Predictions, and let’s just keep this to what’ll happen inside the country, for the sake of the argument.
Another major terrorist attack. Given that security was one of Bush’s big selling points, Al Qaeda are going to be highly motivated to prove him wrong now. They probably would have attacked anyway, but at least the lie will be exposed.
Reinstatement of the draft.
A rebirth of the backstreet abortion industry.
The first amendment ever to restrict rather than expand citizen rights. Increased persecution of homosexuals given the implicit consent of the state. (NB: Actually, Prohibition was the first, but as it had to be repealed a few years later I hardly think it invalidates the point.)
More unemployment. More poverty. Much more poverty, especially when China forecloses.
Feel free to add to the list.
Hopefully Bush will die in april in accordance with that indian curse on all 0 year presidents.
It’s a crying shame.
I’ve still not given up and neither should you!
I am, however, inexplicably locked out of my blog (can’t post) – though can freely access my other Blogger blogs just fine…Hmmmm. :)
ah… a mere four years more of bushisms…
kill me now!
Wouldn’t it be cool if Nader had actually had a chance at getting elected. Of course, as we all know – this election isn’t actually to elect the president, it’s to elect the little cliques in the electoral colleges who get to elect the president. Maybe the electoral colleges were a good idea way back in 1786 (or thenabouts – apologies if that’s off by a few years) – but personally I think they’re more than a little anachronistic. But it’s moot now – Kerry’s rolled over to play dead, and Shrub is crowing about it. Ah well.
Restrictive amendments:
16th ammendment:
Article XVI.
The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States, and without regard to any census or enumeration.
That seems a restrictive ammendment to me… restrictive to income earners.
Furthemore, ammendment 21, which repealed prohibition states:
Section 1. The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.
Section 2. The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.
Section 3. This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.
Section 2 seems restrictive.
How exactly was the union supposed to function without collecting taxes?
You need to exercise your critical thinking skills more, David.
I made no comment about the the requirement for the collection of taxes, Jasmine. I was merely pointing out your error (“The first amendment ever to restrict rather than expand citizen rights.”). Your response about “collecting taxes” is attempting to set up a straw man. It is “income tax” that is the subject of the 16th, not taxes in general
As to your ad hominem…. chortle… physician heal thyself.
David,
firstly, I didn’t write that. Rachel did. You have not been paying attention. Secondly, income tax is absolutely not an infringement of civil rights or freedoms. And thirdly, my critical thinking skills are clearly leagues in advance of any right-wing libertarian’s, as evidenced by the fact that your arguments never stand up to implementation.
Jasmine, firstly, you are right. I was not paying attention and missed that it was Rachel who made the disputed error. Clearly stupid of me.
Second point, stating it isn’t so, doesn’t make it true. Income tax like all tax is a coerced activity. Whether this is good or bad is a matter of debate. My position on tax is not that it is an absolute bad but it is a restriction on the behaviour of a citizen. A citizen who participates in trade with another citizen, but _must_ pay a tax on that transaction is forced to behave in a way which they may not choose. This is a restriction on the citizen’s right to freely associate and freely exchange.
Is it really worth the effort? Should we spend precious energy chronicling all that is wrong with the kingdom in an attempt to bring this tale into focus? The questions press as these words are borne onto paper, but there are no immediate answers. What does one do when there is love in service but scorn for those served?
For 6 years I have devoted my heart to service for the good of the kingdom. And for every effort within the realm I have found incompetent and unqualified rulers; despisers of truth; who meet all effort with sword or forked tongue; who never have an original idea save those bought from expensive councilors; whose only labor is to prey on the those simple and true in order to catch any mistake, contradiction or lapse in method while they themselves carry on like hyenas at the kill. These suck flies discount every quest for higher knowledge as mere folly and if you are careless even once they will crush you. You must never ask what they are doing to better the realm but be ready to stand up and defend your actions as you would your soul at the gates of hell.
Lest we not go totally unsupervised; there is the Idiot King, so unworthy of the title that all who bear witness to his incompetence draw the same conclusions; “this man is indeed an idiot”. There is the surreptitious minion; the worm tongue pouring poisonous venom into the mind of the Idiot King who has the personality of a slug. Wicked, lecherous and white washed clean as a hive of bees in a glass jar.