How about 'spreading more freedom' in the USA?
If President Bush really wants to "spread freedom around the world," as he said in his inaugural address, he should start by setting an example right here in the United States, Libertarians say.

"Freedom, like charity, begins at home," said Joseph Seehusen, executive director of the Libertarian Party.

"Unfortunately George Bush has given America a lot more government -- and a lot less freedom -- over the past four years. We're challenging him to change course in his second term and set Americans free."

Bush used the words "free," "freedom" or "liberty" 49 times in his 21-minute speech on Thursday as he laid out an ambitious agenda that includes spreading democracy and freedom "with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."

Though Bush refrained from targeting particular governments, six "outposts of tyranny" named earlier this week by secretary of state nominee Condoleezza Rice include Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe.

"Yes, setting people in other nations free from dictators is a laudable goal," Seehusen said. "But George Bush wasn't elected President of the World, he was elected president of the United States, and his first obligation is to improve the lives of the American people."

Unfortunately, Americans are less free economically than when Bush was elected in 2000, Libertarians point out.

Over the past four years Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress have teamed up to pass the largest expansion of Medicare in U.S. history, authored the most expensive education bill ever, squandered more than $300 billion on an unnecessary war in Iraq; increased the federal budget to a mind-boggling $2.2 trillion and propelled the national debt to $7.3 trillion, Seehusen noted.

"Every dollar confiscated by politicians is a dollar that Americans can't spend to pay medical bills, to send their child to college or to plan their retirement," he said.

"While military security is vital, economic security is important as well -- and the president can protect it by reducing the crushing burden of government."

Besides, as Iraq demonstrates, toppling a tyrant and establishing democracy in even one nation is extremely difficult, while bringing more freedom to the United States is relatively easy, he noted.

"On November 2, Republicans increased their majority in both the House and Senate, which means Mr. Bush has a huge opportunity to impose his agenda," Seehusen said.

With that in mind, Libertarians are issuing a modest challenge for the "pro-freedom" president's second term:

Eliminate just one major federal program; submit a no-growth budget for the next fiscal year; sell off one piece of federal property and use the money to reduce the national debt; or tear just 100 pages out of the 70,000-page Federal Register.

"Mr. Bush, taking any of those actions would prove to the American people that your passionate inaugural address wasn't just empty rhetoric," Seehusen said.

"After all, if freedom is good enough for people in Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe, it's good enough for people right here in the USA."


Stolen from the Libertarian Party homepage.

Soccer and whatnot.
So I've decided that this entire post will consist entirely of soccer and things having to do with soccer. So I guess if you don't like soccer, don't read any further.

Yesterday's game against Burroughs went rather well in my opinion. I think pretty much everyone agreed that even though we scored five goals in the first half, we could have played so much better. Everyone was all bunched and the passes were into pressure and all that..it was kind of frustrating. But then we stepped it up second half and scored another four goals..heh. Poor Burroughs got nothing, but that's alright. I actually scored one of the goals, which was odd..I usually don't score. Must have been because Burroughs is kind of bad.

Varsity won their game 9-1, but it was one of the worst games I've ever seen, all thanks to the refs. They were the same guys we had for our game but it seemed like they hated our team suddenly. Melanie got a red card for some stupid reason..she totally didn't deserve it at all. All I'm saying is I'm glad we won that game. Would have sucked way more otherwise.

So today was the game against Canyon..meh. We tied 0-0, which was extremely annoying. We had so many goal opportunities and just..argh. We better beat them next time. It was sad, cause frosh/soph killed them 4-1 or something like that, and we couldn't even manage a goal. I have no idea how varsity did..I suppose I'll find out tomorrow. It's dumb, I haven't beaten Canyon in two years..freshman year on frosh/soph we couldn't do it, same with last year..I'd really like a change of pace now. Yeah, I guess it's good that we didn't lose, but a tie! I hate ties. Bah.

We play Hart on Friday, and I hope we win that. The game's at 3:15 at either Central Park on the back fields or at our new field at Saugus, but I doubt we'll get to play on the new field. So if you're looking for something to do after school Friday before you go out, come watch us play. It'll be fun.

A post isn't a post without pictures! Most of these don't look like they have to do with soccer, but they were taken at the field during the varsity game, so it still counts. Quiet. Read more..

Oh look, I'm evil.

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If anyone knows what the Dopefish is, I will love you forever.
I wish Commander Keen would run on my computer. I tried my old CD with the games on it and downloading the file from like five different places, but no, it won't work. Makes me kind of angry..I love that game. Anyone have an old computer with Windows 95, 98, or ME? If so, can I come over? Yeah.

I'm debating whether or not I should bother with sleeping today. If I do, my sleep schedule's going to be way off (again) and I won't be able to sleep tomorrow night (technically tonight) and I'll be way tired at school, which is always fun. Only not.

I can't think of anything else to say, so I suppose I'll end with pictures.

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The Brenda Battle Axe Plan.
Sometime late in December of last year, Garid and I somehow came up with the idea that it would be hilarious if we gave Brenda a battle axe. Here is that story, complete with pictures and everything. Click below!

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Pictures as usual.

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