American Idols

A Senate Republican proposal to amend the US constitution to criminalize flag desecration failed by a single vote.

Absurdly, supporters of the amendment keep claiming that US soldiers died to defend the flag, but apparently not to defend the values which the flag represents.

This follows on the heels of the earlier defeat of the so-called marriage amendment.

It is instructive to review recent committee and floor voting records to get a sample of what Senate Republicans consider to be the most pressing social issues facing society. The American Values Agenda is part of a broad election year effort to enhance the life of all Americans, through:

• Amending the US constitution to restrict the exercise of the first amendment right to free speech in cases where it involves flag burning;
• Amending the US constitution to deny states the right to determine who might be married or receive state recognition of their civil unions;
• Dramatically reducing or eliminating the estate tax on the super wealthy;
• Keeping the minimum wage way below the poverty level;
• Challenging the right of news media to act in the public interest by exposing potentially illegal acts engaged in or authorized by the Congress and Executive branch;
• Abolishing the right of citizens to open and nondiscriminatory access to information on the Internet;
• Restricting women's access to safe, legal abortions;
• Prohibiting human cloning;
• etc., etc.

Noticably missing from these efforts are nonessential trifles, such as:

• Impeaching the President for repeatedly lying to the nation;
• Withdrawing from Iraq;
  
• Dealing with the national debt;
• Addressing the trade deficit;
• Capturing 911 mastermind Bin Laden and ending the 'war on terror';
• Meaningful reform of national security;
• Abolishing the failed 'No Child Left Behind' program;
• Fixing the mess left by Katrina;
• etc., etc.