I've read somewhere that the birth rate in 2008 exceeded all others in American history. For the record, most of those were probably conceived before the economic downturn began in the fall of 2007. There appears to me no clear and present danger to the survival of the human species, to our political liberty, and even to life on this planet as we have known it than the unbridled reproductive power of humanity. The number of species pushed over the brink of extinction annually is in direct proportion to the destruction of habitat for the support of more and more humans. By depleting non-renewable resources such as coal, petroleum, and certain metal ores, we are making the very stuff of industrial, technological civilization unavailable to future generations.

I once saw a mathematical projection that we could reduce our population to a tenth of its present value in about 230 years if we adopted a non-draconian limit of two children per couple. This kind of transformation will only be possible in a society in which people do not have to depend directly on family members for their feeding and care when incapacitated through disease and age. The struggle against poverty through higher wages, universal medical insurance, and pensions are all part-and-parcel of our efforts to establish an ecologically sustainable economy, be able to enjoy the wild places of the Earth, and secure the opportunity of every species to continue as long as nature allows.

If it was a free market, hospitals and medical insurance companies would advertise their lower rates aggressively. We'd see fliers in the Wednesday paper telling about quality cut rate appendectomies and mammograms. We'd see ads on TV from the medical insurance companies quoting specific rates. Without having rate and cost information directly accessible to the public, we have to depend on the integrity of the insurance companies and hospitals to not overcharge. When they have no integrity...oh, well!

Granted, the concentration of ethical toxins was only half that found in McCain's flavor, but, really, were you that taken in by all Obama's blather about "hope", "change", and "yes, we can" without committing himself to specific approaches and solutions? Until we can get politicians who are willing to buck the globalist banks and corporations, our chances of reclaiming a society modeled after after the vision of the Founders will continue to dwindle. Will somebody please openly repudiate the notions of American Empire, perpetual debt financing, and military intimidation of the planet?

Both Cynthia McKinney and Ron Paul told the public exactly how they would proceed in the office of President. While there were substantial differences in their platforms, in the area of medical insurance, for instance, both agreed on the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and the investigation, auditing, and possible dismemberment of the Federal Reserve System. Events since the election have showed that these would have been and still are wise, if radical, positions. Both Ms. McKinney and Dr. Paul are motivated by ethical considerations to a far greater extent than the insider game players that received massive endorsements by the corporate-controlled media and were indeed elected. The fact that they are continuing the policies of their corporate globalist lackey predecessors is no surprise, since both are ultimately accountable to the same elite constituency.

In the next election, save your vote for the candidate who is being marginalized, mocked, and ignored by the Mainstream Media and who has a definite program for radical change. DO NOT vote for the guy who is riding a wave of media endorsements and whose platform consists if empty slogans.

No, I didn't vote for him (or McCain, either, that's for sure!). However, I've lost confidence in candidates who project warmth and hope and generally good fuzzy feelings after Bill Clinton snookered me into voting for him, then gave us NAFTA. I want a candidate with a specific program for transforming the American Empire back into a Constitutional Republic. Obama is showing time-and-time again that he is heavily invested in the Empire, so nothing he does to help maintain it surprises me anymore.

If you actually read the Constitution, Congress, not the President, is given authority to make rules concerning "captures on land and water". Congress needs to take the lead in this area and take the heat if their decision contravenes treaty obligations or ethics.

Early in the last presidential campaign I supported (with cash, bumper, stickers, yard signs, meetup groups) both Dennis Kucinich and Ron Paul. At the end I voted for Cynthia McKinney as the candidate most explicitly committed to ending the travesty of the American Empire and reopening the American dream for the common people. I wasn't railroaded with the so-called "logic" that none of these candidates could "win". I felt good about my role in the campaign and the candidates I supported. I thought Senator Obama was a Manchurian candidate for the corporate globalist elite. But I always hoped, especially after he "won", that he would act to restore our Republic and give real support, not just "hope" to average Americans. Well, my worst nightmares are coming true now that he is dumping 100s of billions of dollars on the financial institutions that have ruined our economy through short-sighted greed, covered up for Bush, continued the war in the Middle East, etc., etc., etc. Obama is a bought and sold flunky for the established power structure that runs our nation and is of value to them principally in advancing their interests while giving some appearance of serving or representing the masses.

By the way, concerning the cover story on Michelle Obama, I couldn't care less what she wears or says.