Get Informed

From the time I was born until the year 2000, I played a pretty passive role as a citizen. I would occasionally read the paper, and did my best to make informed choices when I voted, which I did in each election from the time I was 18. And aside from the ridiculous Lewinsky scandal, it seemed like things were constantly getting better in the 1990s, and that casting a vote was enough to keep things moving along in that direction.

The election of 2000 changed all that for me, The Average Man. I suddenly realized that there were people out there so desperate to get power that they would lie, cheat, deliberately confuse and steal from the rest of us to get it. And that the rest of us were confused and had no idea how to do anything about it. I stopped watching TV news, and started reading the front section of the newspaper. I subscribed to Truthout and AlterNet to get non-corporate news and opinion. I joined MoveOn, True Majority and Common Cause (among many other groups) where I could sign petitions and donate small amounts of money that added up quickly. I listen daily to Air America Radio to hear people who voice my concerns, and make me laugh while doing it.

And after the Iraq war started, over the objections of seemingly every rational person in the military and elsewhere, I vowed to get more active. I organized a show with my band to help turn out the vote on Primary election day in February. I organized a voter registration booth at my industry's convention in August. I took the day off work yesterday to call voters in swing states to remind and encourage them to vote, and help them out if they had any trouble.

But even that wasn't enough this time. There are still just way way too many uninformed people in our country, who, understandably, really don't want to face the truth. But that's not alright. We live in a democracy, which means it is quite literally our role as citizens to be informed. Even with the government's "checks and balances", if We The People are not informed, it is still possible for a small group of jerks to sieze our power from us, and that's exactly what has happened. One political party controls the Executive and Legislative (and potentially the Judicial) branches, and has incredible influence over the corporate-owned media.

But The Average Man is not going down without a fight. I firmly believe that when all of us understand what's going on around us, a vast majority of us will vote and act in our best interests, and our democracy can, and will be preserved for another generation.

Not long after the War On Iraq started, I begun adding a link to my e-mail signature every day to a news story that outraged me, or inspired me, or simply made me think. Looking back, it's a snapshot of where we were then and where we're headed. I hope it informs you, and inspires you, and outrages you as well.

John


"Terrorism is not an Evil force the United States is going to defeat. It is a way people wage war when they don't have F-16's or armored divisions."
http://www.iht.com/articles/115911.html

Dean/Clark could show Bush the door in 2004
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17101
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=127&ncid=742&e=7&u=%2Fuclicktext%2F20031211%2Fcm_ucru%2Fcanceltheprimaries

Why America's plutocrats gobble up $1,500 hot dogs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1077836,00.html

A Soldier's Story
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/111103G.shtml

From today's NY Times:
Excerpt of a letter from Army Pfc. Jesse A. Givens, killed May 1
http://truthout.org/docs_03/111203A.shtml

Paul Krugman | Support the Troops
http://truthout.org/docs_03/111203C.shtml

Bill Moyers | 'Our Democracy Is in Danger of Being Paralyzed'
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/111403E.shtml

Molly Ivins | Call Me a Bush-Hater
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17190

Stan Goff | "Hold On to Your Humanity"
An Open Letter to GIs in Iraq
http://www.bringthemhomenow.org/what/latest.html

The Uncompassionate Conservative - Understanding George W. Bush
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2003/11/ma_559_01.html

Paul Krugman | Hack the Vote
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/02/opinion/02KRUG.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/120303A.shtml

Tom Tomorrow | Zen Master George Junior
http://www.workingforchange.com/comic.cfm?itemid=16081

Go to http://www.google.com/
Type "miserable failure" in the box and hit the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button.

Independent UK | Melting Ice 'Will Swamp Capitals'
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=470838

The Conservative Case Against George W. Bush
http://www.amconmag.com/12_1_03/cover.html

Ray McGovern, Former CIA Analyst: 'We're Trying to Spread a Little Truth'
http://www.ajc.com/print/content/epaper/editions/sunday/issue_f32d89a7b145407000cc.html

MISSION ACCOMPLISHEDER!
http://www.whitehouse.org/news/2003/121403.asp

Despite Claims to the Contrary,
Bush Not Doing Everything He Can to Protect Troops
http://www.misleader.org/daily_mislead/Read.asp?fn=df12172003.html

9/11 Chair: Attack Was Preventable
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/12/17/eveningnews/main589137.shtml

Letters the Troops Have Sent Me... by Michael Moore
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php

Daniel Lee | This Republican Has Some Doubts
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/153303_firstperson22.html

Ray McGovern | Hijacking "Him" for Empire
http://www.truthout.org/docs_03/123103C.shtml

10 Good Things About a Bad Year
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17471

The 15 finalists have been selected @
http://www.bushin30seconds.org/

That Pesky Bush-Hitler Thing
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/010704A.shtml

Washington Post : Iraq's Arsenal Was Only on Paper
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/010804B.shtml

60 Minutes - Bush Sought 'Way' To Invade Iraq
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/09/60minutes/main592330.shtml

Official Confirms Plan to Invade Iraq Pre-9/11
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140116&l=14453

Mars Needs Dim Republicans
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

Three Days in Iowa
http://truthout.org/docs_04/012104A.shtml

One of the coolest things I've seen in a long time!
http://action.truemajority.org/ctt.asp?u=402748&l=275

GRAND THEFT AMERICA
http://www.ericblumrich.com/gta.html

Hartford Advocate | GOP Goose is Cooked
http://hartfordadvocate.com/gbase/News/content?oid=oid:51613

"Super Size Me"
Man eats only McDonalds for 30 days to see what happens
http://www.nypost.com/entertainment/16393.htm

Bush 2004 Campaign Pledges To Restore
Honor And Dignity To White House
http://www.theonion.com/4004/top_story.html

Bush Slips - Among Republicans
http://www.thenation.com/thebeat/index.mhtml?bid=1&pid=1221

http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2004/2/2/110740.shtml

The scream that may not have been
http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/news/012904_NW_r2_group_deanscream.html

THE BREAST AND THE BRIGHTEST
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17751

Co-Chair of Bush Panel Part of Far Right Network
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0206-10.htm

Report: Bush Aides Scrubbed Military Records in 1998
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/02/12/politics/12TEXA.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/021304A.shtml

Memo to John Kerry: Heed Not the Call of the Mild
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/files/021104.html

Register to Vote - CA Primary Deadline is 2/17!
https://ovr.ss.ca.gov/votereg/OnlineVoterReg

"This Machine Kills Facists"
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17837

The Progressive Populist Moment Has Arrived
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17880

Progressives Should Vote Kucinich
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040301&s=dugger

Pentagon Study Describes Rapid, Catastrophic Climate Change
http://www.bushgreenwatch.org/mt_archives/000059.php

Pentagon-sponsored climate report sparks hullabaloo in Europe
But new ice age unlikely, Bay Area authors of study say
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/02/25/MNG0O57R4R1.DTL

More than 60 world-class scientists agree:
BushCo just really, really loathes this planet
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

What's Right With John Kerry
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20040315&s=corn

Democrat Not Spoken Here (this is awesome)
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=17998

Where Is My Gay Apocalypse?
Over 3,500 gay marriages and, what, no hellfire?
I was promised hellfire. And riots. What gives?
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford

Troops Rally For Regime Change Battle
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18054

Six Things John Kerry Needs To Do To Win In November
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=700

Granny D | "Waking up the Vote"
http://www.alternet.org/members/story.html?StoryID=18057

Howard Stern fired for criticizing Bush
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18090

Blow to Bush: Iraq War Ally Rejected by Anti-War Voters
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/15/international/europe/15POLI.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/031604B.shtml

"Free Markets" Debunked
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18147

Rumsfeld - Caught on Camera
http://www.moveon.org/censure/caughtonvideo/

Paul Krugman | Lifting the Shroud
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/23/opinion/23KRUG.html?hp
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/032404C.shtml

Terry Gross intervew with former White House Adviser Richard Clarke
http://freshair.npr.org/day_fa.jhtml?display=day&todayDate=03/24/2004

Air America Radio -- "Relax! There's no Rush"
Listen via RealAudio at
http://www.airamericaradio.com

"Bin Ladin Determined to Strike in US"
Read Bush's Aug. 6, 2001 briefing
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Bush-Memo-Text.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/041204B.shtml

How the Democrats were Betamaxed
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18395

Americans Not Buying Bush Tax Cut
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1308879&l=29022

Bush to Rumsfeld in 2001: 'Keep Iraq War Plan Secret'
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/042004A.shtml or
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/15/60minutes/main612067.shtml

Christian leaders challenge Bush's environmental policy
http://www.gristmagazine.com/muck/muck042804.asp?source=daily

Woman loses her job for taking photo of soldiers' coffins
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2001909527_coffin22m.html
Another photo, via the Philadelphia Enquirer
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/front/8497789.htm?1c

Secret Service confiscates anti-Bush drawings by 15-year-old
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/170992_prosser28.html

Here is the story that has shocked the world. How can we justify this?
http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/?040510fa_fact

America's Deep, Dark Secret
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/04/29/60minutes/main614728.shtml

Disney Forbidding Distribution of Film That Criticizes Bush
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/05/05/national/05DISN.html
or http://truthout.org/docs_04/050604D.shtml
Take Action @ Working For Change:
http://www.workingforchange.com/activism/action.cfm?itemid=16898

The Misunderestimated Man - How Bush chose stupidity
http://slate.msn.com/id/2100064/

Much wacky hilarity!
http://www.musicforamerica.org/misc/media_files/bushjoke.mov

$10 billion for MISSLE DEFENSE? From WHOM?!?
Take Action @ True Majority:
http://action.truemajority.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10171

White House prevented attacks on Nicholas Berg's killer
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4431601/

Bumbling simpleton or shrewd manipulator?
As usual, Morford puts it best...
www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford/

Finally, a Democrat with balls -- and it's a woman!
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/05/20/pelosi.bush/index.html

What four more years of Bush could mean
http://www.prospect.org/web/view-print.ww?id=7507

The Iranian Spy in the House of Bush
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/052604A.shtml

Oil Money And A Smart Energy Policy Don't Mix
http://www.ariannaonline.com/columns/column.php?id=713
Great TV ad! http://www.outofgas.com/popup.html

Enron Traders Caught on Tape
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/06/01/eveningnews/main620626.shtml

If it won't load, keep trying, it's worth it...
http://www.fahrenheit911.com/trailer/

Marjorie Cohn | Bush the Would-Be Torturer
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/060904A.shtml

Robert Scheer | A Nice Guy's Nasty Policies
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-scheer8jun08,1,5524696.column

The Last Noble Defender of the American Republic
http://www.alternet.org/story.html?StoryID=18888

Bill Moyers | The Fight of Our Lives
http://www.alternet.org/story/18954/

Robert Fist | Iraq, 1917 (History repeats itself again...)
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/061804D.shtml

New York Times: "Show Us The Proof"
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/19/opinion/19SAT1.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/062004A.shtml#1

Because Dubya Said So!
http://www.sfgate.com/columnists/morford

Al Gore unleashes another humdinger!
"Our Founders and the Unbalance of Power"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/062504E.shtml

Fahrenheit 9/11 Leads Box Office Sales
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/062804I.shtml

Joe Klein | Plenty More to Swear About
http://www.time.com/time/columnist/klein/article/0,9565,658285,00.html

27 diplomats and military leaders agree
http://www.diplomatsforchange.com/project/statement.shtml

House GOP by 1 Vote Holds Patriot Act
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/071004Z.shtml

Bush Administration Seeking Authority to Postpone Election
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=5637434

Senate Rejects Bid to Ban Same-Sex Marriage!
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/071504Y.shtml

"Democracy, the Internet, and the Overthrow of Everything"
http://www.joetrippi.com/intro

"Cheney Attacked Fight Against Terror While Abroad"
http://daily.misleader.org/ctt.asp?u=1140116&l=46888

RED-STATE AMERICA AGAINST ITSELF
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19275/

The American Conservative | How to Lose the War on Terror
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/072804L.shtml

Paul Krugman | Triumph of the Trivial
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/30/opinion/30krugman.html
OR http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/073104E.shtml

Bruce Springsteen | Chords for Change
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/opinion/05bruce.html
OR http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/080604Z.shtml

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful - and so are we," the US
president told a high-level meeting of Pentagon officials.
 "They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our
people - and neither do we."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/3541706.stm

George W. Bush slugs rugby opponent
http://www.thismodernworld.com/weblog/mtarchives/week_2004_08_08.html#001687

New CIA Director: "I am not qualified"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/081504B.shtml

Study: Major Changes from Warming
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/081904G.shtml

Back to Kansas
http://www.alternet.org/election04/19611/

Swift Boat Skipper: Anti-Kerry Vets Not There that Day
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/082204Y.shtml
and http://www.chicagotribune.com

NY Times |  A Chill in Florida
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/082404J.shtml

No RNC Poster Project
http://www.visualresistance.org/gallery.htm

International Herald Tribune | The Real Issue...
http://www.iht.com/articles/536111.html

Man who helped Bush dodge Vietnam to break silence!
http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2004/09/01/barnes60minutes/index_np.html
OR http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/090204W.shtml

Paul Krugman | Feel the Hate
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/03/opinion/03krugman.html?hp
OR http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/090404C.shtml

Just a coincidence...?
AP: 'U.S. death toll in Iraq passes 1,000 mark' ... 4:27 PM, Sept. 7th, 2004
AP: 'Ridge: Terrorists hope to disrupt election' ... 4:40 PM, Sept. 7th, 2004

AP: Memos Show Bush Suspended From Flying
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/091004Y.shtml OR
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040909/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_national_guard

New York Times | Preventive War: A Failed Doctrine
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/12/opinion/12sun1.html?hp
OR http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/091304Y.shtml

Nader 2000 Leaders Organize To Defeat Bush
http://www.vote2stopbush.com/
Five 9-11 Widows to Endorse Kerry
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/091504Z.shtml

Seymour Hersh: "Their idealism doesn't conform to reality"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/091904D.shtml

Where Kerry Stands on Iraq
http://slate.com/id/2106946

"What is the only institution more powerful than the United States government? It's the American people."
-- Eddie Vedder

John Eisenhower: Why I will vote for John Kerry for President
http://www.theunionleader.com/articles_showa.html?article=44657

Bush's hometown newspaper endorses... Kerry
http://www.iconoclast-texas.com/Columns/Editorial/editorial39.htm

Letters from soldiers in Iraq
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1319718,00.html

Looking for Votes, Finding America
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2004/10/07/volunteer/index.html
or http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/100804E.shtml

Scorched Earth Strategy
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6206022/site/newsweek/

Republican National Convention (Abridged)
http://home.earthlink.net/~houval/gopconstrm.mov

Kelpie Wilson | Four More Years for the Earth
http://www.truthout.org/environment.shtml

"Gosh, I just don't think I ever said I'm not worried about Osama bin Laden. It's kind of one of those exaggerations."
- George W. Bush, 10/13/04
"So I don't know where he is. Nor - you know, I just don't spend that much time on him really, to be honest with you. I...I truly am not that concerned about him."
- George W. Bush, 03/13/02
Watch it at http://mywebpages.comcast.net/atrios/notconcerned.wmv

Postwar Plan for Iraq "To Be Provided"
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/101804C.shtml OR
http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/9927782.htm

Bush predicts "We're not going to have any" casualties in Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/aol/story/2004/10/19/cnn_ALLPOLITICS_robertson.bush.iraq.html

FOCUS: 9/11 Mom: An Open Letter to George W. Bush
http://www.yubanet.com/artman/publish/article_14579.shtml

The American Conservative | Kerry's the One
http://www.amconmag.com/2004_11_08/cover1.html

100 Facts and 1 Opinion: The Non-Arguable Case Against the Bush Administration
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/1023-23.htm

SEYMOUR HERSH: MAN ON FIRE
http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/20309/

Iraq Explosives in Place After Invasion, Video Shows
http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S3723.html

Civilian Death Toll in Iraq Exceeds 100,000
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6649066

Osama Bin Laden is Still Alive
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/103004A.shtml

Watch this:
http://www.gnn.tv/content/eminem_mosh.html

Conservative Columnist Charley Reese: "Vote for a Man, not a Puppet"
http://reese.king-online.com/Reese_20040521/index.php

Colin Powell Believes U.S. is Losing Iraq war
http://www.truthout.org/docs_04/110104V.shtml