June 19, 2006

American Academy of Pediatrics fights efforts to ban thimerosal
From the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons

In 1999, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the U.S. Public Health Service recommended the removal of thimerosal from vaccines intended for American children.

In the past two years, state chapters of AAP have been extremely active in efforts to block state legislation to ban the use of thimerosal in pediatric vaccines - even though most vaccines are available in a reduced-thimerosal or thimerosal-free formulation. All pediatric vaccines in the UK are free of this preservative, and it has been banned in Scandinavia for years.

Many Americans simply do not believe the CDC’s assertions that injected mercury is safe, especially as pregnant women are advised to avoid eating tuna wraps. (Read the rest here)

Cleaning House
By Lady Liberty

I don't know too many people who actually like to clean. I do it largely because I can't stand the results if I don't. Cleaning is boring, messy, dirty, and oftentimes tiring. It can also be a bigger job than we think when we first determine to take it on. Worst of all, it's all too often thankless. But again, consider the results of your failure to clean, and I expect you'll go get your vacuum cleaner and do what you must.

There are another couple of houses besides yours and mine that could use a good cleaning. Whether we like it or not, we're responsible for them almost as much as we are for our own homes. I'm referring, of course, to both Houses of Congress. Judging from their conduct, it's apparent a good cleaning can't come too soon, either! The good news is that we'll get our regularly scheduled opportunity to do so this November. (Read the rest here)

The Silly Truth About NSA Spying: Short & Sweet
By L. Reichard White

Now they're going to protect us by tapping our phones and reading our E-mail.

Right. And "The check's in the mail," "I'm from the government and I'm here to help you" - - -

And "SURE I'll respect you in the morning."

As the Senate Judiciciary Committee hearings on Bush's NSA plan to tap your phone, read your e-mail, secretely sneak into your house and bug your computer, etc. sink impotently into the sunset, there are a few things you might want to consider. (Read the rest here)

Insider Info:
Maryland's Libertarian, Green and Populist Parties Have United!
By Ed Ward, MD

In a bold, vital and unprecedented move, these three parties have heeded the words of Thomas Jefferson, --"...to promote harmony and conciliation, and above all things to let the love of our country soar above all minor passions,...." National Parties, look and learn because the State of Maryland via some unique and innovative patriotic activists have shown you what must be done and how to unify.

This article contains interviews with Maryland's U.S. Senate candidate Kevin B. Zeese and leaders in the three parties that nominated him. Zeese elaborates on a procedure that has eluded virtually every other political candidate and party in the last several decades, the joining of similar, but divergent political parties. (Read the rest here)

Why Won't Congress Abolish the Estate Tax?
by Congressman Ron Paul - R - TX

The U.S. Senate had a golden opportunity to repeal the federal estate tax last week, but fell a few votes short. I fear that vote might represent the high-water mark in the movement to get rid of this destructive tax once and for all.

Fortunately, estate taxes no longer devour 60% of some individuals’ wealth when they die. Congress passed legislation in 2001 that reduced estate tax rates and increased the amount of assets exempt from the tax. Yet Congress has been unable to abolish the estate tax altogether, and due to a political compromise the old rates will be back in effect come 2011 unless Congress acts first. (Read the rest here)

Dissenters from the Drug War
By Pierre Lemieu

Journalist H.L. Menken characterized Puritanism as “the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Why the busybodies’ own happiness at knowing that others are unhappy is deemed morally superior is an interesting paradox.

Whether some drugs help or hinder happiness should be for each individual to decide for himself. Nineteenth-century economist and philosopher John Stuart Mill wrote, “Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign.” Who are the statocrats to decide that alcohol, tobacco, this or that drug, sex, or whatever, is good or bad for me, and to arrest me if I don’t agree? (Read the rest here)

Is This Really War?
by Sheldon Richman

In 1985, Wilson Goode became the first U.S. mayor to bomb his own city. In an effort to rid a West Philadelphia neighborhood of a ragtag, violent, back-to-nature organization called Move, which had engaged in a shootout with police, Goode ordered explosives dropped on the Move house from a helicopter. The whole block of row houses burned, 61 homes in all. Eleven people were killed, five of them children. Some 250 people lost their homes.

Goode came in for universal condemnation and ridicule. Too bad for him he didn't drop his bomb in a foreign country and call it war. At least in Goode's case he could claim he was the mayor of the city using the police to suppress a dangerous group that not only engaged in violence but also lived in an unsanitary way that affected its neighbors. (Read the rest here)

Playing Politics With The Federal Fatherhood Initiative
By Carey Roberts

Back in 1995 president Bill Clinton directed all federal agencies to review their programs with an eye to strengthening fatherhood. With the high-profile backing of vice president Al Gore, the federal Fatherhood Initiative sprang to life. Conferences were held, research agendas were developed, and fathers were on a roll.

But the Lavender Ladies began to fret over the "infiltration" of fathers' rights groups and plotted to throw a monkey-wrench into the operation. Finally someone had a stroke of genius: we'll insert the adjectival "responsible" before the word "fatherhood." Who could ever oppose that? (Read the rest here)

The Tree Curly-Tails in The Rainbow Valley
A Story For Children
By Lee Robinson ©2006

Long, long ago, when the world was younger, there was an age of heroes. In that time lived noble knights and brave adventurers. They roamed the land and sailed the seas, fighting against the forces of evil and working tirelessly for all that was good. These men and women were the inspiration for many great legends and were the subjects of countless stories and songs. But the most famous of all were the three whose deeds have been told and retold even to this day. Bradley Pigg, Porkchop and Tom Hog were their names and they were of course pigs, and that is why they are known to us as The Three Curly-Tails. (Read the rest here)

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