Change We Can Believe In?

In 1976, America was wrapping up the Vietnam era. Americans did not want to be Imperialists. The Americans losing sons sure as hell didn't feel like the profits justified the cost. The Communist threat wasn't scaring the citizenry any longer. Like Muhhammad Ali said, "Ain't no Vietnamese done nothing to me."

Have we killed many Al Qaeda recently?

The dollar is worth less. That means everything else is more expensive. When an Empire is faltering their money is worth less... That's change you can believe in. Doesn't matter whether you believe it or not though, the reality is as it is.

In 1976, Americans elected Jimmy Carter President. President Carter was a peace loving man. At the end of his Presidency it was said, "not one American soldier had died in armed conflict during his Presidency". It was also during his Presidency that the price of oil first jumped toward that dollar figure has now tripled. I think I read, 'thus began the greatest transfer of wealth in history from one part of the world to another.' ...That was change we can believe in.

It was cool to be Sheik, and Georgetown had a lot of rich middle eastern kids partying in the clubs, driving expensive sport cars, being cool. Students in America with money...

It was also During the Carter administration that 'the Islamic Revolution' started, and coincidentally The Shah of Iran (a longtime Western Ally was removed). Oil supplies were interrupted. Gas prices forced lifestyle adjustments for the poor. And the middle class groaned a little.

...The Iranian students in America were caught on the wrong side of the line and the party ended a little soon for them. Empires do disappear ...That's a change we can believe in!

It was also during the Carter administration that Iran's leader, The Ayatollah Khomeini declared America, 'the Great Satan'.

Our Sovereign Soil in Iran (the American Embassy in Tehran) was seized and the American employees were taken hostage. Held until Ronald Reagan took office, altogether over a year later. It was a superpower held powerless.

The hostage incident was a disgrace and embarassment to The United States. The Ayatollah allowing Iranian 'students' to seize our Embassy in Tehran and hold the hostages for a year was an act of war, and when the United States didn't step up and kick their ass, well, it made us look weak (looking weak is not particularly good for an empire, especially an Imperialistic Empire). Iran has been attacking the United States ever since. They have raised two generations of American flag burning, freedom Haters. They say that America is a spreading an evil that must be annihilated. In the mind of the 'Holier than Thou', there is no negotiating with that evil. And until Iran gets a taste of that can of 'whoop ass' that they've been begging for going on thirty years, they will continue to disrespect the United States time and time again! ...That's a change we can believe in.

Is the Surge really working? Or is it a Republican ploy to elect Sen. John McCain? Do that and waste more money and lives trying to save the world (and steal oil that's ruining the place anyway) ...A change we can believe in: Alternate fuel sources.

President Carter set up an Alternate fuel Commision, but funding was cut from the budget once his administration left office. Something about our Empire shrinking. There is always a grab for the money going on, and on the fringes of the Empire, on the borders, the grab is one way or the other; shrinking or enlarging, it's war ...That's a change we can believe in.

Revolution is a change we can believe in. It's the need for change, not necessarily the "Change". Historically change usually comes with the Guillotine a new branch of the Royal family. These day though, Saddam got the noose and Iraq a puppet government. Maybe, that's why Iran doesn't want to see America in the Middle East. Their own country's Islamic revolution just thirty years old... Bit too close for comfort.

Thirty years ago, we agreed, America does not want to be an Imperialistic, Gun Boat Diplomacy, Nuclear Threat of a nation that sees the world as an Empire to be conquered. That was a change we believed in in 1976. It is a change we still believe in in 2008. The difference in 2008 is: America must not walk out of the Middle East without giving The Iranian Revolutionary Guard that Bitch Slap! And we better elect a President who knows how to Deliver it!

(This is not a Hillary Clinton ad)