Hey Guis! We're from the government and we're here to help you!

"The liberties of our Country, the freedom of our civil constitution are worth defending at all hazards: And it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have receiv'd them as a fair Inheritance from our worthy Ancestors: They purchas'd them for us with toil and danger and expence of treasure and blood; and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting mark of infamy on the present generation, enlightened as it is, if we should suffer them to be wrested from us by violence without a struggle; or be cheated out of them by the artifices of false and designing men. Of the latter we are in most danger at present: Let us therefore be aware of it. Let us contemplate our forefathers and posterity; and resolve to maintain the rights bequeath'd to us from the former, for the sake of the latter." ~ Samuel Adams, writing under the pseudonym, "Candidus," in The Boston Gazette (14 October 1771

Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it . . . no? How many times have you heard that? Yet, what kind connection have you made? Let us pay attention, shall we . . . the subject of this blog today: the encroaching police and military state.

I've been troubled for a long time by the increasing militarization of out police and now our government has seen fit to merely forget about militarizing the police and bring in the military itself. The prompt for today's blog is this article from the Phoenix Business Journal online entitled: "Ariz. police say they are prepared as War College warns military must prep for unrest; IMF warns of economic riots" . . . nice. The Army War College says that likely the military will be used against the American people if we get upset when the government, through it's own deliberate actions, brings in economic collapse.

Beginning in October the DoD announced 5000 troops for the rapid response in the homeland, reports the Army Times. This article is talking about the 1st Combat Brigade of the 3rd INfantry division, and the article starts by saying, "The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys. Now they’re training for the same mission — with a twist — at home." The article further goes onto say, "They may be called upon to help with civil unrest and crowd control . . ."

Nonchalant. No big deal. Help with "civil unrest," a "combat team," with the same mission as in Iraq, do, de, do, de, do, de, do . . . (*sound of screeching tires, to a halt*) . . . Wait! WHAT?! What the fuck did they just say?! Yeah. They just said that. Scratching your head yet? We don't need the army to operate the "jaws-of-life" at accident sites, or handing out food, or getting kittens out of trees - we have Police, Fire, Rescue, and National Guard . . . the Army? Don't they blow shit up and break things!

And there is more . . . now on Dec. 1st, the Washington Post is reporting that the Pentagon plans to have 20,000 troops here, assigned to NorthCOM by 2011. Does it not keep getting better?

And if that was not enough, how about Marines teaming up with the California Highway Patrol to run traffic stops in San Bernardino County, Southern California? Making this story every more interesting is that the CHP initially issued a press release stating the Marines would be helping out, but then when the predictable shit storm began because people are generally against the military on the street, CHP issued another press release saying the Marines would NOT be in attendance . . . ok . . . then why were the Marines then in attendance after the denial. Don't believe this stuff? Follow the links - CHP press releases here.

So what the big deal? It's only kind of illegal . . . the Posse Comitatus Act makes it illegal for the government to use the military in police actions that maintain law and order on non-federal property. The Insurrection Act of 1807 does allow the President to use the military in the case of "insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy" . . . However, the 2008 Defense Authorization Bill (after a full repeal of the John Warner Defense Act) now gives the president power to use the military also for "natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition" (WTF is "other considtion" anyway? Some definitions here would be nice) and then only if "domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order." I think Cato Institute Vice President Gene Healy said it very well when he said, "There's a notion that whenever there's an important problem, that the thing to do is to call in the boys in green, and that's at odds with our long-standing tradition of being wary of the use of standing armies to keep the peace."

Which brings me to my final point. Why is the government and our military planning to bring troops home for work with NorthCOM? Why have new laws been passed that allow the President powers to maintain "public order" . . . think about it. Think hard about it. These troops are not for terrorists any more than they are for pop-eye the sailor man. These troops - are - for . . . us. We are falling headlong into the wrost economic collapse that the modern world has ever known, and the government knows things are going to get bad. They know there will be riots. You tell me how you get a populace ready for troops on the streets and martial law . . . I'll tell you how you do it . . . look around you . . . just the way it's being done, just exactly the way it's being done.

Now you know.

Looking Back and Reopening for Business

“How strange is the lot of us mortals! Each of us is here for a brief sojourn; for what purpose he knows not, though he senses it. But without deeper reflection one knows from daily life that one exists for other people.” ~ Albert Einstein

I almost forgot about this place. Sitting all alone in the ether that we call the "internet" - posterity of the electronic age, existing only as long as some server somewhere decides to keep it around. I started this on a lark - was on rotation, prior to graduation, with a guy who was having fun with it, and decided to give my hand at it. Some of my earlier stuff is pretty angry - I was. My marriage was bad, and I don't blame her, but between my poor coping mechanisms, a crazy school schedule, a busy little boy at home, and a wife who was horrible to me . . . it came out in those earliest posts. I didn't sense it then, but it's palpable now. Clear to me. That's actually very sad when you think about it . . . very sad. When you go to drug rehab, they often make you do a "relapse autopsy" looking back over what lead up to your using and eventual collapse. I didn't have the money for rehab and I never went - thank God for the rooms of A.A. - but looking back, this mental state was the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. While "interesting" today, it doesn't really matter to much because I know that it is all an excuse and always is - I don't need a reason, ever, to get fucked up, but life being bad does make for one hell of a justification . . . does it not?

But, I'm rambling. I do that. I get off on tangents, now to redirect back. This blog was a tool I used to work through much of what happened to me over the course of the year 2007. For those of you who followed along - thank you. Your comments and support meant more to me than I can express in words. I'm not always the best at showing appreciation, so, I hope it's better late than never. I went through a rearranging process, and out of the other side came a new and improved man. I don't feel the same as I did then. Life is not painful the way it was then, and I'm blessed for having had the chance to experience it, though we often do not recognize this fact when we go through what we do. And I'm not super excited to relive any of it, but it forced me to grow or . . . die. Those were my choices. Am I being melodramatic? Looking back . . . no. It's life or destruction for me - I wish I was a mere mortal, I can be envious of you that are, but I lack power, have a spiritual deficiency that requires me to keep growing. Steven King, writing under the pseudonym, "Richard Bachman," wrote a story called the Long Walk, and in the story, it was a contest, the last one walking won a large cash prize. The issue at hand was that if you fell behind, you were shot by the military - on and on until there was one last guy . . . so it's like that, gotta keep walking. It's not an option for me.

So why'd I stop posting? The muse left me . . . my inspiration was gone, blogging had become a chore, and maybe it's original purpose had melted away. I became much busier with my boy, as his mother had just moved back to California a few weeks before my last post, and those of you who have been around 2 year olds know: it's hard to do much of anything except make sure they don't eat dirt and keep things out of light sockets, while making mac and cheese, and watching cartoons, or getting ready to go play outside.

Also, at that time, my marriage was in the shambles, and I started dating again - that was a nightmare generally, but I met some really cool people - one in particular - and she will always be special to me in a way, but life got . . . complicated (doesn't it always?) I'm not really sure if the story should be told or is even appropriate at this juncture . . . let me say this: by March my wife told me she wanted a divorce, was ready to do it. The funny thing about divorces is that they cost money. I'm not talking the messy divorces either - obviously those cost money, lots of money - I'm talking about a simple filing. Neither one of us had half the money at the same time, and the reason I'm still married today is largely because we couldn't even afford to file the paperwork. My wife even went so far as to get an appointment with a paralegal mediator (which would have been even more money). So, about the time I had met someone new - my wife decides she does not want a divorce. Monkey-fucking-wrench . . . I was largely resistant to this at first, but . . . it's complicated, do I need to say any more than that? We're still married and "working it out" - the only person who was hurt in all this was the "other woman" and through no fault of her own. It was a lesson in collateral damage and I'm ashamed for the pain I may have caused, but I let that relationship drop - I had to, and if I would have had more maturity and forethought, I never would have gotten involved with someone prior to a divorce finalizing. She - the "other" - was sweet and nice and good and mostly . . . she didn't deserve what happened. It is my responsibility that it did. One may only live and learn, and not make the same mistakes again. I may have rambled too much, but I won't edit it . . . it is cathartic to have it out . . .

Last March, I matched to a residency program in Internal Medicine - I love work and I love what I'm doing. I will not say where, specifically, because I have had friends who have already gotten into trouble when blogging about where they work, so I will not be identifying my program and I hope that is ok with people. Obviously those close to me know, but I'm not interested in disciplinary action because someone got all butt-hurt about what I said or wrote. I started in July and since that time I have been busier than a one legged man in an ass-kicking contest. However, things are starting to settle down a bit and I think this place may be a good outlet for me again. So, as long as the muse allows I'll be posting again . . . and I may use this as more of an outlet for things I think are important in the world than an online journal, but Im sure there will be some of both.

Perseverance is an admirable trait . . . me? I think I've merely been surviving, even if it looks very similar. I am blessed. God is doing the heavy lifting, and I'm getting by. Much love people.

(and yes there is more, so much more, but I'm only one man and I've only got so much time [maybe next time] - peace)