Sleeping Through the Coup by Philip A. Farruggio

Image by david_shankbone via Flickr

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
June 20, 2012

“The struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting.” — Milan Kundera

Let’s face it, most of our fellow Americans are just that: Forgetting. How many out there have been narcotized by this newest installment of the infamous Presidential Horserace? In 2008 we had the rallying cry of ‘Hope and Change‘ from the 8 repressive years of the Bush gang. Military spending was at an all time high up to that point. We had false flag invasions and occupations of two sovereign nations.

When Will American Labor Connect the Dots? by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
June 10, 2012

Image by Sharese Ann Frederick via Flickr

In Wisconsin and in two major cities in California, voters (made up mostly of working folks) chose to restrict the benefit packages and wage increases for public service AKA government employees. Some say that since most of the workers in these places, and throughout America, are employed by the private sector, the attitude became one of resentment. The private sector and non union (in most cases) workers were fed up of seeing their counterparts getting better benefit packages and wage increases. I call it Interclass warfare.

The Enemies of Economic Stimulus by Philip A. Farruggio

Image by Wolfgang Sterneck via Flickr

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
June 1, 2012

Call me a socialist, a communist, a radical, whatever. What matters are the ideas one presents to make this a better place to live and grow. Period!

• Private Mortgage banks- Imagine if we had local community owned and operated mortgage banking; Nonprofit, charging only what overhead mandated.

Smedley, Ike and Me: Anyone Listening, America? by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
May 19, 2012

Image by Steve Rhodes via Flickr

In 1935, a book was published, War Is a Racket , by retired Marine General Smedley Butler. In this brief book Butler embellishes his belief that our nation’s foreign policy was controlled and manipulated by private corporate interests… all in the name of greed. Wars, invasions and occupations by our military, according to General Butler, were all predicated on the desire for profit by corporations. He himself called his past life as a Marine general as being a gangster for these private industrial interests. He used WW1 as an example of who made the profits for our military being sent ‘Over there’. Apparently, most of our American public at that time could not care less for what Smedley Butler was selling.

A Mother’s World by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
May 7, 2012

The slightly built six year old boy was running, actually stumbling through the brush. The blood seemed to be streaming from his forehead- such a little cut causing quite a panic. Yet, to him, this little boy, when his head hit that rock from the fall from the tree that he shouldn’t have been climbing, the blood gave credence to his fear. So, he ran for his mother! She wasn’t at their summer bungalow! He kept running, crying and breathing hard, until he heard the voices and found her. It seemed all the mothers from the bungalow colony were there, having their daily coffee klatch.

Stranger in an Insane Land by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
May 6, 2012

Image by { d } via Flickr

I’m sorry, but I am convinced beyond reproach that we are all part of some giant dream. I mean, this cannot be real! All one has to do is what I just did this Tuesday morning; channel surf all the so called  news talk shows on the boob tube. I started out with Imus, quite appropriately, on the Bloomberg business channel. After all, Donny baby has been a shill for the super rich and famous for decades. His right wing crew of phony blue collar rebels, with the ghosts of ”Rudy Rudy, USA USA” echoing in the background is enough to give any rational person agita.

Salute, Shop…Shut Up and Vote! by Philip A. Farruggio

Image by david_shankbone via Flickr

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
April 28, 2012

It is almost six months to go before the next presidential election… and that seems to be the paramount thing most Americans are focused upon. Well, if you don’t believe me, then check out the media. Oh, so some of you out there realize that the mainstream (corporate) media is controlled and manipulated by the same fraction of a % point that rules this empire. Good for you! Question is, what about the overwhelming majority of Americans who still fail to understand that?

Blessed are the peacemakers by Philip A. Farruggio

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
April 21, 2012

However fortunate are we who live in the Southeastern corner of Volusia County, Florida. Imagine, with all the apathy throughout America, we actually have three ongoing weekly peace demonstrations. The numbers, sadly, are too small for this writer’s and this activist’s taste. Yet, look at the few who do come out, and have come out for going on eight years:

The Truth in the Garden by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
April 4, 2012

Andrea Mantegna’s Agony in the Garden, circa 1460, depicts Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Some call him the son of God. Others think of him as a profit, or an avatar. Still others deny he ever existed… rather just a myth. I say that regardless of whatever many may feel or think about him, Jesus of Nazareth told a story that is beautiful… and so very misconstrued by so many. He spoke of peace. He spoke of the fact that each of us was nothing more than our brother’s keeper. He told the rich man who wished to follow him ‘Go and give all your riches to the poor and follow me.’ Alas, the man could not do it, and walked away embarrassed. According to the New Testament, or to the myth, the night he was betrayed in the garden, Jesus took some time to be alone before the guards arrived to arrest him.

The Great “What Ifs?” by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
March 28, 2012

What if Trayvon Martin was a born again Christian white kid, and Zimmerman was a ‘black as the ace of spades‘ neighborhood watch captain? Does anyone out there think that the chain of events would have been the same? For all those white neighbors of mine who commented on the ‘overactive crowds that rallied recently in Sanford, Florida: What if a sea of evangelist Christians and angry white folks marched and rallied over that same terrain? On the subject of ‘born again Christians‘….

Dumbed Down, Fleeced, Controlled…. And Proud of It! by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
March 20, 2012

I did some channel surfing one night, since the college hoops game was a blowout. I checked out MSNBC and heard the word Republican mentioned 100 times. I went to Fox News on cable and heard the word Democrat mentioned 100 times. Of course, along with all this Republican vs. Democrat crap thrown at me, they concentrated on the newest horserace garbage… as if it really matters, right? Or, are you one of those who think it does matter? Well then, read on….

“… on Earth as it is in Heaven” by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Feb. 27, 2012

Image via Wikipedia

It matters not if there is the heaven as our religions describe it. Yet, there must be something more vital and more sustained than what we now exist in. Why? Well, look around you, and study history. All we find is that there have, it seems, always been those among us who wanted more and more. Whether wealth was determined by how much gold, silver, or whatever the precious material was that everyone sought after, there was always (sadly) the haves and the have nots.

An American “Cultural Revolution” by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Feb. 7, 2012

You all recall what happened in China during the 60s and 70s? They had this ‘Cultural Revolution‘ whereupon:

“The Revolution was launched in May 1966. Mao alleged that bourgeois elements were entering the government and society at large, aiming to restore capitalism. He insisted that these “revisionists” be removed through violent class struggle. China’s youth responded to Mao’s appeal by forming Red Guard groups around the country. The movement spread into the military, urban workers, and the Communist Party leadership itself.

Barack, Ya Coulda Been A Contender! by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
Feb. 1, 2012

OK, Barack, from one Brooklyn guy to one Chicago guy, let’s talk straight and pull no punches. I don’t care how nice of a guy you may be, or how intelligent and articulate… ya blew it kiddo! Just like with your predecessors, especially Clinton and Junior Bush, you simply are a stooge of the wizards who control this empire. Now, having said that, I’m no fool Barack. I realize that a president does not have the power that our phony media and our hot air academics have been selling to us for who knows how long.

Theater of Good vs. Theater of the Absurd by Philip A. Farruggio

by Philip A. Farruggio
Featured Writer
Dandelion Salad
January 25, 2012

Image by Dandelion Salad via Flickr

Obviously, what is good to one mindset is absurd to another… and vice versa. Yet, methinks I am moving on the better path in this incarnation, so please bear with me. For seven years I have stood weekly with other activists in peaceful protest. We focus on the military empire our nation has become and the phony wars and occupations. Over the years, many incidents and anecdotal events have occurred during these one hour demonstrations. Yet, yesterday seemed to contain the most interesting and fascinating ones of all. Let me share them with you: