Yes ladies and gentleman, it is now official, the lunatics have taken over the asylum.

Not a day goes by that the news from Washington continues to darken any sense of hope I have for the future. Not only are Californians forced to deal with a Federal government which no longer represents their best interests. We now have to contend with yet another nuclear posse seeking to radiate the world with western justice. It's so ugly.

Saber rattling over the nuclear proliferation of countries such as Iran and North Korea, while at the same time lifting a ten-year-old ban on research and development of low yield nuclear weapons in this country is nothing short of naked hypocrisy. The Senate lifts the ban, Congress provides the $15 million to improve bunker buster technology, and President Bush signs the 2004 Military Spending Bill, and "Boom," North America is a safer place. Yeah, right.

As foreign policy goes "Do as I say, not as I do" diplomacy is not meant to succeed. There's no profit in that. Instead we have warmongers and weapons manufacturers fighting for a peaceful hegemony. It seems almost surreal. Restarting the nuclear armament race is hardly a sensible move. Yet the people in charge seem hell-bent for destruction. It's diabolical.

We need less nuclear weapons, not more. Already there is a recognized global inventory capable global destruction. The break up of the Soviet Union has proven the insecurity of nuclear arsenals, and Hiroshima and Nagasaki have demonstrated their effectiveness. To endorse the continued creation of weapons of mass destruction, while denouncing the efforts of other foreign government to do the same does what? Who is really fooled by that?

From week to week, the boys and girls on capital hill seem to shine their favor on yet another industry intent on ecological collapse. Timber and Petroleum interests get their turn at the trough and then its nuclear and natural gas. Mineral extraction is bearing down on the west. Farm subsidies locking up the market for Factory Pharming, and agriconglomerates always have their hand out for support and encouragement. It's a vicious game with no winner.

And just to make all seem just and good, embedded media, spins the story into a concoction of liberty and national defense. Cue music. Cue flag graphic.

And then, when you think the Bush Cabal, can't sink any lower in their contempt for the viability of life on this planet, they announce another get rich quick scheme. Not since the 1975 Three Mile Island accident has a nuclear plant been built. Since that time there has been a catastrophe at Chernobyl and an accident in Japan. As smart monkeys go you would think we would learn.

The trend is moving towards renewable energy sources, like sun and wind generation. So to counter, nuclear lobbyists posing as Senators have endorsed, as part of a broad energy bill to provide loan guarantees for up to seven nuclear power plants. Expected to cost about $3 billion each, this is a blatant subside for a rapidly failing industry. Of course this is not a surprise considering who participated in Vice President Cheney secret energy meetings with Ken Lay and the like.

Why now? Why all of a sudden? Is this a case of the tail wagging the dog? Under the cover of "liberating" Iraq, are Americans left hanging, exposed to the reckless avarice of the corporate sharks circling the capital. Who is really calling the shots? It's certainly not people on the street, going about their daily lives trying to feed families in Baghdad, Boston, Baltimore, Basra, Barstow, Boise, Berlin, or Buenos Aries.

It's clear the federal government is now pimping for the nuclear industry. This should give us all pause. The science that goes into nuclear energy and weapons cannot be contained or controlled, that is no longer in question. So anything other than complete nuclear disarmament should be seen as a terrorist threat to future generations of life on this planet. It's that simple.

This, I might add, proves once and for all George W. Bush approves in assisted suicide.

So shouldn't someone should clue John Ashcroft in.