final collapse of the US tradition
Loved Ones…do you make a million dollars a year?

Loved Ones…do you know how many house you own?

Loved Ones…do you own 13 new cars?

Or do you just survive at the end of the month…a stress about the cost of fuel and food…do you have health coverage which is adequate?

Loved Ones….What we are witnessing is the final collapse of the US tradition of bipartisanship in the face of national crisis.

In the first and second world wars, the Cold War with the Soviet Union, and in times of national crisis such as the assassination of John F Kennedy, US political parties have put aside partisan differences to work together for the good of the nation and in support of national goals.

Bipartisanship extended to the formation of the government's executive team in times of crisis - for example, Democrat Franklin Roosevelt chose Republican Henry L Stimson to be his secretary of war during the struggle against Hitler and imperial Japan.

But that tradition suffered a serious blow in the aftermath of the attacks of September 11, 2001.

Democrats rallied together with George Bush, the current president, and followed his lead in passing ill-considered legislation he demanded, such as the USA Patriot Act.

But almost immediately, Bush turned against bipartisanship and blatantly exploited the attacks as a weapon for political gain.

Bush's political mentor Karl Rove said: "Conservatives saw the savagery of 9/11 in the attacks and prepared for war.

Liberals saw the savagery of the 9/11 attacks and wanted to prepare indictments and offer therapy and understanding for our attackers."

That charge was, of course, completely false. But the damage was done. Now we are seeing the results of this degradation of political discourse.

The economic crisis is real and pressing. It is not a partisan issue. The Democratic majority in congress is willing to go along with the bail-out on the grounds that it is necessary for the sake of the country's economy.

Naturally, the Democrats want the Republicans to join them and present a united front. But the House Republicans see an opportunity for political gain.

In my view, they are not thinking about the urgency of addressing the economic crisis, or the misery and pain that failure to act will caue to millions of Americans.

Instead, they sense a clever way of hurting the Democrats. And, again in my view, they are willing to let the economy fall into a shambles if it will benefit their narrow partisan interests.

The house Republicans know the $700bn bailout is unpopular: Letters and emails to Capitol Hill are running about nine to one against the proposal.

They also know its necessary.

Everyone from Ben Bernanke, non-partisan chairman of the federal reserve, to Henry Paulson, the Republican treasury secretary, and Robert Rubin, the Democratic former treasury secretary, agree that if a substantial package is not passed - and quickly - an economic disaster will ensue.

It is not that the house Republicans do not want that package to pass - they just do not want to vote for it.

Even though it is Bush's package, they want to shift responsibility to the Democrats.

John Boehner, the house Republican leader, said on Friday that because Democrats have majorities in the house and senate they could pass the bill anytime.

But then Republicans would campaign against them - saying Democrats had allowed fat-cat Wall Street executives to scoop up billions of the taxpayers' hard earned dollars.

Alternatively, if the Democrats decline to bring the package to a vote, the markets fall, credit seizes up, and all the dire warnings about the economy come true, the Republicans can blame the wreckage on the Democratic majority in congress.
Cynical politics

You are reading this and saying: "My goodness, how cynical and bloodyminded this horrible person Reynolds is."

But remember my prediction: If the package passes, Republicans will use it as a weapon against the Democrats. If it does not, Republicans will blame the Demorcats for the collapse.

The irony of ironies is that it is precisely these house Repuiblican hardliners who were and remain the most vocal and strident proponents of deregulation of capital markets and eliminating restrictions on the financial industry.

That's largely, in my view, how we got into this awful mess. And it is the ultimate triumph of cynical politics over the national interest.

Loved Ones prepare yourself for future attacks on your quality of life…your health and your security…multiple millions of souls now incarnated on this planet who they themselves have been the target of American greed are watching for their opportunity to “even the score”.

At this time I petition for all earth pilgrims to learn all their lessons with the least amount of pain.

You and all your loved ones are always in my prayers,
Samuel Joseph Bell
www.angelicinfusion.com
- posted by Samuel Bell @ 5:52 AM 0 comments

 
Allah is gracious to him who earns his living by his own labor
Loved Ones…there is only one God

…one Divine Creator…and we are all His/Her children…and we are all loved without conditions…we are loved with unconditional love…and so

…we allow our will to be in harmony with Gods Will and demonstrate unconditional love for all…especially those less fortunate…those who are poor in spirit and poor in the items necessary for a comfortable existence..

We are mandated to demonstrate Love for the poor in the name of Our Lord Jesus the Christ, Lord Muhammad and Lord Buddha…

The Prophet enjoined upon Muslims to treat the poor kindly and to help them with alms, zakat, and in other ways.

He said:
"He is not a perfect Muslim who eats his fill and lets his neighbor go hungry."

He asked,
"Do you love your Creator? Then love your fellow beings first."

Monopoly is unlawful in Islam and he preached that
"It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path that leads to bliss."

He did not prohibit or discourage the acquisition of wealth but insisted that it be lawfully acquired by honest means and that a portion of it would go to the poor. He advised his followers
"To give the laborer his wages before his perspiration dried up."

He did not encourage beggary either and stated that
"Allah is gracious to him who earns his living by his own labor, and that if a man begs to increase his property, Allah will diminish it and whoever has food for the day, it is prohibited for him to beg."

To his wife he said,
"O Aysha, love the poor and let them come to you and Allah will draw you near to Himself." (Bukhari, Sahih Bukhari)

One or two instances of the Prophet's (pbuh) concern for the poor may be given here. A Madinan, Ibad Bin Sharjil, was once starving. He entered an orchard and picked some fruit. The owner of the orchard gave him a sound beating and stripped off his clothes. The poor man appealed to the Prophet (pbuh) who remonstrated the owner thus:
"This man was ignorant, you should have dispelled his ignorance; he was hungry, you should have fed him."
His clothes were restored to the Madinan and, in addition, some grain was given to him (Abu Dawud, Kitabul Jihad).

A debtor, Jabir Bin Abdullah, was being harassed by his creditor as he could not clear his debt owing to the failure of his date crop. The Prophet (pbuh) went with Jabir to the house of the creditor and pleaded with him to give Jabir some more time but the creditor was not prepared to oblige. The Prophet (pbuh) then went to the oasis and having seen for himself that the crop was really poor, he again approached the creditor with no better result. He then rested for some time and approached the creditor for a third time but the latter was adamant. The Prophet (pbuh) went again to the orchard and asked Jabir to pluck the dates. As Allah would have it, the collection not only sufficed to clear the dues but left something to spare (Bukhari, Sahih Bukhari).

His love for the poor was so deep that he used to pray:
"O Allah, keep me poor in my life and at my death and raise me at resurrection among those who are poor." (Nasai, Chapter: Pardon)

Loved Ones...we live in one of the most wealthy nations on this small planet...surely we can share our harvest with those less fortunate.

you and all your loved ones are always in my prayers,

Samuel Joseph Bell
www.angelicinfusion.com
- posted by Samuel Bell @ 4:14 PM 0 comments