Nation Topics - Public Policy | The Nation

The article presents the last article in a series called "Letter From Ground Zero." The author explains the reasons for ending the series, which center around the complexity of the U.S. President George W. Bush administration's policies originating from the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and the inability to continue to trace the origins of the policies. The author speaks about the crisis of the balance of powers and popular freedoms in the United States.

This article reflects on the 2006 annual budget laid out by the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush. It argues that Bush's spending priorities in his budget proposal distort what matters to United States citizens. It questions why the Pentagon needs so much money if the Iraq War is allegedly winding down. It offers information on funds to domestic programs in the areas of education, healthcare, food assistance, and Medicare that are being cut from the budget.

Comments on whistleblowing, in light of W. Mark Felt's revelation that he was the "Washington Post" source called Deep Throat. How other whistleblowers, including U.S. Park Chief Teresa Chambers, have been punished; The author's experience as a legal advisor to the Justice Department's Professional Responsibility Advisory Office during the interrogation of the "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh; The reason the Justice Department put the author under investigation; Idea that whistleblowers are negatively stereotyped and not allowed to follow their conscience.

Mentions several people associated with George W. Bush's abstinence education programs. Bush's choice of Anita Smith and Claude Allen for positions in his administration; Finding of the National Center for Health Statistics that more women are not using birth control; Misinformation documented by Representative Henry Waxman.

So let's join United States Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology Edward 'Pete' Aldridge at a recent Pentagon press briefing, where he's addressing concerns about the Pentagon's bold new plan to have Admiral John Poindexter personally review exactly what you bought in Safeway last week and all the dirty movies you ordered up in Motel 6 last time you were on the road. The purpose of Total Information Awareness (TIA) would be to determine the feasibility of searching vast quantities of data to determine links and patterns indicative of terrorist activities. Aldridge reels off the TIA research menu: rapid language translation, using computer voice-recognition techniques; discovery of connections between transactions (involving passports, visas, work permits, driver's licenses and credit cards, of such things as airline tickets, rental cars and gun and chemical purchases) and events (such as arrests or suspicious activities). What about privacy? For most practical purposes, Total Information Awareness got here years ago.

Offers observations on the resignation of Mary Robinson as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Reasons for her resignation, including political pressure from the United States; Her claim that the U.S., Russia and other countries violate human rights; Her achievements, including the international attention she drew to human rights; Failure of the administration of President George W. Bush to constrict criticism of its human rights abuses.

Details the 1998 Citizens Clean Elections Act, or the so-called clean money elections law, in Arizona. How the clean-money public elections laws work and where the money for the fund comes from; Speculation on how the clean-elections system will affect voter participation; Question of how liberals and progressives will fare under the system; Views of State Representative Meg Burton Cahill and others on campaign finance reform and public financing of the candidate pool.

Discusses the debate on the possibility that the U.S. may wage war on Iraq as part of the war on terrorism. Concerns about the administration working with President George W. Bush; Decision to overthrow the Taliban regime; Need to stop the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction; Reversals of government policy.

Comments on the U.S. Climate Action Report 2002, a government-issued report on global warming. Response of the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush to the report; Predictions about the impact of global warming; Identification of human activities as the primary cause of climate change; Opinion that while global warming may be inevitable, humans should immediately do all they can to minimize its scope.

Discusses the U.S. Pentagon's decision to limit anthrax vaccine shots for those at high risk. Fundamental objection to the shots due to the lack of informed consent; Stance by the military that informed consent is not required because the vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Contention by servicemembers that the vaccine is unsafe, and that the military is not using it in the prescribed manner.