The Sins of the Father: The High Cost of the Criminal Justice System:

“The father gets a three- or five-year sentence, and the family structure disintegrates. Mothers try to survive on state aid or work multiple jobs, and you see kids practically raising themselves, which perpetuates the problem.” — Rev. Jeffery A. Williams, pastor of the 800-member Cathedral of Life Christian Assembly in South Providence, RI.

Republicans Gleeful Over Arrests in England:

Reports from around the U. S. indicate that Republicans view the recent news of the arrest of 24 British citizens as a great opportunity for their political advantage in the coming midterm elections. In Washington, the White House now believes it has a distinct advantage in furthering its eavesdropping agenda, as well as retaining its misuse of power in Guantanamo, where people are being held illegally without trial or charges.

More arrests and perhaps terrorist actions are expected to take place in the run-up to the fall elections, as the Republican party has little else to convince voters not to turn the party that has become the most corrupt party in history out of office.

Irony or Contempt?

Six southern states in the U. S. are considered "dry states." These are states that still have some form of prohibition with regards to alcohol, or at least its sale. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, has gotten into the "package" business in a big way of late. Why not? They want to be your one stop shopping site.

So here's the rub:

Wal-Mart, based in a dry county in Arkansas, forbids drinking at events held at corporate headquarters. But the giant retailer has made a push in the last year to sell more liquor, along with beer and wine, in its stores. (New York Times, 8-12-06)

In other words, Wally World wants you to become a drunken sot in order to increase their profitability, but they ain't willing to participate in the consumption of demon rum themselves, knowing full well its debilitating effects on the work force. Ah, American entrepreneurship at its finest! Tin shacks on acres of asphalt — ain't life grand.

Condom Use Lowers HIV Rate in Thailand:

Thailand, the first Asian country to report an outbreak of HIV/AIDS, has successfully reduced the rate of growth of the dread disease through its 100 Percent Condom Campaign. According to Chris Beyrer and Voravit Suwanvanichkli,

public health officials aggressively focused on bars, brothels, nightclubs and massage parlors for condom education, promotion and distribution. Sex workers were likewise offered counseling, testing and treatment. The openness of sex venues there and health officials’ access to the women in them made this a relatively simple intervention.

Venues that did not agree to require condom use were shut down. Signs appeared over bar doors saying, “No condom, no sex, no refund!” And the government put resources behind the effort, distributing some 60 million free condoms a year.

A wider national effort was also under way. Condoms appeared in village shops and urban supermarkets, and frank H.I.V. education was introduced in schools, hospitals, workplaces, the military and the mass media. Thais worked hard to reduce fear and stigma and to support those living with H.I.V.

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The 100 Percent Condom Campaign proves that H.I.V. prevention efforts can succeed by focusing on at-risk populations, providing tangible services and making healthy behavior, like condom use, social norms. Cambodia, the Dominican Republic and other countries have successfully adopted the Thai model.

In the U. S., however, the Bush administration continues to insist on a policy of "no sex outside of marriage, and then solely for the purposes of producing children." They have this "base" they have to appease at all costs.