Something new to scare you ...

Time to change the subject. Well slightly. Still politics, still dysfunction. But no bail out.

I learned today (NYT) that, the Bush administration has cut off birth control aid to Africa. This is preposterous. What reasoning could possibly be given to support this action? Don't even think about using the argument that the US is in a financial crisis and can't afford to send aid to third world countries. I don't know what this costs our country annually, but relative to what we are spending in real cash to buy worthless paper - this international aid - probably equates to $1.50.

What is stunning to me is how you make that decision. Yes clearly our government officials have to make all kinds of difficult choices. We can't come close to accomplishing what is needed. But even in these uninspiring times - Americans along with many other sovereign nations do reveal a glimmer of humanitarianism and compassion.

Bush is so "out to lunch". This goes well beyond lame duck. This is dementia.

The UN fully supports and leads efforts to promote family planning all over the world. Family planning is about choices and responsibility. Without access to act responsibly - people are left to act randomly. Poor, third world countries are craving to act responsibly, feed themselves, support their families and build an infrastructure that would some day allow them to prosper. Birth control helps, enormously. If you can't feed children, you should think twice about having them. The gracious, hard working, women of Africa assuredly get this - and therefore seek and use birth control.

Bush on the other hand - sees cutting off access to birth control as a way to force his narrow, archaic, chauvinistic views on all the world. "No gratuitous sex". "Sex only for procreation". If you follow God's word - you will have sex only, in a sacred marriage, to procreate and bring more little, God fearing children, into the world.

Spooked yet?

I consider myself to be a fair minded person. I love differing points of view. And I love people to be passionate about their points of view. But to force conformity is weak, ignorant and evil. Bush used the power of his office to deny a whole country something they desperately need, merely because, he thought they shouldn't have it.. What kind of convolution, and narcissism is required to do this? I mean does he really think that if he limits access to birth control, people will stop having sex - inside or outside of marriage? What could possibly lead to this level of confidence? This level of disregard for human rights? Can his ignorance be so significant that he actually lets it feed his ego?

What gives him the right to deny anything to anyone?

The irony of his decision, is that it will perpetuate abortion. Last time I checked, even the "Christians" consider abortion to be a far greater sin, than "sex for fun". Thank you Mr. Bush, because of you and your self absorbed global decisions - more abortions will be performed in Africa, most of them dangerously. More children will be conceived and more children will be aborted. Not to mention the mothers. They will die too. Abortions in third world countries are not surgical. They are brutal.

If you read between the lines and look at one distinctive pattern in the Bush administration you will see what I characterize to be nothing short of frightening and dangerous. It started when he walked through the threshold of the White House on January 8, 2000. On that day, I think, he felt "god like". This was his holy house to rule. Separation between church and state could finally be overruled with his heavy hand and resounding voice over the mountain top !

More frightening, at least to me, is that this resonated with Americans. People rally around this man, still. Yes his approval rating is 27%, one of the lowest in history. But don't be deceived. People disapprove of Bush, now, because they feel poor, and in fact are less well off now, then when he stepped into office. But his theology, and evangelism is revered. Admittedly my religious beliefs are not, in any way, representative of the majority - I am almost alone, in my belief, relative to the world's population, when it comes to religion. But that is not the point. Government and religion should not coexist. In fact it is unconstitutional to have them co-exist. Worse, it is despicable to use government to spread religion.

God, I love this country! In China, they block blogs....