A Shield for Cinderfella

Hey, another one of our 85 million dollar missile defense tests failed yesterday. Well, don't worry. North Korea is probably bluffing about their weapons capabilities. Just like we are. Oh wait. That's not good.

So, after September 11, 2001, I was prepared to pitch in and do my part in bringing the murderers and their masters to justice, and to help prevent another assault on the US. Since I'm not a trained warrior, I thought I'd be most useful providing resources, perhaps in the form of revenue generated by, say, a gasoline tax, to fund our military and intelligence efforts, to provide education and social programs here and abroad, to develop alternative energy sources. I lined up behind the President and my fellow Americans, supporting the removal of the Taliban, the search for bin Laden and his followers, and the rebuilding of Afghanistan. I believed Bush when he said that we'd all need to do our part. Well, he's about to ask Congress for another 82 billion dollars, most of it for the war in Iraq. Except for a couple of checks wasted on the DNC's failed attempt to unseat the greedy neocons and their inept puppets, I haven't done my part. I haven't paid a dime toward improving the chance that humans might survive, safe and free, for another generation. I haven't been given the opportunity. Yes, I should do something about that. However, by blundering into and stumbling in Iraq, by robbing the Social Security surplus to pay for tax cuts for the rich, by raising the debt ceiling and increasing the deficit, the Bush administration is forcing that "opportunity" on our children.

But the really crazy thing is that Jerry Lewis is the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee...providing some explanation for our improved relationship with the French.