It seems Rep. Goode, Jr., from Virginia, is worried about Muslims winning elections. You can tell he's one of our fine right-wing Republican bigots elected from the south. Frankly, I'm more worried about the right-wing Christians being elected than I am any Muslim, or Buddhist, or Hindu. If Rep. Goode Jr. is representative of the quality and character of our legislators, God help us.

THE PATRIOT ACT-TURNING CITIZENS INTO SUSPECTS SINCE 2001

The U.S. government claims 19% of the national budget goes for military spending. The Center for Defense Information puts that figure at 51%. The Friends Committee on National Legislation says it's around 42%, and the War Resisters League claims 49%. Each group uses a slightly different method in calculating the actual total percentage of military spending in the budget. The government leaves a lot of things out, like military retirements. So, if we average all four, the cost of waging war comes in at about 40%. That's 40 cents on the dollar. I, for one, don't think it's worth that. I would sooner spend my money on waging peace. The Peace Department.

THERE IS NO FLAG LARGE ENOUGH TO COVER UP THE SHAME OF KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE.

The official poverty level for a single person in the U.S. is $9800 per year. After taxes, that would leave you with a weekly check of around $161. One-hundred and sixty-one dollars a week in the U.S. would get you a nice box on the street, near a storm sewer grate for heat, with maybe enough left over for one cheap, fat laden meal per day. I would challenge any politician in America, or anyone else, for that matter, to live on $161 dollars a week, and survive for more than one year. Now I wouldn't say just anyone couldn't do it, because I know people that do. But I'm betting the ranch no politician could.