Quote: Smedley Butler, On U.S. Military Adventurism

Smedley Darlington Butler (July 30, 1881 – June 21, 1940)
Major General in the U.S. Marine Corps, Outspoken Critic of U.S. Military Adventurism, Most decorated Marine in U.S. history at the time of his death.

I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high-class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.
~ Socialist newspaper Common Sense, 1935

The Decline of the American Empire (VIDEO)

As the world is undergoing a profound transformation, what role will the US play in a post-American century?

The US has the world’s biggest economy, the most influential culture, and the most potent military machine, with a budget that equals that of all other nations combined. It is the only power with a global project defended and supported by more aircraft carriers, Fortune 500 companies, and more successful media-tainment conglomerates than any other.

But the last decade has been problematic for the world’s only superpower.

America’s post-Cold War optimism has given way to pessimism, forecasting a declining power and more crucially, the end of “the American era”.

The rise of new regional and global powers, coupled with Washington’s recent war fiascos and financial crisis have worsened the outlook for the future of the US.

Countless books have been written prophesying the end with titles like: Suicide of a Superpower; The Empire Has No Clothes; Taming American Power; Nemesis: the Last Days of the American Republic; Colossus: The Rise and Fall of the American Empire; and Selling out A Superpower.

So, is all this talk of the US decline premature? And if not, what role will the US play in a post-US century?

Watch video here . . . 

Quote: Christopher Hitchens, On Censorship

Christopher Eric Hitchens (13 April 1949 – 15 December 2011)
English-American, Literary Critic, Journalist, Author,
Essayist, Polemicist, and Outspoken Anti-theist

Don’t take refuge in the false security of consensus and the feeling that whatever you think you’re bound to be okay because you’re in the safely moral majority . . . my own opinion is enough for me and I claim the right to have it, defend it against any consensus, any majority, anywhere, anyplace, anytime; and any anyone who disagrees with this can pick a number, get in line, and kiss my ass.

Top 10 Greatest [Mob of Racists and Homophobes] Moments of 2011

Since only millionaires and morons vote for Republicans, and the majority are not millionaires, what does that make the majority, if not all, of the Republicans?

Well, let’s look at the syllogism and see:

If not A, then B

Premise A = majority of Republicans are millionaires
Premise B = majority of Republicans, if not all, are morons
Conclusion = Since a majority of Republicans are not millionaires, then the majority, if not all, of Republicans are morons.
QED [MSH] M-O-U-S-E 

New York Times reports on Catholic Charities pull-out [no pun intended] in Illinois

For the nation’s Roman Catholic bishops, the outcome is a prime example of what they see as an escalating campaign by the government to trample on their religious freedom while expanding the rights of gay people. The idea that religious Americans are now the victims of government-backed persecution is now a frequent theme not just for Catholic bishops, but also for Republican presidential candidates and conservative evangelicals. . .

But now most of the Catholic Charities affiliates in Illinois are closing down rather than comply with a new requirement that says they can no longer receive state money if they turn away same-sex couples as potential foster care and adoptive parents. . .

Society is evolving, but the Catholic Church is refusing to evolve with it. These states have chosen to recognize some of the basic civil rights of their LGBT citizens. They have also decided it is not legal or appropriate for a state to be funding discrimination against them. 

Read more . . . 

Outrageous: Catholic School Fires Teacher, Five Months Pregnant, for Choosing Artificial Insemination

The Archdiocese of Cincinnati requires all employees to sign contracts stating that they’ll adhere to Catholic social teachings, including the assertion that being pregnant sans husband is a gravely immoral act. Someone tell that to the Virgin Mary.

Perhaps appropriately, the man who fired Dias, Rev. James Kiffermeyer, was himself suspended in 2002 after allegations arose that he engaged in sexual misconduct with two male high school students. He was reinstated in 2006.

Read more . . .