Political pundits now forecast a billion dollar 2008 presidential campaign. This seems troubling to me, especially because of the practice by corporation-funded lobbyists who gather small contributions into $100,000 “bundles” and make contributions to selected candidates – of course - hoping for future favors. Also, I suspect that the corporations that profit from war and other related military contracts find ways to support candidates who favor "the troop surge” in Iraq, and who also oppose a 2008 cut-off date for troop withdrawals. Just connect the dots: Billion dollar political campaigns mean more military spending and more money for war.

And, it seems that there is excessive corporate influence which extends almost everywhere. A Massachusetts based group of political activists claim: ”Giant corporations are in our schools, town halls, statehouses, and Congress. They block sane, logical programs in food, energy, transportation, health care, finance, forestry, and manufacturing. They fund think tanks and universities to frame public debate. They buy obedience and define society's values. They also instruct and control the government.“ But, it wasn’t always like this.

Accounting to one historical account: "Initially, the privilege of incorporation was granted selectively to enable activities that benefited the public, such as construction of roads or canals. Enabling shareholders to profit was seen as a means to that end.” However, the States had stringent laws controlling corporations. For example, " corporate charters (licenses to exist) were granted for a limited time and could be revoked promptly for violating laws. If corporations exceeded their authority or caused public harm their charters were revoked. Most importantly, corporations could not make any political or charitable contributions nor spend money to influence law-making."

Because of the overwhelming, pervasive influence of corporations upon our elections, and the laws enacted by government in their behalf , we are, de facto, no longer a government of the people, by the people, for the people. Of course, we can, and we must change this, and can begin by prohibiting corporations to neither make political contributions or influence elections, nor spend money to influence law making. I hope voters will insist that every presidential wannabe pledge to make this a priority of their administration.

"Impeaching Bush and Co. ultimately won't change anything unless we deal with the corrupt powers, which control and direct them. George Bush is just a finger-puppet of the hidden hand, which animates him. Bush only has apparent power, as he himself is a minion of far more powerful predator-like forces whose nefarious interests he serves. Whether we call it the illuminati, the global elite, a shadow government, or a secret cabal, there is no doubt that there are darker, self-serving forces that have insinuated themselves into and taken over our government. The terrorists that we should be worried about are domestic terrorists who are actually implementing their agendas from deep within our very system of government itself." from http://www.awakeninthedream.com/indexx.html

Learn about about "the secret government" or shadow government in America - see the documentary narrated by Bill Moyers, the respected TV journalist who analyzes the threats to constitutional government posed by an illegitimate network of "super patriots", spies, profiteers, mercenaries and ex-generals.

His documentary gives a fascinating overview of what has actually happened in the last 50 years regarding the CIA and the Cold War (including Iran, Guatemala, Cuba, Vietnam and Chile). The film features such people as Ralph McGeehee and Phil Retinger (both former CIA agents), Rear Admiral Gene La Rocque (Ret. U.S.N.), Theodore Bissell (active in the CIA at the time), Sen. Frank Church and many others.

An edited 22 minute version is available on Google videos at: The Secret Government - Edited
and a full version can be viewed at The Secret Government- 90 Minutes.

Consider this...

"Toward the end of Travels With Charley Steinbeck makes this observation: “My own journey started long before I left, and was over before I returned. I know exactly where and when it was over. Near Abingdon, in the dog-leg of Virginia , at four o’clock of a windy afternoon, without warning or good-by or kiss my foot, my journey went away and left me stranded far from home. I tried to call it back, to catch it up—a foolish and hopeless matter, because it was definitely and permanently over and finished.” Anyone who’s taken a long journey knows what Steinbeck is talking about.

It isn’t always the end point of a journey that determines its end, nor is it ever the person who takes the journey who determines it.