US officials' cruelty towards Venezuelans a national disgrace

Just hours before the failure of the Simon Bolivar Hydroelectric Plant in Caracas, plunging much of Venezuela into darkness, Florida Senator called for "stiring unrest" in Venezuela to achieve regime change there that "needs to happen", proclaiming "Venezuela is going to enter a period of suffering no nation in our hemisphere has confronted in modern history." Later that day Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted "Maduro's policies bring nothing but darkness. No food. No medicine. Now, no power. Next, no Maduro."

While we cannot substantiate Maduro's charges the US was behind the blackout, we do know that one US backed organization that promoted electrical grid takedowns as a way to foment regime change, trained Juan Gaido, our choice to replace Maduro, in the art of political action nine years ago. That group, Center for Applied Non-Violent Actions and Strategies (CANVAS), stated in a 2010 memo that potential collapse of Venezuela's electrical grid would be "a watershed event that would likely have the impact of galvanizing public unrest in a way that no opposition group could ever hope to generate".

We don't know if Gaido learned his lessons well enough to conspire with the US to do just that. But we do know that the goulash US response to the grid failure, combined with cutting off Venezuela's ability to sell its primary source of revenue, oil, disgraces everything America stands for.

We need more Ilhan Omars in Congress

That doesn't mean they should all be Muslim women of color but that would be good too. It does mean we need more congresspersons speaking out against the lock on American foreign policy regarding Israel and Palestine that so favors Israel, any mention of fairness to Palestinians brings a firestorm of rebuke, including a veiled congressional resolution of condemnation. In America, virtually no criticism of Israel, calls for end to the illegal settlements, stateless status of Palestinians, denial of their basic human rights is allowed due to pushback by the American Israeli Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). The Democrats are now split on the issue with the more progressive wing, represented by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Tulsi Gabbard, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders supporting Omar's right to criticize Israel and one sided US support of anti Palestinian policies.

The conservative wing buckled, trying to pass a resolution specifically criticizing Omar's comments before passing a watered down resolution condemning all forms of hate. The GOP has rallied around the Israel Lobby with Trump and Congresswoman Liz Cheney smearing the Democratic Party as being anti-Semitic, anti-Israel; and calling for for Democrats to defect to the true party of hate and bigotry. While these shameful political machinations play out, millions of stateless Palestinians live with virtually no rights, no resources and no recourse to redress 71 years of hopelessness. More Ilhan Omars in the Democratic Party, and a first one in the Republican Party? Indeed. 

Trump executive order covers up CIA civilian murders around the world

Not many Americans know about CIA drone strikes in non-combat areas that maim and kill civilians. That's because the Trump administration ignores rules established by President Obama in 2016 to report such casualties as means of full disclosure. Trump calls this "superfluous reporting" and a distraction to US spy agencies in carrying out their grisly mission. Most strikes outside combat zones such as in Pakistan, are done by the CIA rather than regular military. Trump just upped US mendacity by issuing an Executive Order 'forbidding' disclosure of CIA induced civilian casualties. That's US perpetual war around the world: no conscience, no mercy, no accountability, no sense...and now no information.

US never retracts refuted lies to promote regime change

Whether it's Gulf of Tonkin incident to ratchet up the Vietnam War, or non-existent WMD in Iraq as pretext for the second Iraq war, the US never retracts its lies to foment regime change. The latest example is the lie repeated endlessly by US regime change proponents that Venezuela's Nicholas Maduro, latest target of US skulduggery, set fire to the humanitarian aid trucks the US sent to reach starving Venezuelans. The lie was refuted by independent journalists on the day of the incident but their proof was ignored by both the US government and US media. 

Why tell the truth when falsehoods facilitate regime change. Biggest proponents of the latest big US lie were Senator Marco Rubio, National Security Adviser John (Bonkers) Bolton and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. These are not low level thugs but the cream of US policy makers. Juan Gaido, the US hand picked sock puppet we've tabbed to rule Venezuela once we've deposed Maduro, also repeated this disgraceful falsehood. Now that the truth is irrefutable that anti-Maduro forces were responsible, US regime changers have gone mute. But don't count them out. Regime change is the cornerstone of American foreign policy. So many unfriendly foreign rulers. So many new countries to control.

Leave Illinois as soon as possible

Here is a message for all the folks all living high off the hog as successful small business owners or highly paid jobholders, who bemoan how horrible Illinois is on them financially. Please do what you so often threaten to do; leave Illinois as fast as you can. You can go to one of 8 states that have no income tax at all (2 of which just on dividends and interest), or the 3 that have a lower income tax. The other 38 have a higher state income tax than Illinois, so your options are limited.

We don't need you carrying around a huge loaf of bread under each arm; then crying about the few crumbs scraped off by the state to serve the commons and uplift the needy. You have a hole in your soul regarding your fellow Illinoisans that will never be filled, even if you kept every buck that comes your affluent way.

Once you're gone, those of us who have been blessed with material comfort and a reverence for the commons will create a business environment that will uplift Illinoisans at the bottom while growing Illinois business. We've already implemented minimum wage hikes over the the next five years giving nearly a million Illinoisans relief from current slave wages. Those increases will all be spent on neglected necessities, fueling business growth. It will not hoarded like the extra money you folks receive with low tax rates and loopholes galore. We support the proposed fair progressive income tax that is the only sensible remedy to fund infrastructure, mental health, early childhood development, crime prevention and superior education.

We won't miss you because your ranks will be filled quickly by entrepreneurs and innovators, who have a heart and a soul, as well as the Midas Touch.

Oh yes, as the saying goes: Don't let the door... on the way out.