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Subject: Bush's privatize plan is one ugly 401k

Missing in Mr. Bush's used car salesman pitch on privatizing Social Security is the fact that if his plan were a traditional 401k, it would be one butt ugly 401K.

First off, there is no matching money. Most 401k's will match your contribution dollar for dollar, or maybe 50% or 25%. Bush's plan has nothing. It has none of the traditional incentives associated with a 401k. Next, your investment choices are severely limited, almost to the point where you ask why there is any management fee involved in this brain-dead investment scheme.

Finally, Bush's plan opens a whole Pandora's Box of possible corruption. If your investment choices are severely limited, who gets to make the choice where these trillions of dollars are invested? Who makes the choice which brokerage firms get a piece of this enormous pie? Does Bush nab people like Ken Lay to dole out this investment money? Does being a Bush Pioneer or Ranger guarantee you a piece of this corrupt pie?

Bush's privatize plan introduces about two or three new steps where corrupt brokers and government people can skim money out of people's "private" retirement accounts.

The sad truth is if Bush were pushing a regular 401k, this embryonic brainchild would be laughed off the stage. It is one butt ugly 401k.

Mike Reinholz
Seattle, WA

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Subject: Dems not won since '60s

Here is what Judy Woodruff said on her show yesterday:

The reality is the Democrats have won the presidency in at least three of the last four elections. There are many excellent scientific studies that say Kerry won the last one, but of course CNN censors these. (CNN will tell us that exit polls prove the Ukrainian Opposition won the election.) The studies say the odds are 1,000,000 to one against the discrepancies between the US exit polls and official results being due to chance.

Three months after our election, the mainstream media says that Democrats were more likely to speak to the pollsters (without any evidence that this was true). Suppose I said that Republicans were more likely to speak to pollsters and therefore Kerry won by an even larger amount than the exit polls showed, would that be all over the media? If you have nothing to hide, why won't you show us all of your exit poll data? Why did you change it (in an impossible way) to fit the official results? Why don't many people know this happened?

When Saddam Hussein was captured, Judy Woodruff told Wes Clark that this meant that the Democrats could no longer have the Iraqi War as an issue in the election. She got quite mad when Clark disagreed with her. I wish I could send you the transcript, but CNN censored it Orwellianly so they can say it never happened.

On June 28, 2002, Lou Dobbs asked Steve Forbes about the corporate corruption's effect on the markets. Forbes responded by saying that once we took the Iraqi oil fields, he'd bet the markets would pick up! This was on the CNN's transcripts page for a while, then it got censored.

Does CNN have a whole department that goes back and changes the past to fit into CNN's corporate mindset?

It was just said on CNN headline news (for about the 1,000 time) that the reason we went into Iraq was because of "faulty intelligence." This is absolutely false, just like the previous 175 times we have invaded another country. Or, do you think it was "faulty intelligence" all 176 times? We took Iraq because we wanted to take Iraq (due to its strategic position and its OIL)---then we always come up with an excellent altruistic rationalization for doing so. Do you think we took New Mexico, Arizona, California, Nevada, and Colorado from Mexico due to "faulty intelligence?" Do you think North America, Central America, and South America were taken away from the Natives by the Europeans due to "faulty intelligence?" If you do, you are really fooling yourself!

Keith Gordon
Arroyo Grande, CA

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Subject: Bush - Divide and conquer on Social Security

Bush is dividing America on Social Security. He is pitting old against young, poor against rich, black against white and women against men. His goal is to get everyone fighting with each other so he can do his nasty work without the spotlight.

Most nasty is how he is appealing to people 55 years or older. He mistakenly thinks these older people only care about themselves. So he promises them over and over that he won't touch "their" social security money. He is trying to divide them out of the equation.

He is making one big mistake in misjudging these people's character. These older people aren't sick, greedy, self-centered little shits like Mr. Bush. They actually care about their children and grandchildren. They will fight Bush tooth and nail on this issue, not because it is going to make them some money. They will do it because it is the right thing to do and they have integrity.

Bush is making a huge mistake if he thinks everyone in the world is a self-centered, greedy little prick like he is.

Mike in Seattle

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Subject: david corn

I agree with Mark Crispin Miller. Corn is milquetoast - If we win an election, yet we are not allowed to take power, what hope is there for America? Anyone serious about change in our country cannot ignore what happened in November 2004. Exit polls don't lie - our media and government do. Kerry won, decisively - we won, our work paid off. Yet, we are told - oh no, it's that "moral majority" that fooled us. People like David Corn and Al Franken do us no favors in dismissing serious concerns about what happened in Ohio and elsewhere. Thank you, Mark Crispin Miller, for telling the truth and not letting the right wing get away with another stolen election without speaking out. What hope do we have for next time - more and more republican "wins" while America and all of us go down the tubes? What is the truth on 9/11? David Corn and Al Franken are just like all the other mainstream media in dismissing all questions as "conspiracy theories." Well, conspiracies do happen and what does anyone think these right wingers wouldn't do to further their aims? They feel they're sent from god and can do no wrong - lying, cheating, stealing, killing. So, for me, I can do without David Corn and the Nation, as well as Al Franken and AirAmericaRadio. Read "1984" again - we can all be duped by fake liberals who steer us away from what is really important. Corn's article on Bush's State of the Union address does sound like "Newsweek" - Miller is so right on.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: How does Pakistan fit into Bush foreign policy?

Let's see, what are some of the policies of America as revealed by George Bush's State of the Union Address? ''Our aim is to build and preserve a community of free and independent nations, with governments that answer to their citizens, and reflect their own cultures.'' ''We are cooperating with 60 governments in the Proliferation Security Initiative, to detect and stop the transit of dangerous materials.''

So what is our policy towards a country whose administration has strangled and restricted democracy?

Asks Aqil Shahin in The Friday Times. ''Secretary of State appeared to confirm the growing fear in domestic political circles that the US is likely to condone General Pervez Musharraf's wholesale destruction of the constitution.'' And we are told, ''In the past, there is ample reason to be sceptical of the gap in the American rhetoric and practice on democracy in Pakistan.'' From: Pakistan: Which Democracy are we talking about? (punjabilok.com)

Well, it is easy to talk about supporting democracy, and easy is what George Bush does well.

And how are we treating the country that is strongly suspected of selling nuclear materials and technologies to many nations, including some in the ''axis of evil''?

''A senior U.S. official said Feb. 3 that Washington is still considering Pakistan's controversial request to buy F-16 fighter aircraft, as the two countries held in-depth security talks...

...Pakistan, a key ally in the U.S. war on terror, has been pushing for the planes since a deal to buy 40 of them was scuttled in the 1990s. Nuclear rival India strongly opposes the sale.'' From: U.S. Still Considering Sale of F-16 Jets To Pakistan (defensenews.com)

Nothing would send a better message about democracy and nuclear containment than providing some excellent delivery vehicles to an anti-democracy nuclear power at odds with its strongly democratic neighbor (India).

signed,

A BuzzFlash Reader and Big Time Patriot

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Subject: Don't Do As They Say . . . Do As They Do!

BuzzFlash,

This from the Seattle Times: GOP election lawsuit makes vote observer famous

Aside from the criminal tactics that Republicans use to get their way . . . Democrats would be better served if they did what Republicans do to get their way. The Republicans in Washington didn't like the recount and the winner of that recount was the Democratic Candidate and now Governor Christine Gregoire. So, they sue to try and get their way.

The Republicans needed a high profile Republican in California politics and they didn't like the turnout years ago in California and they used the ignorance of Californians regarding the high electric bills and financed a petition for a recall . . . because Gray Davis didn't have the broad girlie smile that Arnold had or the fact that he was taking the blame for the high electric costs . . . the Republicans put Arnold into a Governor's seat that he hasn't done anything to earn . . . just a muscle bulging actor with lots of hands.

If the tables had been turned in Ohio . . . we would have seen the same monkey-like actions by hoards of young Republicans raiding Ohio and ranting about the election. A mendacious, loud-outcrying mimicry of injustice to the Republican Party by these people. We would have seen Republican members of Congress raging about improprieties and calling Democrats names and the usual lawsuits . . . whatever it takes to get their way. And, just like Florida, they are using a young conservative in Seattle in their suit and even named it after him. And, all of the time, Bush talks about his hate for frivolous lawsuits . . . except those are the ones who have had serious health problems and are suing Halliburton because of it. Bush doesn't hate lawsuits . . . he hates Americans who aren't like him and dare to sue any of his corporate friends because of their inhumane use of human beings for their own personal gains.

Maybe if a few people (Republicans) who are the underlings that are duped into petty crimes for this administration . . . Katherine Harris comes to mind . . . were to be prosecuted, instead of always being rewarded by the Bush administration . . . our Democracy could be said to work once in a while.

Just a thought,

Thanks BuzzFlash,

Shirley Smith

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Subject: *Bush's BIRTH TAX*

Dear Buzz,

Here are some "cold-shower" facts you might wish to know.

When Bush came to office, the national debt was $5.7 trillion. The debt now, after four years of Bush, is $7.6 trillion. That is an increase of $1.9 TRILLION in just FOUR years, although it took 42 previous presidents a total of more than 200 years to accumulate the first $5.7 trillion in debt.

Now, if Bush adds another $4.5 trillion over the next three decades JUST to fund the transition to PRIVATE Social Security accounts, that would represent a Bush INCREASE to our national debt of $6.4 TRILLION -- more than all the presidents in history accumulated in debt.

BUT WAIT, I'm not done yet, Bush is also adding approximately a TRILLION dollars in debt every two years of his presidency, so we would have to ADD another $2 TRILLION (for his second term) to the national debt due to Bush's policies -- for a Grand Total in NEW Bush indebtedness of $8.4 TRILLION.

When Bush gets finished rolling up NEW debt for us, the national debt will be $14.1 TRILLION. And, remember when Bush came to power, the debt was only $5.7 trillion.

And Bush talks about what we need to do to protect out children from having to pay our bills!

Bush will have left our children, who currently owe the government $25,735 at birth, a per person indebtedness of $47,732 -- that's their BIRTH TAX.

[NOTE: Please don't bash me if these numbers are not exact to the penny; I have rounded off to save time and energy. But the numbers are close enough.]

Actually I have UNDERSTATED the costs of transitioning to Bush's "PRIVATE" Social Security accounts; as Paul Krugman noted:

I have added in ONLY $4.5 trillion for the transitioning costs; so if you would like, you can factor in the additional $10.5 trillion Krugman says it will cost to transition, and you will come up with an even higher BIRTH TAX for every child born in America.

A Loyal BuzzFlasher

P.S. I have based these calculations on a U.S. population of 295,396,469 people, as per: http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

[BuzzFlash Note: We can't vouch for the numbers...just encouraging more analysis.]

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Subject: I do not feel obliged

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: The Bush Coalition

In his state of the Union address or in one of his Social Security pep rallies (by invitation to Republicans only) the president stated there were 40 countries with troops on the ground in Iraq as part of his coalition. A Washington Post list in the July 15, 2004 issue shows 32 countries with 4 planning to withdraw troops. Five countries including the UK with 75600 and Italy with 3120 had a total of 14420. The remaining 27 had a total of 7554 with 800 from Romania varying to a minimum of 12 from Moldova. I have not seen a recent list but it must be less than 32 and certainly not the 40 the president bragged about.

The numbers are not as important as the fact that they do not provide significant support to the 150000 US troops but they do provide an excuse for the president to state that this is an international force.

Wash Post, July 15, 2004, pg. A1, US Works to...

Harold Martin
Waynesboro, PA

[BuzzFlash Note: This Reuters story provides insights: White House Scraps 'Coalition of the Willing' List. Maybe they quit counting so Bush could say anything he wants without people contradicting him.]

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Subject: Gaul was divided in three parts: Iraq should be too

I've been thinking about this for a long time. And now that Howard Zinn is stealing my idea, I'd better speak up fast! Here goes: "If the Sunnis and the Shi'is and the Kurds all hate each other, why not just send them to separate parts of the schoolyard and let them play by themselves." "But what if America leaves and they all kill each other!" you might think. You would be wrong.

NOTHING Iraqis could do to each other can possibly be worse than what George Bush is doing to them now. In the past two years, Bush's Operation Iraqi Freedom has all but destroyed the infrastructure of Iraq -- their electricity, sewage, schools, roads and public safety systems are all (literally) shot to hell. Plus Bush indiscriminately uses depleted uranium, collective punishment of civilians, torture, destruction of whole cities and even napalm.

ANYONE could do better at governing Iraq. Even Iraqis. Duh.

As Howard Zinn stated, "We must not underestimate the capacity of the Iraqis, once free of both Saddam Hussein and the U.S. occupying army, to forge their own future." And as even George W. himself said the other day, "Ordinary Iraqis are anxious to shoulder all the security burdens of our country as quickly as possible." How can we argue with that?

Before it got bombed to smithereens, Iraq was not a stone-age country. Even now, many of the citizens there -- among the ones that Bush hasn't managed to maim or kill -- actually have college degrees. They are perfectly capable of making decisions for themselves.

But let's pretend for a moment that I, me, Jane -- not that spoiled brat in the White House -- am Caesar. Here is my decree: "Let the Sunnis have what is left of Fallujah and the Sunni Triangle." "Let the Shi'is have Baghdad." Bush doesn't want it anyway. It is covered with DU. It glows in the dark! "Let the Kurds get the north." And let everyone (except poor sorry George Bush who will probably sulk about this for decades) split the oil profits.

If the Iraqis divide themselves up this way -- and perhaps form a federation like the U.S. federation of states -- everyone will be happy. Everyone will get a piece of the pie.

"But what will America get out of this?" you might ask. American parents won't have to send thousands more sons and daughters into a hopeless quagmire, we taxpayers will save hundreds of billions of dollars -- and America will get to take its marbles home INSTEAD OF LOSING THEM! End of problem.

Caesar did it. We can too.

Jane Stillwater
http://jpstillwater.blogspot.com

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Subject : A FOOL HAS ONE GREAT ADVANTAGE!

One arrogant Emperor could be giving advice to another when Napoleon said, "The fool has one great advantage over a man of sense- he is always satisfied with himself!" Not only is George Bush a man that is satisfied with himself, but he is a man of many faces and some of us wondering if he or anyone knows which one is the true face! Those of us who are indifferent or refuse to acknowledge what is in front of our noses, who observe, but do not see, might also be called foolish!

Since Mr. Bush has been in office there have always been more questions than answers, less substance, more excuses, less truth, more unjustified actions, and more misrepresentations! George Bush's lack of budgetary command includes misrepresented facts from government agencies, budgets that do not contain war expenses and other costs, high deficits, surplus that turned into loss, a huge trade deficit, tax cuts that benefit the rich and corporations, all of which are just a few, out of many, that highlight his ineptness in handling our economy.

How can we possibly not question Bush's veracity or his ability, when he talks about Social Security? His record, without false embellishment, is a very sorry one! Every single day of his term news is reported, articles are written, and people speak out about the justified discrepancies in the Bush appointments and the policies of George Bush and his Administration! Though history has shown this is to be expected, there has NEVER been more reason to doubt as there has been since George Bush took office! Too many times the truth has been called shadow or conspiracy, and either laughed at to sidetrack the American people, or covered-up by the press and those who collaborate with the Bush Administration. Documents showing the truth have either been hidden or gone missing!

Take an interest and draw your own conclusions about how our government is being run, our future and the future of your children and grandchildren depends on an active response from all Americans! It will and does affect your family! It is our right and duty to disagree when we feel our government is wrong. To those with a different viewpoint, you are entitled to it. To those who agree with this viewpoint, we can understand the words of Thomas Fuller, a great sage and author, when he said, "He that makes an Ass of himself must not take it ill if Men ride him!"
 
Susan Carr
Tucson, Az

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Subject: Fox News, brought to you by pay per view porn....

I've always had mixed feelings about Rupert Murdoch and Fox News. The bad things? It is the most slanted and least accurate of all major news networks. Their bias helped push America into a war based on falsehoods, and helped the administration weasel out of responsibility for what should be the biggest crime in America, sending soldiers to die unnecessarily.

It also bothered me that many people in America were being told what it means to be a US Patriot by an Australian. Why doesn't Rupert worry about what it means to be an Australian patriot and let our country decide for itself what is, or is not, patriotic? Rupert’s Dad was Sir Keith Murdoch, a family background that really lends itself to understanding America, eh? No wonder the Red States trust him to tell them what they should think.

But, there actually is one redeeming feature for Fox. That is "The Simpsons," probably the best show on TV today. "The Simpsons" will make fun of Bush, "The Simpsons" will make fun of the Fox News Network (a recent episode featured a Fox News remote truck showing up with a gigantic Bush/Cheney sign covering the side of the truck, a hilarious spoof on fair and balanced coverage). How can the Simpsons get away with it?

Well, like most high Republican Supporters, values are one thing, but money is the REALLY important thing. "The Simpsons" is a cash cow for Rupert and the best show on his network by far, he can't afford to sacrifice for mere family values. Now, I have to add that the values of the Simpsons are in general just fine, child abandonment or other errors from under-regulation, such as nuclear disasters, are always resolved within 30 minutes. But the point is that "The Simpsons" would not be the poster family for the Christian Right, but it IS the poster family for the Fox TV Network.

But I hadn't considered the fact that Fox also owns many cable TV companies and what that implies in terms of selling pay per view porn...until I read a very interesting article. Here is a quote:

Well, good to know that Rupert Murdoch is simultaneously working to save America's values and help support the wide range of diversity in America's sexual proclivities...

signed,

A BuzzFlash Reader and Big Time Patriot

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Subject: Howard Dean and The DNC

Watched "Capital Gang" on the dish today. What a hoot. Loved seeing Novak and the other two Republicans getting their knickers in a twist over the probable election of Dean to the DNC. They have dire predictions of the demise of the Democratic Party. Why should they care? Me thinks they doth "protest too much."

pisces
Idaho

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Two more troops died yesterday. If only Lt. Gen. Mattis would keep his mouth shut about the joy of killing "ragheads," maybe the "ragheads" would be less willing to kill off occupying forces.

There was an article in Stripes yesterday about the Pentagon's supposed attempt to destigmatize among the ranks the need for mental health care (in order to prevent more Fort Braggs from happening). How many Marines in Mattis' 1st Marine Division do you think have sought out health care services after its deployment to Iraq, now that Mattis has told the world how much fun it is to kill Muslims?

Pentagon aims to reduce stigma for troops seeking mental health care (Stars and Stripes)

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: My new song, "Armageddon on the Train"

Dear Folks,

Thanks for being there. You make it all worthwhile. After reading Bill Moyers's recent article entitled "There Is No Tomorrow" (Star Tribune), I was inspired to write a song, which I've entitled "Armageddon on the Train." The song can be found at a Web site that I use for hosting my recordings:

http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/61/music.php

The direct link to the song file is:

http://ezfolk.com/audio/play.php?band_id=61&song_id=740&mode=song_hifi

I hope you have a chance to listen to it, and I hope you like it! You guys are the greatest.

Best regards,

Patsy Monteleone
Holicong, PA

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Subject: give bush the legacy he deserves

since the name bush is becoming synonymous with lying let's use it in daily conversation on a regular basis. for example, how can you tell bush is bushing? his lips are moving. or I saw the president on tv and he was bushing again. just imagine, if it became a common enough term it could even end up in the dictionary. that's how he should be remembered.

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: the facts needs to be told to all Americans

CAN you please please please (begging :-)) write an article explaining in bold type how we the taxpayers pay the salaries of our senators and congress people as well as the president and federal employees. they all get social security as well as the choice to add money to a federal savings account, like the one bush is offering now to replace social security. they get really cheap health insurance for life...while we pay for them, we cannot pay for ourselves. everyone in this country needs to know this.

karin dicker
los angeles

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Subject: Red State Mom Shows the way

I recently had the following email exchange with my progressive Mother in the 'heartland.' Awash in Republican Red, she has some great insights into how to fight the fanatical right with their own words and world views.

The Emails:

A BuzzFlash Reader

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Subject: Bush Cuts Law Enforcement

Bush is cutting law enforcement so that he can make up for the funds he spent to give huge tax breaks to the rich. This on the heals of his proposal to destroy social security. The term "privatize" is a code word that really means give the money to rich private individuals instead of the public. We need to quit gutting society and go back to taxing the rich. I'm tired of rich people paying a lower tax rate than the middle class. We are a nation in decline and going down fast. Terrorists don't need to attack us. They can just sit back and watch as we destroy ourselves.

I'm Marc Perkel - And I approved this message!

Marc Perkel
San Francisco, CA

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