Political Cortex: Brain Food for the Body Politic

But could it be the international trips and lobbyists are bribing Republicans and Democrats, which has blurred their vision and dulled their consciences, where they cannot begin to comprehend what their legacy will be and tragically many, I fear, don't care.

They are able to raise their salaries without delay, but find it impossible to raise the minimum wage.

But then, when you think of how their moral compass is directed, such an item as a livable minimum wage for those millions who make vital contributions to our society are overlooked.  

Instead of bringing freedom and democracy to Iraq, we have brought a strengthened al-Qaeda insurgency, with its attendant death to U.S. service personnel.  Now it is 2,522 dead along with over 15,000 wounded, with 100,000 Iraqis dead.

This can't be repeated often enough as something must counterbalance the perpetual spin that the Republican Administration bombards the media with.  At one point, the spin masters got carried away to the point where they said, "The U.S. is doing a magnificent job in Iraq."

The world has watched with astonishment and fear as the U.S. boasted of the so-called "preemptive war" which was actually a preventive war, a shabby excuse to ignite the killing machine.

When we hear of North Korea developing missiles capable to hitting the United States and Iran considering nuclear energy to protect itself from attack, we've got to hold those like Bush, Cheney, Rice, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Perle are responsible for the grim position they have put us in.

Do you think you can change anyone's religious or political viewpoint?  If you fantasize that you can, try it on one of your relatives and see how it fizzles.  It fizzles like the Iraq War debacle.

With scare tactics mouthed by the mighty in Bush's State of the Union Address, the American public was not told the truth.  Warmongers know how to frighten the public.  The war manufacturing machine and everyone else profiting from it by going to war jumps on the economic bandwagon.      

But for every dollar they've acquired through a phony Iraq War there will be a price that must be paid.  Already we've seen the death and destruction, and the staggering cost of over $200 billion, all this puts the U.S. at the edge of bankruptcy, no matter how the economic gurus claim we've got great prosperity.

The only reason the housing industry boomed was that Alan Greenspan lowered the interest rate to a nearly 60-year low.  England and the European buyers came into the fire sale of U.S. businesses and homes.  But now some are out of the reach of millions as inflation skyrockets.  Thank you, Alan Greenspan!

Penguin Publishing Company is paying Alan Greenspan millions for his biography.  If you want to read how one man helped demolish our currency and contribute mightily to inflation you might want to learn how Alan Greenspan achieved this dubious distinction.

Guest columnist Cathryn Miller wrote about her breast cancer chemotherapy costs in the June 26 Seattle Post-Intelligencer.  She revealed that her monthly bill for chemotherapy for her breast cancer came to $80,435.  

Avastin, the new breast cancer shot she receives, comes to $11,911 per shot.  She receives two of these shots per month.  The grand total for chemotherapy treatment and her two shots totals $104,257.00 per month.  

Tragically the U.S. doesn't regulate the pharmaceutical companies that price their drugs, or how much pharmacies or hospitals can mark them up.  

The Republican Administration boasted of how they were helping senior citizens with their drug costs.  However, they legislated that Medicare could not negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower prices, as the Veterans Administration does.  

That means that Medicare pays almost 46 percent more for the same drugs.  Now, to add some frosting to the cake for the pharmaceutical companies, they have raised their prices.    

With the Iraq War, inflations rages as home prices skyrocket.  As Gas companies continue to obtain obscene profits, all the Republicans can think of is hitting gay marriage utilizing the hate tactics of religious fanatics, or working to pass amendments on flag burning.  

The shameless Karl Rove brigade will do anything to distract Americans from recognizing the countless horrors it has perpetrated on American society.

Will these PR tricks make Americans forget the horrifying Administration this has become?  Many of its leaders, in the views of many, are criminally liable for the tragic Iraq War and its staggering cost in death, destruction, and debt.