Howdy, Folks! Please note that the following was written over six years ago, when Clinton was still in office! But, guess what? NOTHING has changed! Well, to be more precise, nothing has IMPROVED - many issues have gotten WORSE!

Upon re-discovering this old piece in my files today, I first thought "Gee, maybe this should go in my BLOG." But, who really reads that CRAP? Ranting and Raving should be presented on the Front Page somewhere, doncha' think?

Anyway, if the following diatribe at least makes you open your mind a little bit, and perhaps forces you to actually "USE" your lil grey cells - then maybe, just maybe, a few of you will decide to actually ACT upon it?

Someone much wiser than I once wrote:
"Thy Actions Alone Determine Thy Worth!"

PEACE! Tom.

Truth Be Told?

       COPYRIGHT: May 21, 1998
      By: Thomas K. Hyland, Jr.


If our Government Officials (especially Senator John McCain, his Committee, and our illustrious Chief Executive Officer [who "didn’t inhale]), and even more auspiciously, our Media Reporters (you know, those people who "report" only one side of the issue, and suppress any possible factual, scientific evidence to the contrary) are so sincerely concerned about the so-called "pediatric epidemic" of our Nation’s teenagers (actual first-hand smoking, which they "claim" as being the worst "killer" of our Children), as well as the environmental impact of "second-hand" smoking on their constituents (and ratings, controlling viewers, respectively), THEN WHY SHOULDN'T THE FOLLOWING CONCERNS BE REGARDED AS EQUALLY, IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT ISSUES:



A. War on Drugs (gee, have any of them checked the "score" lately?).

Isn’t it strange that?: marijuana, cocaine, heroin, opium, and every other conceivable ILLEGAL drug which can be smoked, sniffed, snorted, or mainlined into the schools of America, somehow just get worse, and worse, and worse? These are, have been, and probably will forever be supposedly against the LAW. Committees met, Senates sat, legislation was passed, laws enacted, "pushers" pushed, users locked up, "goods" captured and confiscated; yet, somehow, ENFORCEMENT is sadly lacking. The same "repeat" offenders just obtain a "Get Out of Jail Free" card, and then repeat the CYCLE.

Oh, speaking of Jail, you know, that place where inmates: eat better, get better medical attention, obtain free education, use all of the wonderful exercise equipment to build muscles to use against society to better overwhelm their victims when they get out again, somehow manage to smoke plentiful tobacco products more freely than "we" do, receive newer "on-the-job" training by the "Pros" so they can "move up" or expand their levels of crime upon being released again on society, and finally, seem to have better access and control of more "dope" than they ever had on the "outside." Gee, what a Surprise! Could it possibly be that the penalties are not quite "stiff" enough? Is it possible that the so-called "deterrents" simply did not, have not, and never will . . . WORK? Let’s call this phenomena "OSTRICH SYNDROME #1".

How come the Morning, Evening, and Nightly NEWS daily "bombards" us
with heart-rendering, tear-jerking, sad, sad tales and scenarios of our children being: massacred, innocently "gunned" down in the cross-fires of opposing "drug wars" of gold-wearing, Jaguar-driving, money-wielding, obviously non-caring "successful" perpetrators? How about the child victims of: stabbings, sometimes because some "fruitcake" simply wants the kid’s jacket, or deaths because of over-doses, or "sniffing" glue, or other easily obtainable, legally purchased, chemical-based household products . . . just who is bothering to gather such statistics? Who is honestly reporting the totals, so we may know the "facts"? When and where are they being "reported?"

BUT, "they" would like to conveniently change the subject, to have us believe that "smoking" is the greatest threat to our children. How ASININE do "they" think the American public is? Talk about "cover-ups," talk about highly biased, masterful PROPAGANDA . . . These guys are really, really SHARP!

Well, if one would consider for just a moment the mentality employed by the omniscient "Wall Street" advertising industry, who portrays the average American consumer in most of their highly expensive "Ads" as a "brain-dead, stupid, illogical NUMBSKULL" . . . and guess what? ... ironically enough, "we" must be so! WHY, you may ask? Simple, instead of being offended, instead of "BOYCOTTING" every atrocious ad for each and every product, "we" slurp down our beers, and rush right out to buy that which should have made us "mad as hell" in the first place. Like I said before, these guys (and gals) are REALLY GOOD!

Ah, but I diverse from the issue at hand, GULLIBILITY! "They" have the proven track record to back them up . . . "we" must be so gullible, or so naive, that any "HOGWASH," or "BULL-CRAP," or "HORSE-FEATHERS" (as Teddy Roosevelt might have said) will be quickly believed, absorbed, acted upon, without question or intelligence, and "they" can then start working on the next campaign, or "BIG LIE."

B. Radon Levels - were tests ever done? If so, what were the results? Were they made available to employees? Does anyone know?

This is another issue of greater proportion than this article can address at this time. However, several years ago, I wrote a "piece" questioning what I called, "Another of Big Brother’s Cover-ups." Thus far, no publisher has been found who will print it.

The basic gist is: it is highly probable that many, if not most, of the so-called "scientific evidence" of cases of lung cancer and deaths, may have been caused by Radon in people’s own homes; but, no one has even addressed this possibility, let alone incorporated it into any of the ETS "studies." Within the short span of about ten years, Radon’s presence went from "a few pockets" interspersed across our nation, to "many areas," to "maybe some" in the glorious state of Maryland, to "almost every county," to just about every basement in America. This silent, but deadly "KILLER" has been found in some homes, so concentrated, that it was equated to the owners "smoking three or four packs of cigarettes a day . . . EACH! Their home had to be "bull-dosed" and they had to be re-located.

Now, don’t get me wrong, most concentrations which have been "reported" were not as severe, and only required the installation of an exhaust fan. But, the point is, Radon is a radioactive substance, abounding in the earth, and has been around probably for centuries, yet, our "concerned" leaders FAILED TO TELL US ABOUT IT!

No one, including the powerful, wealthy Tobacco Industry, has ever drawn any correlation to Radon and "lung cancer." Quite frankly, I personally think they "missed the boat." Ultimately, the question still stands, "Who really cares enough to seek the truth, and then print it?" Is it within the realm of possibility that we have all been subject to a "Homo sapiens epidemic" far more widespread and important than the so-called "pediatric epidemic?" We’ll probably never know, because "Big Brother" doesn’t think we’re capable of fathoming such scientific truth.

 

C. Lead Poisoning - via Water Supply - Was your water ever tested for lead contents? If so, were two different samples sent to the laboratory (one from "standing" water inside interior pipes, and one from "purged" water, after water is allowed to run several minutes, to ascertain lead levels in exterior supply lines)? If so, were the tests done after the building was renovated? Are we sure that the proper "unleaded" solder was used throughout all of the copper "sweating" in your home or office?
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A former issue of Consumer Reports strongly recommended that all households and all businesses in America, get these tests performed. How many major metropolitan centers are still pumping "treated" drinking water through ancient, turn-of-the-century, cast-iron or even galvanized pipes? Does anyone know? Does anyone care? Where are your tax dollars being spent, in this regard?

As a corollary, what about the lead particles floating around in the air, from the exhaust pipes of the millions of cars still allowed to burn "Leaded Gasoline?" Why are the petroleum companies still allowed to produce this poisonous stuff? Meanwhile, the attorneys of America are reaping fortunes, suing landlords for lead poisoning of children! Hello . . . what’s wrong with this picture? Are the kids really eating the paint off the walls? I don’t think so! Could it be something else? Are the wrong "culprits" being sued? Who knows? Who cares?

D. Air Quality - considering that many buildings utilize outside air intakes, which are rarely ever fully closed, this means that they are always drawing in outside air. Considering the recent reports of a large cloud of "smog" hovering over metropolitan Baltimore, just how "safe" is the air we are constantly importing into the places we spend most of our waking hours, rather than filtering and recycling known clean air? Again, who knows? Who cares?

 

Anhydrous Ammonia Fumes - In all of the Printing and Reproduction Shops across America, even with exhaust fans running, some of the fumes still escape out into the basement halls, other offices, and even the stairwells, and levels above, not to mention the "smokestacks" dispensing voluminous clouds into the ambient atmosphere.

When large jobs are run, and the finished pages are being accumulated, the fumes coming off the copies alone, are almost choking to the uninitiated, those not totally oblivious to the rancor, (because of growing "immune" to it, from years and years of exposure). Even though the parts-per-million (tested perhaps twice per year, if we are "lucky") may be within the Federal EPA's guidelines, when "leaks" or accidents occur, what level of "doses" are we being exposed to? When it burns your nostrils, and makes your eyes water - it sure as hell can't be "good" for you! I, for one, personally experienced the physical and emotional impact of the "tear gas chamber" while in Basic Training in the U.S. Army, and "It" was less offensive!

E. Chemicals - All across America, night and day, day in, day out, manufacturing plants continuously spew out their deadly poisons. Fuming smokestacks, acid rain, carbon monoxide from millions and millions of gas-guzzling internal combustion engines, toxic diesel fumes from MTA busses and Semi’s, smog, all of these and more, are not only slowly destroying our Ozone Layer, and causing the "Green-House Effect," but also, they are silently, but surely killing our plants, animals, and even our citizens! But, isn’t this supposed to be illegal?

What ever happened to the "Big Deal" made years ago about this solitary issue? Where has all the ENFORCEMENT gone? Are the Laws still on the Books? Let’s just "slap them on the wrist" with some measly fines, let them continue to poison us, and then, go after some other "fish to fry." After all, we wouldn’t want to do anything adverse to the good old "Profit Incentive" would we?

Which of these chemicals which we are being "bathed in" daily, are carcinogens? Which ones release noxious fumes when and while being used for cleaning? for sanitizing? for killing weeds and bugs? for fertilizing crops, fruits, vegetables, our lawns? Who really knows? Who cares? Who really gives a "Tinker’s Damn?"

Oh! Lest we forget, what about all the billions of charcoal briquettes, which we all burn on our millions of charcoal grills, so we can create our own little self-destructive carcinogenic steaks, hot dogs, and hamburgers? What sheer Folly! Now, don’t get me wrong, I love the taste also, and I’m just as stupid or hardheaded as the next guy! If I want to poison me, it’s okay, but don’t you do it! Are we not entitled to exercise our Freedom of Choice? Certainly! Is bacon, in fact, a carcinogen? "They" say it is! Who gives a "Rat’s Rectum?" If we want to eat it, then we will! BUT by individual CHOICE, NOT by DICTATE!

If a nonsmoker (of tobacco, that is) wants to pollute the world with his little "cookout," along with my personal back yard, my patio, as well as the interior of my house, with his "yummy-smelling" burnt flesh . . . THAT’S OKAY! It’s JUST charcoal, lighter fluid, ink from newsprint, and old rust from the unsanitary grill, with maybe a minuscule portion of aluminum foil, or some burned hickory chunks . . . no big deal!

BUT . . . I better not light up a "silly-millimeter’s" worth of offensive, low tar, less nicotine, Ultra-Light, filtered, smoke-producing tobacco! IT would be against the law! IT would be called "second-hand smoke," or ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke).


     GIM’ME A BREAK!!!!

F. Asbestos Removal - even though a crew of "Green-Card" carrying Mexicans, who can't even speak English, (you know, those people who are supposedly "stealing" jobs from Americans, when really they do the despicable jobs that no one else is willing to do), anyway, these guys who look like stand-ins from the movie, "The Right Stuff," wear white suits with masks, and breathing apparatuses during the removal. When they finish a building, does anyone actually TEST the building, inspect same, and check the air purity for airborne particles? That is, before the occupancy occurs? Are such buildings certified afterwards? Hopefully . . . if not, such an important issue could have long-term disastrous results.

Where, oh where, are our astute Chumpions"  [intentional attempt to "coin" a word to describe power-hungry politicians] on this issue?



G. AIDS - *** ever bother reading the Law about Rights? Why is it that the rights of the majority of employees has to be jeopardized to protect the so-called rights of privacy of those few employees tested positive with the HIV virus? What are the business owners doing to protect us? What about our Right-To-Know? Isn't it rather strange that one Federal Agency says that employees have an enforceable "Right-To-Know" about hazardous chemicals and/or substances ... yet, another says we have NO Right-To-Know about much more hazardous, as well as possibly contagious and deadly PEOPLE? Face it, we all know now that a prior employee is now dead ... not infected, not sick, not dying, but D.E.A.D.!!!

Do you ever think about how close that "fellow" ever was to you? Did he touch you? Did he leave any of his "bodily fluids" on any of the lavatory fixtures while he was here? Did he wash his hands thoroughly, all the time, when he used the facility? Again, who knows, and, who cares? Certainly not our "Chumpions."

H. Alcohol and Drug Abuse - look up the real, proven statistics of deaths, maimings, and other losses. Could be more than all the smoke combined, huh? But, who cares about truth? Blame it on "Mikey." Let us play "ostrich" and bury our heads in the sand, regarding the really important proven safety issues, while at the same time blaming every little thing on the lousy, stinking, no-good smoker, right?

After all, Real Statistics, like ACTUAL DEATHS attributable to:

Homicides, Genocides, Suicides, Auto, Train, and Airplane accidents, Fires and Explosions, Hurricanes, Tornados, and other Natural Disasters, OSHA and MOSH and WORKERS COMPENSATION violations, are becoming boring, because there's no Mystique, or Question of Probability, right?

So, let’s discriminate against smokers, they are a minority, there’s only FIFTY MILLION of them, that’s only about 17 percent of the population, what could these oxygen-starved, "brain-dead" misfits possibly do?

Ask me again, after the next election!

So, let’s stir up some controversy, print and quote FALSE or unscientific EPA reports, and cause the greater majority of American citizens to discriminate against their own mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, relatives and neighbors, friends and associates.

Whether you care to admit it or not, this current trend is akin to that of NAZI Germany, before, during, and after World War II. While recently visiting the web-site of FORCES, an organization located in California, I discovered the article cited below. Whether you are a smoker or not, I strongly recommend that you just read it, then draw your own conclusions. It can be found on the World Wide Web at: www.forces.org/pages/reich.htm 

When enough tension and fear are created, through the use of propaganda, and fear of reprisal, then an individual will report his own blood family to the so-called "authorities" out of a frenzied self-preservation. TRUTH matters not, JUSTICE matters not, FREEDOM matters not . . . the CONTROL by "Big Brother," is paramount! 

         "HORSE-FEATHERS!"

King George, along with his Whigs and Tories from Parliament, as well as "all the king’s men" were never ever going to put this "Humpty-Dumpty back together again." Yet, the American colonists did!

The Boston Tea Party was a result of patriots who simply had enough, "Taxation without Representation." Does this sound familiar? Let them take your hard-earned money, and then use it against you!

Now, here’s a good word, "representatives," when was the last time any of these so-called persons actually had your interests at heart, and actually put something on the books which helped you or your family?

Remember when the Maryland State Lottery was going to generate revenues for the state, and our taxes would go down? Check the history of your Real Estate taxes. Mine have almost doubled in ten years! Sure, sure, your representatives have your best interest at heart . . . Sure!

"They" pass laws which "feather" their beds, and their special interest groups and lobbyists, then tell us to "tighten our belts" and sacrifice, and at the same time, give themselves FAT RAISES, along with more FREE BENEFITS and PERKS. "They" send their kids to expensive private schools and colleges, as well as get them either deferrals from service in the Military, or high-paying ranks as Officers, upon graduation from exclusive Academies.

"They" live in beautiful mansions protected by fences and alarm systems, drive luxury cars (or are chauffeured in expensive limousines), all of which are paid for by our tax dollars. Nice work, if you can get it . . . ah, but keeping it, "there lies the rub." Yet, the same ones keep getting reelected . . . how Come?

Every American citizen who is eligible to vote has the duty to usurp these "Chumpions" . . . at every election, at every level of government, for each and every position, we have the power to:

"DUMP THE ZERO . . . GET A HERO."

Speaking of Heros: every man, woman, and child that ever had their blood spilled fighting for America’s freedoms, from the dawn of our Heritage in 1776, through the ensuing centuries, to today, and even forward into the new millennium . . . your Great-Grand-Parents, your Grand-Parents, your Fathers and Mothers, your Sisters and Brothers, your Aunts and Uncles, your Nieces and Nephews, your Cousins . . . they would all turn over in their graves, to think that YOU were too lazy, or too apathetic, or too cowardly to STAND UP FOR WHAT IS RIGHT! AMERICANS . . . WAKE UP . . . SMELL THE GARBAGE . . . GET OFF YOUR FAT DUFFS, AND SPEAK YOUR CONSCIENCE . . . GET INVOLVED . . . WRITE YOUR CONGRESSMEN and ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES. OUR FREEDOMS ARE BEING "WHITTLED AWAY," WHILE WE DROWN IN OUR OWN APATHY, GLUED TO THE TELEVISION, AND GETTING FATTER AND LAZIER BY THE NANOSECOND. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

Freedom of Speech, Freedom of Religion, Freedom of Assembly, Freedom of Choice, The Pursuit of Happiness, The Right to Vote, The Right to Bear Arms, The Right to Own Property, The Right to Worship, and More, More, More . . . are they just words? Do they mean nothing to you? If your blood isn’t close to boiling by now, then roll over and play dead . . . because you already might as well be so!

In late 1776, Thomas Paine, pamphleteer and soldier, in his series, The Crisis, wrote:

"These are the times that try men’s souls: the summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
© May 21, 1998
By: Thomas K. Hyland, Jr.

POSTSCRIPT

A week or so ago 2004,
in one of its segments, "60 Minutes" aired an interesting bit of "trivia" which may have opened another whole new "can of worms" -
an Expose' on a SECRET SOCIETY founded at YALE known as the
SKULL and BONES -
and guess what, Pilgrim?
BOTH BUSH AND KERRY ARE MEMBERS!

GEE! will it really MATTER
who you vote for?

The Controlling
CHUMPIONS
WIN EITHER WAY!

DUH !!!