"President" Bush is urging countries to forgive Iraq's debt. On Thursday, Bush made debt forgiveness a condition for the United States government to allow them to "participate" in the rebuilding of Iraq. The Global Elite, having overthrown the country and are soon to install a leader of their choosing, want the debt forgiven — not to help the people of Iraq. By not having to repay foreign debt, there will be less oil money that they have to surrender to other countries. There seems to be no end to their greed.

Meanwhile, the media is reporting that The Halliburton Company, "Vice-President" Dick Cheney's old stomping ground, has soaked the American taxpayers for an extra $61 million under government contracts that were rewarded to them by the Bush Administration.

I originally commented back in March about the Bush-Cheney conflict-of-interest with respect to Halliburton, and Bush's insider trading scam at Harken Energy.

Then, in a follow up article in April entitled, Profiteers of destruction, the cost to taxpayers, I expressed my outrage at a LA Times article which reported on one Halliburton contract being worth $7 Billion (that's $7,000,000,000 for you public school victims), and even more importantly, that the contract was classified!

In other words, we taxpayers were being expected to foot the bill for the "rebuilding" of Iraq, the contract was given to Halliburton Company — the former CEO of which just happens to be the "Vice-President" — and we were not even allowed to know how the money was going to be spent. If this doesn't smell to high heaven, then your sniffer is broken!

Now, we discover that Halliburton has "overbilled" or "overcharged" the American taxpayer.

Of course, there is a talk of a Congressional investigation which may result in Halliburton having to "reimburse" the extra $61 Million.

Whether or not the government investigation goes anywhere, everyday Americans — who are currently struggling to find and keep jobs, put food on their tables, pay their ever-increasing utility bills, and pay the various extortion taxes to keep the government off of their backs — need to gear up and start asking some serious questions.

The first real question that these Americans should be asking is where is the rest of the $7 Billion going? How much of this cash has made its way into the coffers of the United Nations, Israel, and in the Administration's own personal Swiss bank accounts? And what are we getting for our money? The military machinery to continue a war without end, the objective of which is unclear and without nobility?

And the "opportunity" to allow our sons and daughters to die as "heroes" on foreign battlefields?

The creatures in government get the cash and the power, while our children get to shed their blood, becoming "heroes" for a global cause that the rulers call "democracy".

In a culture that has never known what true freedom really is, the American people are ill-prepared to defend freedom at home. It only stands to reason that they are equally as impotent at defending it abroad.

As more of our Constitutional rights are taken away in the name of "defending freedom" and "promoting democracy", one has to begin questioning what the Ruling Elite really mean by the word "democracy".

It may well be that the money being siphoned off the U.S. taxpayer, is funding a much more sinister and secret objective. Democracy is not our Constitutional form of government. And since it is not, the conclusion we must draw is that it is an alternate form of government. And judging from the rapid pace that our freedoms, and privacy are being taken away, it seems that Democracy may well be the exact antithesis of our representative form of government.

The dictionary* defines Democracy as, "The principles of social equality and respect for the individual within a community."

Principles for social equality? ... within a community? That sounds to me like Communism.

Are you willing to let your sons and daughters fight and die for that cause?

*The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

This is the attitude that is the reason why America is in the sorry shape that it is.

This woman, Anne Hefley, says she went to her car and found that the city had put a "boot" — apparently some kind of metal device that is clamped onto the tire — on it so that she couldn't drive it.

I must plead ignorance here, since I don't live in the city. I didn't know they were doing this.

At any rate, she finds the boot on her car, and says that she "deserved it".

Most might get mad at this, but I deserved it. I wholeheartedly and stupidly had it coming. In fact, I knew I'd had a couple of outstanding parking tickets for a long time and every morning that I looked outside at my car I wondered, "Is the boot there?" Yeah, I could have paid the tickets any time. But, I didn't. I let it go on, and on, ignored the notices because when it comes to responsibility with anything to do with the city government and especially dealing with cars, I suck. I knew I was in their crosshairs and it was only time before they pulled the trigger.

She then describes the feelings of "shame" that she experienced as she walked to her car in front of her nosy neighbors to retrieve a bright orange card from her windshield. The card would let her know to which government entity she must pay the extortion money (my words — not hers) so that she can again drive her car.

She imagined that her neighbors would be looking for a tantrum of rage from her. "But I will give them nothing", she says. "I walk with my chin up, shoulders back, not a hint of emotion on my face as I cross the street. My eyes remain on that big orange notice, and do not waver from my target. I think to myself, 'I am a strong, confident woman who is the proud owner of that car with the boot on it.'"

I must say that when I read a piece like that, I am overwhelmed with a feeling of sadness. This woman has been tyrannized by her government and she believes she "deserved it". There is a reason that people get angry about this sort of thing. It's because it's extortion with a flag on the wall.

This attitude is way too prevalent in our country today. Too many people are willing to just take it on the chin. No one is willing to fight for their rights to remain free. Free of taxation without representation. Free from government oppression.

My wife recently took our children to a show at the community college here. She received a parking ticket in their parking lot. Unlike Anne, she didn't believe she "deserved it", and was extremely agitated. I was outside on a ladder doing some wiring when my cell phone rang. She informed me of the circumstance. A feeling of anxiety began to boil in my stomach. I had fought tickets like this before in traffic court. You often don't win. Even so, I told her that she should fight it. She should tell the college that she would never come back again if they didn't waive it. The next day, she protested and it was rescinded.

Now, she could have just paid the fine and went about her business. After all, it was only $25. A lot of people would not have hassled with it.

But there comes a time when you must stand up for what is right. I'm not saying that Anne would have had the same result. Maybe she would have eventually had to pay the tickets to keep them from further assaulting her, but from her essay, it seems apparent to me that she was not the slightest bit inclined to voice her opposition. Instead, she embraced her servitude and subjugation to them by saying that she "deserved" their humiliating treatment. And deserved it to the choking tune of $185.

I feel genuine sadness for her, and the rest of my fellow countrymen who exhibit this type of defeated demeanor.

It reminds me of something Samuel Adams said in a speech he delivered a month after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. At the State House in Philadelphia on August 1, 1776, he told the "Annes" of his day:

"Contemplate the mangled bodies of your countrymen, and then say, What should be the reward of such sacrifices? Bid us and our posterity bow the knee, supplicate the friendship, and plough, and sow, and reap, to glut the avarice of the men who have let loose on us the dogs of war to riot in our blood and hunt us from the face of the earth? If ye love wealth better than liberty, the tranquility of servitude than the animating contest of freedom, go from us in peace. We ask not your counsels or arms. Crouch down and lick the hands which feed you. May your chains sit lightly upon you, and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen!"

In Samuel Adams day, the "animated contest of freedom" could have very well cost you your life. In our day, it more than likely will cost you a little time and perhaps a little money. A little effort can have a big impact.

But we must not lay down and indulge in the "tranquility of servitude" by saying that we "deserve" the assaults and insults that are maliciously heaped upon us. We should never "lick the hands" of those who would fasten the chains of slavery around us.

We are not animals, we are human beings, created by God with inalienable rights. And it's high time we started demanding those rights from those in positions of power.

She concludes her dissertation with the words, "A few phone calls, $185 (ouch), and a nap later, the boot was gone. But defiantly, I remain."

No Anne. There was nothing defiant about your reaction. You were molested, and you just laid there and took it. And it pains me to say this. But you are a typical American.

Turkey holding a turkey.

Recognizing that we cannot be serious all of the time, the Christmas season gives us an opportunity to take a brief break from the depressing stuff and have a little fun. In that spirit, I present the following, which was inspired by the popular Christmas tune. Consider what would happen if there really were a Santa Claus. What kind of problems would he face in today's litigious and regulatory society?

Dateline: ANYTOWN, U.S.A. — In a shocking and tragic accident on Wednesday, an unidentified woman known only as "Grandma" got ran over by a reindeer.

Sources at the scene of the accident say that the 81 year-old woman appeared intoxicated, and was stumbling across a field when she was struck by a hoof. Eyewitnesses say that she suffered from a blow to the head and back.

"She was returning home from our house and it was Christmas eve," said a tearful grandson. "We had begged her not to leave, but she had forgotten her medication. We all are really going to miss Granny."

Investigators are still looking into the accident, and authorities are mostly declining comment. Police chief Samuel Wannabe would not say whether or not Santa Claus was suspected in the slaying.

"We'll know more after our investigation is complete," he said. "If we find that Mr. Claus was negligable, we could bring him up on charges. At the very least, he shouldn't have left the scene of the accident."

The accident comes at an already difficult time for the North Pole. The question of Santa Claus and his flying reindeer have been a matter of scrutiny in recent years, after a shoe from one of the flying deer fell from the air, and hit an Illinois woman in the head, causing her a concussion. She sued the Clauses, and the matter was settled out of court for $5.3 million.

Even though such occurances are still rare, it has given rise to criticism, stemming from concerns that these types of incidents may be on the rise.

"Our neighborhoods are not safe anymore," said Judy Blume, an Anytown resident at a town hall meeting last December. "We have flying animals in the sky and objects occasionally fall out of the sleigh. My mother was almost crushed by falling Tonka truck!"

Four years ago, a Colorado family was killed when a Barbie doll house tipped over the side of the sleigh and crashed through a car window on I-70. A spokesperson for the Clauses blamed Rudolph's malfunctioning nose for the sudden shift in direction, precipitating the loss of cargo. It was determined that Santa and his entourage had a near-miss with a cell phone tower.

Frustrated residents have called upon Congress to pass legislation, regulating the use of sleighs and reindeer as a means of transporting products. Congress has been slow to act, however, believing that such regulation would fall under the aupices of the Department of Transportation. The DOT is currently looking into the matter, and Congress has convened a special committee to study the issue.

Congressman Jeff Hemroid, who chairs the Claus committee said that accidents are bound to happen, given the amount of freight that has to be moved in the 24 hours preceding Christmas.

"It's a simple matter of Santa trying to cover too much ground in too little time," he said. "One possible solution we are exploring is to have a speed limit for him, just like we do for ground transportation. We also might mandate seat belt use to ensure that packages will remain in tact. Of course, stiff fines could be imposed for violations."

Weight restrictions were among other possible options that were discussed by members of the Claus committee. "But that might mean Santa might have to cut back on his milk and cookies," laughed Hemroid.

Critics agree that any restrictions placed upon the North Pole would likely delay the delivering of presents to eagar children. Some observers are going as far as to say that the single day of Christmas deliveries might be coming to an end. They foresee a day when delivery of presents might have to be spread over the course of a week.

Other observers suggest that the United States lacks the authority to impose restrictions on the world-wide delivery of gifts. U.S. special envoy to the United Nations, Barbara Blockhead, says that since Claus crosses into the airspace of several Christian nations — not just the U.S. — the matter should be dealt with under international law. She also stated that developing countries should receive their presents first, and that the developed countries should pay for them.

Meanwhile, calls to the North Pole for comment were not immediately returned.

But in a statement, released on Friday, the Clauses said that multiple day deliveries for Christmas presents would not likely be a viable answer, due to labor issues.

"The union contract with the Elves Guild would have to be renegotiated," said the statement. "The long hours were a major issue at the bargaining table last year."

Regardless of the outcome of the latest mishap, insiders suggest that Claus might be getting weary of the excessive legal liabilites, associated with the Christmas season. In a Today Show interview this morning, Mrs. Claus suggested that Santa might be ready to hang up his red hat. "For years, Santa got suited up to make his runs," she said. "Now he not only gets suited up, he also has to get lawyered up."