The Freedom Tax

As with any government
its partakers must be taxed
Some tax 10, 15, or 20
others 40 percent max

And when all is said and done
and the services provided
We praise or curse our leaders
on how our money, they divided

We've all heard 'Freedom isn't free'
And no, it requires more than money
So we sacrifice our time
Fighting those who hurt our country

We all know we are reluctant
When the IRS comes calling
We won't pay one penny more
And find giving it appalling

Yet when terrorists strike home
Or sedition causes panic
We freely sell more freedom
"cause if we're dead, well, we won't have it!"

Bit by bit, we tax away
A little more of our dear freedoms
We excuse ourselves and say
"Oh well, but did we really need them?"

"I don't mind the NSA
stalking me, and nor should you
Because I have none to hide"
Does that person have a clue?!

"The PATRIOT Act keeps us safe
Those terrorists don't need a trial
Just interrogate, any style
They must know something worthwhile!"

Yes, they may be wiretapping
Al-qaeda, exclusively
But the potential for abuse, mistake
Should be taken carefully

With no warrant required
Just suspicion, they claim is decent
And with no right to trial
'Guilt 'till proven innocent!'

And innocent you are
But at Gitmo they don't care
They need to know, by any means
"WHERE IS YOUR TERRORIST LAIR?"

You declare your innocence
"LIAR!!! Why else would you be here?!"
You spend all that night standing
No confession did they hear

And finally, in a year or two
They figure out they've goofed
This could have been avoided
Had they required ample proof

Now don't tell me it hasn't happened
It's more common than you'll admit
Though often Afghan natives
Quite a few are of the Brit

One such unlucky fellow
a Taliban hostage was he
Taken prisoner when his Passport
said an Afghan not he be

The Americans invaded
Afghanistan during that year
And our hero, he was rescued
One would hope: the end of fear

The Red Cross secured his flight home
with the British embassy
but on purely suspicion
Guantanamo did we send he

He spent the next few years there
treated as a terrorist should be
But a terrorist he was not
and he was released finally

We're giving up all that is sacred
All we honor and revere
Because we cower, become spineless
At the first sighting of fear

So by fearing "fear" itself
we all vote for higher taxes
"But we," in fear's defense
"Don't want our heads cut off with axes"

Yes, like any government
its partakers must be taxed
But do we ever stop and think
"Was it worth what we got back?"

More security and X-rays
"We must log all web activity!"
Demands Alberto Gonzales
"It's for everyone's safety"

"Do you have something to hide?"
"Then why question their requests?"
I refute:
"Why do YOU wear clothes?"
and "Does this not sound fascist?!"

Now don't get me wrong
I have few qualms with this administration
But why do we sacrifice our rights, our creed
Without consideration?

Fighting terrorists we are
and TERROR is their aim
but If we give up our freedom
They have surely won the game

The means we do combat them
Starves OUR freedom, and it withers
if we don't reverse our course
we are inviting in Herr Hitler

~Jacob Miles

Hugo Chavez: Legend In His Own Mind

(Originally written September 26, 2006)

After the debut of his book club, and in a push for world democracy, Presidente de Venezuela Hugo Chavez touted Bush as the devil during a UN meeting Wednesday. "And the devil came here yesterday. Yesterday the devil came here. Right here." the egotistical ruler declared, which was followed by an attempt to dismiss his breakfast burrito. "It smells of sulfur still today, this table that I am now standing in front of."
Uproar immediately engulfed the Democratic Party as a probe was initiated to determine if Chavez was in violation of the 'look and feel' of the Democratic Party. Soon after, the endeavor was abandoned, following reports of Chavez promising low oil prices to New York's poor. Experts now believe the "oil act" was enough to distance Chavez style from that of the Democrats.
Alternatively, prominent Democrats quickly utilized some of their finest tactics; predominantly methods perfected by fellow Dem Al Gore: mud slinging. "Hugo Chavez fancies himself a modern day Simon Bolivar but all he is an everyday thug..." a stern Pelosi commented. Chuck Schumer joined in with "Despicable and disgusting." Representative Charles Rangel took it to a whole new level with the infamous 'abuse of power' mud ball. "You do not come into my country, my congressional district, and you do not condemn my president. If there is any criticism of President Bush, it should be restricted to Americans, whether they voted for him or not."
Within hours of the verbal attacks, Hugo was seen fleeing the country in his jet. "Please accept our sincere apologies and any inconvenience this may cause you," spokeswoman Melina García apologized, leaving many questions unanswered: Why did he flee? What about New York's poor? Some speculate Hugo left because he was ordered to by Governor George Pataki. Others credit Nancy Pelosi and others. But still others believe that the devil got him, enraged at being compared to Bush. Or was it Bush, as one oil man to the other?

φ • Golden a Fraction

φ
Golden a Fraction

Aesthetics you are
geometric frequent
displays pyramid Giza
Fibonacci sequence

Influence your beholder
lure Hippasus or Pythagorus
writ debut composed Euclid
Elements—see book six

"Golden Ratio"
number not rational
O a decimal expanse is impossible
yet feverishly estimated

A clique's obsession
vocation
philosophy
you've created


~Jacob Miles