Can you show me even ONE theocracy that has survived the test of time?? I didn’t think so.? No religious leader should believe he (haven’t been many female religious leaders though Ann Lee comes to mind) represents the will of God for all mankind.? Sadly it appears that Supreme Leader Khamenei in Iran believes just this.? And his henchman Ahmadinejad supports it.

History and reality are not on thier side — thank God!

How well did the Popes run things during the dark ages?? It isn’t a good part of history to look back on.? What about Jim Jones and the mass suicide he promoted?? You can find a whole bunch of other examples if you look.? The facts are there.

And why do you think that is?

Simple really.

The sacred scriptures of any great religions simply do NOT promote civil and religious control as a revealed standard.

Take Jesus.? He said, ‘render unto Ceaser’ and understood that the people would make their own decisions about how to live.

How about Mohammed?? In the Q’uran it is reported? ‘In religion there should be no compulsion’ (Surah 2 verse 256 just so Khamenei can check it out in his own copy).

How about the great Jewish leader Moses?? Don’t forget “Let my people go!”

One of the great things the founding fathers did was insist on separation of church and state (notice that the words are not ‘religion and state’ — but that is a whole other discussion).? In America people can chose how they want to live, how they want to worship, what day will be their sabbath.

And it works great.

We have happy people of all kinds:? Jews, Catholics, Methodists, Adventists, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Wickens, and even Scientologists.? We work and play together.? Within a few minutes of my home I can drive by a synagog, a cathedral, a temple, a mosque, a chapel, a church . . .? and there are good people around each of them.

Its downright liberating!

Iran just doesn’t get it — you can have a good nation of good Muslims without dictating and controlling everything the people do.? Look at Indonesia (the nation with the most Muslims), or Turkey, or, or, or . . . Jeez Louise . . .? America.

Democracy works for everybody, theocracy works for only the few in control.? Democracy promotes unity through diversity.? Theocracy promotes the opinions of the religious elite.

Hey, Ahmadinedjad and Khamenei, If you go against nature (freedom of choice) or even against the scriptures you are supposedly so committed to, then you are bound to fail.? If not today then tomorrow, or the next day.? Let the people chose.? Don’t force religion or your own opinions on anybody, let alone everybody.

Dudes, avoid the plague of flies, the blood flowing in the rivers, the death of every first borne and a whole bunch of other bad things you will be responsible for.? Do what is right.? Trust the guys and gals on the street.? Make Iran a better place.

Let your people go.

Thanks for the flickr photo to .faramarz

I read in the paper this morning that lobbyists spents $3.3 BILLION in 2008.? That money went to influence our elected leaders.? Two issues jump out at me here, and?I have to add that either of these trump any possible reasons for allowing paid lobbyist to even visit Washington, D.C.?let alone exert any kind of influence there.? Who elected those high paid dudes (or dudettes) ?to have an impact on our lives?

?This is a freakin’ democracy!! by the people, for the people and all that.? Not by the rich (those who can afford to influence by hiring lobbyists) and for the rich.? Jeez louise, how dumb can we (the electorate) be to allow this?????

Back to the 2 issues.

First, there is the matter of the $3.3 billion.? now that doesn’t sound like a lot today when our government uses several trillion $$ of OUR money to try (notice it is conditional) and fix economic problems caused primarily by those companies that our paying for the lobbyists.? The likes of?fannie and freddie and others of their ilk . . . i.e. just about every bank and financial company out there . . . as well as automakers and peanut butter makers (hate it when?I get salmonella)? . . . and mortgage bankers and . . . gosh?I guess every company with overpaid and underpermforming CEO’s out there.? Does that leave anyone out?? Don’t think so!? oh, yeah –?I forgot, it left out you and me!

What if those companies kept the $3.3 billion and returned it to shareholders??What if they spent it on R&D to make better and safer products (ah, there is the peanut butter thing again), or to increase pay for the average worker (you know, those who work 40 hour weeks for a tiny fraction of what their bosses make while they are golfing or cruisin’ in their private jets), or to contribute to health care for workers, or . . . gosh just about anything …. EXCEPT?LOBBYING!!

Second.? Why should only those with money be allowed to influence elected officials?? But there is even a bigger issue here.? NO ONE . . . repeat NO ONE, should be allowed, permitted or encouraged to influence votes or decisions of any kind except for the individuals that put the greedy bums (I’m not angry . . . just think about what YOU could do with part of that $3.3 BILLION) in office.? Hey, the only ones who should be allowed to influence, in any way shape or form (I think that is legal language but?I am not sure even though?I spent a very?frustrating week in law school) ?elected officials should be the electors . . . that is you and me again.? One person — one vote.? Not one million dollars — one vote.? Are you seeing a trend here?? It is a simple issue of the rich getting richer and the middle class getting middler and the poor getting poorer because they have no infuence.

So change this offensive and impure process.? Legislate, adjudicate, and pontificate (legalese again?)?– or whatever it takes to simply STOP it!? Dead in its tracks.? Right now.? Write, email, phone and even visit in person . . . let our elected officials know that NO lobbying will be allowed.? None.? Nadda. Null.

In conclusion my friends (no closing argument here . . . just the solution) paid lobbyist’s should be jailed because the practice (well,?I guess it isn’t practice anymore because they have it down to science) should be against the law.? But that won’t happen until?WE make it happen.

Its up to you.? And me.? Us.? Make it illegal.? Federally.? Stateally (in every state). Countyally (in every county) and cityally (in every city).?? forgive the legalese again.

Lobbying should be against the law EVERYWHERE in a democratic society.