At first we thought this was some sort of a joke, but believe it or not there is a growing movement among Congressional Democrats to create a Cabinet-level “Hippie Department.”
Seriously … we’re not kidding.
In fact, the “U.S. Department of Peace and Non-Violence” is already in the form of a bill sponsored by U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich … a bill which currently has over 70 co-sponsors (and that’s before all the new Democrats come to town).
Dedicated to developing “policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, non-violent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict,” this new Department would feature a Cabinet-level Secretary appointed by the President with advice and consent of the U.S. Senate.
Again … we’re not kidding.
From Eureka Reporter:
(The bill creating the agency) also would establish within the department an “Intergovernmental Advisory Council on Peace and Non-violence [to] provide assistance and make recommendations to the secretary and the president concerning intergovernmental policies relating to peace and non-violent conflict resolution; a Federal Interagency Committee on Peace and Non-violence; [and] Peace Day.†The purpose of “Peace Day†would be to urge all citizens to observe and celebrate the blessings of peace and on that day to strive to create peace.
Jesus … what the hell is happening to this country? First wealth redistribution and now a friggin’ Hippie Department?
Personally, we hate hippies. With a passion. Now … that may or may not stem from some “bad tabs” a hippie gave us back in college, but we literally can’t stand their smelly, mooching, anti-social asses.
In fact, we pretty much lose it Manchurian Candidate-style whenever we hear that gay ass Youngbloods song.
We’ve got no problem with peace, mind you. Nor do we have a problem with having a peaceful, easy feeling (one that won’t let you down).
But if this is where government is headed under an Obama administration, America is even more screwed than we thought.
By ~=~ November 6, 2008 at 11:58 am
W: Jesus … what the hell is happening to this country?
J: Willie – I was considered a hippie in my time. Are you really asking me?
By Gene November 6, 2008 at 12:09 pm
“policies that promote national and international conflict prevention, non-violent intervention, mediation, peaceful resolution of conflict, and structured mediation of conflict,â€
What’s wrong with that? It’s a policy change to negotiation and humanity vs. strike first cowboy non-sense. If you have a problem peace and supporting peace then you have no place in modern society dude.
By FWFIV November 6, 2008 at 12:10 pm
If it has over 70 co-sponsors, then there are plenty of republicans who support it as well. I can see it as an addtional tool to restore our abysmal foreign relations decisions over the last years. Of course the name is pretty hippy-dippy, but that doesn’t mean it may be a bad idea.
By fitsnews November 6, 2008 at 12:31 pm
Gene-
Go take a shower or something.
-FITS
By sid November 6, 2008 at 1:02 pm
If by “plenty of republicans who support it as well” you mean one, then you are correct. And he’s retiring, so he doesn’t really count. Otherwise, this is a Democrat bill designed as a jab at Bush. It was introduced last year, so now that we’ve got an economic meltdown to consider, there may be less support for expanding government some more. If Obama’s smart (and he is) he’ll privately tell these folks to let it rest for a while, but we’ll make another push when the timing is better.
By sid November 6, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Gene,
All Obama has to do is say that is going to be the policy of his State Department. No need for a new agency.
By confused November 6, 2008 at 2:04 pm
introduced in feb, 2007 (which, oddly enough, is around the time dennis “the hobbit” kucinich was about to launch a presidential campaign based largely on pacifism and anti-war sentiment). referred to the subcommittee on early childhood education, the hotbed of all important legislation that it is. where nothing has happened. since feb. 2007. 70 cosponsors (none of whom are likely to push the thing) out of 435? yeah, there’s a real groundswell there…
that is a dead bill. much like the thousands of other comical and silly things introduced every year.
By lisa November 6, 2008 at 2:23 pm
ok ya’ll remember how the “market corrects”? well…. America is ” fixin to” correct. ( I HOPE>)
By Sick of Sic November 6, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Sid,
The State Department is too busy getting white flags and turning us into “France” to have time to administer anything beyond implementing our new surrender to the world policies…… For the next 4 years, nothing will surprise me….
By T November 6, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I used to say unbelievable…but now it’s just believable.
By Bill and Ted November 6, 2008 at 2:59 pm
The markets are correcting…Sic One is the new Solicitor–only drug crimes measured in tonnage will be addressed…we’ll trade in, and be paid in herbage. It will be one sweet adventure.
By T4 November 6, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I hear Obama can fly. Can anyone else confirms this?
By Pat Hendrix November 6, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Sic,
I wasn’t aware we had surrendered to anyone (perhaps a reference to turning power over to the democratically elected government of Iraq – as suported by the current adminstration?). Or by surrendering you mean carrying out US policies as directed by the Bush Administration, you’re correct. Otherwise, the gratuitous use of “white flags” and “France” – like this site’s yawn inspiring use of “hippies†– sigh – is the same sort of childish screeds that have driven the Republican Party into the political wilderness. In short: Grow up.
By Darkknight November 6, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Gene – I think its past time for your drug test… Sure we started all this “cowboy” activity… but hmmm wasnt it AFTER we were attacked first???
I bet if you had been alive on Dec 7, 1941 you would have called it “cowboy diplomacy” then too…
Those who fail to remember history will indeed repeat it!
By Art Patron November 6, 2008 at 4:14 pm
What are you expressing with your icon, Darkknight?
By Pat Hendrix November 6, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Dark-Knight, oh great historical sage, please learn us simple folk about the lessons of history. One problem: I’m having a difficult time drawing a parallel between WWII and invading and occupying Iraq, a country our own intelligence services said played no role in 9-11 and posed no imminent threat to US national security.
Perhaps you meant Crassus’ invasion of Parthia in 53BCE or Varus’ march into the Teutoburg Forest in 9AD. Both were entirely unnecessary, had far ranging consequences. Both were also carried out by incompetent and arrogant leaders with zero preparation. Sound familiar?
By sid November 6, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Pat,
I think you should have addressed Sick, not Sic, to avoid confusion. Also, his post didn’t say we have surrendered to anyone. I believe the reference was to the perception that Obama will be likely to run our foreign policy through other nations to make sure it is OK with them. Thus, “surrender to the world policies.” BTW, if you want “childish screeds,” you really need to visit the blogs on the left.
By Diz November 6, 2008 at 7:02 pm
Hey Sicman, how do you hide money from a hippy?
Can anyone guess the answer to this one?
By Sick of Sic November 6, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Pat…. talk to me next year when you figure out what happened to your pay check, or when you realize that we have elected the Vichy government.
By local yokel November 6, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Gentleman! No fighting. This is the War Room!
By Ana Campos November 6, 2008 at 10:35 pm
I enjoyed your article. Mainly because I actively support preventing violence in our own cities, I’m not a hippie and I hate the smell of patchouli. I would suggest that you actually read the contents of the bill on http://www.ThePeaceAlliance.org or http://www.Congress.org It’s HR-808. The reason for its strength is because people want a pro-active approach to preventing violence. That is all the bill is calling for. Treat preventing violence as a national priority. Bring conflict resolution, peer mediation into the school systems to give teachers and children the tools to make better choices. So maybe instead of taking a gun and shooting down 30 classmates,committing suicide or joining gangs to express their anger, they could have options.
Sorry to correct you but I haven’t met one hippie yet. The people involved and supporting the shift towards preventing violence first are teachers, republicans and democrats, police officers, friends of victims of 9-11 and everyday average folk. I have met hundreds of people who have lost friends and family members to violence and domestic abuse. This is not about the war, it’s not about peace symbols and hippie bs. This bill and this movement have been around for a long time. There is a growing hunger in the public for peace and a slightly safer world.
p.s. And yes there are 70 co-sponsors and a national movement behind it, asking that we also focus on preventing violence. Our grassoots group proudly takes credit for one of those cosponsors!
http://www.MySpace.com/DepartmentofPeaceFlorida
By sid November 7, 2008 at 2:19 am
Uh, yeah, this thing should definitely be read by all. Virtually everything in it is already under the purview of some other department or agency. It talks about crime (DOJ), drug and alcohol abuse (HHS), school policies (DOEd), any number of international topics (State Dep and DOD), and so on. So why create a new department? Perhaps as another opportunity to promote policies with which the majority of Americans disagree. Some interesting subjects include addressing “violence against animals”–which is code for promoting PETA’s agenda of banning hunting and fishing–and “dealing with the implements of violence, including gun-related violence and the overwhelming presence of handguns”–which means promoting gun control, including gun bans. Thanks for bringing the details to my attention. Now I can write to my Senators and Representative to ensure this abomination never gains any traction. I urge others to do the same. If you don’t care about hunting or the Second Amendment, just read the thing. I’m sure you’ll find something else to which you will object.
By rick November 7, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Yep Ana, now convince the rest of the world to become happy, hippy, dippy followers of whatever you’re smoking and we can all live in peace and harmony. Like many, I bought into this crap as a child, as an adult with responsibilities, I learned that the two legged animals that inhabit our planet respect nothing other than greater power and a willingness to use it. It won’t be long until ugly is once again visited upon our nation….stick a flower in it and see if it converts to peace and love.