“I love my country, but fear my government.”
On January 20, as part of the counter-inauguration, get out that flag you bought after 9/11 and fly or hang it upside down.
This is totally supported by the United States Flag Code:
UNITED STATES CODETITLE 36 - PATRIOTIC SOCIETIES AND OBSERVANCES CHAPTER 10 - PATRIOTIC CUSTOMS § 176 Respect for flag
No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America; the flag should not be dipped to any person or thing. Regimental colors, State flags, and organization or institutional flags are to be dipped as a mark of honor.
(a) The flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property.
If what we are in right now isn't "extreme danger to life and property" and "dire distress", than I don't know what is.
also
Billionaires for Bush Plan to Auction Social Security at Inauguration
Plutocrats Launch Comprehensive Legislative Champaign
Washington, D.C. January 12, 2005 — Billionaires for Bush (B4B), activists for the corporate elite, today announced their festive program to celebrate the enthronement of their money’s electoral victory on January 20th, Their inaugural program will kick off several multiyear legislative campaigns, or “champaigns” to help them realize above-market returns on their presidential investment.
First on the bill, the Billionaires will cash in on the Social Security gravy train, by holding an auction of Social Security on the grounds of the FDR Memorial in Washington, D.C. at 10:30 AM while Bush is making his way to the Capitol for his inaugural speech.
“Corporatizing Social Security Accounts will fatten wealthy brokers’ wallets for generations to come” noted Cassius King, the Billionaires for Bush Minister of Theoretical Finance. The wags at the Securities Industry Association point out that Bush’s corporatization plan will give “a paltry” $39 billion to securities firms over the next 75 years. Another Billionaire, Alan Greenspend put the giveaway in context: “$39 billion is only 100 times the $350 aid package for tsunami victims promised by the Bush administration. Bear in mind that Indonesian tsunami victims hardly gave any money at all to the Bush 2004 campaign. This is our due, if not more.” The Securities Industry Association points out that if Bush’s Social Security corporatization plan were “reformed” even more, brokerage firms in their industry could realize at least $279 billion over the same time period.[NOTE 1]
Though the jokesters at the SIA refer to the $39 billion as forming only “a paltry 1.2%” of the entire revenue of the financial sector, they do not talk about the larger figure being 8.5%. “I bust a gut when I read that report,” purred Iona Bigga Yacht, Billionaire National Field Coordinator, “People in the SIA know that the industry relies on fees of .025 percent up to .1 percent, so “paltry” beside 1.2% was a delicious give-away to the whole joke!” Mr. King agreed, “If $39 billion sounds paltry, consider that it is more than a 100,000% return on the $36 million our industry invested in electing this guy. Yes, that’s a percent with five zeros and no decimal point in it.”[NOTE 2]
The Billionaire auction will be at the FDR Memorial on the Tidal Basin, a tribute to the president who legislated Social Security against the protests of the extremely wealthy. "I relish the thought of that do-gooder cripple trying to turn in his grave without a nurse’s aide,” said wizened Billionaire for Bush founder and CEO Emeritus, Phil T. Rich. Mr. Rich continued "When Roosevelt ushered in Social Security with his so-called ‘New Deal’ we fought it like wildcats. Now Bush’s ‘Raw Deal’ shows us that Social Security can be a very remunerative cash cow for the wealthiest. If only we had back then the cynical opportunism that younger Billionaires have today.”
Sporting tuxedoes, furs, and great coats, the Billionaires will carry out the auction behind a huge backdrop declaring “Cashing out Your Children’s Future…Today!” and “Taking from Main Street, Giving to Wall Street!” “Social Security Corporatization is not just about stealing from the elderly,” said Billionaire Executive Co-Chair Monet Oliver D’Place, “because about 30% of the beneficiaries are orphans, widows, and the disabled.” [NOTE 3] Ms. Yacht demurred philosophically about whether the Billionaires were stealing from the orphans too, “How can you steal something if you already stole it before? A decade ago Alan Greenspan and we Billionaires got working people to pay in more of their paycheck to Social Security, and then Bush gave all that money to us Billionaires in the form of tax cuts. Now—big surprise—there’s no money in the fund, the horse is gone, and his answer is to give us the stable.”
In addition to Social Security, the Billionaires plan to auction off on the same stage the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve as part of their comprehensive Energy Plan, “Drain America First!” “If the oil industry’s estimates are correct,” noted Billionaire Co-Chair Meg A. Bucks, “the ANWR has enough reserves—if extracted at great expense and difficulty—to supply the United States for two whole years! My Hummer trumps your tundra!” Energy company executives, flush from the $34 billion of giveaways in the 2002 Bush (Cheney) energy plan, are expected to bid with more than their wonted irrational exuberance. [NOTE 4]
Part of the proceeds from the auction will be used to finance the Billionaires’ Re-Coronation Inaugural Ball, a lavish affair held in the exclusive grounds of a former bank, Platinum Nightclub. Details about the ball are available at:
http://www.billionairesforbush.com/dc/ball.htm
Details about the auction and other Billionaire inaugural events are available at :
http://www.billionairesforbush.com/dc/inaugural.htm
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