2006-02-08 - 4:49 p.m.
I had a very odd experience the other day. I was looking at a site online, Loompanics, that sells all kinds of books, but mostly books other companies won't publish or carry. Lots of weird conspiracy theory crap, how to make/grow/use illegal drugs, some crazy stuff. They also had a book on how to build a log cabin inexpensively. I was about to buy myself said book, when I suddenly thought that having a shipment from this company might mark me, or worse, David, out for attention from our friendly Federal government. No shit. I had a paranoia attack.
Then I thought, what the hell has the country come to? I'm afraid to visit a web site? I'm afraid to buy a book?
There's a Democrat running against the incumbent Republican congressman in my district. I sent the former an email today, to volunteer to work on his campaign. I am finally freaked out enough to get involved. Laziness is strong in me, and I am a terrible salesperson. But I can stuff envelopes, by God.
I am indeed a yellow dog democrat, but in this particular case, the incumbent Republican is a right wing fat cat who deserves to be taken down. The challenger is a man I've actually met - I used to work with his wife at the church downtown. He's a local attorney and a recent member of the Army Reserves, who spent a lot of time in Iraq, working on the war crimes tribunal against Hussein. He's no flower-picking hippy (not that there's anything wrong with that). I still have to talk to him myself, all I have to go on is my old knowledge of him and his website's campaign rhetoric.
Recently, I took part in a heated discussion about the federal wiretapping currently in the news. I absolutely agree that war requires surveillance, you betcha. But I still feel that the absolute minimum standard we must require from the President and the government is that they obey the law. It doesn't seem much to ask, especially since the Congress rolls over like the whipped dog it's become, to give Cheney et al anything they damn well want and a few things they'd forgotten to demand.
God damn it. Now I'm mad. Come and get me, coppers.
