We show compassion abroad because Americans believe in the God-given dignity and worth of a villager with HIV/AIDS, or an infant with malaria, or a refugee fleeing genocide, or a young girl sold into slavery. We also show compassion abroad because regions overwhelmed by poverty, corruption, and despair are sources of terrorism, organized crime, human trafficking and the drug trade.
We don't give those things much money and allow our funding of projects involving contraception and AIDS prevention to be dictated by the religious right and we're not willing to intervene in places like Darfur, but we are really, really sorry.
I read the other day that 1/4th of our HIV/AIDS funding for other countries is abstinence-only crap.
So, I finally heard back from American Airline after my lost-bag issue last month. It was a really thorough and apologetic email, and they gave me 2000 frequent flyer miles. I guess that's something.
I read the other day that 1/4th of our HIV/AIDS funding for other countries is abstinence-only crap.
Yes, it goes specifically to religious organizations that have decided to branch out into this area, as opposed to non-profits that actually, like, understand the issues in the areas affected.
just reading little bits makes me annoyed....
9/11 wouldn't have happend if the administration had unchecked power to spy on Americas.
Actually, you know, I was just re-reading the Commission Report a while ago -- it's really a surprisingly insightful read into the intricacies of interdepartmental communication and DC turf wars, aside from all the other stuff -- and was reminded of all the intelligence the US
did
have, that they didn't do squat with.
One department has the Sekrit List of Bad Guys, but it's so secret they don't share it with the people whose job it is to keep out the bad guys. People who were singled out, by name, never to be allowed into the country, who got in anyway just by walking up to customs. Stupid, basic problems of bureaucracy, that
more
intelligence will not fix.
It's like all those cop shows where in the middle of a drug deal, everybody pulls an gun and a badge, and the FBI realizes it is arresting the DEA (and vice versa).
kitty and puppy
[link]
some day it will be a very big kitty
... then there's some rah-rah stuff about the economy. Then his plan for the economy.
Tonight I will set out a better path -- an agenda for a nation that competes with confidence -- an agenda that will raise standards of living and generate new jobs. Americans should not fear our economic future, because we intend to shape it.
Keeping America competitive begins with keeping our economy growing. And our economy grows when Americans have more of their own money to spend, save, and invest.
In the last five years, the tax relief you passed has left $880 billion in the hands of American workers, investors, small businesses, and families -- and they have used it to help produce more than four years of uninterrupted economic growth. Yet the tax relief is set to expire in the next few years.
If we do nothing, American families will face a massive tax increase they do not expect and will not welcome.
Because America needs more than a temporary expansion, we need more than temporary tax relief. I urge the Congress to act responsibly, and make the tax cuts permanent.
And the plan is to continue tax cutting, especially for the wealthy. Nothing new here.
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