And, now, just months after he’d have celebrated his 100th birthday, President Reagan been deserted again, this time by the party that publicly reveres him as the patriarch of modern American conservatism while running away from who he was and what he did while President.

FEAR Factor

Increasingly, it appears the reactionaries who are taking control of the party that Lincoln created are ruled less by real principle and more by raw FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real).

1. Taxes

Like the foul tempered Queen of Hearts in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, any Republican daring to contemplate—much less consider—raising taxes on the richest Americans to help pay America’s debt is met with the chorus: “Off with his head!”

You’ve got to wonder whether Mr. Reagan would certainly have shaken his head in disbelief.

Of course, he increased taxes eleven times while in office, including four times in two years.

Yet, the “myth” of Reagan as the great tax cutter lives on.

FEAR.

2. America’s Deficit

President Obama has been roundly blamed by Republicans for America’s burgeoning debt.

No matter that it is mostly the result of Republican decisions and actions before Obama was elected. During President George W. Bush’es eight years as President, the country’s deficit skyrocketed nearly 6 trillion dollars even as Vice President Richard so blithely dismissed it “Deficits don’t matter.”

Obama’s policies are projected to increase the deficit by about a trillion and a half dollars—less than 25% of the deficit run up by President Bush.

Yet the “myth” persists that Democrats are big spenders and the country should hearken back to the days of that wise deficit hawk, Ronald Reagan.

However, the truth is, in Reagan’s eight years in power, the deficit increased more than three trillion dollars (are you starting to see a Republican pattern here?) which was more than the total deficits for all American presidencies in the 20th Century combined (and twice as much as they’re projected to be (based on current policies) if Obama is reelected and serves eight years).

While it is fair to say that Obama has been a big spender, he’s a relative spendthrift compared to George Bush and Ronald Reagan.

FEAR.

3. Immigration

Like taxes, the mantra of anti-immigration riles the blood of almost all red-blooded Republicans.

But how did Ronald Reagan feel? Here is where he stood: “I believe in the idea of amnesty for those who have put down roots and lived here, even though sometime back they may have entered illegally.”

He believed so strongly about it that he granted amnesty to more than 3,000,000 people who had come to America illegally, put down roots,and had families.

FEAR.

4. America’s Debt Ceiling

We all vividly recall the Republican Congressional brinksmanship that almost put America into default—and which led one of the credit agencies to downgrade America’s creditworthiness for the only time in the nation’s history.

Some extremist politicians even went as far as to call for default.

What would Reagan have thought of this? In a 1987 national address, he said to the country:

“Unfortunately, Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility. This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest markets would skyrocket. Instability would occur in financial markets and the federal deficit would soar.

“The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations. It means we have a well-earned reputation for reliability and credibility — two things that set us apart in much of the world.”

Indeed, during President Reagan’s 2 terms, the debt ceiling was raised 17 times.

FEAR.

Which leads me to this. Of all of the Republican presidents in the last half century (Nixon, Ford, Reagan, G.H.W. Bush, and his son, George Bush) why is it that the Republican Party has abandoned its most revered icon?

Whatever happened to “Win One for the Gipper? “.

Whatever your vision for America, are our leaders up to the political test the country faces? And, whether you loved him or, well, were relieved when he left office, the one great quality about Ronald Reagan was his real warmth and optimism about America’s future.

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For the next 29 years after attaining independence the labor Party headed the Government. David Ben-Gurion served as prime minister for fifteen years with various coalition governments. During this time the population and the economy grew rapidly. In 1963 Levi Eshkol succeeded him with the Herut movement. An Israel conflict known as the six day war led to attacks against Israel by Palestine and Egypt. During the six-day war, the Israel conflict was a marked victory for Israel. Levi died in 1969 and was succeeded by Golda Meir under whose tenure the Yom Kippur War erupted in 1973 causing him to resign. The conflict known as the Yom Kippur war was, once again won markedly by Israel.

Yitzhak Rabin headed the next government starting 1974 and signed peace accords with Egypt and Syria. During this time the Soviet bloc and many African countries broke off their ties with Israel.

Soon after the Lukid bloc defeated the Labor party and took over power and Menachem Begin became the leader. A peace treaty that entailed exchanging land for peace was signed with Egypt. The economy declined as the stock market collapsed and inflation shot up. Israel conflicts with the surrounding countries reduced significantly during this period. The Israel conflict, the Lebanon War, followed forcing Menachem to resign and he was succeeded by Yitzhak Shamir. Prime Minister Perez withdrew his army and the Lebanon War Israel conflict ceased in 1984. He also set the economy on track again by fighting inflation.

In 1988 the Israel conflict known as the Gaza War where Israel was struck by 39 scud missiles from Iraq. In 1992, under Rabin’s leadership the Labor party formed the government. Rabin was a former defense minister.

Palestine was awarded autonomy in 1994 in the West Bank and Gaza strip. Following this a peace treaty was signed with Jordan and international relations with other countries also improved, significantly reducing Israel conflicts. In 1995 Rabin was assassinated.

A new system of polling called direct election was established in 1996 and Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime minister but he later lost in 1999 to Ehud Barak when the Government was dissolved. Ariel Sharon was elected In 2001, and in 2003 a coalition with the US Government invaded Iraq and captured Saddam Hussein.In 2005 he suffered health complications and Ehud Olmert took office. Israel conflicts remain, as Israel tries to protect its citizens from random attacks from its narrow boarders with the Gaza strip.

In order to stay in the know about the Israel conflict with Palestine, it helps to hear current news. For discussions and opinions about Conflict in Israel, choose commentators and reporters you trust.. Check here for free reprint license: The Politics History Of Israel Conflict Palestine.

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US Oil Reserves Replacement Wrong to Private Profiteers.

US oil reserves registered as proven oil do not include the 1.5 trillion barrels worth of black gold enmeshed in shale deposits.

At least 800 billion barrels is thought to be recoverable, equivalent to the oil reserves of the Saudi Kingdom.

This unconventional oil, is released from the rock when it is heated.

The abundance of this resource and others such as oil sands in Canada belie the deceit on the part of the media and governments in fabricating fears of an end to oil supplies.

Mark A Cella on US Oil Reserves

While alternative energy is advisable to end environmental degradation, the scare of scant supply is a scam to pump up prices and pilfer profits from already pummeled working people.

Shell is currently testing methods of extracting oil from shale while still in the ground, eliminating the investment in mining the material.

More than 15 billion barrels may be extractable in other countries.

Vast amounts of power and water are likely needed to unlock this resource.

New petroleum sources strip sensibility from pump prices.

Of course, experiments in harvesting this material are arguably a waste of work, better bestowed upon using clean fuel options.

Mark A Cella on US Oil Reserves

US oil reserves dependency is devastating and demented. Oil companies have held households hostage and what is left of small businesses are battling bankruptcy. In part this is due to the expensive energy economy.

It is designed for dynamic delivery of profits to private parasitic pirates that ransack the revenue of working people at every step. Alternative options are of no interest to the corporate cartel that controls energy.

This means the US is once again falling behind China and Japan in research and development of cutting edge cars and technologies. The small owning class in America cares not. They are allied with Japanese and European capitalists to keep their quintessential cut of world resources and personal profits.

Mark A Cella on Radically Deep US Oil Reserves

Right wing wackos argue that US oil reserves are restricted by environmental regulations. Progress is prevented from proceeding by corporate criminals. These are the culprits keeping clean capacities at bay.

They know that real alternatives are their enemy. Energy sovereignty could emerge to eliminate a portion of their trickle up economic fortunes.

Mark A Cella US Oil Reserves Run Radically Deep

The US oil reserves reflected in proven oil is indicated as incomplete. Additionally reserves have risen in recent years despite prognostics of Peak Oil problems. Prices however, do not plummet at the pumps. They are maintained and manipulated. This is to keep the already filthy rich rolling in ridiculous revenue.

Wars are justified on these lies of US fuel shortages in order to shore up control of quality oil such as in Iraq and the Caspian Sea. Production is cheaper than in the case of shale or Canadian oil sands. US soldiers are slaughtered and return the favor to other working people in defense of demented designs for a New Order.

This order pivots on protecting resources for the rich rulers of the US political and economic system for generations to come. It is the scourge of the planet.

Visit Mark A Cella’s site, www.Mark-Cella.com for more Mark A Cella fun and serious matters.

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Was 9/11 a Black Op Which Served a Dual Purpose? Elites Gained Endless War and Destruction of Most of the Constitution When They Felled the Twin Towers Using Controlled Demolition.

A black op is a covert operation involving activities which are highly secretive and can be associated with political, military, intelligence, scientific, medical or business agendas.

They’re used to manipulate sensitive or controversial issues. It is sometimes helpful to hide behind a smoke-screen to hide the real intention of the action. Black op missions are commonly denied if or when a leak does occur and public knowledge of the coup is made known, as most times the actions of the group are questionable and draw attention to illegal government or corporate activities.

Typically in black ops, a decoy operation is used to present the appearance that responsibility lies with a certain individual or group when a completely different entity is responsible for the carnage.

Mark Cella What are Black Ops?

In looking back and seeing that 9/11 was the catalyst for Bush to declare a state of emergency, which allowed him to establish constitutional dictatorship, it is obviously black op that paved the way for America’s entry into the war on Iraq.

It is also the black op that is used to disguise the restriction of civil rights, and it is the justification for the development of the Department of Homeland Security, which has endangered more of the people’s rights than any single act of legislation in the history of American government.

A covert operation is traditionally associated with such activities as assassinations, sabotage, spying, military coups, extortion, fraud, supporting resistance movements, weapons testing, torture, trafficking in contraband and other such illegal and questionable government and corporate activities.

Technically, any government operation that is considered classified and to which access to the information is denied is considered a black op, and we all know that our American government has plenty of operations they do not disclose to the voting public.

Mark Cella What are Black Ops?

Covert operations go on all the time in government as demonstrated by the assassination of President Kennedy, the Iran-Contra Affair and Watergate, as well as all the spying that has gone on in the two world wars, Korea, Vietnam and the two gulf wars.

Many times government intelligence agencies are involved in a black op and if that information were made public, it would endanger lives and possibly national security which can be either a good thing or a bad thing.

Because the covertness of the operations can be justified by a need for safety or national security, it leaves a margin of error for those who would seek to defraud the system by using secrecy as a tool for deception rather than a device for protection.

Mark Cella on Black Ops

Many times one covert operation is linked closely with another covert operation and involves many persons or agencies; so it is very difficult to get to discover the whole truth, even if the operation itself is exposed.

To determine who is involved, establish a motive for the crime and prosecute and punish the guilty parties is extremely difficult, as the smoke screen of secrecy is rarely penetrated, and the entire truth is rarely told.

Learn more about Mark Cella. Stop by Mark Cella’s site where you can find out all about Mark Cella and his work.

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Does the US Department of Homeland Security Really Secure Anything or Does it Work Against the American People? Big Brother is Watching Us More Than We Think.

Many things came from that dreadful September day in 2001, the US Department of Homeland Security was just one amongst many. Terrorist’s attacks–or so we were told they were terrorists–were successful on U.S. soil and thousands of Americans died.

Parents were lost; brothers died; children became orphans; families were ripped apart. The sense of security that came with being a citizen of this country was taken, perhaps forever; the US Department of Homeland Security was created.

Never before had such an attack been carried out within the continental United States. Yes, there was Pearl Harbor, another American tragedy that resulted in the loss of thousands of lives, but it was a military installation separated from the bulk of the nation by an ocean.

Many questions arose about how something like this could have happened and why it was not stopped.

Mark Cella on Homeland Security

After all, it would make sense that coordinating plane crashes into various targets at the same time of day would take years of planning, numerous people, and lots of discussion. Yet somehow the terrorists involved were able to train and do what was necessary to carry out their cowardly act.

In the days and months following the deadly attacks of September 11, there was much discussion as to why these terrorists were not discovered prior to these attacks and why weren’t they stopped.

Perhaps one of the problems was not a single agency was responsible for keeping the homeland safe.

In fact, there were over 100 government agencies that had some type of responsibility related to homeland security, but none with homeland security as its primary task.

It is no wonder than there was no single entity with enough information to see these attacks coming.

Mark Cella on Homeland Security

In an attempt to learn from the mistakes of the past and to prevent another attack on American soil, the US Department of Homeland Security was created to be that one agency intended to ensure the homeland would be secure.

One has to wonder whether or not the terrorists considered the September 11 attacks a success. After all, they killed many of those darn infidels and disrupted the harmony in which the nation existed.

Many pundits would probably quickly answer no and refer to the response which the American government and public gave. The government went through the most intensive restructuring in years to improve and reinforce the sense of homeland security. Citizens were more than giving of their time, money, blood, etc.

Shortly after 9/11 this was all true. A look at the state of the nation now tells a different story.What began as the war against terrorism has bogged down into a never ending conflict without a reasonable and definitive end in sight.

Instead of being grateful for increased security at airports, more and more people complain about how long it takes to get through the lines.

Mark Cella What is the Dept of Homeland Security Doing?

The US Department of Homeland Security is even coming up with an automated system for foreign nationals travelling into or out of the U.S. The Patriot Act has been a mess of controversy since it was implemented. More government wiretaps with little or no cause? Whatever happened to the right to privacy?

The government can even read emails that may appear suspicious. How do they differentiate the suspicious from the non-suspicious? More than likely they just read whatever they feel like in hopes of finding suspicious activity.

The US Department of Homeland Security may be keeping us more secure now, but we will not know how secure until the next serious attack is attempted. Maybe it has already happened and the general public does not know. Maybe the government is not telling the public in order not to incite mass hysteria or encourage hate crimes against Muslims.

Is the mass restructuring of the government doing a better job? Citizens of New Orleans would say a resounding NO!

Fast forward from September 2001 till 2009 and we see a United States that is much different. Distrust in the government is rather high with the massive failure to act in New Orleans after Katrina and the suspected unnecessary abuses of civil liberties prominent in the minds of the people. Citizens live in a state of perpetual fear, being told by the government that another attack is coming but they do not know where. Faith in government is down. Fear in the unknown is up.

The creation of the US Department of Homeland Security might just be the symbol of success terrorists worldwide were looking for and not the symbol of security a nation needs.

Want to find out more about Mark Cella, then visit Mark Cella’s site on for a variety of humor and serious topics Mark Cella.

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