Indispensible words from the Times

The New York Times weighs in on FISA, and Frank Rich makes all of us think twice about our sedentary approach to the out-of-control juggernaut called the Bush administration.

Rich is right. A call a week to each of your representatives in Washington costs virtually nothing and takes only a few minutes. But if enough of us did just this one thing, there would be big differences in how decisions are made.

Don' t waste a call on Creepy Joe Liberman, those holes in the side of his head used to be ears, but are now simply holes in the sides of his head.

Here's a Peggy Seeger lyric from her great, Song of Choice to consider after reading Rich:

Song of Choice

Early every year the seeds are growing
Unseen, unheard they lie beneath the ground
Would you know before their leaves are showing
That with weeds all your garden will abound?

If you close your eyes, stop your ears
Shut your mouth then how can you know ?
For seeds you cannot hear may not be there
Seeds you cannot see may never grow

In January you've still got the choice
You can cut the weeds before they start to bud
If you leave them to grow high they'll silence your voice
And in December you may pay with your blood

So close your eyes, stop your ears,
Shut your mouth and take it slow
Let others take the lead and you bring up the rear
And later you can say you didn't know

Every day another vulture takes flight
There's another danger born every morning
In the darkness of your blindness the beast will learn to bite
How can you fight if you can't recognise a warning?

Today you may earn a living wage
Tomorrow you may be on the dole
Though there's millions going hungry you needn't disengage
For it's them, not you, that's fallen in the hole

It's alright for you if you run with the pack
It's alright if you agree with all they do
If fascism is slowly climbing back
It's not here yet so what's it got to do with you?

The weeds are all around us and they're growing
It'll soon be too late for the knife
If you leave them on the wind that around the world is blowing
You may pay for your silence with your life

So close your eyes, stop your ears,
Shut your mouth and never dare
And if it happens here they'll never come for you
Because they'll know you really didn't care