Laiben's Haven

You wouldn't bail out a rapist. Why bail out these guys?

2008-09-30T08:10:00.000-07:00

The following is in response to this article...

Please read (or at least skim): http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26953481/

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He can talk all he wants about how bad it’s going to be. But it will never be as bad as the last 8 years. Even if we go into another depression, at least a president will be trying to help the nation and not steal every last dime from it, while playing golf and sitting in a chair staring at the wall. ALL of this is a result of his lack of leadership. The minute, the hour, the day, the week that mortgage companies were spiking rates, or banks were handing out loans like snocones at a little league game, Bush should have been there...instead he has been leading this nation down a path of lies, diversion and a pointless war. This war could have been over years ago. People keep dying for no reason. Iraq is in a surplus and we continue to spend $343 MILLION A DAY on the war…
http://www.nationalpriorities.org/costofwar_home (facts)
http://www.crunchweb.net/87billion/ (visual representation)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15377059/ (article)
http://theiraqinsider.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-much-does-iraq-war-cost-per-month.html ( breakdown by the Military Policy Analyst at the Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.)
Keep in mind this is YOUR money. YOUR tax dollars. OUR nation. OUR bank account. Though some speculate it is false, Clinton did bring our country out of debt and into a $200 BILLION SURPLUS. Now we have a deficit of $9.7 TRILLION, the largest in United States History…and for what? I’ll let you answer that question, because I have an endless list of things that are only slightly less important than the basic ideas and all then encompass Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/ (US deficit clock and various related articles)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_public_debt (wikideficit)

Bush, McCain, Palin, Rove, Cheney...the list goes on. They are all pawns to something much bigger. Though they do all have one thing in common...unnecessary GREED. Bush has wasted the last 8 years. During his time in office I don't feel that one good thing was accomplished. All he and his republican congress did was tear apart law after law and pass new ones that filled in the holes with cover-ups. The Patriot Act and all the appalling laws on national security have completely ripped parts of the constitution and our brilliant founding fathers dreams to shreds.

I strongly believe that George Walker Bush has done practically nothing for this country. There was not once in the past 8 years that I was excited to hear that Bush had passed or vetoed any law of great substance. He went into office, played with his toys, spent all of his (our) allowance, and is now leaving with a huge messy play room to clean up and an empty piggy bank.

No, George, we will not bail out your buddies. We will not bailout your enemies. We will not bailout the banks, the brokers, the corporations, because all of this is a result of your faulty leadership.

And as far as this November is concerned…may the best man win. And I still don’t understand how the majority of the 303.5 million people in this country still don’t see who that man is.

Bike against the Hike: Fighting for lower oil prices, DAY 4

2008-04-24T21:01:00.000-07:00

Again, no time for details. Got another flat tire today and was late to work. No time for things like blogs. grrr. Full posts tomorrow for sure.

Here's a quick (half) run down of April 24th's future contents:

- Parking lot has hundreds of parking spots but...
- If we were encouraged to ride bikes…
- Ashli has supplied chart of USA's future projection of gas...
- A guy yelled at me, asking...
- flat tire number 3
- I bought a helmet and an old lady at Toy's R Us...

Sorry again. Check back tomorrow after 7.

Bike against the Hike: Fighting for lower oil prices, DAY 3

2008-04-23T18:42:00.000-07:00

I don't have a lot of time to fill out the details for today. I've had a hectic day at work. I will blog today and tomorrow's entries, tomorrow. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Here's a quick run down of April 23rd's future contents:

1. Was yelled at by a small child...
2. A very nice woman pulled into a parking lot along the road, waved me over and congratulated me on my endevor, however...
3. Some information about the woman above and what her husband is trying to do to help Springfield to...
4. Links to some of Ashli's hard work of researched sites on oil prices,...the facts, and what "they've been telling you."

Bike against the Hike: Fighting for lower oil prices, DAY 2

2008-04-22T17:07:00.000-07:00

DAY 2:
Today started off fine, besides the fact that I had to buy a new inner tube as a result of yesterday’s debacle. I woke up early, and went to the downtown cycling shop and purchased an inner tube for $4.72. I was confused at first, but said nothing and bought the item. As I walked out, I realized that the price of the very same inner tube I purchased not even a month ago was nearly double the price. We can do nothing, but its all around us. Inflation is here. Recession is here. Depression is near.

I changed my tire, wiggled into my shirt/sign, and set out on Day 2’s journey. I made it around the corner and it was just enough time for my tire go flat. “My brand new tube is flat? Must be a mistake,” I thought. So, I turned around and wheeled my bike inside. I pumped up the very same tire I had just changed. I heard a small leak and investigated. A small piece of glass had punctured the tire and entered the new tube. I didn’t even make it a block away and already road debris had sabotaged my trip.

Luckily my roommates all have bikes, and my roommate Sam was kind enough to allow me to borrow his. I gave his tires some fresh air, hopped on, and was on my way. I made it down National, and was approaching my second street when an old ford Tempo zoomed by with two arms flailing out sporting “rock hands.” I thought, “cool they support my cause.” Most likely they just wanted attention from the man who was getting more then them.

The funny thing about the young rock fans passing was that as they passed, they crossed my path and entered a Kum and Go to fill up their gas tank. How ironic.

I made it all the way to Kearney, the second most populated road of the four, before the biggest happening of Day 2. The rest of the ride was same as the first. Strange looks, and no honks.

However, the last part of today’s ride was slightly different than yesterday. I was pulled over by the Springfield police. I was headed east up a hill on Kearney when I heard his siren scream, “woop, woop.” I dismounted my bicycle and the officer exited his patrol car. He approached me and we greeted. He proceeded to say, “I got a few calls about people being concerned that you were trying to drive in the middle of the road on purpose.” I replied, “No. I know that we’re not allowed to drive on the sidewalks, so I’m just trying to stay as close to the edge as I can.” He simply responded with, “Yeah. Well, ok.” I stated “I am just mad about gas prices.” “I understand what you’re doing,” the officer said. We gave our salutes and went on our way.

“…trying to drive in the middle of the road on purpose.”

This is a typical response from today’s society. Everyone is powered by fear. They are conditioned to shun those who stand up for themselves. We are all subconsciously trained to remain quiet and keep to ourselves. Be alone…Our house, our land, our car, our computer, my gun, my cell phone. No one has time in their busy hustle and bustle life to ever think about “MY RIGHTS.”

Bike against the Hike: Fighting for lower oil prices, DAY 1

2008-04-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

My girlfriend Ashli and I have recently set out on multiple miniature journeys of protest and public awareness. The first was devised this weekend. Ashli came up with the simple idea of riding a bike.

Starting today and for the next 2 weeks I will be riding my bike to and from work 12 miles, on 4 of the busiest roads in Springfield, MO. I will be wearing a large sign on my back that simply states, “Why do you think I’m riding my bike?”

It will not lower gas prices. It will not change the world. However, by saving gas all those miles 5 days a week, I am saving money, the environment, and hopefully making complete strangers THINK.

I merely want people to wonder why I am riding my bike. And hopefully its fairly obvious, now that the average price of regular unleaded gasoline is about $3.45 a gallon. I hope to get at least one person to stop before they grab their keys off the counter and instead, dust off that old bike in the garage, get some exercise, and save some money.

I timed how long it took to get to work by car at 1:30 PM in regular afternoon traffic, and it was around 19 minutes; just about the same amount of time it takes me to get there on my bike taking the same route.

DAY 1:
I began riding my bike at about 1:50pm. I set off down National St. (the smallest of the four large roads I will be traveling). No one honked, but I noticed that almost everyone was checking their mirrors as they passed me. Possibly to see another sign plastered to my front, or maybe to just get a glimpse of the young man trekking down the busy roadway.

Minutes later I crossed a very busy intersection at Glenstone, probably the busiest, most dangerous 4-lane road in Springfield. As I headed north, I came across a small intersection where parallel cars were stopped. I slowed at the light, but continued as the light turned green. As I was passing an old Buick, I was struck by the back end and was forced to the ground. An old woman turning right had forgotten her blinker and nearly ran me over.

I hopped back up, dusted myself off, and resumed my quest. Seconds later, I found myself making an important decision. A large drainage grate was approaching fast. I checked behind me, and a large vehicle was headed my way in my lane. I was forced to weather the drain, and POP! I was cursed with a flat tire. It went immediately flat.

So what did I do? Well, I continued to ride. It was another 4 miles to my destination, and there was no way I was walking. Other than worrying about a bent tire and a sore butt, I made it to work.

No big deal, right? I wore a sign on my back for a few miles. Well, I feel that even if I fail to change one mind or sway one person’s point of view on the price of gas and the fact that we are being taken advantage of by people with power and greed, I will still be satisfied that I helped in the littlest way to make some form of CHANGE.