Juan: A Compromise to the Right...

The religious Right. The Silent Majority. The Moral Majority. It's all the same people, ideas and catchphrases. They've been preaching on the pulpit about the evils of modern culture and the decline of values and morals. They vote with their bibles for other Christians who promise to go Washington and change the problems of our country. It started with the Pro-lifers and spread to the anti-gay and anti-sex crowd. And they've been in power for thirty years....

Here's a fact about the politicians that have been elected by their fellow Christians: They are failing to fufill their promises! Abortion is still legal, Evolution is still in the classroom, sex is still being marketed to children children, and the Ten Commandments are still out of the courthouses. It makes me wonder if the politicians are really serious about change, or if they are just maintaining a level of outrage for the purpose of the keeping the voters voting. So I'm willing to help them make some change just to stop this ridiculous deadlock that our country is in.

First off, abortion. I saw an episode of Morgan Spurlock's "30 Days" in which a women's right activist was sent to live in a home run by a pro-life evangelical Christian church. The woman spent time with pregnant women and children who live in the home. I was actually glad to see a pro-life community that was actually DOING something, instead of just preaching and yelling about abortion being murder. In their world view, they saved lives by allowing under privleged women to have their babies instead of the abortion option.

So I have a Compromise to the the Right: Work with Planned Parenthood. With all of the faith-based initiatives and funding Bush has started, it's not impossible to think that these Christian homes could be recommended by Planned Parenthood. When a pregnant woman goes into PP, she is given a list of options including adoption and abortion. Why not also tell women about these no-cost homes for the underprivileged? The Christians have to give up their lobby for abstitence only education and share info on contraception. Less abortions means both sides win.

Next up, Intelligent Design. I feel that this is just plain retarded. Evolution is science and ID is faith. That being said, this is a major wedge issue for the Right. I've got a great compromise on our children's education. Evolution will not be outlawed and still be taught as science, but schools will be able to discuss the theory of ID. Basically, teachers can explain to students that their are some people who have different views on where we come from. I never hurts to show children different sides of a story. And they can go home and talk with their parent about what they believe. The catch is this: You can teach ID in school, but no more fast food and soda in elementary and middle schools. You can feed kids crap in the classroom, but not in the cafeteria. In the end we get healthier, free thinking students who will have a more well rounded view of the world. This is also a good way of separating the religious conservative voters from the corporate conservatives. It'd be a great chance for the voters to put their representatives to a real test. And maybe they'll see that corporate money and the church have been involved in a gay marriage for decades.

Juan: Immigation in the forefront

With the immigration debate coming to ahead in America, I would like to drop my two cents, or pesados, on the topic.

I'm tired of hearing immigration described as a "problem." Immigrant workers do more for this country than the vast poplulation of white collar americans. The issue of illigal immigration is a problem of blind nationalism and elitism by american who have forgotten what our country was founded on.

Economically speaking, illegal immigrants are actually an advantage to our tax base. The right would have you believe that they are sucking money out of our welfare, health and education programs. What they fail to note is that the money for illegals use of service is trumped four fold by unclaimed payroll taxes. So when you hear that "illegal immigration costs the taxpayer a billion dollars a year" remember that illegals have paid for those services at a higher rate than the average american. Also, the US has less social programs and benefits than most of the G8 countries. Personally, I would rather obtain access to Cananda's public healthcare than deal with America's style of debt-driven healthcare. An immigrant in Canada has access to more than one in America.

For the right, immigration should be a non-issue. They are the supporters of free-market, supply side economics. Their argument against minimum wage hikes is that it contributes to inflation. (Not billion dollar inheritance and nine figure severences payments.) Although I don't not agree with their stance, they should realize that immigrant workers do the same to the economy as halting working wage increases. In an industrial society, there will always be undesirable jobs that must be filled to keep the infrastructure of economics in balance. Attempting to remove this employment base is a way to chipping away at the levees of inflation, unemployment and basic civil unrest. A flood of market distress is in the wings for our country if legislation passes.

Great, so what's my solution then? Make immigration a streamlined process. Set up US offices in border towns and capitals in Mexico and Latin America and in every country that an embassy or consulate exists where people can obtain valid work permits. Make all visas infinitely extendable, renewable and useful in a path to citizenship. Reduce the citizenship requirements from five years to two and allow immigrant service men and women to be granted citizenship after six months of service. Create new guidlines for visas for parents of American citizens. If your child was born in US, you should have the right to be an American as well. Do not treat our US citizenships as if it's some sort of elite club that no one else may join. That is not what our country was founded on. This land is your land, this land is our land.

Don't let the president and congress let you forget that these are human beings with the right to life, liberty and the persuit of happiness. If you live in a place where there are protests being held by Mexican-Americans, support their cause. Stand up for their rights. They are not criminals. They are here for numerous reasons, none of which is it to maliciously attack anyone's welfare. More crime is commited in this country by American than all immigrants combined. That's a simple fact that will never change. Don't let congress pass this nationalistic bill. Their is a fine line between patriotism and nationalism. Mussolini, Stalin and Hitler crossed that line. Don't let us. John McCain put it wisely:

"Are we going to continue our rich tradition of hundreds of years of welcoming new blood and new vitality to our nation?" Mr. McCain asked. "Or are we going to adopt a protectionist, isolationist attitude and policies that are in betrayal of the very fundamentals of this great nation of ours, a beacon of hope and liberty and freedom throughout the world?"

Well said Mr. President (please?)

Juan: Gravity: The jury is still out

I have recently dug deep into my heart of hearts to examine what I truly believe in. There are truths, facts and beliefs and not all three must align to become ones moral fabric. I have decided through long, deep thought that gravity does not exist. "Scientists" and liberal school teachers have been forcing the so-called theory down our necks since Newton caught a migraine. I denounce gravity and all associated theories. God wanted us to stay on this planet for reasons only He could understand. Gravity is just a theory. The truth is that God in is His all-knowing plan has created an attraction between the earth and our souls. God allows us to leave the earth's attraction when he deems it necessary. Case in point: flight. Without God's gift of flight we would not be able to combat the evil forces of Satan around the world.

The nay-sayers may say, "but gravity can proven. It is accepted fact." The heretical theory of gravity does not stand up to the simplest of test. For example; The scientists claim that the mass and rotation of the earth, sun and planets create the force of gravity. This is proven wrong by simple elementary physics. Rotation of a mass is subject to centrifugal force. This creates an outward force. It can be tested very easily. Spin in a desk chair at a moderate speed while holding a ball with outstretched arms. Release the ball. If gravity were a real science, the ball would come back into your body, but it doesn't. It rolls away, just like the basis of the 'scientists' argument.

And just like that, I have renounced science to support what I wish to be true. I have also used science to prove that science is wrong. It is a very simple yet complex form of argument. It's a form of selective acceptance. It is used very often by people who are not willing to learn or accept truth, but would rather form a belief and rationalize it for their own good. It is used very often by the neo-con christian right. Evolution is not a fact, global warming is not concrete evidence, and doctors have proven that a fetus feels emotion. Of all the three above, they have chosen to believe in the fragilest of findings. Don't let them rattle off their checklist of pre-approved arguments without raising and eyebrow or two.

Juan: Reactionary Governing

After doing a review of the past six years, I've discovered one constand point. If liberal legislation had been passed, all of the major catasrophes of the 2000s could have been avoided or lessened. I know, that's a bold statement, but let's take a look...

2004 Tsunami:
The US was approached in 2001, after W took over, to be part of a multi-national investment to build a tsunami advance warning system. The US share of the $100 Million (not billion) program was around $30 Million. About 1/10 of the amount of aid we sent initially. This was pushed for by democrats who thought that it was important to protect our third world brothers. I'm suprised the corportions didn't fund it themselve to protect the people working our outsourced jobs in India. this was shot down in congress because they didn't see a need to help other countries. Thousands dead, billions spent.

2006 Fuel Shortages:
"Our dependancy of on foreign oil is a threat to our national security." Nice job, W. You've read your history books. This is not W's quote. This is Jimmy Carter in 1978. Republicans pushing for new fuel saving measure and alternative fuels is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen. If you told Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh six years ago that they'd be praising hybrid cars and bio-diesel, they'd call you a dirty hippie. Lets not full ourselves. Bush and the GOP are pushing for the same thing that Jimmy Carter told us about in the 70s and Al Gore ran on in 2000. Had the country passed legislation over the past 25 years to be prepared for oil shortages and middle-eastern violence, we would not be in a crisis now. Result, increased strain on the working class, record profit for big oil and war fo the next ten years. Thousands dead, billions spent

2005 Katrina:
Boy, that Al Gore knew what he was talking about. In the 2000 election he said, "we have some major infrastructure problems in America." Yeah, like the New Orleans levees. Unfortunely for Louisiana, their senators and congressmen don't have the clout of a righty idealogue like Ted Stevens who can have a bridge built to nowhere. The money to rebuild the levees was removed from appropriations bills on at least three different occasions, by republicans. It was called pork. Most estimates put the cost of rebuilding levees around $300 Million. Pork, huh. Bridge to nowhere is around $1 Billion. Now we have hundreds of thousand of homeless and have lost one the greatest American cities. One of the few remain cities with real culture. Thanks Frist.

2005 Dead Coal Miners:
Unions are for communists. That's why they are in a constant legislation and lobbying fight to increase safety for their respective workers. Union lobbyists pushed for coal mine saftey reform numerous times of the past 50 years. One specifically called for mine owners to use technolgy to save workers stuck in collapsed mines. Defeated in the West Virginia assembly by republicans. So the owner's profit trumps worker saftey? Of course it does. 12 dead.

2001 9/11:
This is beyond the memo titled "bin laden determined to strike inside the US." This is about the things that have come about in reaction.

First off, Homeland Security. They even stole the title. Before being defeated by draft dodger Saxby Chambliss in Geogia, Max Cleland proposed a bill calling for the formation of a Department of Homeland Security-in 2000. It basically called for standardizing airport, port and infrastructure safety. It was defeated by republicans and dismissed as "big government." Cleland voted against the bill written after 9/11 in protest. Rove and GOP used it against it him. They labeled him a traitor in his election campaign against Saxby. I guess he left his three limbs in Vietnam for the communists to use against us.

Secondly, intelligence reform. This dates back to the Carter years as well. After Vietnam, the democrats called for a review of the intelligence channels. It was ended by the 1980 elections. Clinton tried again in 1996, but it was shot down. It is obvious from the 9/11 Commision Report that failed intelligence channels were to blame for the attacks. Yes, thousand dead, billions spent

2001-2006 Military readiness and staffing:
In Rumsfeld and W's miliary reform of 2001 (pre-9/11) they failed to build a military that was ready to fight a modern war. The first act was to realign the military to have the Air Force be the lead branch. In their eyes, all wars in the future could be resolved through air superiority. Also, in my opinion, to guarantee trillions of dollars to GOP contributors in the form of defense contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed. They built the military around the concept, and in the process re-approriated many active duty operations to the National Guard. This results in a smaller Army and strained National Guard. When Rummy said, "You go to war with the army you have, not the army you want," it was suppposed to be a shot at Clinton. Well Donald, you made the army you wanted. Explain that to the National Guard college student who's been on active duty for three years and probably won't be able to finish school because of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Or explain it to the people who lost their homes in the wildfires. Wildfires that normally would have been fought by National Guard firefighters who were busy in Iraq and Afganistan. It's okay to expand the military. It doesn't have to mean more war. It means function, less strain and more jobs.
Thousand dead, billions spent.

So there are a couple examples. Keep your eyes peeled in the next ten years. There are numerous things that liberals have been fighting for that will end up being crisis that the repulicans will throw money out. Mad Cow, sustainable farming and health care debt are on the horizon.

Juan: Abortion Analogy

You are a 20 year old cook. You are currently in culinary school and are $50K in debt. You work 40-45 hours a week for $12 an hour (pretty good for a youngster cook) and go to school 20 hours a week. The restaurant you work at offers no health insurance. You put away as much as possible for moving expenses in the future and 'just in case.' You also like to work out and play basketball with some friends on your days off. It keeps you in shape and helps to blow off some steam.

During one of your sunday pick up games you come down wrong on your right knee. It hurts pretty bad and you decide to dip into the 'emergency money' to make a trip to the doc. It turns out you have a small tear in your ACL. It's very small and was caught before it torn further. The doctor tells you that a shot could help alleviate some of the pain and if you stay off the knee for two weeks, you'll heal up just fine. it's tough to miss two weeks work, but worth it in the end. The doc also tells you that you could also opt to go through with an ACL replacement surgery. The surgery will be in two weeks, and you'll be laid up for 6-12 months. It could make your knee stronger in the end, but not guarnateed. Workman's Comp will not cover the injury since it is your fault that you were playing basketball in the first place. Easy decision for you, right? Take the shot, miss two weeks work and school and be more careful when playing hoop on the weekends. The emergency fund should keep you afloat for the two weeks. Unfortunetly, the doctor refuses to give you the shot and forces you to have surgery on your knee. He says that the side effects from the shot bother some people and therefore they have stopped giving the shot. It is now illegal for the shot to be offered. So you have the surgery, lose your job, and slip further into debt. The school you are attending will not allow you to re-enroll, but you're still on the hook for tuition up to your injury.

Sounds like a pretty shitty situation, right? This is what will happen to women if their right to choose is revoked. We are essentially telling women, "I don't care what you say, you must have a child if you are pregnant." Just reflect on that. If you are two weeks pregnant and the fetus is smaller than the size of a pin-head, the government is telling you that you must allow that fetus to grow for 9 months and you are responcible for raising it until it is 18. No questions. Added bonus, the government doesn't have to help you raise the child it forced you to have. Better get a job to pay those bills. Don't let people forget that this is what the right to choose is about.

Juan: Support the Troops, become one...

With all this talk about 'supporting the troops' I've begun to think about what it means to stand up for what you believe in. There was a man named Tom Fox who was killed this week in Iraq. He was a Quaker christian who was against all forms of war. he went to Iraq to try and make peace with some of the Iraq people, mostly prisoners who saw no hope for their country. He was kidnapped and killed after being tortured with battery cables and beaten near death. The group that he was from said his sacrifice was worth it if he touched one person he met in Iraq.

I know a lot of people are quick to say that he couldn't make a difference, that he was a fool to give himeself up for something so useless as peace in the middle east. I offer you this quesiton, who is more of a man-the one who dies for what he believes in or the one who believes in something he won't die for.

The miltary is dying when it comes to recruiting. The Marines are missing their goals for the first time since there were Marines. And yet there are thousand of eligble men and women who support the wars in Iraq and Afganistan who simple won't go. If you believe in something so strong, why not fight for it. I believe that the people who are against war and refuse to fight are stronger willed than those who support war and refuse to fight. I'm sick and tired of hearing neo-con pro-war bullshit from people who have no excuse not to go. I joined and did my part. I chose to move on to another life and other career but I am glad I served. I learned a lot and have skills that will stick with me forever.

If you're so for the war, go and fight it. Don't tell me about how you 'support the troops' and how 'it's for our national security.' If you're so sure you're right, prove it. Be a part of the rebuilding of a democratic middle east. Go join the Israeli Army, or the US Marines or the Air Force. There are plently of people serving now who aren't supporters of the war in Iraq, but they fight none the less. Just don't tell me I'm a traitor or that I hate the troops cause I have my DD 214 that says you're wrong.

Juan: Barry, sweet, sweet, barry

411 HRS, 445 SB, 1216 RBI, 1360 BB, .290 BA, .495 OBP, 7 Gold Gloves, 3 MVPs and 8 All-Star appearences. 4 30/30 seasons, 1 40/40. Led league in OPS 4 times, Slg. 3 times, and BB 5 times. The only player is history to have 400 HR and 400 SB.

These are Barry Bonds career number through 1998. (13 seasons) That is when the Chronicle's writers claim that Barry began using HGH and steroids. There should be no discussion about being worth of cooperstown. There is no relative argument against him. Quick comparison with other OF H of F members.

Mel Ott:
511 HR, 89 SB, 1860 RBI, 1708 BB, .304 BA, .414 OBP
Kirby Puckett (I know, bad timing, good guy, short life RIP)
207 HR, 134 SB, 1085 RBI, 450 BB, .318 BA, .360 OBP
Willie Stargell:
475 HR, 17 SB, 1540 RBI, 937 BB, .282 BA, .360 OPB

Only Willie Strgell won an MVP, he tied with Keith Hernandez in 1979. As baseball goes, the numbers speaks for themselves. To Puckett's defense, he only played 12 years because he woke up in 1996 not able to see due to pre-mature glaucoma.

We could talk to hours about why the media never attacked McGwire. Or how everyone voted for Giambi for the Comeback Player of the Year Award even though he came back from a gland problem due to excessive steroid abuse. Or Palmeiro lying in front of congress under oath. Or that there are pitchers in the H of F that were known for spitballs which have always been illegal. Or about the media's grudge against Bonds. But I digress.

The point is this: In baseball the numbers are all that matters. I don't care who you are, where you played or what kind of person you are. The stats from the 60s were said to be inflated versus the 20s. the 20s to the 1900s. That is what makes baseball the greatest sport. Do not let the media continue to tear down our sport. Don't listen to the nay-sayers who talk down about the WBC and won't vote for Palmeiro. Baseball will rise again. The world is what matters, not what American writers have to say. Baseball will reach the heights of soccer and beyond no matter how hard they try to push it down.

Juan: ....and Kill Pedro Gomez....

Of All the things wrong in the world, we have congress talking steroids. ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!!! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS COUNTRY!!!

Steroids is the most important thing to cover? What don't you tell your children about how The Babe never played against minorities? What about the fact that Mantle, Ruth and Murderers Row were all alcoholics? Darryl Strawberry and Doc Gooden were supposed to save baseball in the the 80s! Guess what, they're both coke-heads who've been in and out of jail for the past 20 years! Fay Vincent is the only person who brought this to light in his impromptu interview during a game on ESPN last week. Despite all this, baseball endures. You look at the lineups of a MLB game and see the names of corn-fed WASPs, inner-city minorities, Japanese super-stars and Latin immigrants. There are managers with accents and games broadcasts in multiple language. So why does Congress and the media insist on destroying it. We are living in a country of religious divide with debt, war, starving children and Terri Schiavo. Our dollar is shit. We can't die in peace. What the fuck is wrong!!! I can only conclude that they hate people and want to make us fucking miserable.

So, thank you Pedro Gomez. Thanks you Bill Frist, George W., Jim Bunning and Jose Canseco. Thank you for taking from me the last thing I cherished in America. My last joy in the country. I hope Barry Bonds walks away from the game and TV ratings plumet. I hope the owners lose their asses and the fans turn to NASCAR. The only thing I truly love of American culture is dead. Food, music, politics....I can get that anywhere. Baseball, though....I don't know. maybe the Dominican Republic or Japan, but it's not the same. They just want to play in the states. That's the highest level. I have no reason to stay. When is cricket season?

Juan: Examples, examples....

These are actual quotes from two fellas who won Senate seats last tuesday...

Tom "The gay community has infiltrated the very centers of power in every area across this country, and they wield extreme power ... That agenda is the greatest threat to our freedom that we face today. Why do you think we see the rationalization for abortion and multiple sexual partners? That's a gay agenda." Coburn

Jim "Openly gay teachers shouldn't be teaching in public schools and I would have given the same answer when asked if a single woman who was pregnant and living with her boyfriend should be hired to teach my third-grade children." DeMint

I guess it's time to say it harshly. FAG IS THE NEW NIGGER. See how abrasive that sounds. There were people just like these fucks who thought that having their white kids in schools with 'negroes' wasn't right. In 50 years our children's children will look on us with disgust. afjklsd...words.....so angry....no words......

Juan: Toby Keith is next

Two weeks ago Vallejo, CA rapper Mac Dre (Andre Hicks) was killed in Kansas after an apparent drug deal gone wrong. Police have no leads....

That makes three. Three black rappers murdered without a suspect. B.I.G, Tupac and now Mac Dre. If Toby Keith were shot down in his (I assume) ridiculously lifted, gas guzzling F-950 there would people calling Ashcroft's office begging for justice. Is it because the rappers are black? Possibly. Is it because Toby Keith is a flag waving patriot? More likely. Remember back to the Dixie Chicks crisis. Country singers must be extremely sheltered, overly patriotic good ole boys. What a crock of shit! These rappers represented a voice of demographic that, coincidentaly, are having their votes suppressed. Count your 'christian coalition' blessings, Toby.

Juan: The Rednecks have spoken

So Election Day 2004 has passed and we've learned one thing. No one gives a fuck anything that really matters. That's why I've called for the head of Toby Keith. The spokesman for the war-hungry, gun toting, creationist hicks that have elected the, ironically, Anti-Christ Bush. Stayed tuned for notes from a bleeding heart America hater living in a new-founded theocracy. Political notes from the liberal oppressed.