Category Archives: Government

further signs of empire

Faced with human rights scandals, trillion-dollar deficits, rampant corruption, and a rising death toll, our Senate finally decided to do something:

They declared English the national language of the United States. Or maybe the common language. Something like that.

Sigh. What exactly does this get anyone? Nothing.  Then again, what harm could it do?  Plenty, actually. From the amendment:

Unless otherwise offered or provided by law, no person has a right, entitlement, or claim to have the Government of the United States or any of its officials or representatives act, communicate, perform or provide services, or provide materials in any language other than English.

Which is all well and good until you realize that this opens the door to effectively deny non-English-speakers who are legitimately in the country any assistance when, say, facing the charge of, say, Driving While Brown.  Perhaps I’m just being oversensitive, but I’ve learned that it’s never too early to oppose stupid policy.

Bush threatens to veto non-Iraq overspending

Because, you know, we can only manage one giant money pit at a time.

Updates from my previous posts, in case you’re still keeping score:

  • Weapons of Mass Destruction found before invasion: 0
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction declared by US before invasion: LOTS
  • US Cost in dollars: 275,000,000,000
  • US military deaths: 2,390
  • Iraqi civilians killed: 34,500
  • Weapons of Mass Destruction found after invasion: 0
  • U.S. timeline to leave Iraq: NONE
  • Generals calling for Rumsfeld’s resignation: 6