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But I never could figure out what the point of studying literature was in the first place. It's fiction, how do I learn from stuff that never happened?

Obviously, you've never read the tale of The Zebra Storyteller.

He's much more knowledgeable about the American monetary system than most. He's the only person who cared when the Fed stopped reporting the M3. He's obviously not fond of inflation, fiat currencies, or fractional reserve lending. As a result, Ron Paul is in my five ;) He's right between Feingold and Boucher.

The Senator from Wis. was Russ Feingold. He's my representative and one of the most down-to-earth politicians I've ever heard of. His reason for not voting for the Patriot Act?

http://www.archipelago.org/vol6-2/feingold.htm

It's very possible Russ will be running as Vice President with the Democratic candidate in 2008. I know who I'm voting for.

And Feingold... cause, you know, he was the only one to actually vote against the patriot act.

I was under the impression it was ALL politicians are influenced by *

I share your disappointment with most of our elected officials, but there are exceptions. Russ Feingold was the only senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act in 2001. He's truly an admirable leader.

I'm sorry, but the fact that a law entitled "USA PATRIOT Act" passed the Senate almost unanimously, just 45 days after a major terrorist attack on US soil, with NO discussion or debate, does not strike you as un-democratic?

Thankfully ONE of our senators, Russ Feingold (D-WI), actually has a clue.

I, for one, do NOT believe that the USA PATRIOT Act has stopped ANY terrorist attack, anymore than the No-Child Left Behind Act. After all, we haven't had any terrorist attacks since NCLB passed, right? Repeat after me: Correlation != Causation.

The failures that led to 9/11, as I understand them, were not from a lack of power or authority by intelligence agencies. It was due to poor communication and poor management. The "war on terror" is, IMHO, the new "war on drugs". It's an Orwellian war - never-ending war on a faceless enemy that you must support or else you are unpatriotic.

Are terrorists out there? Yes. Not all of them are hail from Saudi Arab^H^H^HIraq. Some are American citizens (McVeigh, for one. And anyone remember the Unabomber?) Will giving up our essential freedoms protect us from the terrorists? No. I don't feel any safer on an airplane now that I know no one on board has a tweezers, nail clips, or cuticle scissors. I don't feel safer knowing the the FBI can demand my library reservations, financial records, and health history, all without my knowledge (secret searches), with no judicial oversight. If you think I'm exaggerating, I suggest you read up a bit.

But the terrorists are really out to get us, folks. They tell us every day, and they are not kidding.

So who are we fighting again? The Eurasians or Eastasians?

Also, Kucinich is a member of the House of Representatives (from Ohio), and therefore, not a Senator. So if your government teacher keeps telling you this, you should set him or her straight.

You mean YOUR congressman (and senators) did. Alone of 97 senators, mine did not.

Wellstone was the one dissenter to the Patriot act.