my years in the military. To understand my service you have know about my father’s military service.  My Dad was a WWII Marine who fought in the South Pacific on the islands of Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian.  Dad talked a lot about the […]

May 27th, 2006 - Exploiting the poor for profit

For centuries poor people (slaves) were brought from Africa to America to perform manual labor.  They were considered property and a source of wealth for their owners.   The exploitation of slaves in America eventually led to the Civil War which so impoverished the country in the latter half of the 19th century.

My Great-Grandfather fought in the […]

May 29th, 2006 - Memorial Day, 2006

Today, Memorial day 2006,  President Bush said, "I am in awe of the men and women who sacrifice for the freedom of the United States of America." He also said, "The nation can best honor the dead by defeating the terrorists."
Nice words from one who couldn’t find his way into active duty during the Vietnam war, […]