[Paddlewise] NOAA weather

On 4/27/05, Nick Schade <nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com> wrote:
> Last week PA Republican senator Rick Santorum proposed a bill that
> would prohibit federal meteorologists from competing with companies
> such as Surfline, AccuWeather and The Weather Channel. His proposal is
> that the information that we already pay for through our taxes would
> only be made available to corporations that would then RESELL the
> information you!

The US government has pursued this philosopy for some time believing that 
private enterprise funded with public funds provides better service than 
either a government service using public funds or a private service using 
private funds. Italy pursued a similar path in the last century. It is 
commonly called fascism. In fact, if you look up the definition of fascism 
you will see remarkable parallels to current US policy.

I do not suggest that the US is becoming a fascist state but it certainly is 
something to worry about given the nations paranoia. These things tend to 
creep up on you and bite you when you didn't expect it. The suspension of 
habeas corpus in the US is frightening in its own right and reminds me of 
this written by  Pastor Martin Niemvller.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

As corporations with government support gain ever greater control over our 
lives we might want to think about Niemvller's words in the context of 
creeping corporatism as well as civil rights.

Cheers

John Winters
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************