PACIFICA COMMENTARY FOR DECEMBER 17, 2004

Hello, this is Blase Bonpane with a comment. Tyranny is the arbitrary or unrestrained

exercise of power or the despotic abuse of authority by the government.

During this time of year we recall the tyrant Herod and how he ordered the death of all

of the children under the age of two in Bethlehem. They were called the Holy Innocents.

The parents of Jesus were advised that they should get out of the country immediately

so their son would not be killed. They became illegal aliens in Egypt until such time

as it was possible to return quietly to their homeland.

And such it is today. Thousands of members of the armed services have fled, civilians are

leaving the country as war crimes continue in Iraq. Tyrants lie because they

believe they have a right to define truth.

Washington says, "We think you have a nuclear bomb, therefore we are going to kill

you. You ask why we can have thousands of nuclear bombs? Do you have a problem

with that? Do you want to fight about it? " Far more would be accomplished by having

tea with various world leaders.

Now that the high powered hype of political campaigns is over we can actually get a

handle on what the majority of our citizens want. Here are a few examples:

The majority of people in the United States believe we should accept the jurisdiction of

the International Criminal Court. The majority of the people in the United States believe

that we should accept the Kyoto Accords on the environment. A large majority of our

citizens believe that the United Nations and not the United States should take the lead in

matters of security, reconstruction and political transition in Iraq.

Overwhelming majorities of the public (some 80%) favor expansion of domestic

programs, primarily health care, education and social security. As we might expect, the

current claims that Social Security is bankrupt are classic administration falsehoods..

80% favor guaranteed health care even if it would raise taxes.

Friends we use the word tyranny because the government is acting in direct opposition to

the needs and desires of its citizens. We must continue our day to day efforts to

have a functioning democratic culture in which the public plays a role in determining

policy.

As he grew into adulthood, Jesus referred to King Herod as a fox. Similarly we

have a fox in our chicken coup.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

For a free copy of this commentary please call, 323/852-9808....323/852-9808

This is Blase Bonpane.