Scumbag Bush not Done Being Scumbag

Thanks to Barbara Baty.

Scumbag Bush not Done Being Scumbag
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Bush plans controversial deregulation before he goes
Friday, October 31, 2008 2:56 AM
By R. Jeffrey Smith
The Washington Post

WASHINGTON -- The White House is working to enact a wide array of federal regulations before President Bush leaves office in January, and many of them would weaken government rules aimed at protecting consumers and the environment.

The new rules would be among the most controversial deregulatory steps of the Bush era and could be difficult for his successor to undo. Some would ease or lift constraints on private industry, including power plants, mines and farms.

Those and other regulations would help clear obstacles to some commercial ocean-fishing activities, ease controls on emissions of pollutants that contribute to global warming, relax drinking-water standards and lift a key restriction on mountaintop coal mining.

Once such rules take effect, they typically can be undone only through a laborious new regulatory proceeding, including lengthy periods of public comment, drafting and mandated reanalysis.

"They want these rules to continue to have an impact long after they leave office," said Matthew Madia, a regulatory expert at OMB Watch, a nonprofit group critical of what it calls the Bush administration's penchant for deregulating in areas where industry wants more freedom.

White House spokesman Tony Fratto said, "This administration has taken extraordinary measures to avoid rushing regulations at the end of the term. And yes, we'd prefer our regulations stand for a very long time -- they're well-reasoned and are being considered with the best interests of the nation in mind."

As many as 90 new regulations are in the works, and at least nine are considered "economically significant" because they impose costs or promote societal benefits that exceed $100 million annually. These include new rules governing employees who take family- and medical-related leaves, new standards for preventing or containing oil spills, and a simplified process for settling real-estate transactions.

The burst of last-minute activity has made this a busy time for lobbyists who fear industry views will hold less sway after the election.

According to the Office of Management and Budget's regulatory calendar, the scallop-fishing industry came in two weeks ago to urge that proposed catch limits be eased, nearly bumping into National Mining Association officials making the case for easing rules meant to keep coal-slurry waste out of Appalachian streams.

As deadlines near, the administration has begun to issue regulations of great interest to industry. These include, in recent days, a rule that allows the nation's
natural-gas pipelines to operate at higher pressures and new Homeland Security rules that shift passenger security-screening responsibilities from airlines to the federal government. The OMB also approved a new limit on airborne emissions of lead this month, acting under a court-imposed deadline.

Two other rules nearing completion would ease limits on pollution from power plants, a major energy-industry goal for the past eight years that Democratic lawmakers and environmental groups strenuously oppose.

One rule, being pursued over some opposition within the Environmental Protection Agency, would allow current emissions at a power plant to match the highest levels produced by that plant, overturning a rule that more strictly limits emission increases. According to the EPA, the change would allow millions of tons of additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, worsening global warming.

Another new rule would allow increased emissions from oil refineries, chemical factories and other industrial plants with complex manufacturing operations.

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"Masters" and Spiritual Development 2

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In recent years, many have claimed to be "masters" of one spiritual or metaphysical path or another. But a true master will never egoistically call herself a "master," under any conditions. For a master is one who has disclaimed, overcome, and risen above ego. And any claim to be a master only supports and reinforces ego.

It follows logically, even inevitably, that anyone who dares claim to be a "master" is a phony, fraud, or fake.

Jesus said, for example, in the famous "Gospel of Thomas," "I am not your master." For the true master is master of the self only, with its plethora of weaknesses and ignorance, drives and urges.

You can, then, safely ignore anyone who has the audacity to call herself a "master."

But the largest gaffs have been committed by self-proclaimed "gurus." There are true gurus, for the word guru is, in Sanscrit, only a "teacher."

Again, anyone who presents himself (almost all have been male) as a special or superior avatar (incarnation of God) is also a phony. For we are all avatars. What else could a sentient (self-aware) being be? That is why it is so important to treat all sentient beings with Love.

But, although loving them, we do obeisance, offer worship, to none. For to worship any being means that the being is superior to us, and we are all God (Love) in flesh (incarnation).

A "guru" named Sai Baba claimed to be very, very special, and an enlightened master and special avatar. But several of his former followers defected from his cult, and unmasked him as a pedophile. Regularly, he raped many little boys.

The fake Rajneesh was betrayed not only by kinky sex, but by materialism and greed. No true master will, or can, ever exhibit greed, for it is a vast weakness of the lower nature. Rajneesh wanted a Rolls-Royce for every day of the year, a different car for every day.

Then, there is Mahesh Yogi. His system, tm, is an ancient one, and has helped many. But he insisted that the tm people have their own schools, and that a picture of his ego-face be placed in the schools. He, like Rajneesh, also gave into greed: He offered his "meditation services" to municipalities; he would charge each city millions of dollars for this "service."

The list of phony gurus is as long as that of fake ministers, and it is boring. So, we can logically present this principle: Human gurus are unreliable. You are standing on very shaky grounds if you worship, adore, or follow any human guru, minister, elder, or priest.

What was said earlier about your "interior child" applies here: As we become adults, in a spiritual sense, we are supposed to leave behind external "mommies" and "daddies." We are supposed, instead, to cultivate interior personal wisdom and Love. For this is the "interior Buddha or Christ."

We are not supposed to look to outer "daddies" for our answers. For interior "parents" are quite as sick as interior "children." We can seek knowledge, even suggestions, anywhere. But instead, we are supposed to meditate, and study, meditate and study, over and over, until we discover a part of our minds called the "interior Teacher." (This has been called the "Buddha," "Christ," "Krishna," "Holy Spirit," "Lovemind," "Godmind," etc.) We are to continue each day to educate this highest Self by observing, studying, and listening to, our world and our events and situations. It takes time. But, in the meanwhile, while this Self is still developing, we do have the guideline of pure Love. Stainless Love will never mislead you, never betray you. So, create the very highest Love that you can imagine. Picture this as your highest, most perfect Sellf. Then, follow this highest Self when you have questions or complexities along the Way.

For, as has been proved over and over again, without a question or doubt, following human leaders can be a path to disaster, personal catastrophe, and cynical skepticism.
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