The streets of Los Angeles were filled yesterday with an estimated 1,000,000 legal and illegal Latino protesters. They were sending a message to our Congress which has different pending legislation concerning illegal residents.
Some years ago there was another 1,000,000 man march in Washington, D.C. This protest was made up of mainly African-Americans citizens. They were complaining about Civil Rights issues. They wanted more help from the government. Different goals than the Latino march but they were subtly tied together. Predictably the Latino protestors want the least government intervention. But the legal African-Americans protestors wanted more government intervention in the form of costly assistance programs and affirmative action.
The recent U.S. Census showed a higher unemployment rate among African-Americans versus a lower unemployment rate for Latinos. What is the conclusion to be drawn from both the marches and the Census figures? It implies that there is a direct correlation between African-Americans who are on welfare and unemployed to the influx of legal and illegal Mexicans who will do any work.
America really doesn't need " new" immigration legislation America only needs to force people who receive welfare assistance to work.With that change in welfare distribution, the result will include less illegal immigrants doing jobs our legals wont do. One law that should definitely be removed from the books is the automatic citizenship granted to people born in America even if they are children of illegal aliens.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Lawrence Summers : Seeking Job With Wolfowitz ?
Lawrence Summers, former U.S. Treasury Secretary and soon to be ex-president of Harvard because of culturally depraved remarks is floating some new ideas. Maybe the ideas include a new postion for him that would fit his own high estimation of his worth. In a recent speech in India, he counseled emerging countries to move some of their enormous holdings of U.S. Treasury debt into other emerging markets debt and assets where the returns would be higher. Here is where he might fit in. He said, " Because central banks are likely to be criticized if their investments do poorly and opportunities for mischief in picking assets and exercising control" Mr. Summers suggested the World Bank " could create an international facility in which countries could invest their excess reserves without taking domestic responsibility for the process of investment decision and ultimate result." Could he be that new portfolio manager who would take" responsibility for the process of investment decision" for the " excess reserves" ?
Summers is lacking cultural awareness. From his barbaric statements at Harvard to now, a former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury recommending publically for others to reduce their exposure to our debt. And then there is the prospect of Wolfowitz being his new boss at the World Bank. Do you think that the " Merchant of Menace" would have some ideas how to manage investment flows by Summers so that political results could be determined? How about less money flowing into Middle Eastern countries except Israel ?
Maybe Summer's new ideas were really Wolfy's ?
Summers is lacking cultural awareness. From his barbaric statements at Harvard to now, a former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury recommending publically for others to reduce their exposure to our debt. And then there is the prospect of Wolfowitz being his new boss at the World Bank. Do you think that the " Merchant of Menace" would have some ideas how to manage investment flows by Summers so that political results could be determined? How about less money flowing into Middle Eastern countries except Israel ?
Maybe Summer's new ideas were really Wolfy's ?
Bush : Bible, Quran ( Koran ) & History
Bush's State of the Union Address in 2003 was in part a promise to fellow evangelicals Christians. He used the words and structure of a Gospel hymn for part of his speech, " Yet there is power, wonder-working power in the goodness and idealism and faith of the American people." The actual hymn goes, " Power, power wonder-working power in the blood of the lamb." The hymn carries the promise of Christ's redemption. Thus Bush framed his personal evangelical mission and by extension brought the rest of us Americans along. Bush beleives in the Bible and little else. The Bible gives saved souls like his a " charge to keep". In return our president must spread Christianity to as many as possible. He came to use nation-building and democracy as his Trojan Horse to that purpose.
Here we all are 3 years later and Bush's delusional evangelical mission faces the blowback of reality from equally fanatical Muslim clerics. Yesterday in Kabul, Afganistan Abdul Rahman was being tried for his life under Islamic Shariah laws. These laws are condoned by the Karzai Afghan government. Rahman's crime was his conversion to Christianity about 15 years ago and only recently revealed in a child custody case. Note that Bush had nothing to do with this man's conversion. The clerics of the religious council called Ulema have the authority and aims to fulfill its own " charge" which is to execute him.
Too bad Bush read and only believed the Bible. If he had the curiosity to read the Koran or even a history book about the region he would have known that he was a loser from the get-go.
Here we all are 3 years later and Bush's delusional evangelical mission faces the blowback of reality from equally fanatical Muslim clerics. Yesterday in Kabul, Afganistan Abdul Rahman was being tried for his life under Islamic Shariah laws. These laws are condoned by the Karzai Afghan government. Rahman's crime was his conversion to Christianity about 15 years ago and only recently revealed in a child custody case. Note that Bush had nothing to do with this man's conversion. The clerics of the religious council called Ulema have the authority and aims to fulfill its own " charge" which is to execute him.
Too bad Bush read and only believed the Bible. If he had the curiosity to read the Koran or even a history book about the region he would have known that he was a loser from the get-go.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Negative Influence Of Israel Lobby & Rachel Corrie
Professors Stephen Walt of Harvard and John Mearsheimer of Univ. of Chicago have collaborated on an essay printed in the latest London Review of Books. The full work is available on the Kennedy Center Website. The expose essay follows the American Israel Public Affairs Committee ( AIPAC) and The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations influence on America's Congress, executive branch and cultural orgainzations. Their conclusion is that the power of Israel's lobbies has jeopardized U.S. security and self-interest in favor of Israeli goals. The Iraq War is an example. I urge people to read the full document and also to look at aipac.org to see what our Middle East taskmasters have as our next chore.
My own research in " Evangelicals, Zionists & Secular Neocons" shows how AIPAC and The Conference...Jewish Organizations effectively guide over 100 U.S. pro-Israel PAC s. In total they can marshall over $ 265,000,000 ( app. 13% of total lobby money spent in 2004) per each Congressional election cycle. This kind of money assures Congressional obedience.
A recent odious example of their greed for cultural influence involved the pressure on the New York Theatre Workshop to cancel its March, 2006 presentation of the play " My Name is Rachel Corrie". Rachel Corrie ( she was Jewish) was crushed to death by an Israeli Army bulldozer in Gaza on March, 16 2003. She was protesting with the International Solidarity Movement against Israel's barbaric demolition of Palestinian homes as part of Israels collective punishment policy. Israel government has not accepted responsibility nor has anyone been charged for the death. Members of AIPAC, The Anti-Defamation League and The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations officially or unofficially brought enormous pressure on the Workshop not to show Israel part in that sad event of Ms. Corrie.
My own research in " Evangelicals, Zionists & Secular Neocons" shows how AIPAC and The Conference...Jewish Organizations effectively guide over 100 U.S. pro-Israel PAC s. In total they can marshall over $ 265,000,000 ( app. 13% of total lobby money spent in 2004) per each Congressional election cycle. This kind of money assures Congressional obedience.
A recent odious example of their greed for cultural influence involved the pressure on the New York Theatre Workshop to cancel its March, 2006 presentation of the play " My Name is Rachel Corrie". Rachel Corrie ( she was Jewish) was crushed to death by an Israeli Army bulldozer in Gaza on March, 16 2003. She was protesting with the International Solidarity Movement against Israel's barbaric demolition of Palestinian homes as part of Israels collective punishment policy. Israel government has not accepted responsibility nor has anyone been charged for the death. Members of AIPAC, The Anti-Defamation League and The Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations officially or unofficially brought enormous pressure on the Workshop not to show Israel part in that sad event of Ms. Corrie.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Young Black Men : Dropouts and Character
Yesterday the N.Y.Times had a front page report of recent " scholarly" studies about the " plight" of young back men. Experts were quoted from Colombia, Harvard and Princeton Universities. The report included these statistics, " In 2000 65% of black male high school dropouts in their 20's were jobless. By 2004, the share had grown to 72% .By comparison 34% of white and 19% of Hispanic dropouts [were jobless]".
The studies blamed poor schooling and lack of personal character i.e. self-discipline, positive goal behavior etc. One of the poster boys for this demographic was Curtis Brannon of Baltimore, M.D. He quit school in the 10th grade to sell drugs, fathered 4 children by 3 mothers and spent time in jail for numerous violations of the law. He's not out of his 20's yet!
The study suggests another $ 50 billion be spent by the Federal government to help people like Curtis.I don't think so. I have a simple observation and suggestion for Curtis and others who similarly situated . Get a job and keep it.Start by following were the legal and illegal hispanics get their daily work. Stand in front of stores that are frequented by contractors who are looking for day workers. Then Curtis can start supporting all those children he help create.
The studies blamed poor schooling and lack of personal character i.e. self-discipline, positive goal behavior etc. One of the poster boys for this demographic was Curtis Brannon of Baltimore, M.D. He quit school in the 10th grade to sell drugs, fathered 4 children by 3 mothers and spent time in jail for numerous violations of the law. He's not out of his 20's yet!
The study suggests another $ 50 billion be spent by the Federal government to help people like Curtis.I don't think so. I have a simple observation and suggestion for Curtis and others who similarly situated . Get a job and keep it.Start by following were the legal and illegal hispanics get their daily work. Stand in front of stores that are frequented by contractors who are looking for day workers. Then Curtis can start supporting all those children he help create.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Cheney, Rumsfeld, Bush : Monkeys and Business
" It is unfortunate that we [Iraq] are in a civil war...the country is nearing a point of no return." So said former prime minister of Iraq Ayad Allawi in a BBC interview yesterday. At the same time in different media venues, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Bush were a discriptive chorus of " success" and " progress" of the same Iraqi War. The 3 mens denial of reality remind of the statuette of 3 monkeys with the inscription, " See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil". And if I may press the monkey comparison further, Cheney and Rumsfeld could be the organ-grinders for the military-industrial complex with the leashed monkey Bush doing the soliciting from those lobbies.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
New U.S. Massive " Shock and Awe " Bombings in Iraq
Massive U.S airstrikes were launched to the north of Baghdad today. Rumsfeld, Gen. Pace and others recently gave testimony that the U.S. can't win militarily. So this is gratuitous bombardment! What are the chances that at least half of the casualties are 2 and 4 legged innocents? Where's the oppostion in Congress? They should have been cutting funding for this war months ago. They are part of the problem. Did Karl Rove encourage the bombing to drive home the obvious point that there is really no choice in the coming November, 2006 elections?
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Shylock's Legacy is Israel
" The Merchant of Venice", Act 4; Scene 1, " My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond."
Those were Shylock's words as he prepared to cut" a pound of flesh" from Antonio's chest. Yesterday, the Israeli Army using tanks and bulldozers demolished a prison in Jericho in the West Bank. Guards and bystanders were killed and wounded. It was a revolting display of greed and arrogance. The Israelis wanted Ahmed Saadat and 5 other convicted assassins who were serving time for killing an Israeli Tourism Minister in 2001. Raanan Gissin, an Israeli government spokesman said, " We will put them on trial and they will have to serve their sentences in a real prison, not a mock prison and pay for the crime they have committed." Like Shylock the Israeli government protests that, " I crave the law." Never mind that in the craving, Israel kills and breaks the law and provokes more poison in the region. Shylock likewise did not care for Antonio's life in seeking " ..the penalty and forfeit of my bond".
What will follow will match Shylock's words, " my deeds upon my head." So true. Character is fate for people and countries.
Those were Shylock's words as he prepared to cut" a pound of flesh" from Antonio's chest. Yesterday, the Israeli Army using tanks and bulldozers demolished a prison in Jericho in the West Bank. Guards and bystanders were killed and wounded. It was a revolting display of greed and arrogance. The Israelis wanted Ahmed Saadat and 5 other convicted assassins who were serving time for killing an Israeli Tourism Minister in 2001. Raanan Gissin, an Israeli government spokesman said, " We will put them on trial and they will have to serve their sentences in a real prison, not a mock prison and pay for the crime they have committed." Like Shylock the Israeli government protests that, " I crave the law." Never mind that in the craving, Israel kills and breaks the law and provokes more poison in the region. Shylock likewise did not care for Antonio's life in seeking " ..the penalty and forfeit of my bond".
What will follow will match Shylock's words, " my deeds upon my head." So true. Character is fate for people and countries.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
All Politics Are Local
It is a truism that all politics are local. It is tantamont to affirming that survival is the primary impulse of any being. But here's the rub about local politics in Washington. More and more the local politics of D.C. are not connected to the politics back home in the states. For example, Senator Feingold's reolution to censure President Bush for violating the Constitution and the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, I.E. Bush spied on Americans without a warrant, found little or no support for an immediate vote by the Senate. Instead it was kicked into a committee where it will probably be talked to death. Since the committee is run by the local republican mandarins nothing will happen. Who is served by this tactic, the Washington crowd or the voters back home? With a 60% plus disapproval rating of Bush's performance, the Washington locals foiled a legitimate vote of censure.Equally repulsive is the revelations of Team Hillbilly ( Clintons together). Hillary is fighting the Dubai Ports World deal while Billy is taking millions from Dubai as a quasi-lobbyist trying to get the deal done!
What can be done? Washington has becomes filled with charlatans with few exceptions. The antidote to their quackery is to withdraw issues that they have control over. For example, education should be a state responsibility. Also war should only be fought after a National Referendum . Simply keep more power at the state level where would-be charlatans can be monitored more closely.
What can be done? Washington has becomes filled with charlatans with few exceptions. The antidote to their quackery is to withdraw issues that they have control over. For example, education should be a state responsibility. Also war should only be fought after a National Referendum . Simply keep more power at the state level where would-be charlatans can be monitored more closely.
Friday, March 10, 2006
Carlyle Group : Military-Industrial Hedge Fund
Carlyle Group, the Washington based private equity firm that includes board members former president George H.W. Bush, former Pres. Reagan's Secretary of Defense Frank Carlucci and other privateers from Bechtel ad nauseam just launched a new fund. Carlyle raised $ 1 billion for investments in " U.S.-based infrastructure". The model will be like this. The demand and money comes from institutional investors, such as private pension funds. The supply of investment vechicles will include a lot of those base closing assets that will be available to people on the inside who will have Carlyle do the packaging and marketing.
Carlyle Group has been in the forefront of investment pools for those who wanted to cash in on the war on terror. For example, Carlyle's Iraq investments included the manufacturer of the Humvee and the Bradly Fighing Vechicle. Notably, this holding was sold to a British firm some months ago. Carlyle's portfolio also includes telecommunications, cement production and numerous infrastructure fabricators. They are the classic hedge in war. First be part of the team that blows things up. Second be part of the team that rebuilds. And for you cynics who follow the money. Does this new U.S focus mean that a terrorist attack is imminent? The key to their business model is to have a working control of the executive and legislative branches of government. Respectively, one will push for war and the other will issue checks that include the rebuiling. Q.E.D.
Carlyle Group has been in the forefront of investment pools for those who wanted to cash in on the war on terror. For example, Carlyle's Iraq investments included the manufacturer of the Humvee and the Bradly Fighing Vechicle. Notably, this holding was sold to a British firm some months ago. Carlyle's portfolio also includes telecommunications, cement production and numerous infrastructure fabricators. They are the classic hedge in war. First be part of the team that blows things up. Second be part of the team that rebuilds. And for you cynics who follow the money. Does this new U.S focus mean that a terrorist attack is imminent? The key to their business model is to have a working control of the executive and legislative branches of government. Respectively, one will push for war and the other will issue checks that include the rebuiling. Q.E.D.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Military-Industrial Complex as Hypertrophy
This years Dept. of Defense budget shows a skewing of priorities away from military personnel head count in favor of build up in expensive hardware. Huge price tagged programs like the controversial DDX Destroyer, F-22 Fighter, submarines, drone aircraft etc. are getting funded with some of the money that was to be for military personnel. Personnel costs are projected to decline in 2006 by 14% while funding for hardware and maintenance will increase by over 30%.
It looks like Rumsfeld's plans for future American engagements will follow the failed Iraq model- i.e. " shock and awe" bombardment with state of the art weapons to be followed by an insufficient amount of troops to secure the territory. Rumsfeld is more than a little senile and more than a caricature of a warmonger. Policies like this will insure that America will start many wars but will not win any. The only winners will be the military-industrial complex who will prosper win, lose or draw.
It looks like Rumsfeld's plans for future American engagements will follow the failed Iraq model- i.e. " shock and awe" bombardment with state of the art weapons to be followed by an insufficient amount of troops to secure the territory. Rumsfeld is more than a little senile and more than a caricature of a warmonger. Policies like this will insure that America will start many wars but will not win any. The only winners will be the military-industrial complex who will prosper win, lose or draw.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Cheney and AIPAC
Yesterday in Washington, Vice President Dick Cheney gave a speech at the annual meeting of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. It was standing room only for the 5000 gushing, giddy members. Standing ovations were as regular as bus servive. And the Dick had a ticket to ride. He promised much. It included American unflinching, unlimited support for Israel. He also talked about the military option against Iran and its " fanatical regime". Cheney's approval rating is only 18% among polled Americans. It is apparent that the Bush/Cheney administration policies are more popular with Israel supporters than American citizens. Is security for Israel most of the times mutually exclusive with security for America ?
Take a look at aipac.org. See what Israel expects to get from America.
Take a look at aipac.org. See what Israel expects to get from America.
Monday, March 06, 2006
Hollywood Oscars: American Democracy Cultural New Low
Hollywood awards last night certainly demonstrated yet another new low in America's cultural devolution. Put aside the nominees for best picture which include worn out subjects like racial tensions in L.A., Jewish inclusion hurdles and homosexual recruiting/celebration issues. These films continue to deny that character is fate.
But clearly new ground was broken when the rap group Three 6 Mafia's " original music" score titled " It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" won an Oscar for " best original music"! First, it's not music. Where's the melody? Can you hum it ? Sing it ? Whistle it ? Oh yah, "pimps" as a subject matter leave most people wondering why they should care or listen. The visually inarticulate lurches and gyrations of the rappers is like 99% of other me-too rap groups. The dress/costums were all off- the- shelf from the likes of Urban Outfitters or another rag merchant.
Oscar host Jon Stewart, cultural/political satirist seemed to agree. Three 6 Mafia was the only person/group that escaped his biting/cutting comments. Instaed he gave faint praise which showed condescension. This group and their followers need the truth more than a faux golden statue. National democracies always end up lowering national excellance. What's better? How about more local democratic control based on symbiotic relationships and contributions?
But clearly new ground was broken when the rap group Three 6 Mafia's " original music" score titled " It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp" won an Oscar for " best original music"! First, it's not music. Where's the melody? Can you hum it ? Sing it ? Whistle it ? Oh yah, "pimps" as a subject matter leave most people wondering why they should care or listen. The visually inarticulate lurches and gyrations of the rappers is like 99% of other me-too rap groups. The dress/costums were all off- the- shelf from the likes of Urban Outfitters or another rag merchant.
Oscar host Jon Stewart, cultural/political satirist seemed to agree. Three 6 Mafia was the only person/group that escaped his biting/cutting comments. Instaed he gave faint praise which showed condescension. This group and their followers need the truth more than a faux golden statue. National democracies always end up lowering national excellance. What's better? How about more local democratic control based on symbiotic relationships and contributions?
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Israel / Palestine War Pollution Contracts
War is a kind of pollution. So why not trade contracts based on the Israel/Palestinian conflict? With an economic incentive spread among a wider group, this will mitigate war-mongers, lobbies and zealots grip on the status quo. For example, Israel was created in 1947 out of the partition of historic Palestine. There was a partially rigged vote by 35 of 57 members of the United Nations. Since that time Israel has been engaged in its" war of independence". I propose a contract based on the existing population of Israel to be distributed among the original 35 Israel-creating voters. The contract would guarentee a home based on a pro rata share of 35 countries if Israel ceased to exist. The original members could either sell their contracts or buy more. in either choice the U.N. vote would have to be revisited. Buyers of this contract could be potentially large. Israelis themselves could opt to leave their shrinking, war-threatened country. Palestinians and other Muslims countries would be eager buyers for an economical and humane resolutuion to the conflict. They could show the world that its not the Israelis but the idea and place of Israel they are protesting. Simply they want their country back.
Friday, March 03, 2006
India, Iran, Nuclear Non--Compliance & America
President Bush and Condi Rice were in India yesterday. They were a long way from their physical and cultural roots. Condi particularly looked out of place. Her protruding teeth, straigthened hair and high- fashion gown was in stark contrast to the meticulously dressed pure-bred , disciplined Indian honor guards. Bush looked equally out of place, more like a door to door appliance salesman that covers America's midwest. But now he was on special assignment in a foreign country selling nuclear equipment! Bush and Rice were peddling nuclear equipment to a country that is similar to Iran in terms of non-compliance of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. But the difference between Iran and India is Israel , an American ally, it is threatened by Iran . Whereas India only threatens Pakistan also an ally of America but it does not have the clout in our Congress that Israel has. America should abide by the terms of the Nuclear Non- Proliferation herself. She shouldn't deal with either India, Israel or any other non-compliant nuclear power.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Bush Lying, Must Have Known About Port Deal in Mid-January
In mid-January, Bush nominated senior executive of Dubai Ports World, David Sanborn to run Dept. Of Transportation's Maritime Administration. The mid-January date coincides with the approval by CFIUS of the P & O deal. Bush says that he just found out about the P & O deal. But the mid-January nomination makes that impossible to beleive. Now D.P. World has the unique postion of being a tenant and a landlord in America's ports ! This is like Cheney and Halliburton. Sanborn's postion at the Maritime Administration allows a view of of the logistical grid of America's ports. A possible explanation for this royal treatment is the multi-billion dollar financial connection between Dubai and the Carlyle Group. Carlyle includes on it's board Geo. H. W. Bush and former Reagan Sec. of Defense, Frank Carlucci and other suspects.
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