Australian scientists found the suicide rate in the country increased significantly when a Conservative government was in power.
And an analysis of figures in the UK seems to suggest a similar trend.
The Australian team analysed suicide statistics for New South Wales between 1901, when the federal government was established, and 1998.
They then looked at the political regimes dominating both state and federal governments in New South Wales, which have consistently been under either Labour or Conservative control.
The researchers took into account periods of drought and World War II, because of their economic and psychological impact.
Suicide rates were higher during periods of drought and lower during WWII.
But after adjusting for these factors, the figures clearly showed the highest rates of suicide occurred when both Conservative state and federal governments were in power.
Conversely, the lowest rates occurred when state and federal governments were both Labour.
Middle aged and older people were most at risk.
When the Conservatives ruled both state and federal governments, men were 17% more likely to commit suicide than when Labour was in power. Women were 40% more likely to kill themselves.
Overall, they say, the figures suggest that 35,000 people would not have died had the Conservatives not been in power, equivalent to one suicide for every day of the 20th century or two for every day that the Conservatives ruled. (Since overpopulation contributes to the rapid depletion of natural resources . . . I may have to start voting Republican. )
_________________________________________________
This just in: During the Senate confirmation hearing of Obamas choice for Attorney General:
Eric Holder was asked by Patrick Lahey if water boarding was "torture". Mr. Holder, mentioned that water boarding was defined as torture by the Geneva convention. It was torture when it was used in the Inquisitions, when it was used by the Camir Rouge, and it was considered torture when American soldiers were accused of doing it in Vietnam. So, yes our Attorney General to be says that water boarding is torture. And when he was asked if a president can issue pardons in order to avoid prosecution, Mr Holder said that no one is above the law. I can't confirm this but it has been reported that Rumsfeld, Cheney, Bush and several representatives who were briefed about the water boarding of prisoners, collectively shit their pants.
As of late Bush and Cheney have admitted in television interviews to having had knowledge of, giving the go ahead to, and yes even ordering the water boarding of Guantanamo detainees as well as those held in Abu Ghraib. While they both take exception to the term "torture" and only refer to it as , "enhanced interrogation techniques", a rose by any other name . . .
A problem with the confirmation of Holder is that several of the Representatives who will have a vote in his confirmation may very well be under investigation by the justice department Holder will be running. Several of the Senators had knowledge of the torture making them complicit in the crime. Oh what a tangled web we weave . . .
I'd like to challenge these despots to endure one week (not years as they've subjected people to)of their enhanced interrogation techniques. Stress positions that must be held for hours, sleep deprivation brought about by bright lights and high decibel music blasting into your cell, having to endure extreme temperature changes, electric shock and don't forget water boarding. ( After WWII a few Japanese soldiers were convicted of water boarding American PoWs and were subsequently put to death.)
It sickens me that the very country that fought for and helped author the articles in the Geneva convention was taken over by self proclaimed "pro life" politicians who sanctioned torture and through their actions, slaughtered hundreds of thousands of civilians. (Including women and children) Thrusting our country into an illegal war and subsequent occupation because of their greed, sociopathic arrogance, and lies.
General George Washington demanded that every captured British soldier be treated well, even the colonists who were loyal to King George and not the Revolution. The reasoning is two fold: It helps ensure decent treatment of American POWs and taking the moral high ground helps to win hearts and minds.
It isn't revenge I'm looking for rather it's justice. How can we as a country ever be taken seriously by the World's nations if we just look the other way? I know president elect Obama wants to look forward and not dwell on the past but, sweeping the past 7 years under the rug is simply not an option. At the very least a very public record must be made of the accusations of the crimes. Ford was wrong to pardon Nixon. Clinton was wrong to not have pursued Reagan's Iran-Contra scandal. Ignoring these abuses of power only hurts this country and all but encourages future abuses. I doubt seriously that anyone high up will serve a day in a prison, (On the contrary we just prosecuted and imprisoned low ranking service men and women who were following orders and if not for their need to photograph their exploits would have probably been given medals of freedom. Instead their Polaroids turned them into scape goats for Rumsfeld and Cheney.) and it seems very likely that "W" will be granting blanket pardons before he leaves office. The guilty will skate but not without first having to accept a presidential pardon in order to avoid legal action. That in itself is an admission of guilt. So, the international court of law and opinion will have that on the record. It will be fun to see how the Right wing pundits spin those pardons.
DaG Out
_ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
No comments:
Post a Comment