believe it is imperative; now is is the time for everyone to be involved in the future of our nation. We are being pushed and pulled by a government that tells us to be afraid, very afraid, of "terrorists" while at the same time they say we should "live normally, travel and spend."

There is a very real danger we face - religious fanatics and their terrorist allies who have sworn to destroy us. We are at war. It is not a "war on terror". It is a war to preserve our freedom and civilization. What is at stake is the safety and future of our families, friends, children, grandchildren...and generations beyond. This is not a time for tax cuts, for sacrifice of the few for the many, for giving brave soldiers shoddy equipment, for politicized generals, for awarding no-bid contracts that bilk taxpayers and deplete our treasury, for lies and deception, for political bickering and vicious partisanship...

This is a time to assert that "We the People", are, by our Constitution, the government. It is time to take back our country from politicians whose votes and loyalties have been bought by "special interests". It is time to stop listening to a failed and controlled media that beats the drum of fear, and partisan, babbling pundits who tell us what to think. It is time to expose political party hacks and multi-national corporations whose interests are ego, greed and power, and whose loyalties are not vested within our borders or with our people. All of these elements combine to steal our democracy.

And, for the most part, "We the People" are silent because we think we cannot affect our future. BUT WE CAN!

The question is, where and how to start? I propose we focus in on something affects us all and change it:

Our addiction to fossil fuels; its ever increasing cost in dollars and degradation of our atmosphere, and our dependence on importing it from many who support those who have sworn to destroy us.

Not too long ago we were told that $50.00 a barrel for oil was the "top". The Saudis said that was even too high. Today it has passed $70.00 a barrel. Gasoline is over $3.25 a gallon "nationally" - much more in many states. Average people, working people, middle class and the poor are being bilked out of billions.

I say bilked because if you actually stop and evaluate the reasons we are given for the rising prices of oil, gas and coal based energy you will find obfuscations and lies that it is determined by a place called "The Market". What and who is this "market"? They say it is we, the consumers. But, in fact, it is really the producers, refiners, marketers and speculators whose goal is to drive up the price and get us used to paying more and more.

Here are a few ways they manipulate us with the help of our current government and media.

1- They make dire pronouncements that there will be a "worse than normal" hurricane season that will hurt natural gas and oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. Like last year? NOT.

2- Terrible strikes and civil unrest in Nigeria. Then it gets better. Then it gets worse. Un-oh. Can't trust those Nigerians.

3- Trouble in the Middle East. Always trouble in the Middle East. There has been trouble in the Middle East for 1500 years. The trouble is they have a cartel that fixes the price.

4- Russia is moving back toward dictatorship and they control a lot of oil. The specter of a new Cold War is raised.

5- Insurgent (or Al Qaeda) attacks on the Iraqi pipelines. But didn't our Vice President and Mr. Wolfowitz tell us that Iraqi oil was going to pay for that war? HAH!

6- The old American car companies saying, "We're only giving the public what they want (gas guzzlers)." But then Honda and Toyota surpass them by making more efficient cars. Now we are told that it "will be very expensive for American car makers to do that..." DUH!

7- Then we hear that there are gasoline shortages because we have clean air laws and different states require different mixtures so the refineries can't keep up. But it's been decades since new refineries were built. Shortages make demand and that gives reason for higher prices. And by the way, inventories are up - but so are the prices. What shortages?

8- When there is no longer a gasoline shortage we are told that the prices will come down but then, here it comes... We are told winter is coming and of course the government forecasts a terribly cold one. So there is a immediate shortage of heating oil because the refineries were too busy making gasoline. The media beats the fear drum like that crap is true. The oil and gas people say, "Gotcha!"

9- "Energy people believe we don't care. They know we need our cars and warmth and have no choice but to pay whatever price they fix. But they don't jump it too high at once. And sometimes, when some people begin to cut back, they drop the price and say something like, "The strike by oil workers in Nigeria is settled." But in a week or so the price creeps back up.

10- There are secret meetings to plan so-called federal energy policies between the Vice President and "energy executives". What they planned and who planned it is still a secret, but our energy costs are much higher today. I can see why they want anonymity. And what were some of these new energy policies we did hear about? Drill in Alaska. Drill offshore. Relax pollution restrictions on coal burning power facilities. Talk up nuclear. Encourage coal strip mining. Depletion tax breaks for oil companies.

11- From time to time there is lip-service paid about developing alternate fuel sources. Solar. Wind. Hydrogen. Ocean currents. Geo-thermal. And as the Earth warms and glaciers melt, our government says, "It needs more study!"

12- Prices at the pump and in our furnaces are in large part controlled by a monopoly called OPEC. Monopolies are against the law in this country. Saudi Arabia, who proclaims they are, "Our best allies and dearest friends in the war on terror," controls OPEC. So we pay any price to them, and they send money to the support the Madrassas that train people to kill us. Do they think that "We the People" are that stupid? YES!