Another new day in the New America! (Or, we get the government we deserve. Part 237)

Well, let's see. What's new in DC this week?

US deaths exceed 2,500 in Iraq. As white house press secretary, Tony Snow said, "It's a number" when asked about it by the WH press corps. Families with injured or killed victims of this war should feel comforted, however, as Snow went on to assure them president Bush, "feels very deeply the pain that the families feel." Oh, and don't forget, the 2,500 killed to date? "It's a number." Unless, of course, one of those "numbers" is a loved one, now deceased. But speaking of numbers....

What's your dead kid worth? Well, if s/he is an Iraqi child accidentally killed by the US military, your kid's worth $1,500.

I've seen images of war-torn Iraq and how ravaged and savaged their country is. How difficult and challenging it is to try to live through another day while dodging roadside IEDs, avoiding American troops who seem to attract 'em, or suicide bombers, or US military roadblocks or all out assaults on Ramadi.

But if you're a struggling Iraqi family without jobs, money, no electricity, water, or much shelter and you happen to have children, take heart. That's because you have a potential supplemental source of income. I can only imagine how tempting it must be suggest to little Ahmed that he go play outside in the US mindfield across the street.

But Dada doesn't mean to disparage the generosity of the US. when wondering if the tables were turned, and we were being occupied by a foreign invader and lost a child to their "friendly fire" indiscretions, how much we would be compensated for that child? Probably nothing. So see, $1500 seems more than fair, doesn't it?

(I'm not sure if $0.00 compensation for a US child would be testament to US generousity in Iraq, or the economic and moral poverty of our occupiers under similar circumstances, or just the worth of American kids. As always, debating economic and moral questions is something I try to avoid here.)

Closer to home, like "knock, knock, anybody home?" As we've heard, the supreme court ruled police with warrants no longer need knock before they come into your house. This is nice in that it provides consistency under the law. If president Bush wants to come in your house, he sure as hell doesn't have to knock, so why should the police?

Further protection from identity theft: Not to worry here, congress is "on it" for you. Take heart knowing that if your identity is stolen, congress has taken up this growing issue of concern of every American. There are several proposals before congress that, should you become a victim of identity theft, will strengthen ID theft protections--for banks, credit card cos. and credit reporting agencies while weakening yours!

In other words, agencies will no longer be required to notify you if they suspect your identity's been stolen and you will not be able to freeze your credit report information from intruders, thus enabling them to create new accounts in your name from which to drain your life's savings.

This will dove-tail nicely with the removal of last fall's bankruptcy protections taken from you. As one congressman was quoted by Mike Malloy last evening on his Air America radio show, "We must protect commerce." Obviously, without these safeguards in place, the entire economy could be at risk he said.

What can you do? Well, if you're the least discouraged by these latest contemplations by our government, you could always do as I plan to. Like today? Well, I'll be doing little odds and ends around the house like removing the front and back doors. Then I'll go online and post publicly my social security number, copy of my driver's license, and bank account & credit card numbers.

Please post in the comments section below if you have a need for some old, solid core, doors or used dead bolt locks.