Reality Check. . .

Some Have The Ability To See The Actual Reality - Here Are But A Few...
by The Old Hippie, Important Reads, For The Knowledge Alone.

A listing of recent, and current, articles of importance, and interest beyond "just politics."  News, information, and informed opinion with a reality-based perspective. All of which were selected for the over-all impact of the information/opinion each present - and the fact that they are damn hard to find in the American corporate media, if at all, and when found there, they're usually buried, or twisted by the wants of political theater and profit, over the needs of the public interest. All selections are “Below The Fold,” and are also clearly linked to their original sources. I have strived to make sure all of the selections are fair, balanced, and reality-based.  Not the biased partisan propaganda pretending to be news, which has reached such a level as to be a real danger to the continuing existence of our democracy.

(by The Propaganda Remix Project)

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Blackwater too Hardcore for International Mercenary Association
by Matt Stoller, Dec. 31, 2007

“The International Peace Operations Association, which is the trade association for mercenaries inspired by the efforts of mercenary group Executive Outcomes to end the Sierra Leone Civil War, has parted ways with Blackwater.  Apparently Blackwater doesn't want to follow the group's conduct code, the "set of ethical and professional guidelines for companies in the peace and stability operations industry."  Initially Blackwater, a member in good standing since 2004, agreed to be reviewed by the group after the accusations that the company killed 17 Iraqis in Baghdad last month.  Now they don't want to be reviewed.”

Full Article Link

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Millions in the Slammer: ...
by Nomi Prins, Dec. 30, 2007

We Must Reverse America's Zeal to Incarcerate - The U.S. has the most prisoners and
the highest jailing rate of any country -- The insanity must stop.

Full Article Link

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The Five Iraqs
by Scott Ritter, Dec. 30, 2007

“There are, in fact, five Iraqs that must be dealt with by a singular American policy.
The first is...”

Full Article Link

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Oligarchical Decay
by Glenn Greenwald, Dec. 30, 2007

“In case after case, our political establishment has adopted the “principle” that our most powerful actors are immune from the rule of law.  And they’ve adopted the enabling supplemental “principle” that any information which our political leaders want to keep suppressed is — by definition, for that reason alone — information that is “classified” and should not be disclosed.”

Full Article Link

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Big Brother, Inc.: Politics & Power
by James Verini at Vanity Fair, Dec. 13, 2007

“Knowing your business is big business for Aristotle Inc., whose Orwellian database of voter records has been an essential campaign tool for every president since Ronald Reagan.  As the 2008 race heats up, the company’s shadowy founder, John Aristotle Phillips, unveils his most powerful personal-space invader yet.”

Full Article Link