Life's challenging enough without PNC, CITI,Wells Fargo, Wachovia and Bank of America syringing our personal budgets for more blood letting:  China Earthquake hits hard poor construction.  A Polish daughter kneels before parental coffins. Mum Mom silence resounding around the world, for ejected Russian son rejected by 30 something.  Girl found alive in Florida swamps. 29 die for greed in West Virginia mine. First & Second Ladies in Haiti. Hair Spray On Camera Commercial, Bob McDonnell masquerading as American citizen in his Presidential Audition, now cast in Governor’s Hot Seat, insists not ALL Americans have Right to Vote without his conditions. Seems like old times in Richmond. Now if he’ll just let his inner voice call a spade a spade and use the N word, he’s done. It’s in him, I’m certain, just waiting to slip out like, “You Can’t Handle the Truth,” as his Banksta friends give finger to our Congress. So, Oh Band of Brothers and Sisters all, we must answer the “United We Stand” call, for the foxes have bid the House FU, departing to count spoils from screw of both Red & Blue, claiming they owe nothing to either of you.

The Enemy has left the Capital Building, leaving us on the floor in a pool of red ink. Being thus dumped, we must get pumped as “The Land of the Free and Home of the Brave” to make Banks Blink. Whether fallen by the wayside, stepped on by government for hire and devoured by Corporate villains or dashed on the rocks by bad Banking practices, “Left Behind” in an economy strangling families with thorns and weeds of Banksta greed or the babe thrown out with the bathwater, mounting a second coming, we must rise to the occasion renewed, Educated Voters, Passionate Advocates of “Justice for All, like “The Tree of Life,” gathering in our shade Positive Gandhi-like Activists, who in peace restore Human equality. In Truth we must enable ALL before the fall, for once Americans realize, regardless of age, political party, shade of color, voting or sexual preferences, or income, ALL Americans have been heaped into a pit of financial woe by Corporate twisted government, lobbied and bent, not because they over spent. “We Hold these Truths to be self-evident:” In dignity we need enlighten our Congress, Supreme Court and their Corporate employers with new message sent -- informed millions will soon Stand United in This Truth: You did this to ALL American Citizens.  Now Banks will be but the first, Held in Contempt of Humanity, with severe Accountability!

Whether you call yourself a RedTea Bagged Conservative or a Bleeding Heart Tree Hugging Liberal, Moderate got, Progressive Blue, Independent or what not, it’s not each other or even our federal Government that deserves our admonishment. It's Banks and other corporations who use ALL of us for chump change. They keep us chasing our tails with citizen infighting, while Pharmaceuticals continue blood sucking the elderly, non-paying Health Insurance Companies draining working families, and all destroying the economic balance of both American People and Nation. This is no accident. All was planned, even before TR; and until the blatant failures of GW and his DICK, it all proceeded without a hitch for those pricks picked.

Robber Barons set table on the backs of the poor and uneducated as Appetizers, to keep them stable. Then twisting Lincoln’s Reconstruction, they replanted the Main Course for their dining pleasure. Once FDR was done to perfection, the “Money Changers” reshuffled the deck for a New Deal for the super rich, dining on hard workers for good measure. Under new management, Bankstas are now finishing off their Second Course of Middle Class delish. No longer at the head table, the Bush League was front and center on the thrown, when the Underwriters of Bankstas with relish, did Inherit the Windfall. So what’s for Dessert, if not those stocking up to three quarters of a million? Don’t you see, the poor and Middle Class have nothing more to offer to the Super Duper Rich except, to the upper income bracket, a pass. Sharing these facts may shock both Red and Blue back to the Reality Show that is now of America, so True. Banks don’t care about either of you. Now, the upper middle class and regular rich are it, and their time share service as after dinner drinks has come due.

Financial supremacy maintains maximum control by keeping the masses barely stable, as poverty and hunger lead to desperate attempts to keep self able. By Corporate design, fighting among ourselves you see, keeps us blind to the off shore fun spots of Corporate CEOs and those Lobbyists cracking the Congressional whip. “Crackers,” like those of old who Bob McDonnell upholds. Banks play the tune to which we dance in a state of Red vs. Blue instead of Mr. Banker, I See You. For as long as Corporate GOLIATHS keep us Davids fighting each other, the Bankstas and Underwriters up on high in Monopoly game, laugh at us with no blush of shame.  So for us ALL, unite, armed only with the power of our numbers might. Outside the smoked glass HQ mausoleums to the almighty dollar, let’s stand and sit in peaceful alliance, showing our better aimed defiance to their top heavy means, with the Almighty Power of Americans scorned by CEOs, Hedge Fund Managers and Banksta schemes. Evil wins when we’re convinced through clenched fists that it’s Republicans vs. Democrats, Conservatives or Progressives, Young, Old, or Black & White at odds. No, nor “Coffee, Tea or Me.” It’s the super duper rich out gunning ALL of us good guys “From Sea to Shining Sea.” Manipulated by an economic takeover of the 98% by the 2%, it’s more than Rich vs. poor, you see.  Banksta Corporations win, in a Second Civil War between you and me.

“There you go again," Mr. President. “Drill, baby Drill.” What’s next, borrowing “Mistakes were Made,” as did GW who skipped out on the bill, leaving lawyers lobbyists and politicians to bill and coo while corporations kill free will. Americans tend to take the reaction rather than Pro-Active pill, plodding along in herds following the drill. From Washington to Buchanan reacting over King George & Native Americans, change from Colonies into States and "From Sea to Shining Sea" expansion hunger at the top, on the backs of those of various shades, unrecognized as mates. Lincoln claims, all are people by Executive Order as Commander-in-Chief. His Emancipation Proclamation, in top hat steeple, bestowed humanity on all black people. With greatness heaped upon him, honest Abe forgave all, and rendered government of, by and for the people, in Gettysburg Address, before his fall. But Whoa: No Civil War end, not then. Nor with Appomattox Grant & Lee in uniform dress. Nor even as reported just before attending Ford Theater’s best. You know the rest: reaction to Reconstruction was uncivil war against all who defended Red, White, Blue and Black. That's a fact. Those in disarray and disagreement demanded, “what kind of Nation is that?” Feeding on Conservatives impeding progression, they rendered all bloodied with sixties assassinations, August Town Hall screamers motivations, and fearful war cries of “Keep Your Goddamn Government Hands Off My” Medications. Oops need more tea in my libation.

Still locked in passive reactive policy inherited from the unremembered Hayes to Cleveland, who white washed our hands of far too many, in paving the path to those with plenty, “My Country tis of Thee,” a work in progress but not “Sweet Land of Liberty.” Then McKinley’s limited vision, Teddy’s “Following the Sun,” Taft’s “little brown brothers” until we’re seasoned with salt of the earth “Silent Cal. Masquerading as Lot’s pal, he announces to those with less, “the chief business of the American people is business,” and screw all the rest. Big DICK amassed a Halliburton fortune while serving the RIGHT people. The Hague awaits his guest appearance in hot seat it saves, hoping to see a DICK waving in the breeze the white flag for secret economic summit attendees. Who let them run "The Home of the Brave?!?"

With friends like Roberts, Alito, Kennedy, Scalia and Thomas granting Corporations “Three Coins in the Fountain,” who needs enemies drilling for oil. Such a Supreme union, continues reaction to FDR’s New Deal, and “Reversal of Fortune,” for Constitutional elections on our soil. Supremes were told overt action was needed for Corporate solutions, after Bush League pollutions were discovered as louses, given "get out of jail free cards,” and dumped in oil slick outhouses. So that’s why Supreme action was taken, you see. Obama's margin was too great a victory to hide by altering voting machines or Sunshine State invasions. Can’t you just hear Corporate puppeteers all abuzz, “there’s more than one way to win our cause and skin this cool black cat.” After all we do have historical precedent for that. “Oh, Oh say can you see what I see?” Allowing the Union of Congressional and Supreme Court Conservatives to keep BANKS “Too Big To Fail” allows PNC, CITI, Wells Fargo/Wachovia and Bank of America to be Too Big Too Deal!

Not old enough to remember true, the idolized panacea of “America the Beautiful?” No fear, Sister Sarah to distract from GOP bondage, invites all to revisit "time out" between WWII carnage and 1960’s blast, in humble homage to Club Hollywood West. Can’t help myself when students ask, “why is it, only white people talk about life back in the past? Is it really true, “Father Knows Best?” Coming from those who entered this world just before Bobby bid it adieu, I smile and say, it wasn’t all that good back then, for those who don’t look and think like Palin. Although “Engine” Charlie Wilson never said “What’s good for General Motors is good for the USA or Country or whatever, it is the thematic reaction they show, to all things FDR, “Abraham, Martin and John,” that flow with The Civil Rights Act, “The Great Society” and Bobby’s, “Now let’s on to Chicago...”

REACTION: After a number of people have written me about their economic difficulties with BANKS, asking for my help, The Reasonable Voice has decided to accept the personal requests and organizational invitations to use my words to shine a bright hot light on Bank Board Members and Hedge Fund Managers who are profiting off the financial difficulties of “We The People.” Being Too Big To Fail must be removed from all public policy and Being Too Big To Care exposed as Un-American. To help reveal the truth about Banking Practices to the Public, please email your stories, of any difficulties with Banks to Marcello@TheReasonableVoice.com. If requested, your identity will be kept private, but I will use your stories to “Fight the Good Fight,” not with violence, but with Truth, Media connections and Persuasive Political Organizations, before the United States Congress.

Long before we are old enough to be influenced by the ever shifting tides of adult life, the wind carries the seeds of our most secret childhood dreams of Greatness aloft, Heavenward. However, as the gentle breezes of youthful hope and dreams begin to swirl into the storms of maturity, three paths from which to choose appear before us, and no matter which we choose, our life is transformed. Most choose the broader path of re-defining greatness to mean amassing great temporal wealth at the expense of others. Many, with each step taken on the pathway of herded masses, choose to allow their dreams of Greatness to fade away from memory, like all things left un-nurtured.  Still there are the outnumbered, the dreamers who become the dream; those who cannot escape knowing that Greatness is to be the brightest star of truth, illuminating the darkness of the night sky. “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers” and sisters, poets & artists all, still answer the call of our dreams, and choose "the road less traveled," proud to carry on.  I wanted to be Zorro.  What did you want to be when you grew up?

For most of my career, critics and colleagues have complemented my talent to create “moments” and make “pictures,” both on stage and on camera, that stimulate laughter & tears, that provoke an audience to think & question, and in the best of productions, inspire hope, uplifting joy and positive action. Most Artists create for the benefit of their audience, but as “Zorro” could tell you, unseen "directors" still attempt to orchestrate a reversal of fortune of Lincoln’s gifts to America, and later, FDR’s reestablishment of those gifts to Americans.  Now the men behind the curtain are re-making us in their own image and transforming our Greatness into the Land of the Loud.

We rail against our government almost as much as it rails against itself, without ever asking why are we all shouting, shooting and bearing arms, when listening is far more effective than bombs or “random shots in the air?"  While war-cries assisted in the birth of our nation, from Washington to Lincoln we built something exceptional on an idea of peace, harmony, prosperity and “justice for all.”  Then, for the first time since the unruly Andrew Jackson, Florida was invaded by super high decimals of anger, fear, hate and they who shout the loudest win. The cameras rolled for all to see the new darkness inflicted on the Sunshine State, and a nation of TV faithful were herded by the created “moment.” It was “Showtime,” a directed & choreographed “picture” performed for the TV viewing audience. Quickly the drama suspended reality and misdirected our attention from the message: America’s electoral system had been deported.  But Why?  Why had we evolved from a nation of voters into a nation of screamers? How did we go from “America the Beautiful” to America the Manipulated?  Not a Red Republican vs. Blue Democrat question, nor just a political issue, this is a moral, intellectual and human challenge that strikes at the very essence of what gave birth to the Greatness that was America -- From the shoeless farmer soldiers of 1775 to the “Greatest Generation” of 1945.

So what happened? Truly it was ever so subtle – the slow undoing of our International Citizenship and our National perception of “All for One and One for All."  Was it the dropping of two atomic bombs on civilian populations, the only nation ever to do so? Was it the marriage between the Pentagon and Corporate America? The Civil Rights Movement, shoving Lincoln’s ideals down our throats again? Was it the assassinations of “Abraham, Martin and John” or Bobby’s one last stand? Was it LBJ's reversal of JFK's NSAM 263 stated intention to pull out of Vietnam by 1965?  Or was it the Corporate Regan taking advantage of the dementia suffering Reagan? What exactly turned us into a Nation of Watergate, following a path through The Dark Side of The DICK’s Bush League into a screaming mob of bomb throwing, gone mad, fear mongering, scared to death to care about our fellow human beings, because we may lose something by extending a helping hand, extremists?

Why not just let the Statue of Liberty sink into NY Harbor, if its inscription should now read, “You’re on your own buddy; We’re closed to all new business or thoughts, for in our greenback hearts and Conservative mindset, we’ve lost our vision of what was the definition of our USA:  “The Land of the Free” -- “Home of the Brave” -- “From Sea to shining Sea” – “Sweet Land of Liberty, of Thee I Sing.”

I got to be Zorro.  Riding astride a strongly muscled compact yet powerful Morgan, when suddenly our group was attacked by a large herd of un-caged Rottweiler’s. The judge’s mount was spooked, but nothing like her asthmatic teenage daughter’s pony, who took off at a gallop toward the woods, leaving her mother pleading, “please save my daughter.” Giving my Morgan Senesa, her head, we plowed a path between the now far less snarling assailants, and raced after the runaways.  Catching up to them on a sharp turn, which her pony was not going to make, I pulled her to safety.  Yes, I was Zorro, if only for five minutes.  But who knows, perhaps in that five minutes a life was saved, and it was done without a sword.

Time for all of us to visit our mirrors, absent the bitter shouts fueled by Corporate “money changers,” and recapture the essence of what was intended: “We hold these truths to be self evident:” “It is more Blessed to Give than to Receive;” “Truly I say to you, Inasmuch as you have done it to one of the least of theses my brothers, you have done it to me."  Now, “Peace Be Still.”

QUESTION: What has been most devastating to American families, our Republic Society, our Middle Class and our national financial stability? ANSWER: Our wars from 1775—2010, Our ever increasing Corporate Greed and Our Politicians corrupted by financial contributions from BIG Business. To create “Change We Can Believe In” that will actually correct our course away from War, Corporate Greed and a bought and paid for Government, we need a seismic shift in our way of doing business.  K.I.S.S: An educated voter rejecting the status quo Conservative proclamation, everything's RIGHT with "America the Beautiful."  Face it, we've been played by politicians holding a hand dealt by Corporate handlers, from a stacked deck. It’s all in the marketing. It’s protective PR. It’s “Showtime.” While we’ve been rushed to judgment by media coverage regurgitating religious like belief in the perfection of all things America – The Greatest This, The Biggest That, The Best Whatever, in the shadows from which the puppeteers operate, we have been transformed into the land of screaming pundits, with societal fractions fighting a class war.  “We the People” have been cast in the role of minions doing the grunt work for overlords, while the Bush League offered up our youth as cannon fodder.  BUT don’t despair, for we outnumber the men to whom even Dick Cheney must genuflect. All we need is a little “Unity of Purpose,” a pause in the street-unwise partisan hype and a bit of historical education for Beauty to take on the Beast and fight the good fight!

ONE: A seismic change in our priorities & focus can result from any number of people acting out, “Enough."  Think back thirty years past, when the Beef Industry suddenly raised the price of beef all across "the Land of the Free."  Clearly the corporate fix was in. While it had taken a President to shame the Steel industry into reversing such betrayal of the American public, the cow people’s greedy plot was branded "Halt" by American Women with pioneer spirit, who without emails or National movement, purchased fish & chicken instead.  The Corporate cowboys got the message:  Don't mess with Mother buying food for her family.   Wives, Mothers, girlfriends too, won the day by stopping an onslaught of beefer greed.  "Where's the Beef" crabs backed away, looking to rustle up a Texas cowboy with an amoral Vice to serve up to the White House.  In 2000, they came back to town to take on the rebels and put "Home of the Brave," down.

TWO: Identify the true enemies of American Freedom and the best method to eradicate them. Yes Al-Qaeda and Osama bin-Laden are a serious threat to us, but so are American based International Corporations & their political puppets. Sipping Southern Comfort like tea in their granite monuments to themselves, they look down on us from on high, as ants fighting over a crumb, amongst ourselves.  On the inside looking out, a smile then a grin reflect from within, their sheer delight at our plight; so well misdirected are we on their behalf, our fear and anger at each other make them laugh.  Dwellers in Corporate towers above, are the enemies of the State, playing monopoly until for us, it's too late.  Like Brando in "The Formula" said, “We are the Arabs," so why not Reagan in Lincoln's bed.  Ignored until we vote in FDR, Kennedy or Barack, they hasten to tighten their money strings, conducting a chorus of talking point schemes.  Thus kept in line with media spin, it's Never, Never Land for us again.

THREE: Gather in ever increasing union, outside any Corporate Headquarters near you: BANKS, Pharmaceuticals, Health Insurers and Oil Companies.  Sing, hum or just stand silently with T-shirts and signs that let them see through their smoked mirrored Board Room windows, "We found you;" "We See You;" “We know who you are;” and “We Know What you Did."  Following the example of Gandhi, King and the women who rolled back beef prices, each of us can cast a giant shadow on the secret powers.  Although, the corporate villains of United Health Group, Bank of America, Johnson & Johnson, AETNA, CITI, PFIZER, CIGNA, PNC, Abbott Labs, Wellpoint, Wells Fargo, and MERCK have many dollars in their bins, "We the People” are digging in for the count:  Census, Voting, sit and stand-ins.  No more buying from those who abuse our bottom line and trust.  Investing in those for whom we are more than a line item profit is what we must.

Even good men need help to surround themselves with the advice and input of honorable men, but sadly there is little honor for us to depend in Congressional Conservatives, The Supreme Court, Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Alan Greenspan, and possibly even Timothy F. Geithner. Perhaps it's Never, Never Land again.

Even a good President like Barack Obama needs more than our vote. He needs our help to keep those who gave him 26 million away from the subject, long enough to get "America the Beautiful" back on the path to Health Care democratically, in our Republic.  He needs too, all our emails, Congressional visits and calls, to renew his vision to provide the protection of MEDICARE For ALL!

With Valentine's Day just a heart beat ago and Easter coming round the mountain, here she comes: the Mother of all holidays – Sun May 9, 2010. Any couple can attest, it’s wise to remember anniversaries & birthdays; wiser still to make your dear one feel hearts and flowers from your daily attentive ways. However, the wisest among us knows the beautiful and loving boomerang effect of making every day, Mother’s Day. Mom & I always loved movies, especially those that told inspiring, but lesser known all-American stories. We loved everything from the warm smiles delivered by Ron Howard to the chilling effect of "Thirteen Days." Mom thought “The Natural” was my story and she was overjoyed when I shared "Field of Dreams,” with Dad, but our favorite Mom-Son movie experience was Penny Marshall’s “League of Their Own."  It starred Geena Davis who sadly years later, not realizing how inspirational her “Commander in Chief” character affected loyal fans, foolishly included in an awards acceptance speech, a most ill-advised joke that belittled her audience’s belief in the first female President. She didn’t get it, but we won’t repeat her mistake if we start with the memories of the older women in our lives. Be they Grandmothers, Godmothers, HS Music Teachers, neighborhood pie makers, College Professors or MOM, these women made life more rewarding and challenging for us long before they were sweet little old ladies trying to decipher whether it’s safe to take their Fosamax or not.

Now, with Hillary Clinton and Tina Fey’s imitator Sarah Palin, it’s difficult to remember how often women have been forgotten, overlooked, underpaid and un-thanked, unless of course, you happen to be a woman. Read BLACKOUT by William Rough. It’s a semi-biographical magically realistic WWII revelation of the female touch of Moms and other care givers left behind in war time. And it's no easier now than it was then. My Grandmamma had five sons in WWII simultaneously, and women like her, supported only by radio’s fireside chats, were the glue that held America’s “homefront” together. However, more than a thousand others volunteered as Air Force Service Pilots, who flew in much needed wartime supplies to those in battle, including delivering bombers and many other types of aircraft. Playwright Rough’s Godmother, Barbara “Donnie Ross” Donahue, literally flew in circles over America to raise her 400 plus pilot flying hours up to the required 500, so she could be a volunteer flyer with the Women's Airforce Service Pilots. These women were true patriots for whom every flight was an act of selfless courage, going far beyond flag wavers preaching family values they fail to practice, like equality and justice for all regardless of age, color or sex.

Last week our American Government finally acknowledged the WASP aviators, by bestowing Congressional Gold Medals, all round. "Donnie Ross" was one of the 175 attending, of the remaining 300 surviving pilots. Sixty-five years ago, all had been volunteer flyers delivering supplies wherever needed. They had never received any financial compensation, not even a ticket home. Sixty-five years ago, all had to pay their own way back to "The Home of the Brave," because the military wouldn't. They didn't ask for, nor expect a free ride. Sixty-five year ago, there were no honors, no pensions, and no military funerals for the thirty-eight who were killed while serving our country in a time of war. I too am sixty-five years late with this inadequate salute to the soon to be 90 year old "Donnie Ross," and every member of the team of grand lady flyers, and through them, the forgotten women everywhere, like those represented by the black actress who retrieves and throws the ball beyond the reach of Geena Davis in “League of Their Own.” It’s a "silent bit" whose message is loud and clear. I write hoping that we as a people, will demand more truth in our lives, not just from our government, but from our history books, our national self-image and our mirrors.

One more tip of the hat to those who read better and more than we males do:  Do you know what Hela Cells are? If not, it's probably because our news media has been directed, by their Corporate Board of Directors to mis-direct our attention from their fleecing of Americans. While we're tube glued to repetitive gossip about sex or whatever, we fail to notice our collective national pockets being picked by Corporate bosses. By the way, Hela Cells were stolen by the Corporation of Johns Hopkins Hospital, from another woman "For Whom the Bell Tolls," or should anyway. Dare you to find out why you should care.

In the meantime please think on this:  when next a Corporation forecloses on a neighbor, or induces addiction in our children for unhealthy foods, cigarettes & meds, or price hikes a friend out of the security of much needed Health Insurance, perhaps we will summon the courage of a WASP to recognize and proclaim the difference between heroes and villains, and refuse to allow Sainthood for Corporate political puppets.  Although RIGHT for BIG Business, they are very wrong about Government's responsibilities to its citizens. Yes, I know, "mistakes were made," none worse than the Dick and his GW, twice. However, greed is not a family value and there is nothing heroic about being Conservative with America's need for Reform in Heath Care & Political Finances. While Corporations are NOT people, human beings like Barbara Donahue and Henrietta Lacks represent the best of "We the People."