Reduce the Military Beast

Between 1774 and 1776 the British Parliament enacted laws and taxes on American colonists to help retire the debt of the French and Indian War. Colonist's opposition to the Stamp Act and Townshend Revenue Act led to the Boston Massacre and, eventually, to the war for independence. The cost of fighting the British in the Revolutionary War left the newly formed government of with a national debt of $80 million and near bankruptcy.

The United States was born from war and military deficits, and continues that same path of destruction.

As the U.S. expanded westward, killing the First People on their way, the debt obligations of the Federal government increased but it wasn't until the Civil War that the nation found itself plunged into absolute war debt as federal spending increased from $65 million to nearly $3 billion. It has been estimated that that war - the first "modern" war - expended 1.5 times the total gross national product of the United States for 1860.

During the U.S. Civil War, President Lincoln instituted the first income tax. Wartime finance also prompted a significant change in the banking system. In 1863 Congress passed legislation creating the National Banking System to purchase government bonds while the Confederacy issue its own currency to pay for the war. By mid-1864 the costs of paying interest on outstanding government bonds absorbed more than half all government expenditures. On a per capita basis, the costs to the North population were about $150 -- or roughly equal to one year's income. The Southern burden was two and a half times that amount -- $376 per man, woman and child.

The costs of that war created widespread economic depression throughout the U.S. and it took generations to pay the debt. However, that didn't stop the warmongers in Congress from starting a new conflict. The Spanish-American War was costly and Congress instituted new taxes to pay for it in addition to going further into debt. Debt rose 50% between 1893 and 1899 to pay for that war and some of those taxes existed until modern times...... MORE Page 2>

Dumbest Texan of the Year

Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler is perhaps the dumbest person in elected office, and the entire state of Texas. This East Texas congressman was part of the original "birther" groups and conspiracy theorists that questioned President Obama's citizenship. Then, during the president's address to the nation he held up handmade signs saying "What Bill?".

Now, he claims that terrorists from the middle east are sending women to the U.S. to have children to create a generation of American-citizen spies and terrorists. He wants to remove the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Not only is Gohmert ignorant enough to hold such views, but he revels in going on national television to expouse them. He was recently on CNN embarassing himself, and Texas, before an international audience.

Texas responds to floods in Pakistan

Millions of Pakistanis have lost everything they have - homes, crops, entire towns - during the worst floods in generations. The size of the disaster has swamped international agencies and governments. While the world watches the disaster unfold, Texans are reponding in places large and small.

St. James' Episcopal church of Taylor, is raising money to help Christians in Peshawar. Global Aid Network (GAiN) of Dallas has already sent an emergency relief team to Pakistan and is appealing for dollars to fund their efforts. The Raindrop Turkish House of Houston is raising aid money to be sent through partner agencies in Turkey, while the American-Pakistani Physicians Association has several ways to become involved.

The Islamic Society of Great Houston (ISGH) has set up a fund to help flood victims and the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund is calling for Texas Baptist to contribute to helping feed the hungry. Consider how you and your organization can help. China and Mexico have also been victims of recent majors floods and still need help, too.

Militarization of Texas Border

Falling prey to the neocons "terrorist behind every tree" mentality, the Obama Administration continues to build upon the militarization of the Texas border started by George W. Bush.

Last week Obama signed $600 million measure to increase militarization of the US-Mexico border. The spending will fund around 1,500 new border agents and law enforcement officials and additional unmanned military drones like the ones used in Afghanistan. The bill was sponsored by arch-conservatives in the Senate, who despite their pledges for no new spending, find plenty of excuses for more military and war funding. Immigration reform supporters are disappointed that these same Senators are blocking any solution to the issue of immigration reform.

Texans arrested during Obama visit

Just as people were arbitrarily arrested while excercising their free speech when Bush as president, so too they were arrested when Obama came to Texas last week.

Robin Schnieder, of Austin, was arrested while gathering signatures on a petition for the Texas Campaign for the Environment on the UT campus while Obama visited. Dan McCarthy was arrested for carrying signs on a sidewalk. John Bush with Texans for Accountable Government (TAG) and antiwar activist Chandra Seymor were arrested while having a peaceful debate. They hoped to receive apologies from the Democratic Party.

Instead, White House Press Secretary launched an attack on critics of Obama policies calling them "crazy" and saying they should all be drug tested.

SA mosque avoids controvery

The building of mosque has recently caused controversy in other states. However, Muslims in San Antonio broke ground on a new mosque this week with the excitement that generally accompanies a new house of worship - and was celebrated during Ramadan.

One Muslim community in San Antonio plans to move into a new 17,000 worship facility on the city's northside. The Al-Madinah Mosque will costs about $4 million and take a year to build. It is one of nine in San Antonio, which Islamic leaders estimate has 25,000 to 30,000 Muslims. San Antonio is home to many diverse faith communities who live together in peace. Let's hear it for Texans who remember the state motto: "Friendship".

Hightower at Dallas Peace Center

Humorist, author and populist Jim Hightower will speak at the Dallas Peace Center on August 19 as part of the Center's Summer Speaker Series.

Hightower, has spent three decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be - consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and just-plain-folks. Twice elected Texas Agriculture Commissioner,

Hightower believes that the true political spectrum is not right to left but top to bottom, and he has become a leading national voice for the the public who no longer find themselves within shouting distance of the Washington and Wall Street powers at the top.

Get your tickets while they're still available and learn more about the Peace Center actiivities in Dallas.

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America Enters a New Time

Confessions of a Class Worrier

Noncooperation with Evil in the Streets of Arizona

The Racist Assault on the 14th Amendment

The Sorrow of Empire

What the Google/Verizon deal means for net neutrality – and you

Michael Moore With Olbermann Blasts Gibbs

Send your original op-eds to Texans for Peace (500-800 words)