Three Great Reasons to Pay Your Taxes

From Reason.tv

Cursory Thoughts on Inauguration Day

• I love pomp and circumstance, and I think the fact that we have our first Black president deserves a lot of pomp and circumstance. It is historically significant to say the least, and that fact has not been lost on me.
• I like the fact that Obama selected Rick Warren to give the invocation. Why? I am no Warren groupie, but Obama said from the very beginning that he was going to reach across the ideological spectrum as a sign of his commitment to unity. I think Warren symbolized this commitment, and was pleased to see that Obama did not change his mind when political pressure seemed to increase. And let’s not forget that Bp. Gene Robinson was part of the festivities yesterday, and I understand that PB Schori was part of the service this morning. The fact is that we are going to have to learn to live one another, and I respect him for sticking to his guns. With that said, I found his use of the Pater Noster in that situation…well…odd…
• Aretha Franklin brought a tear to my eye.
• I am glad he used his full name. Hussein! Sounds scary! I am glad he didn’t back down there. What a stupid conversation to have about his name anyway.
• Obama’s speech was good. Actually, I thought it was really good. There is a little doubt that the guy can hold an audience and that he is pretty masterful in delivery. The speech itself was an appropriate blend of sober assesment and a call to believe that things can change. I don’t know what I will do during state of the union addresses now since i spent the last 8 years listening for Bush-isms.

• With that said, I found this passage oddly discomforting:

“What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them – that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply. The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.”

The question about the size and scope of our government is a legitimate question that must alwways be asked. I don’t think the question is going away, no matter how much BHO wants it too.

• Rev. Jospeh Lowery is such a part of civil rights struggle and of Atlanta history. I was so glad that he gave the closing prayer. Updated to say that I just read his prayer. I was in a small group when it was delivered. Atrocious, racist, and garbage.
• All in all, not a bad ritual beginning.

A Government Agency is Corrupt? No Way!

Unless you talk to the scientists at the FDA, who are saying that managers have forced them to change their scientific findings. Better yet, some of these corrupt managers have been promoted! Read it all here.

Encourage Obama to Keep His Promise Regarding GMO Foods.

Obama said he would call for mandatory labeling of all GMO foods. Encourage him to keep his promise by signing this petition.

Hat tip to Punkgardener.

This is NOT Change

People who know me or who have read my writing for any length of time know that I am no fan of Obama. However, I did have some hope that an Obama election could mean positive things for the organic food movement. Maybe his administration would be the first to stand up to agri-business giants like Monsanto, who seem intent on poisoning the world’s food supply with GMO crops and Round Up.

Did we get promised changes? No, Obama decided to nominate Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture. This is a horrible choice for so many reasons, but here are just a few:
•    Vilsack has been a strong supporter of genetically engineered pharmaceutical crops, especially pharmaceutical corn.
•    The biggest biotechnology industry group, the Biotechnology Industry Organization, named Vilsack Governor of the Year. He is also the founder and former chair of the Governor’s Biotechnology Partnership.
•    When Vilsack created the Iowa Values Fund, his first poster child for economic development was Trans Ova and their pursuit of cloning dairy cows.
•    The undemocratic 2005 seed preemption bill was the Vilsack’s brainchild. The law strips local government’s right to regulate genetically engineered seed.
•    Vilsack is an ardent supporter of corn and soy based biofuels, which use as much or more energy to produce as they generate and drive up world food prices, literally starving the poor.

If you are so inclined, the Organic Consumer’s Association is hosting a petition drive with hopes of gathering 100,000 people who are opposed to this appointment. You can check it out here.