The environment is one of those issues near and dear to our hearts here at Four Freedoms Blog, and with several environment-related news stories all breaking this morning, I thought I would give a quick look-see at them, starting with the most distressing...
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37 comments (Latest Comment: 05/24/2011 03:15:42 by Raine)

Good Morning!

It's been a whirlwind week...after all of my training, the hard work now begins.

But I'll take a step back first and try to explain what has just happened to a group of volunteers. (Remember that - the 'volunteer' part is important.)

Back in April, 45 candidates and a staff of 16 trooped out to a place called Camp Norse in Kingston, MA. Even though we were all adult leaders of various experience, we started at the beginning. Each of us was assigned to a Cub Scout Den, and with our Den Chiefs, we spent the morning in various instruction and activity.

At lunch, we had our "Blue & Gold Banquet" and were graduated to Gilwell Troop 1, and I became a member of the Bear Patrol. Somehow, I managed to get myself elected first day Patrol Leader.
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5 comments (Latest Comment: 05/22/2011 14:22:08 by BobR)

As our economy continues to languish, limping slowly towards recovery, federal tax revenue has lagged. That - plus the wars in the Middle East - have helped rachet up the budget deficits and national debt. Republicans call for cuts to "entitlements" (Medicare and Social Security) while Democrats have advocated for raising taxes on those who have reaped huge benefits from the tax policies of the previous decade.

That would include industries that make record profits and pay little in taxes. In particular, that would include the oil companies. The average profit (that's profit after expenses, not gross) for the top 5 oil companies is over $3000/sec. That means that in the 2 minutes it takes you to read this blog, the average oil company will collect over $360,000 in profit. Does this sound like a company that needs a tax break? No? Well Republicans in Congress seem to think so.
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50 comments (Latest Comment: 05/19/2011 20:49:38 by Raine)

Good Morning.

Today is our 2,981st day in Iraq and our 3,509th day in Afghanistan.

We'll start this morning as we always do; with the latest casualties from on ongoing wars, courtesy of Antiwar.com:

Since war began (3/19/03): 4452
Since "Mission Accomplished" (5/1/03): 4311
Since Handover (6/29/04): 363
Since Obama Inauguration (1/20/09): 224
Since Operation New Dawn: 34

Other Coalition Troops - Iraq: 318
US Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 1,566
Other Military Deaths - Afghanistan: 875
Contractor Employee Deaths - Iraq: 1,487
Journalists - Iraq: 348
Academics Killed - Iraq: 448

We find this morning's Cost of War passing through:

$ 1, 195, 514, 750, 000 .00
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43 comments (Latest Comment: 05/18/2011 01:22:44 by Raine)

Continuing our look at the candidates for the End of the World presidential election we'll focus today on Ron Paul who recently threw his hat into the ring this past Friday the 13th.

Ron Paul is a Doctor (Ob-Gyn) and father of 5, including one son - Rand Paul (R-KY) - that serves in the House alongside his father. His other children are Ronald Paul, Rufus "Ru" Paul, Richard Paul, and daughter Ronald-Ayn Paul-Johnson-Smyth
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8 comments (Latest Comment: 05/16/2011 03:14:40 by Raine)