You know there’s a problem when comic books have a more balanced view of war and terrorism than CNN :

In 2002, Marvel responded to the horrors of 9/11 with Captain America: The New Deal, a series featuring a terrorist named Al-Tariq who?s determined to punish the U.S. for its reckless misdeeds. After taking hostages in a small town with a defense plant, the militant addresses Captain America through loudspeakers, demanding: ?Tell our children then, American ? Who sowed death in their field ? and left it for the innocent to harvest? Who took their hands, their feet?? A horrified hostage mother turns with fury on her own husband and shrills: ?This is how you feed our baby? With bombs? You make bombs??

Of course, the quote above comes from an article slamming Marvel Comics for “blaming America first” by doing things as daring as viewing the terrorists as actual human beings with motives (rather than the faceless “evildoers” of rhetorical fame), drawing parallels between the events of 9/11 and the Allies bombing of Dresden during WW2, and having a storyline that evokes the Tuskegee experiments. Perhaps the author of this article would be more pleased with “Captain America: Let’s Roll”, which would follow the jingoistic adventures of the Captain through the Middle East where he would “invade their countries, kill their leaders and convert them to Christianity”.

The ongoing debate over evolution is indicative of a much bigger battle between the scientific community and the Bush administration :

Some other signs: if you were contemplating an abortion and were worried about the rumour that it might increase your risk of breast cancer, you might visit the website of the government-funded National Cancer Institute to read their factsheet, which noted that most scientists doubt a link. Or, at least, you might have done so until June last year, when the page, criticised by some Republicans in Congress, simply vanished. (A replacement page was posted last month.) Or maybe you were an Aids activist, elated by the president’s unexpected (and genuinely revolutionary) announcement in the State of the Union address of $15bn (pounds 9.7bn) in funding for fighting the epidemic worldwide - and then surprised to find that only around 10% was destined for the Global Aids Fund, while the rest would be funnelled through US agencies, where it is more likely to be accessible to American abstinence-only groups campaigning against condoms.

Welcome to the new battlegrounds of American science. No conspiracy, nor even one political agenda, links the incidents above. But US scientists say they are indicative of a new climate that has emerged under the Bush administration: one driven partly by close relationships with big business, but just as much by a fiercely moral approach to the business of science. The approach is not exclusively religious, nor exclusively rightwing, but is spreading worry as never before through the nation’s laboratories and lecture halls.

When Matthew Yglesias described the South African constitution as a “progressive wet dream” I knew I had to check it out. One of the things I find most fascinating is this section :

Freedom of expression

16. (1) Everyone has the right to freedom of expression, which includes ?

a. freedom of the press and other media;
b. freedom to receive or impart information or ideas;
c. freedom of artistic creativity; and
d. academic freedom and freedom of scientific research.

(2) The right in subsection (1) does not extend to ?

a. propaganda for war;
b. incitement of imminent violence; or
c. advocacy of hatred that is based on race, ethnicity, gender or religion, and that constitutes incitement to cause harm.

Speaking of “fighting back”, Matt Taibbi has a great idea for war protesters :

Don?t write petitions or make appeals, don?t sing songs, don?t wait for someone up there to change their “minds.” Just fight it. And make it hurt.

Wall Street supports this war. How do you think it would react if all 30 percent of the country that opposes the war decided one day to dump all of its stock? A self-defeating gesture, to be sure, but we didn?t get to drink the British tea, either. CNN and FOX are making a killing waving a flag for the Pentagon. Why not start boycotting their advertisers one at a time until they pull their spots? Does Dell really want that “Dude, you?re getting a Dell” kid to be turned into a symbol of the war machine on college campuses?

Hell, forget about boycotting just Dell. Boycott everything. If even this minority of the population could go a month without over-consuming, it would give corporate America an aneurysm.Just one month of no new cars, no new hoop shoes, no Atlantic records, no Kellogg?s Fruit Harvest, no nothing but the bare minimum.

As great as the “stock dump” idea is, I’m sure it would (a) be too complicated to ever pull off, (b) just be used the next day by people who want to cash in after the inevitable artificial market crash, and (c) probably be illegal. it’s a shame too, because that would really get the attention of corporate America.

As much as I love The Beatles, there are very few things that annoy me more than rich people who bitch about paying taxes. The rich constantly like to remind people that they pay a majority of the taxes (while changing the subject before anyone can remind them that they also have a majority of the money). Are they really that overburdened? Are the rich paying almost all the taxes while the poor pay little or none? As Kevin Drum pointed out on his blog :

If my arithmetic is reliable, the combination of payroll taxes and federal income tax that we paid amounted to 33% of our income. (Add in state income tax and it comes to 39%.)

So I forget: as a liberal, am I supposed to think this is too high or too low? And why do I suspect that I’m actually paying a higher percentage of taxes than the millionaires are?

Oh yeah, it’s because I am.

Ever since World War 2, tax rates for average Americans have gone steadily upward while the tax rates for the top 1% of Americans have gone sharply down. For more than 50 years the tax burden has been been shifted from the extremely rich to the extremely poor. If you look at the figures on this page, you’ll see that the median tax rate in 1955 was 9.1%, but the tax rate for millionaires was an astonishing 85.5%. Thirty years later, those figures were 24.4% and 24.9% respectively.

Conservatives like to shoot down complaints such as these as class warfare and they’re right. The rich have been waging class warfare against the middle and lower classes for 50 years and they’re winning the war. How else can you explain the median tax rate going up by almost 300% while the tax rate for the rich shrinking by 70%? I have yet to hear about a millionaire who is taxed so heavily that they have to eat ramen noodles every day, yet that sort of thing is happening to the poor every day. In this “war”, it’s time for average Americans to fight back.

On Tuesday, the Texas state senate overwhelmingly approved a bill that a) makes it mandatory to recite the pledge of allegiance in schools and b) forces kids to spend a minute every day in “silent prayer, meditation or reflection”. How did they get away with it? :

Students could be excused from the pledge recitals upon written notice from a parent or guardian, but they wouldn’t be able to opt out of a minute of silence. During the one-minute period, each student may, as the student chooses, reflect, pray, meditate, or engage in any other silent activity that is not likely to interfere with or distract another student,” the bill states.

So, in order to legally force children to pray and pledge allegiance, they built in a loopholes to allow people to get out of the pledge with a note from their parents (and thereby stifle any potential legal challenges from Jehova’s Witnesses) and used the vague terminology of a “moment of silence” when they’re really just want to make every child to pray to Jesus every morning. Nevermind the fact that this is all sneaky and underhanded, the real question is why is all this necessary? Aren’t schools supposed to be teaching children and not forcing their obediance to an invisible man who likes making frogs fall out of the sky and a spoon-fed retard (no offense meant towards actual retarded people) who can’t even pray without smirking? (see the Newsweek cover below)

And while we’re on the subject of people forcing their beliefs on others, what’s with religious right’s obsession with the ten commandments? People keep insisting on posting it in courthouses, schools, and jails. Hell, there’s even one group that was paying children ten bucks to bribe them to memorize the ten commandments.

Now, I’m no bible scholar (few athiests are), but wasn’t the whole point of the new testament that Jesus was coming to Earth to tell people to forget about all the crazy Hebrew laws in the old testament and for people to just love each other? As far as I can tell, the ten commandments only appear in the old testament. If that’s the case, then shouldn’t the ten commandments be held in the same regard as animal sacrifices, the monetary values of various people, or god disliking midgets and people with crushed testicles?

Since many religious people falsely believe that all moral codes are based on the ten commandments (which were in fact adapted from ancient Babylonian law), I can understand why they’re so intent on posting them everywhere. These people see any attempt to block the posting of the ten commandments as a rejection of their values (ie. thou shalt not kill, bear false witness, etc.), while those of us on the other side object to the overtly religious overtone of the first 3 or 4 commandments, depending on which version they’re trying to post.

Of course, people like me aren’t the only ones who aren’t too fond of the “god commandments”. Jesus was known to skip these commandments as well :

“Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.” “Which ones?” the man inquired. Jesus replied, ” ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.”

Not only did Jesus leave out all the “no graven images” crap, but he even went a step further and added one more commandment (which he later repeats as being his only commandment). These are the commandments that most of the Christians I’ve known follow (ie. the ones who keep their religion to themselves), so why aren’t they good enough for the right-wingers who want them posted everywhere?

This is the most unbelievably racist thing I’ve heard in a long time :

[Rep. Barbara] Cubin [R-Wyo], who supports the bill, was complaining about a failed senate amendment that would have banned gun sales to drug addicts or people undergoing drug treatment. “So does that mean that if you go into a black community, you can’t sell any guns to any black person?” she asked.

Moveon.org has a great new campaign aimed to stopping corporations from using offshore tax shelter. Please read all about it below and then use the links to your left (under “Complain”) to contact your representative :

We are always told that war demands sacrifice. But while American soldiers are risking their lives in Iraq, many of the country’s wealthiest corporations are shirking billions of dollars in taxes. As the costs of conflict soar, the President refuses to close a tax loophole that allows big businesses to avoid shouldering their share of the tax burden using off-shore corporate tax dodges — literally leaving the country in a time of need.

The President wants the debate in Congress this week to focus on the size of his tax cut for the wealthy. We’re launching a media and grassroots campaign to instead focus on the hypocrisy of these corporations. Our TV ad juxtaposes the sacrifice of our sons and daughters in Iraq with their greedy and immoral pursuit of self- interest. I’ve attached a press advisory below. But the campaign will be most successful if the media hit is coupled with lots of phone calls to Congress. Can you help?

Please make a call today to your members of Congress to ask that they outlaw corporate offshore tax dodges. Be sure the staff members know you’re a constituent, then urge them to demand a vote on the “Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act” (HR 737 / S 384). Ask for their position on corporations and wealthy citizens leaving the country to avoid taxes. Ask them to provide it in writing. Tell them how you feel about this happening while young Americans are being sent to Iraq, and while we?re all facing deficits and cutbacks at home.

One of the biggest obstacles to action on this issue is that House Republican Leaders Dennis Hastert (R-IL-14) and Tom Delay (R-TX-22) are refusing to allow a vote on it. Please call them too, at:

House Speaker Dennis Hastert:

202-225-0600 or 202-225-2976

House Republican Leader Tom Delay:

202-225-4000 or 202-225-5951

Urge them to immediately let the Corporate Patriot Enforcement Act (HR 737) come to a vote. Ask for their position in writing as well.

Corporate offshore tax dodges are symbolic of the corporate interests driving the Bush administration and GOP in their ridiculous economic policies. Every year, about $70 billion dollars in revenue are lost from American corporations that have moved their corporate headquarters or subsidiaries to places like Bermuda, and from wealthy individuals moving their assets overseas. To get a sense for the size of this theft — this is the size of ALL the state budget deficits that are creating such pain around the nation through cutbacks in school programs and other essential services.

It’s not surprising that many of the worst tax-dodge offenders are directly linked to the Bush administration and right-wing politicians, through corporate patronage of family members, personal connections, and lavish political contributions. Vice President Cheney’s company, Halliburton, is a leader in this kind of tax evasion, even as Cheney himself continues to receive deferred compensation from the company.

The Republican right’s support of corporate offshore tax dodges is inexcusable. Your calls can help bring the issue to light. Once it’s out in the open, there’s a good likelihood that Congress can close the loophole. There simply is no excuse.

Of course, offshore tax dodges are only the most egregious example of the economic mismanagement we face. For the first time since Herbert Hoover presided over the Great Depression, the Bush administration has refused to provide any real stimulus to the economy in truly tough economic times. Instead, they are calling primarily for tax cuts for the wealthy and for corporations. We now face disastrous budget deficits as far as the eye can see, without a credible short-term stimulus. It’s an amazing example of ideology gone mad.

“Stimulus” means getting funds to those in the greatest need and to those who will spend the money fastest. In a time of economic crisis, it’s the only good reason for short-term deficit spending. Typically, a good economic steward would:

EXTEND UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS so that those hardest hit by the recession could make ends meet. This funding would obviously go directly into consumer spending and “raise all boats.”

PROVIDE SUPPORT TO STATES AND EDUCATION so that recession-driven state deficits don’t lead to the collapse of public education around the country.

PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SERVICES so that deficits and new unfunded “homeland security” mandates don’t devastate local police, fire and hospital services.
These kinds of measures would translate directly into consumer spending, providing an effective stimulus to pull us out of a recessionary spiral. It is truly terrifying that our national government is not playing this traditional role, and is instead building deficits for generations to come.

Call today and let’s begin the process of taking our government back from corrupt special interests. There can be no defense for the right wing’s support of corporate tax evasion in this era of deep economic challenges and true personal sacrifice.

It looks like the eighth amendment only applies to corporations now. On Monday, the Supreme Court overturned a $145 million award in punitive damages against State Farm Insurance :

By a 6-3 vote, the high court ruled that a punitive damages award 145 times greater than the actual, or compensatory, damages was “excessive” and violated fundamental constitutional principles of due-process fairness.

“In sum, courts must ensure that the measure of punishment is both reasonable and proportionate to the amount of harm to the plaintiff,” Justice Anthony Kennedy said for the majority.

Okay, fair enough. That does seem to be a little high, but this is the same court that just upheld California’s draconian three strikes law :

On Wednesday the Supreme Court upheld the state’s 1994 three-strikes law, the toughest in the nation for repeat offenders, ruling 5-4 that terms of up to life in prison are not too harsh for repeat criminals.

The court also said a term of 50 years to life was not out of bounds for a thief who shoplifted videotapes from Kmart. The tapes, including “Batman Forever” and “Cinderella,” were worth $153.

In the golf club case, convicted burglary felon Gary Albert Ewing tried to make off with clubs stuffed down one pant leg at an El Segundo golf shop. He was convicted and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison, with no possibility of parole before 25 years.

So excessive punishments violate “fundamental constitutional principles” when they’re levied against companies like State Farm, but if some dumbass who’s been to prison a couple times decides to steal some videotapes then a life sentence is acceptable? (A more fitting punishment would be to make the guy actually sit through “Batman Forever”)

In the interest a fairness, maybe we should have a three-strikes law for corporations who are (in Justice O’Connor’s words) “recidivist felons”. That way if a corporation gets caught polluting the environment, abusing employees, lying about their financial outlook, endangering the safety of their customers, or evading taxes three times then their company will have to go out of business, liquidate their assets, and distribute them to their shareholders. Maybe that’s a little harsh, but it’s not as bad as destroying someone’s life for petty shoplifting.

Here’s a great idea for the future of Iraqi’s oil, brought to my attention by Josh Marshall’s blog :

In the 1970’s, during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline, the state realized that the new oil leases would produce an enormous windfall. Its citizens set up the Alaska Permanent Fund to manage this income, directing that the revenue be invested, the principal remain untouched and the gains be used for state infrastructure investments. A part of the proceeds was distributed as dividends to every Alaskan. By July 2002, the fund had grown to more than $23.5 billion. Dividend payments to Alaskan families averaged about $8,000 per year.

Iraq’s annual oil revenue comes to approximately $20 billion. A postwar government could invest $12 billion a year in infrastructure to rebuild the nation. The other $8 billion could anchor an Iraq Permanent Fund, to be invested in a diverse set of international equities. The resulting income would go directly to Iraq’s six million households. These payments would make a huge difference to families in a country whose per capita gross domestic product rests at about $2,500.

As great as this would be, it’ll be a cold day in hell before the Bush actually shares the oil he’s currently stealing.