| Chapter One of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| Our Gluttonous Way of Life |
If you have ever wondered why the United States of America spends more money on defense then the next 20 nations combined, you only
have to look closely at our society. We are the world’s most voracious consumers. To support a lifestyle of extreme energy use where with
less the five percent of the world’s people we consume 20% of the fossil fuels, we better have a massive military. Our country is a reflection of
the planet. It is diverse and tolerant of different religions, ethnic groups and political ides. But we have such abundance in food and material
comforts; we have become the most gluttonous society in human history. If there is one city that represents the excesses and extremes of
American society look no further then Las Vegas, Nevada. A night drive into sin city from east or west, presents the visitor with an immense
galaxy of bright lights and a big city with a whole lot of entertainment going on.
have to look closely at our society. We are the world’s most voracious consumers. To support a lifestyle of extreme energy use where with
less the five percent of the world’s people we consume 20% of the fossil fuels, we better have a massive military. Our country is a reflection of
the planet. It is diverse and tolerant of different religions, ethnic groups and political ides. But we have such abundance in food and material
comforts; we have become the most gluttonous society in human history. If there is one city that represents the excesses and extremes of
American society look no further then Las Vegas, Nevada. A night drive into sin city from east or west, presents the visitor with an immense
galaxy of bright lights and a big city with a whole lot of entertainment going on.
In a desert where no sane human would venture without plenty of water and protection from the heat, we have tara-formed this hostile
environment and built a city of over one million people. Without air conditioning the temperature will reach 120 degree in mid-July. Las
Vegas has tens of thousands of tourists annually. Mountains of food and rivers of alcohol are consumed by visitors from all over the world.
The conspicuous consumption of food and alcohol becomes an obsession for many.
Gluttony “[the] inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires”.1 There are dozens and dozens of buffets with cheap
subsidized food of incredible quality. A buffet with all you can eat can range from $12.99 for factory farm food complete with potatoes and
gravy to approximately $30.00 for the incredible world- class seafood buffet at the Rio.
The sheer quantity of food is truly amazing. In a country where obesity is a major health problem, we observe many tourists that are on
average 50 pounds overweight going back for thirds. There are the meats: elk, deer, bison, beef, lamb, pork and even wild boar. Then there
are the various types of breads: wheat, sour dough, rye, with grain and nut and on and on. Imagine and the food is there for your mouth to
enjoy over and over again. Finally we have the more exotic items like crab legs, scallops, lobster tails, octopus, squid, shrimp, tuna, salmon,
white fish, halibut and numerous other sea creatures. And we won’t even mention the numerous deserts which consist of everything from
chocolate cake to lime pie to chese cakes and whatever else you can desire
environment and built a city of over one million people. Without air conditioning the temperature will reach 120 degree in mid-July. Las
Vegas has tens of thousands of tourists annually. Mountains of food and rivers of alcohol are consumed by visitors from all over the world.
The conspicuous consumption of food and alcohol becomes an obsession for many.
Gluttony “[the] inordinate desire to consume more than that which one requires”.1 There are dozens and dozens of buffets with cheap
subsidized food of incredible quality. A buffet with all you can eat can range from $12.99 for factory farm food complete with potatoes and
gravy to approximately $30.00 for the incredible world- class seafood buffet at the Rio.
The sheer quantity of food is truly amazing. In a country where obesity is a major health problem, we observe many tourists that are on
average 50 pounds overweight going back for thirds. There are the meats: elk, deer, bison, beef, lamb, pork and even wild boar. Then there
are the various types of breads: wheat, sour dough, rye, with grain and nut and on and on. Imagine and the food is there for your mouth to
enjoy over and over again. Finally we have the more exotic items like crab legs, scallops, lobster tails, octopus, squid, shrimp, tuna, salmon,
white fish, halibut and numerous other sea creatures. And we won’t even mention the numerous deserts which consist of everything from
chocolate cake to lime pie to chese cakes and whatever else you can desire
We better enjoy the seafood while we can. Our oceans are over-fished to the point where many species are on the brink of extinction. What
is even more revolting about the excess of eating and the obesity of the mass of tourists, with their foul smells and belching, is the amount of
food that is wasted. Several crab legs are grabbed and set on a plate and approximately half are eaten. In a world where over 40,000
children die of starvation each day and over one billion people live on less than $2.00 dollars per day, our waste is truly appalling. The
foreign workers watch the tourists in amazement. Plate after plate of sea food is removed from the numerous tables as the crowds go back for
seconds and thirds and even fourths while the relatives of the workers are sometimes hungry in their home countries.
is even more revolting about the excess of eating and the obesity of the mass of tourists, with their foul smells and belching, is the amount of
food that is wasted. Several crab legs are grabbed and set on a plate and approximately half are eaten. In a world where over 40,000
children die of starvation each day and over one billion people live on less than $2.00 dollars per day, our waste is truly appalling. The
foreign workers watch the tourists in amazement. Plate after plate of sea food is removed from the numerous tables as the crowds go back for
seconds and thirds and even fourths while the relatives of the workers are sometimes hungry in their home countries.
The seafood is exceptional. On my last trip to Vegas, (November 2006), we went to the buffet at the Aladdin. The tuna sushi is larger than any
sushi I’ve had in Japan or Florida. It was the very best sushi and seafood I ever had anywhere. And I ate until I could not possibly eat
anymore. But being a product of poverty, I did not waste one single morsel.
The line into the seafood buffet is at least 35 minutes long. Is it worth it? In all of our actions in life, we have to ask ourselves this question as
individuals and as a nation. Is it worth it? Is killing the fish stocks and creating a future where the next generation does not enjoy the bounty of
God’s creation, worth it? In our gluttony, will future generations observe that, we ate it all and wasted what we did not eat? Do we as a
people have no obligation to the future generations and to the creatures themselves to insure their survival? How serious is the problem of
over fishing? Numerous sources indicate this problem is very serious. It warrants our immediate attention. According to Greenpeace, whose
objectivity is always suspect: Records kept by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also indicate that of the
world's 15 main fishing regions, four are depleted and nine are declining. This global fisheries crisis is primarily a result of over harvesting.
The world's marine catch has increased more than four times in the past 40 years -- from 18.5 million tons in 1952 to 89 million tons in 1989,
but that growth is at great cost to the environment, and ultimately, perhaps to world food security.2
Between the United States, Japan and Europe numerous stocks of fish will soon disappear because of over fishing. 3 Then there is the
massive waste both at sea and on the plate. In addition to the target fish, the unwanted by-catch is just destroyed at incredible cost to the
ecosystem. 4
So people who don’t need more to eat, we kill “by-catch”. According to Carl Safina and Mercedes Lee: Virtually every kind of fishery
unintentionally catches unwanted creatures, known as by catch. Each year, about one-quarter to one-third of the world's total catch is simply
discarded overboard, dead or dying. Indiscriminate fishing techniques cause this waste; this careless practice also pits fishery against fishery.
Shrimp trawlers have more by kill than any other type of fishing gear: For every pound of shrimp kept, anywhere from a pound and a half to
eight pounds of sea creatures, many of which are juveniles of commercially important species such as red snapper, are discarded dead.
Shrimp trawls are the largest source of mortality in adult sea turtles, and in the U.S., shrimpers must now have "turtle excluder devices" in
their nets to shunt turtles out. The highest amount of by catch occurs in the Northwest Pacific: Nine million metric tons of catch is discarded
annually.
Aside from problems of waste, bycatch can also deplete or endanger wildlife populations, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine
mammals. For example, coastal gillnets threaten certain small dolphins and seals with extinction, and long lines set for tunas and swordfish
are endangering several albatross species. 5
sushi I’ve had in Japan or Florida. It was the very best sushi and seafood I ever had anywhere. And I ate until I could not possibly eat
anymore. But being a product of poverty, I did not waste one single morsel.
The line into the seafood buffet is at least 35 minutes long. Is it worth it? In all of our actions in life, we have to ask ourselves this question as
individuals and as a nation. Is it worth it? Is killing the fish stocks and creating a future where the next generation does not enjoy the bounty of
God’s creation, worth it? In our gluttony, will future generations observe that, we ate it all and wasted what we did not eat? Do we as a
people have no obligation to the future generations and to the creatures themselves to insure their survival? How serious is the problem of
over fishing? Numerous sources indicate this problem is very serious. It warrants our immediate attention. According to Greenpeace, whose
objectivity is always suspect: Records kept by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also indicate that of the
world's 15 main fishing regions, four are depleted and nine are declining. This global fisheries crisis is primarily a result of over harvesting.
The world's marine catch has increased more than four times in the past 40 years -- from 18.5 million tons in 1952 to 89 million tons in 1989,
but that growth is at great cost to the environment, and ultimately, perhaps to world food security.2
Between the United States, Japan and Europe numerous stocks of fish will soon disappear because of over fishing. 3 Then there is the
massive waste both at sea and on the plate. In addition to the target fish, the unwanted by-catch is just destroyed at incredible cost to the
ecosystem. 4
So people who don’t need more to eat, we kill “by-catch”. According to Carl Safina and Mercedes Lee: Virtually every kind of fishery
unintentionally catches unwanted creatures, known as by catch. Each year, about one-quarter to one-third of the world's total catch is simply
discarded overboard, dead or dying. Indiscriminate fishing techniques cause this waste; this careless practice also pits fishery against fishery.
Shrimp trawlers have more by kill than any other type of fishing gear: For every pound of shrimp kept, anywhere from a pound and a half to
eight pounds of sea creatures, many of which are juveniles of commercially important species such as red snapper, are discarded dead.
Shrimp trawls are the largest source of mortality in adult sea turtles, and in the U.S., shrimpers must now have "turtle excluder devices" in
their nets to shunt turtles out. The highest amount of by catch occurs in the Northwest Pacific: Nine million metric tons of catch is discarded
annually.
Aside from problems of waste, bycatch can also deplete or endanger wildlife populations, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine
mammals. For example, coastal gillnets threaten certain small dolphins and seals with extinction, and long lines set for tunas and swordfish
are endangering several albatross species. 5
The employees are from Mexico, the Philippines, China,
Korea, Russia, Romania, El Salvador and numerous other
parts of our small planet. With over two million Americans
behind bars at various state and federal prisons, it is hard
to get workers in the sweat filled kitchens of the sin city.
These “foreigners” will clean our toilets, change our beds
and vacuum our floors. Since we are unwilling as a nation
to do the unpleasant dirty, dangerous and foul smelling
work, we better be grateful for the help and continue to
allow these foreigners in our great country to serve us.
Korea, Russia, Romania, El Salvador and numerous other
parts of our small planet. With over two million Americans
behind bars at various state and federal prisons, it is hard
to get workers in the sweat filled kitchens of the sin city.
These “foreigners” will clean our toilets, change our beds
and vacuum our floors. Since we are unwilling as a nation
to do the unpleasant dirty, dangerous and foul smelling
work, we better be grateful for the help and continue to
allow these foreigners in our great country to serve us.
So people who don’t need more to eat, we kill “by-catch”. According to
Carl Safina and Mercedes Lee: Virtually every kind of fishery
unintentionally catches unwanted creatures, known as by catch. Each
year, about one-quarter to one-third of the world's total catch is
simply discarded overboard, dead or dying. Indiscriminate fishing
techniques cause this waste; this careless practice also pits fishery
against fishery.
Shrimp trawlers have more by kill than any other type of fishing gear:
For every pound of shrimp kept, anywhere from a pound and a half to
eight pounds of sea creatures, many of which are juveniles of
commercially important species such as red snapper, are discarded
dead. Shrimp trawls are the largest source of mortality in adult sea
turtles, and in the U.S., shrimpers must now have "turtle excluder
devices" in their nets to shunt turtles out.
Carl Safina and Mercedes Lee: Virtually every kind of fishery
unintentionally catches unwanted creatures, known as by catch. Each
year, about one-quarter to one-third of the world's total catch is
simply discarded overboard, dead or dying. Indiscriminate fishing
techniques cause this waste; this careless practice also pits fishery
against fishery.
Shrimp trawlers have more by kill than any other type of fishing gear:
For every pound of shrimp kept, anywhere from a pound and a half to
eight pounds of sea creatures, many of which are juveniles of
commercially important species such as red snapper, are discarded
dead. Shrimp trawls are the largest source of mortality in adult sea
turtles, and in the U.S., shrimpers must now have "turtle excluder
devices" in their nets to shunt turtles out.
The highest amount of by catch occurs in the Northwest Pacific: Nine million metric tons of catch is discarded annually. Aside from problems
of waste, bycatch can also deplete or endanger wildlife populations, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. For example,
coastal gillnets threaten certain small dolphins and seals with extinction, and long lines set for tunas and swordfish are endangering several
albatross species. 5
Americans put pigs to shame when we eat, innocent creatures must become extinct. Do we really want to destroy our fish stocks and fragile
sea life so we can waste food at a Las Vegas buffet? But there is more to Vegas then gluttony. There is also insatiable greed, gambling as
entertainment.St Thomas Aquinas, prude that he was, has this to say about Greed:
"it is a sin directly against one's neighbor, since one man cannot over-abound in external riches, without another man lacking them... it is a sin
against God, just as all mortal sins, inasmuch as man contemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."6
The lust for money in casinos is amusing. As we walk into a casino, any casino, we will find the overweight retired old man smoking a
cigarette, drinking a mixed drink, plopped on a chair in front of a slot machine. He drops in his quarter, sometimes playing two even three
machines at the same time. The look on his face is one of desperation as he has lost his social security check and has gone to the ATM
twice, trying to at least break even. There is an absence of clocks. The casino’s off purple color carpet, bright lights and constant
noise of coins clanking on the steel plates of the slot machines does not differentiate between day and night.The sound of the coins hitting
the steel and the ding, ding, ding of the slots returning a few crumbs to the hungry gambler works on their psychic. Like Pavlov’s dogs they
are rewarded for their behaviors.
They too might be the lucky winner with their picture on the wall by the escalator on the way to the sports book and bathrooms. Their very last
magic quarter might return several hundred or even several thousand dollars.In talking with the workers, (from other countries of course),
they share stories of foolish tourists spending their life savings, borrowing money, losing their inheritances, their paychecks, or rent checks or
mortgage payments trying to win at blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, poker or keno. One ambitious 24 year old male blackjack “expert” trying
his new method, stayed for five days and lost $50,000.00. Another man won $80,000.00 one weekend playing blackjack and when back the
next weekend and returned the money. Then he contributed his own money to the financial well being of the casino.
I remember one man losing $10,000.00 at the crap tables of the Mirage. He was crying and swearing revenge. “I’ll get those guys next time”.
Then there was the young recently married Persian construction worker. After losing his mortgage payment of $6,000.00 on the slots, he
shared with me his fear of breaking the bad news to his wife. My advice was “please stop”. I told him to accept his loss, tell his wife he loves
her and tell her the truth. He was not put on the Earth to gamble away his hard work. Allah wants us to succeed. Success is impossible if we
have a gambling addiction. If we do, we must acknowledge the addiction and deal with it with honesty and with humility.
The money these gambling addicts win and lose is chump change compared to the sums taken on Wall Street from the not so innocent
greedy investors. The list of companies that have been accused of financial irregularities is long enough to make even hardened criminals
take notice. And the amount of money taken from greedy investors and innocent employees makes the robber barons of the 19th century
look like 5th graders. Company after company was accused of cooking the books. The NASDAQ index fell from a high in March of 2000 of
over 5,000 to 1,100 in 2002. Millions of Americans lost money during the stock market frenzy of the late 1990’s. All of us have friends,
relatives even ourselves asking, “when will this market quit rising”? When will the correction come?
These losses are to be expected. Greed causes the market to go up and reality makes it fall. The history of capitalism is described in one
word, greed. Although the stock fraud and massive transfer of wealth is news today, Wall Street old timers are fully aware of the previous
frauds, scams and Ponzi schemes from years past. 7 The old timers patiently sat out the bubble and watched the market come down from it’s
dizzying heights to reality of recession and the down turn in the business cycle. Unrealistic double digit returns are just that, unrealistic.
But we cannot lose our money if we chose not to. Ultimately our own greed will cause us to lose in any endeavor. Nobody has forced us to
give our money to other people and expect higher than average high risk returns. And when we are ahead, either in gambling or in investing,
we can always leave the casino or exit the stock market or sell the real estate AFTER we have a small profit. We can never go broke taking a
profit.
Like the old man in front of the slot machine who has just won $75.00, investors let greed cause them to lose when they could have gotten out
with their investments and a “small” profit. Companies that had absolutely no earnings were trading at $250.00 per share. The internet
millionaires for a day lured speculators from all over the world to chase the internet bubble. Despite the warnings, the greedy chase for
money continued until the stock market collapsed and turned into the biggest bear market in 60 years.8To believe that we are going to win
forever, to have stocks continue to rise, that defense spending will increase forever is a belief in our own infallibility. Our pride, that belief in
our own ability to be right despite the facts is true vanity. But as a nation we sit in front of the slot machine and continue to pour in quarters
called taxes into the casino of defense spending. We assume things will continue in our favor throughout the world, despite the facts.
Pride, again we turn to St. Thomas who advised several centuries ago that: "inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin (1,77) ... the root of
pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule." 9
Our pride keeps us from believing that other people in other parts of the world are not God’s children too. If we kill, or assist governments in
killing, other people in the Third World, it is somehow not wrong because they are not American. In our vanity as a nation, we will exploit their
labor to serve us. But we will not treat them as equals before God because they are not as rich and as powerful as we, the almighty
Americans.
So workers from numerous poor countries are in Las Vegas cleaning, serving and pampering our indulgences while their relatives and friends
back home go hungry. But pride goes before the fall and our economy is on it’s knees. There is the appearance of wealth from housing and
stocks. But the wealth is borrowed from equity lines and credit cards. Savings are almost non-existent for most Americans. Bankruptcies are
at an all time high and consumer debt is beyond any safe level. If American consumers cannot buy products then profits go down for
corporations and stock prices go down. Then what good is all of the defense spending? What do we protect? Our lifestyle? Greed and
gluttony need F-22’s to defend the right to consume until our hearts burst. Is this why we have the largest defense budget in the history of the
world?
of waste, bycatch can also deplete or endanger wildlife populations, including fish, sea turtles, birds, and marine mammals. For example,
coastal gillnets threaten certain small dolphins and seals with extinction, and long lines set for tunas and swordfish are endangering several
albatross species. 5
Americans put pigs to shame when we eat, innocent creatures must become extinct. Do we really want to destroy our fish stocks and fragile
sea life so we can waste food at a Las Vegas buffet? But there is more to Vegas then gluttony. There is also insatiable greed, gambling as
entertainment.St Thomas Aquinas, prude that he was, has this to say about Greed:
"it is a sin directly against one's neighbor, since one man cannot over-abound in external riches, without another man lacking them... it is a sin
against God, just as all mortal sins, inasmuch as man contemns things eternal for the sake of temporal things."6
The lust for money in casinos is amusing. As we walk into a casino, any casino, we will find the overweight retired old man smoking a
cigarette, drinking a mixed drink, plopped on a chair in front of a slot machine. He drops in his quarter, sometimes playing two even three
machines at the same time. The look on his face is one of desperation as he has lost his social security check and has gone to the ATM
twice, trying to at least break even. There is an absence of clocks. The casino’s off purple color carpet, bright lights and constant
noise of coins clanking on the steel plates of the slot machines does not differentiate between day and night.The sound of the coins hitting
the steel and the ding, ding, ding of the slots returning a few crumbs to the hungry gambler works on their psychic. Like Pavlov’s dogs they
are rewarded for their behaviors.
They too might be the lucky winner with their picture on the wall by the escalator on the way to the sports book and bathrooms. Their very last
magic quarter might return several hundred or even several thousand dollars.In talking with the workers, (from other countries of course),
they share stories of foolish tourists spending their life savings, borrowing money, losing their inheritances, their paychecks, or rent checks or
mortgage payments trying to win at blackjack, craps, roulette, slots, poker or keno. One ambitious 24 year old male blackjack “expert” trying
his new method, stayed for five days and lost $50,000.00. Another man won $80,000.00 one weekend playing blackjack and when back the
next weekend and returned the money. Then he contributed his own money to the financial well being of the casino.
I remember one man losing $10,000.00 at the crap tables of the Mirage. He was crying and swearing revenge. “I’ll get those guys next time”.
Then there was the young recently married Persian construction worker. After losing his mortgage payment of $6,000.00 on the slots, he
shared with me his fear of breaking the bad news to his wife. My advice was “please stop”. I told him to accept his loss, tell his wife he loves
her and tell her the truth. He was not put on the Earth to gamble away his hard work. Allah wants us to succeed. Success is impossible if we
have a gambling addiction. If we do, we must acknowledge the addiction and deal with it with honesty and with humility.
The money these gambling addicts win and lose is chump change compared to the sums taken on Wall Street from the not so innocent
greedy investors. The list of companies that have been accused of financial irregularities is long enough to make even hardened criminals
take notice. And the amount of money taken from greedy investors and innocent employees makes the robber barons of the 19th century
look like 5th graders. Company after company was accused of cooking the books. The NASDAQ index fell from a high in March of 2000 of
over 5,000 to 1,100 in 2002. Millions of Americans lost money during the stock market frenzy of the late 1990’s. All of us have friends,
relatives even ourselves asking, “when will this market quit rising”? When will the correction come?
These losses are to be expected. Greed causes the market to go up and reality makes it fall. The history of capitalism is described in one
word, greed. Although the stock fraud and massive transfer of wealth is news today, Wall Street old timers are fully aware of the previous
frauds, scams and Ponzi schemes from years past. 7 The old timers patiently sat out the bubble and watched the market come down from it’s
dizzying heights to reality of recession and the down turn in the business cycle. Unrealistic double digit returns are just that, unrealistic.
But we cannot lose our money if we chose not to. Ultimately our own greed will cause us to lose in any endeavor. Nobody has forced us to
give our money to other people and expect higher than average high risk returns. And when we are ahead, either in gambling or in investing,
we can always leave the casino or exit the stock market or sell the real estate AFTER we have a small profit. We can never go broke taking a
profit.
Like the old man in front of the slot machine who has just won $75.00, investors let greed cause them to lose when they could have gotten out
with their investments and a “small” profit. Companies that had absolutely no earnings were trading at $250.00 per share. The internet
millionaires for a day lured speculators from all over the world to chase the internet bubble. Despite the warnings, the greedy chase for
money continued until the stock market collapsed and turned into the biggest bear market in 60 years.8To believe that we are going to win
forever, to have stocks continue to rise, that defense spending will increase forever is a belief in our own infallibility. Our pride, that belief in
our own ability to be right despite the facts is true vanity. But as a nation we sit in front of the slot machine and continue to pour in quarters
called taxes into the casino of defense spending. We assume things will continue in our favor throughout the world, despite the facts.
Pride, again we turn to St. Thomas who advised several centuries ago that: "inordinate self-love is the cause of every sin (1,77) ... the root of
pride is found to consist in man not being, in some way, subject to God and His rule." 9
Our pride keeps us from believing that other people in other parts of the world are not God’s children too. If we kill, or assist governments in
killing, other people in the Third World, it is somehow not wrong because they are not American. In our vanity as a nation, we will exploit their
labor to serve us. But we will not treat them as equals before God because they are not as rich and as powerful as we, the almighty
Americans.
So workers from numerous poor countries are in Las Vegas cleaning, serving and pampering our indulgences while their relatives and friends
back home go hungry. But pride goes before the fall and our economy is on it’s knees. There is the appearance of wealth from housing and
stocks. But the wealth is borrowed from equity lines and credit cards. Savings are almost non-existent for most Americans. Bankruptcies are
at an all time high and consumer debt is beyond any safe level. If American consumers cannot buy products then profits go down for
corporations and stock prices go down. Then what good is all of the defense spending? What do we protect? Our lifestyle? Greed and
gluttony need F-22’s to defend the right to consume until our hearts burst. Is this why we have the largest defense budget in the history of the
world?
If we are unwilling to look at ourselves as a nation and question our
decisions and our direction, our pride will be our downfall. We are
individuals and we are fallible. We cannot sit in front of the slot
machine of life investing tax dollars on and hoping that we will hit that
jackpot. It is insane to think that this gamble on defense spending will
pay off any time soon. The only winners from this investment in
defense are the owners of the defense industries. Usually the only
winners in gambling are the owners of the casinos. Since Vegas is
about entertainment, if we get bored with greed there is always lust.
We can always gamble on human flesh. Lust is a must in Vegas. If
you don’t bring your own booty, it is certainly available for purchase.
On every street corner there are the illegal immigrants handing out
flyers with pretty blondes who will visit your room and strip butt naked.
The reality is the pretty Las Vegas escorts also work part time as
hookers who for the appropriate fee will have sex with you. Since
many are drug addicts who hook part time to support their addiction,
be careful what you pay for.
decisions and our direction, our pride will be our downfall. We are
individuals and we are fallible. We cannot sit in front of the slot
machine of life investing tax dollars on and hoping that we will hit that
jackpot. It is insane to think that this gamble on defense spending will
pay off any time soon. The only winners from this investment in
defense are the owners of the defense industries. Usually the only
winners in gambling are the owners of the casinos. Since Vegas is
about entertainment, if we get bored with greed there is always lust.
We can always gamble on human flesh. Lust is a must in Vegas. If
you don’t bring your own booty, it is certainly available for purchase.
On every street corner there are the illegal immigrants handing out
flyers with pretty blondes who will visit your room and strip butt naked.
The reality is the pretty Las Vegas escorts also work part time as
hookers who for the appropriate fee will have sex with you. Since
many are drug addicts who hook part time to support their addiction,
be careful what you pay for.
Our nation’s obsession with sex permeates almost every aspect of advertising and media. Although the figures are not reliable, a large
percentage of internet traffic is pornography.10 Vegas is truly a place where if you want it, and you can buy it, come and get it. From strip
clubs with lap dancing and fake boobies, to adult video shops and gorgeous hookers, lust is a must for tourists. If you give into your
temptations of the flesh, then lust will cause you untold aggravation in your personal life. If we cannot buy sex or if our mate refuses our
advances or cheats on us or we cheat on them, the result is good old- fashioned American violence. The fact of life is home sweet home and
the American family is a very dangerous place. Domestic violence is as American as apple pie. According to the U.S. Department of Justice,
who would know if anyone would: “Up to four million women were physically abused by their intimate partners in 1998. However most intimate
partner victimizations are not reported to the police. Only one quarter of all physical assaults are reported.” 11
Between alcohol and adultery, the frustration of the public results in anger that is directed inward at millions of dysfunctional families. Anger is
a reality of life in America. Although anger is considered one of the seven deadly sins, the definition of St. Thomas is inadequate. He said:
Anger is "the name of a passion. A passion of the sensitive appetite is good in so far as it is regulated by reason, whereas it is evil if it set the
order of reason aside." 12
Anger is caused by unmet expectations. We expect our mates to behave in a certain way and they do something that does not meet our
sometimes completely unrealistic expectations. Anger at our mate, our co-workers, strangers, or ourselves leads to violence. And no amount
of defense spending will make our country safe and secure without addressing the social causes of domestic violence. Far more people in
America are killed by Americans, by those close to us, than by all of the terrorist attacks combined. Could it be that the fat self medicating
folks out there in Disneyland are very unhappy with their lives and seek meaning from entertainment, alcohol and legal and illegal drugs? We
are an angry society of frustrated fat violent people that have purchased the American materialism myth. But the society that spurs love and
opts instead for fury shall learn the wrath of history. History does not suffer fools and Vegas will clean their pockets.
Our countries’ difficulties come from our excesses not our blessings. Needs are completely different from wants. It is the envy of what others
have or do and their status that causes hell on Earth. Envy is the opposite of charity. Other countries are very envious of the United States.
Defense spending will not solve the problems with the tremendous hatred and envy the rest of the world has for our opulent gluttonous
society. And rubbing our excess in their faces does not help matters.
So how can we have a good time in Vegas without all of the excess. Like everything that succeeds in life, plan your Vegas vacation properly.
Limit your gambling to $100.00 and view it only as entertainment funds. When you spend money on a theater ticket, you don’t expect to get
your money back. Look at gaming in the same manner. When you eat at the buffet, say a prayer for the worlds hungry and eat only what you
put on you plate. Take your wife or girlfriend with you to your business trip to sin city. Quit being so shallow about your wife’s looks. You are
no prize pick so get over this idea that you are some hot item. If you did not pay for that escort you would never get laid in Vegas. Finally, limit
your drinking to two drinks per night. If you follow this advice you will really enjoy Las Vegas. There are so many sites to see and things to do,
that being moderate in your behaviors will give you a great return on your vacation dollars. We have freedom of choice. Our social problems
are created at home in the behaviors in our own lives. We cannot and should not try to solve the problems of the world without being
moderate in our own behaviors here at home. Our government and the military cannot protect us from ourselves. Vegas is a reflection of
ourselves as a society. Miles off the strip, people enjoy their suburban lives watching their children play soccer, gardening, riding their bikes,
reading books by their pools and just enjoying the blessings in a free society. This is the other Vegas that is just middle class America. This is
why we want to have our country defended from harm. This is why we pay taxes and support our men and women in the armed forces who
work so hard to defend us.
But, none of the social problems from poor health, public intoxications, incredible domestic violence or self medication are the fault of our
military. Our armed forces are the true patriots who honor our country and our constitution. Unlike politicians, the men in uniform are willing to
die for us and we must support them. We can best support them by being a healthier society and controlling our wants. Good health starts at
home. It is the little things we do that will change our lives and the lives of others. Change will come from the bottom
up. As we use less gas in our vehicles, consume healthier foods, save our money properly and are nicer to our mates and children, are more
charitable with those less fortunate, we will not only have happier lives, but a healthier global society.
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. See Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at: deadlysins.com/index.html
2. See THE GLOBAL FISHERIES CRISIS, Greenpeace at:http://archive.greenpeace.org/~comms/cbio/global.html
3. See generally WWF’s Stop Overfishing or Fishing Will Be Over at:
http://passport.panda.org/stopoverfishing/html/newsroom/newsroom.cfm?sectionid=3&rl=true
4. See A Storm is Brewing Over Our Oceans by Carl Safina and Merdcdes Lee at: www.fonz.org/zoogoer/zg1997/zgstorm.htm
5. Ibid See also: America’s Oceans Campaigns at:www.oceana.org/
6. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
7. See the excellent article, “Scams, scandals and swindles: a look at the seamy side of 20th century
wealth” by Martha Slud on CNNMoney at: A century of sordidness - Dec. 29, 1999
http://money.cnn.com/1999/12/29/investing/century_greed/
8. One of the best sites on the net for advice on the risks of investing is: Prudent Bear.com at:
http://www.prudentbear.com/archive_news_category.asp?category=2&Date=9%2F01%2F2002
9. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
10. Despite the controversial July 3, 1995 Time Magazine article, “CyberPorn” gross misstatements of
fact, (83.5% percent of all images on Usenet are pornographic), a very large traffic in pornography exists.
See generally, The Internet Advocate, “Respond to Inaccurate Perceptions of Porn on the Net” at:
http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/~lchampel/netadv1.html
11. US Department of Justice Crime Statistics on the internet at:http://www.wadvocates.org/factsheet.htm
12. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
percentage of internet traffic is pornography.10 Vegas is truly a place where if you want it, and you can buy it, come and get it. From strip
clubs with lap dancing and fake boobies, to adult video shops and gorgeous hookers, lust is a must for tourists. If you give into your
temptations of the flesh, then lust will cause you untold aggravation in your personal life. If we cannot buy sex or if our mate refuses our
advances or cheats on us or we cheat on them, the result is good old- fashioned American violence. The fact of life is home sweet home and
the American family is a very dangerous place. Domestic violence is as American as apple pie. According to the U.S. Department of Justice,
who would know if anyone would: “Up to four million women were physically abused by their intimate partners in 1998. However most intimate
partner victimizations are not reported to the police. Only one quarter of all physical assaults are reported.” 11
Between alcohol and adultery, the frustration of the public results in anger that is directed inward at millions of dysfunctional families. Anger is
a reality of life in America. Although anger is considered one of the seven deadly sins, the definition of St. Thomas is inadequate. He said:
Anger is "the name of a passion. A passion of the sensitive appetite is good in so far as it is regulated by reason, whereas it is evil if it set the
order of reason aside." 12
Anger is caused by unmet expectations. We expect our mates to behave in a certain way and they do something that does not meet our
sometimes completely unrealistic expectations. Anger at our mate, our co-workers, strangers, or ourselves leads to violence. And no amount
of defense spending will make our country safe and secure without addressing the social causes of domestic violence. Far more people in
America are killed by Americans, by those close to us, than by all of the terrorist attacks combined. Could it be that the fat self medicating
folks out there in Disneyland are very unhappy with their lives and seek meaning from entertainment, alcohol and legal and illegal drugs? We
are an angry society of frustrated fat violent people that have purchased the American materialism myth. But the society that spurs love and
opts instead for fury shall learn the wrath of history. History does not suffer fools and Vegas will clean their pockets.
Our countries’ difficulties come from our excesses not our blessings. Needs are completely different from wants. It is the envy of what others
have or do and their status that causes hell on Earth. Envy is the opposite of charity. Other countries are very envious of the United States.
Defense spending will not solve the problems with the tremendous hatred and envy the rest of the world has for our opulent gluttonous
society. And rubbing our excess in their faces does not help matters.
So how can we have a good time in Vegas without all of the excess. Like everything that succeeds in life, plan your Vegas vacation properly.
Limit your gambling to $100.00 and view it only as entertainment funds. When you spend money on a theater ticket, you don’t expect to get
your money back. Look at gaming in the same manner. When you eat at the buffet, say a prayer for the worlds hungry and eat only what you
put on you plate. Take your wife or girlfriend with you to your business trip to sin city. Quit being so shallow about your wife’s looks. You are
no prize pick so get over this idea that you are some hot item. If you did not pay for that escort you would never get laid in Vegas. Finally, limit
your drinking to two drinks per night. If you follow this advice you will really enjoy Las Vegas. There are so many sites to see and things to do,
that being moderate in your behaviors will give you a great return on your vacation dollars. We have freedom of choice. Our social problems
are created at home in the behaviors in our own lives. We cannot and should not try to solve the problems of the world without being
moderate in our own behaviors here at home. Our government and the military cannot protect us from ourselves. Vegas is a reflection of
ourselves as a society. Miles off the strip, people enjoy their suburban lives watching their children play soccer, gardening, riding their bikes,
reading books by their pools and just enjoying the blessings in a free society. This is the other Vegas that is just middle class America. This is
why we want to have our country defended from harm. This is why we pay taxes and support our men and women in the armed forces who
work so hard to defend us.
But, none of the social problems from poor health, public intoxications, incredible domestic violence or self medication are the fault of our
military. Our armed forces are the true patriots who honor our country and our constitution. Unlike politicians, the men in uniform are willing to
die for us and we must support them. We can best support them by being a healthier society and controlling our wants. Good health starts at
home. It is the little things we do that will change our lives and the lives of others. Change will come from the bottom
up. As we use less gas in our vehicles, consume healthier foods, save our money properly and are nicer to our mates and children, are more
charitable with those less fortunate, we will not only have happier lives, but a healthier global society.
.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. See Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at: deadlysins.com/index.html
2. See THE GLOBAL FISHERIES CRISIS, Greenpeace at:http://archive.greenpeace.org/~comms/cbio/global.html
3. See generally WWF’s Stop Overfishing or Fishing Will Be Over at:
http://passport.panda.org/stopoverfishing/html/newsroom/newsroom.cfm?sectionid=3&rl=true
4. See A Storm is Brewing Over Our Oceans by Carl Safina and Merdcdes Lee at: www.fonz.org/zoogoer/zg1997/zgstorm.htm
5. Ibid See also: America’s Oceans Campaigns at:www.oceana.org/
6. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
7. See the excellent article, “Scams, scandals and swindles: a look at the seamy side of 20th century
wealth” by Martha Slud on CNNMoney at: A century of sordidness - Dec. 29, 1999
http://money.cnn.com/1999/12/29/investing/century_greed/
8. One of the best sites on the net for advice on the risks of investing is: Prudent Bear.com at:
http://www.prudentbear.com/archive_news_category.asp?category=2&Date=9%2F01%2F2002
9. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
10. Despite the controversial July 3, 1995 Time Magazine article, “CyberPorn” gross misstatements of
fact, (83.5% percent of all images on Usenet are pornographic), a very large traffic in pornography exists.
See generally, The Internet Advocate, “Respond to Inaccurate Perceptions of Porn on the Net” at:
http://www.monroe.lib.in.us/~lchampel/netadv1.html
11. US Department of Justice Crime Statistics on the internet at:http://www.wadvocates.org/factsheet.htm
12. Cite supra at: Seven Deadly Sins on the internet at:http://deadlysins.com/index.html
 | |  | |  |
| "Bright light city gonna set my soul Gonna set my soul on fire Got a whole lot of money that's ready to burn, So get those stakes up higher There's a thousand pretty women waitin' out there And they're all livin' devil may care And I'm just the devil with love to spare Viva Las Vegas, Viva Las Vegas." Elvis Presley |