By now I'm sure you've all heard the news that Larry King is leaving the airwaves, and not a moment too soon as far as I'm concerned. The old coot had become the go-to guy for anyone who wished to spin their misdeeds to a positive end without fear of challenge to anything they might lie about, and no worries about the dreaded follow-up question or rebuttal, both of which Larry seemed to forgot about a good 5 to 6 years ago.

I swear to god, Larry would accommodate Ted Bundy so he could explain and excuse away his crimes on the over the hill late night talk show host's forum if circumstances made such an appearance possible.

And just to remind us how feeble a broadcast journalist he has become, Larry tells us he would like to see Ryan Seacrest take over his job.

Really?

The cute little impish man from American Idol who has no background what so ever in journalism or politics, and whose interview history involves no one of any merit outside those on the fast track to fame in the entertainment industry...this is the person King feels should succeed him?

Exit stage left, Larry! Larry should have said so long so long ago!

Not so long ago (last week actually), the Florida State Legislature passed a few laws that illustrate just how out of touch, in a Larry King sort of way, that body of enlightenment has become.

It is now illegal for any store to sell a bong unless tobacco products constitute 75% of the store's retail sales.

Like that's going stop anyone from smoking weed!

How redunkulous!

Oil is invading our beaches, the aquifer is in danger, the everglades are in danger, the economy is going down the tubes, the housing market is completely upside down, and our state is in a health care and education crisis, and the ass wipes in Tallahassee spent untold hours debating whether or not to ban the sale of bongs! Then they did ban the sale of bongs (except by tobacco shops), and are patting themselves on the backs as though they've actually accomplished something.

Aren't you proud of our State Representatives for tackling all these really important issues head on and enacting landmark legislation to improve our quality of life?

Meanwhile up in Washington, the Supreme Court has ruled that Gun Control of any kind is unconstitutional.

The inmates are truly running the asylum!

Finally, with regards to our immigration issues; may we please be clear on this one point? - No one but Native American Tribes people are here legally.  Our ancestors invaded this land and slaughtered its indigenous peoples almost to the point of extinction. Those who survived the invasion were herded onto designated plots of ground, and were told they no longer had any rights or claims to the land of their birth. We stole this country by brutal and life-taking means. Unless you are of Native American Indian decent, you have no more right to claim this country is exclusively yours or that of your marauding ancestors than I have to enter your house uninvited only to take possession of it, and by force, move you to live only on a small parcel of land in the far corner of the back yard.

Our American history is short, but our collective American memory seems shorter still.

Let's not get too heady or defensive over the premise of creating a legal means to citizenship for the 11 million "illegals" already here.  And let us not forget that the vast majority of these immigrants would not be here in the first place, except that they knew they could find work here. And work they do. 

They do the work we don't want to do. They do the work the farming and the food processing industries illegally underpay them to do. The very real criminal activity in this scenario is that of the so called legal American who is only too happy to employ and underpay the tide of immigrants we attract to this country by this very means.

Enforce the laws already on the books? Yes! Reform immigration policy and strengthen the security of our borders? Yes! But let's not be delusional in thinking we have the means or the money to round up and deport 11 million people in any way that would make sense. If we provide them a legal path to citizenship, we can and will tax their income, and then they will be contributing to, rather than being perceived as a burden upon, our society.

The powers that be in the country wanted cheap labor. Well, they got it. And they have abused it for far too long. They don't get to now simply gather up this mass of humanity, which they attracted here in the first place, and sweep them back over the border declaring, "We're done with you."

Everyone is so worked up about "the Mexicans invading our country." Let's not forget that the very borders "the Mexicans" are crossing are borders we, as Americans, created when we literally took Mexican land away from the persons who were born on it, and by force declared that land to be part of the United States.

As far as I'm concerned, "the Mexicans" - being true North American natives - have more right to access this country than anyone of us who traces our ancestry back to Europe.

Our country has a long history of overpowering, exploiting, and disposing of unwanted people. It needs to stop. And we, as Americans, need to stop and take note of our brief and inhumane history which is fraught with all manner of atrocities committed against the indigenous North American people as our ancestors greedily forged onward taking what ever they wished to take, by what ever bloody and murderous means they could employ.

As Americans we have many reasons to be proud. But our score card on human rights and civility toward those perceived as being different
(or less than) ourselves is least among those reasons. We are now faced with the unique opportunity to adjust that score just a little, by being willing to take responsibility for a situation we, as a nation, helped foster, and to deal with it in a way that illustrates that we value ALL people, regardless of their ethnicity or accent.