National (Business) Security

Or business as usual

[Fresh from the wires... erm... I mean email... here's a missive from my long-at-sea blogging partner, Old Fogey, who is cruising the world with her husband on the ms Prinsendam at the moment.]

On our cruise I’ve stayed far too busy having fun to post anything. However, rage grabbed me while reading our very much abbreviated NYT. The editorial “Secretary of Homeland Insecurity” chided Chertoff and Bush for allowing big chemical companies to place profits above avoiding another 9/11. Most plants remain terrifyingly unprotected from terrorist attack, while Bush and Company fight Congress and state governments that want more regulation. Port security is also abysmal without much concern by Bushies (except those facing reelection). Energy policy provides more profits than protection to the American people.

It dawned on me that according to the Bush philosophy of government, regulation is for regular guys. People can be policed, not commerce. Illegal wiretapping of individuals can be justified on national security grounds, but chemical plants can’t be required to erect fences around toxic materials vulnerable to terrorist attack. Individuals can be held without charges, but rogue companies are given no-bid contracts.

How can anyone fail to see that only thing is holy and sacrosanct, beyond compromise to Bush, is the right of big business to make big profits? His buddies deserve to stay at the top. Nearly every administration priority reflects the worship of wealth. Seniors or drug and insurance companies? Companies! Reducing deficits or making it more profitable to do nothing and live well? Kill capital gains and inheritance taxes! Provide people working 50 hours a week with adequate income or give businesses with cheap labor? Guest workers willing to accept less than the dismally small minimum wage! Protect the environment or allow exploitation by despoliation? Artic drilling and larger emission allowances!

Perhaps we all should incorporate ourselves to prevent the government from forcing us to have unwanted babies, to marry the “right people,” or to dissent only in the “right way.” Government would also have to allow us to enjoy the privacy of our homes, to carry manicure scissors on planes, and to expect our children to be taught real biology.

I’m thinking of the corporate name “Travel Lover, Inc.”

[Old Fogey will hopefully be returning fully to the fold in May.]