Tony Blair Loves America
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posted by Bob at Friday, February 23, 2007
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Friday, February 23, 2007
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12 Comments:
INTERESTING WORDS FROM TONY BLAIR
In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the anti-American
sentiment and negativity, we should remember England's Prime Minister
Tony Blair's words during a recent interview. When asked by one of his
Parliament members why he believes so much in America, he said:
"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how many want
in... And how many want out." Only two defining forces have ever
offered to die for you:
1. Jesus Christ
2. The American G. I.
One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.
YOU MIGHT WANT TO PASS THIS ON, AS MANY SEEM TO FORGET BOTH OF THEM
Please remember the Queen does not want her grandsons to go to WAR:
Bobbl have your bloggers write letters also www.sharon-minnesota.blogspot.com
Great Job BJ and I don't mean anything sexy ole timer
Never have cared much for my intials. BJ..... ;-)
That's not what he said at all. It's another urban legend that's been ciculating the internet and here its posted as fact without any research. None whatsoever.
Tony Blair is a politician who should be judged by his actions not his words. His action are, last week he announced a plan to begin a heavy withdrawal and of British troops from Iraq. At the same time Bush is pushing for an increase of troops. So, which is it? Are more forces needed or, should we be pulling back?
In January 2003, during his address to British ambassadors in London, Tony Blair said:
First, we should remain the closest ally of the US, and as allies influence them to continue broadening their agenda. We are the ally of the US not because they are powerful, but because we share their values. I am not surprised by anti-Americanism; but it is a foolish indulgence. For all their faults and all nations have them, the US are a force for good; they have liberal and democratic traditions of which any nation can be proud. I sometimes think it is a good rule of thumb to ask of a country: are people trying to get into it or out of it? It's not a bad guide to what sort of country it is.
12:14, thank you for the thoughtful words on our country.
I will remind you I post for anyone.I still don't know whether it is true or not. You haven't provided any proof other than you would have us take your word for it.
I will remind you again since it seems you are probably a regular, we are on a truth seeking mission here, on all issues. You can help in the journey as I am sure you probably have in the past.
To insinuate I am leading people in falsehoods is an insult and very far from the truth. You, your family, neighbor, anyone can post here without being censored.
My only hope is the truth always prevails!
And so far on my biggest fight here, PROPERTY RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS,I am winning this dialog. NO ONE can oppose me. I am armed with the truth!If you think differently bring it ON..
http://www.snopes.com/politics/quotes/blair.asp
Here is the facts you were looking for Bob.
TONY BLAIR DOES LOVE AMERICA!
Hi All,
I thought about this a little more and I feel the need to call you out
12:14.
Once again as you have for months now, you have shed the light of truth on something absolutely meaningless!
No matter if it's true or not, the statement is just a feel good script.
No harm can come of a script like this. In fact it may make some people feel a little better about their country after years of Democrats bashing the Good Ole USA!
That is why I posted it without a FULL SCALE IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION!Next time I will call upon the FBI and the Dept. of Justice to look into it.:-)
What I find disturbing is you would use something so meaningless to try and discredit months of the truth being spoken here virtually unchallenged.
Where have you been on the important issues? You just waiting for the small stuff like this or what?
I think everyone can understand what I'm talkin about!
Bob, I absolutely agree with what you said. I believe I sent you this email awhile back. I never go to a site to check out a "feel good" story such as this. Why should I? We have someone who obviously reads everything posted here and goes to the site, indicated in their post, and then comes here to shake it in your face. I'd like to know where this person is when the truth, court documents and all, are being posted. Is that when he uses the same, tired old "slumlords" and "get a life" postings. Where is all the proof then?
Wow, get a life urban legend boy!
Hey Bobbo, keep your pants on. I don't call you on the other stuff because until there is a ruling, nothing is fact, except the individual testimony that some people on here give. You get that at least.
What I point out is how you don't understand politics. Democrats have been the ones trying to protect the Constitution while the Republicans have sold us a bill of goods when it comes to Eminent Domain, War on Terror, Iraq, 1st, 4th, 5th 6th and 8th Amendments, the economy and honesty in the White House.
You having to turn to feel good lies because everything has been so bleak since they took over is a great example.
You may at your own choice take on anyone of those issues I listed and I will back it up. Now, I'm not talking about the local DFL here. Their problem is that in a one party town, there is no debate for other viewpoints or no room for them. So, I won't be defending them.
As often reiterated through learning about the functions of our American government and its Constitutional foundations, democracy in its' true sense means a system of government in which all its' citizens have relatively equal power to influence the decisions that are made on their behalf. In order to achieve this equal power, all must participate in this decision-making process through voting (and other actions), be well-informed with truthful information pertaining to the decision(s) at hand, and understand how the system works.
Plutocracy, on the other hand, is not a common word in our American society or even our class for that matter. It connotes a system of government rule by and for the rich. The vast majority of citizens thus have very little clout towards this system reflecting their interests. Perhaps that is why the word is relatively unknown by the majority of citizens, as it runs so contrary to the picture we have been given of an equal society in which we are all given a fair shake. However, after looking into current and historical U.S. government policies, I have concluded (in less than absolute terms) that our society is closer to a plutocracy than a democracy.
Historically, the establishment of our Constitution in 1787 was based on the Federalists' mistrust of the common citizens perceived "passion" and "selfishness". If "simple majority rule prevailed, nothing would stop this mass from taking away the rights or the property of the minority", i.e. the rich landowners (and their own selfish interests, if I may say). In place of direct majority rule, the masses were to be given "elite representatives, likely to be drawn from the wisest and most virtuous segment of society", themselves somehow immune to the illogical, selfish plague that affects the masses. Should these representatives "go astray, other elites would check them through the ingenious constitutional system of checks and balances", but only other elites. So only the rich could check the rich. Somehow that doesn't endear me to believe that everyone's interests would be represented, as democracy promises. Along those same lines, it was only white male landowners (i.e. those with money) who had the right to vote.
However, it should be noted that with the Declaration of Independence 11 years prior, which declared that "all men are created equal" and that all humans have the inalienable right to alter or abolish unjust governments, an ideological high ground had been set which lay the groundwork for later social movements and Constitutional Amendments that lead us closer to a real democracy. Such Amendments gave Women, Blacks, and young people the right to vote. This ideology significantly inspired big popular democratic movements that brought about the end of slavery, the advent of workers' rights and civil rights, the improved accessibility of a quality education, and the establishment of environmental protections. Although the ideology was promoted through this Government document, the actual blood, sweat and tears to bring this ideology to life has almost always come from its everyday citizens, who, through hardship and perseverance, have pressured the government and its wealthy benefactors to cede these "inalienable rights" to the masses. A good example of this was President Johnson's War on Poverty, which, as a response to the civil rights movement and unrest in the 1960s, gave money and essential resources to low-income community groups in an attempt to empower them to improve their conditions. (Ironically much of this money and control of it became tied up in local economic elites like mayoral administrations and "poor people were never really given the power to run their own programs"- quite a sad example of plutocracy's quasi-shift of power from have to have-not, right back to the haves...)
One major factor that lends me to believe the U.S. is closer to a plutocracy is our government's cozy relationship with corporations. "Corporations are excellent guises behind which to exploit humanity for profit. Corporations are not people; they are groups of people who as a collective whole are incapable of possessing personal politics, morals, and close contact with the people and/or environments they are exploiting. This structure enables the corporation to engage in morally abhorrent activities that few individuals could on their own. Corporations in the U.S., thanks to some careful intellectual tweaking of the Fourteenth Amendment through the Supreme Court, have the legal rights of individuals." "Individuals" with LOTS of money.
Money buys influence in government. Corporations can throw money at politicians to help them get elected. Our elected officials need money in order to run an effective campaign and win office, so they usually accept it. Once elected, they are practically obligated to represent these wealthy special interests (at the expense of the rest of us) by supporting legislation favorable to them- that is, if they want to preserve their political careers. Politicians are thus unaccountable to the majority of voters. The corporations they effectively represent can easily get away with laying off thousands of workers (while taxpayers foot the bill for associated costs of these actions) as mergers and acquisitions give their CEOs and shareholders record profits. As this type of activity happens again and again without government regulation, the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest in our society continues to grow. This growing income inequality reinforces whose voice is listened to and whose is not. It gives the rich way too much influence on our leaders.
An example of the type of fallout we are currently facing because of this is the repeal of the Estate Tax. The result of this repeal and other tax cuts has been a whopping tax savings for the super wealthy and relative crumbs for the bottom income groups in our country. With less tax revenue available and an expensive, seemingly never-ending war in Iraq on the budget, many social services, education, and housing are being cut. This disproportionally affects the have-nots and middle class, whereas the rich can afford these privileges, which should really be RIGHTS for all. Until there is another popular democratic mass movement to demand these rights, plutocracy is winning in America.
Further examples of a government by and for the rich are illustrated by:
*the mostly lower class representation in our armed forces, dying every day for the economic interests of our rich. How many family members of politicians or CEOs are fighting in Iraq right now?
*the extraordinary expansion of the U.S. prison system, which has multiplied its incarceration levels by 4 times over the last 25 years (mostly for drug-related offenses). It is the only growing "public housing" and the only expanding "public-sector employment", i.e. IT IS BIG BUSINESS. We now have the morbid distinction of being the #1 incarcerator in the world, and the numbers keep growing at an exponential growth. The majority of those incarcerated are poor and people of color (as of 1996 Blacks represented 13% of the U.S. population yet accounted for 54% of those behind bars). Perhaps the worst part about it is the lack of true rehabilitation alternatives for those caught in the system. Our political leaders have passed legislation that virtually eliminates education and vocational trainings in the vast majority of prisons and penitentiaries. Thus where are the tools to leave as a better person and avoid getting in trouble again?
*the increasing concentration of Media ownership in the hands of super rich individuals and corporations, effectively selecting what they consider worthwhile or not to report, affecting the public's ability to access balanced, unbiased information, a cornerstone of any true democracy...
4:17, I don't believe I said I am pro Republican. I have supported a few Republicans. I am a registered Libertarian.
Unfortunately a 3rd party is ineffective. So we vote for people who best resemble our values.
I rarely if ever have discussed my position on national politics. So I really don't know where your opinion comes from.
Have you assumed something because I admit to listening to conservative talk radio? I also, used to listened to Al Franken while bathing in oil the humour was so dry.:-)
I for the most part address issues concerning local Democrats only because it's hard to even find another party representing anything in this City.
We just ate a Republican Washington County Commissioner for lunch for picking on the homeless. I follow my values.
Citizens United Against Police Brutality, tells it like it is. I backed up all they had informed me of through a long time friend who is a Human Rights Compliance Officer and other sources. So, if this group is big time Democrats, I really don't care.. They are helping people. They are fighting for our Civil Rights.
I have a large portrait of President Bush and his beautiful gracious wife at their farm. Signed by both of them with a personal message to me gratefully thanking me for my grass roots contributions to his election. I was shocked when I seen that large envelope with a return address of PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
I was scared to death of a phony cut and run guy like Kerry so I spent countless hours talking to people to get them to vote for President Bush.
Like I told a friend last week, I should have stayed in national politics, our President would still have the respect he deserves if I had been defending him. :-)
To sum it all up, we need REAL campaign finance reform to give the government back to the people.
I will end with I am happy you participate here. Even when I disagree with you I still value your input.
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