How would you feel if government candidates managed to get popular and national (rather than simply regional) support, but were then put in prison to keep them from debating the “officially approved” party candidates and surrounding media? Do we need to send out troops to assure democracy in that nation? Should the UN get involved to protect the people's rights?
Last night before the US Presidential debate, Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian Party and David Cobb of the Green Party showed up to speak to the media, as well as to serve the CPD with a (legal) Order to Show Cause related to electoral corruption. To be very clear, these two men are on the ballot in 48 states. These aren't some fringe candidates; these are people who millions of Americans support (although millions is still a small minority). To be clear on that: millions of people support these candidates.
Millions.
Upon their arrival, the Secret Service threw them into the back of a van and kept them imprisoned until not only after the debates, but until after the reporter pools had left for the night. Not letting them into the debate is one thing, but escalating it to the point where they're not even allowed to protest and take part in the political process or even talk to the media is chilling.
Because disenfranchising millions of Americans is no big deal, right?
Who cares — they're in the minority.
The Bush statements about Canadian drugs last night were bizarre — remember where he said he was worried Americans would start dropping dead if cash-strapped seniors had access to inexpensive “unregulated” Canadian drugs that could be from any third world country? That was sort of a “huh?” moment because not only are most of those drugs being made by US companies, the Canadian version of the FDA is often more restrictive than its US counterpart…
It's another one of those really obvious lies where you really have to wonder why people buy it. Do Americans really believe that Canada has “third world” drugs that are killing our citizens left and right? According to the CIA factbook, Canada has a life expectancy of 80 years, whereas Americans only live to be 77 on average. But the good thing about supporting Bush is you don't have to worry about facts, because you've got God on your side.
After watching the movie Belly (more), I've had the idea implanted in my head that I really could just pick up and move to Africa if I really wanted to. But it's such an alien place. I know quite a few South Africans (part of my family lived there as well), and a couple people who've done missionary and other aid work, and some tourists, but I don't really know anyone who's lived at length in the heart of Africa… until now.
I've been so thrilled over the last week to be interviewing someone who does live there, with a amazing background and a very rich story that will be told in my new book. It's looking like we're going to be legally blocked from US residence after all, so we have yet another “what's the latest country going to be” debate in what must seem like a “can't you guys ever make up your mind” tale. So now dreams of moving to near Swakopmund (a little German town in Namibia described as “a charming seaside village at the foot of desert dunes”) are running through my head.
Other than that, Rachel is in NYC on a shoot. You'd think that would mean I get more work done, but it tends to in fact just make me a bit aimless. When she's here, I talk to Rachel all day long (much to her chagrin I suspect) and it keeps me on target. Anyway, her flight was early on Wednesday morning, so an alarm clock was set for 5:45 AM. I never use alarm clocks, so when it went off the next morning I didn't know how to turn it off. I just pushed all the buttons on top and after a moment it turned off.
When I woke up today I saw that it was already 10:30 in the morning! I'd totally overslept — it was weird though, because it was quite dark out and really foggy and dim. I thought to myself what a strange day it was, but it was late and I needed to get to work. It wasn't until I was already thoroughly awake before I realized that I hadn't hit a “snooze” button on the clock — I'd simply set the time to three hours in the future. So it wasn't an overcast day, it was just very early in the morning.
Well, let's hope that getting whacked out of bed helps with my daydreaming.
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