V for Vendetta
Sara Michelle Fetters, MovieFreak.com
http://www.moviefreak.com/artman/publish/movies_vforvendetta.shtml

[Duchess Note: Brilliant movie and I highly recommend renting this DVD. Based on comics from 1981, it parallels what is going on now in the early 21st Century of the USA. We are on this fast moving train and its time to get off. NOW! Time to do something about it and bring back justice, truth, democracy and peace to our country. If you love your country, then join me and others in stopping this train from hell with non-violent action/communication. Be peace!]

Green Party Becomes the First Party to Endorse the Standing For Voters Pledge to Defend Election Integrity
Press Release from the Green Party
http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=124

Your Bailout Money Feeds Bonuses
Greg Brown, MoneyNews.com
http://moneynews.newsmax.com/streettalk/wall_street_bailout_bonus/2008/10/27/144527.html
And former presidential candidate and House member Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) was angered by a report in The Guardian that tallied bonuses for the first three quarters at $70 billion — fully 10 percent of the original bailout bill’s cost. "When Congress placed restrictions on excessive executive pay, it had no intention of permitting business as usual with respect to bonus structures," he told The Guardian. "It would add insult to injury to ask taxpayers not only to bail out a firm, but to pay for bonuses as well.”

[Duchess Note: Many thanks to Linda in Texas in providing the above informative articles. I don’t know about you all, but I am royally pissed off that those rich, greedy, selfish Wall Street buggers are taking OUR hard earned taxpaying dollars as bonuses. After what they’ve done with the economy, mortgages, foreclosures and such … they DO NOT deserve one friggin dime of OUR money. Not one cent! Nothing! Zilch! Zippo! Nada! If your Congressperson and Senator approved of this disgusting “bailout”, I say it is our responsibility as honorable Americans to vote them OUT of office next week on Election Day. It’s time to take OUR country back from the ultra rich and corporate elite.]

WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
Robert Green Ingersoll
The Arena, Boston, December 1897

If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves.

I would have all the nobility crop their titles and give their lands back to the people. I would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God — is not infallible — but is just an ordinary Italian. I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their "flocks" to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.

I would have all the professors in colleges, all the teachers in schools of every kind, including those in Sunday schools, agree that they would teach only what they know, that they would not palm off guesses as demonstrated truths.

I would like to see all the politicians changed to statesmen, – to men who long to make their country great and free, — to men who care more for public good than private gain — men who long to be of use.

I would like to see all the editors of papers and magazines agree to print the truth and nothing but the truth, to avoid all slander and misrepresentation, and to let the private affairs of the people alone.

I would like to see drunkenness and prohibition both abolished.

I would like to see corporal punishment done away with in every home, in every school, in every asylum, reformatory, and prison. Cruelty hardens and degrades, kindness reforms and ennobles.

I would like to see the millionaires unite and form a trust for the public good.

I would like to see a fair division of profits between capital and labor, so that the toiler could save enough to mingle a little June with the December of his life.

I would like to see an international court established in which to settle disputes between nations, so that armies could be disbanded and the great navies allowed to rust and rot in perfect peace.

I would like to see the whole world free — free from injustice — free from superstition.

This will do for next Christmas. The following Christmas, I may want more.

[Duchess Note: Many thanks to Caitlin in sharing this poem, which resonates more so now.]