In These Times

We need to realize the radical terrorists have no nationality. Afghanistan has no government for us to back � or to back us. They are a collection of tribes and warlords. This is another fruitless enterprise like Viet Nam. What is needed is an international coalition (start with those countries which have had terrorist attacks) to go after these guys. Cut off their funding. Get other Muslims to aid in disclosing where they are a help put an end to the Jihad mentality.

Posted to President Obama has again delayed making a decision about a new military strategy in Afghanistan. Do

One thing we certainly don't need is another agency. The Fed, SEC, Moody's, Congress � all failed us and took care of themselves Consumers must learn to protect themselves! One way is to simply stop consuming so much! Bush responded to 9/11 with the exhortation to go out and buy. Restoration of consumer borrowing is the current solution to the problem of over borrowing. Think about it! ---------- The free market is and mostly has been a myth as the term is usually used. There is a Truly FREE Market, however. One which "We the People" determine. One of my sons …

Posted to The Pillage People

BTW, Barney Frank and the Treasury on NOT on our side. They are the cause of the current mess and have personally benefitted big time. Paulson, Rubin, Greenspan, are all Goldman Sachs alums. Goldman is making $miillions with the $billions of taxpayer-no-strings dollars given them by the TARP funding from Paulson. Franks was head of the banking committee who allowed Fannie Mae people to be paid a percentage of all loans made � loans no sane lender would put his own money into. Geithner was in the meetings when the TARP giveaway was hatched. These guys are THE PROBLEM!

Posted to The Pillage People

I think this says it all regarding the value of the Nobel Prize. "I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize." Steven Wright, comedian

Posted to Should President Barack Obama have received the Nobel Peace Prize?

It is the private lending which is the only proper way to go. They will only lend to those with the ability to pay. (Think co-signer.) Government loans to education are a bad idea. There is no collateral � how do you repo an education? We have been receiving letters and phone calls since the early 1980s due to some student deadbeat who gave our address. I guess this also means there is no verification before lending. An additional downside is that colleges and universities have no incentive to hold down costs, since the taxpayers will pay regardless. While education is …

Posted to The House has passed a bill that would cut private lenders out of the federal student loan system, m

I don't think Palin was ever a serious party candidate. Republicans knew they didn't stand a chance and McCain-Palin was a filler team with the idea of gathering a few PC points adding a woman to the ticket. The John McCain who defied the torturers in Viet Nam and who was so outspoken in the previous campaign was AWOL this time around. His claims the economy wasn't so bad, we will retrain people were repeated in the same manner as all of Bush's cookie cuttter remarks. The Democrats have caused more pain by holding fast to the bank protection Paulson set …

Posted to Republicans: A Threat to the Republic?

When I wrote to the AFL/CIO in 1993 to warn that NAFTA would cost us far more than the "low-end" jobs there reply was essentially, "You mind your business and we'll mind ours." Well, my last good client left in 2004 and I was retired a few years earlier than I wanted. Now it has caught up with them. Union leadership has only cared about their own jobs � workers are on their own and had better realize it.

Posted to Can a Union Divided Stand?

Cap and Trade is how Al Gore manages to keep his house operating to suit his lifestyle while he stumps for a cleaner world. This is totally stupid! Like a dieter starving himself all week and then saying, "On the weekend calories don't count."

Posted to The House on Friday passed an energy bill that includes a carbon cap and trade system and incentives

The rescue of the banks, the autos, the insurance companies, mortgages, etc. � is based on the idea that they are too big to fail. What is being ignored is the possibility the United States and the US dollar are NOT too big to fail. On top of the rescue we have a massive plan to provide health care for everyone at a time we already know we cannot sustain Medicare and Social Security. As a nation we are following the same excess credit model which created the current malaise. But, then, we have Alfred E. Newman & Co. in charge. …

Posted to GM will receive an additional $30 billion in federal aid as it moves through bankruptcy and lays off

"Until then, though, the biggest threat to democracy is less the regrettably decimated journalism industry than the disenfranchised public. " IMO, the public has been disenfranchised for some time. Gradually the Congress has become a part of the elite money/power class and we have little true representation of the people. We don't need "...the health care system that Congress has" (as John Kerry proposed and Obama is now willing to spend a $trillion of taxpayer money on). What we need is for Congress to have the system most of us have now that employee benefits have been left to each of …

Posted to Democracy Needs a Bailout

This is all being approached from the wrong end... Instead of proposing to give Americans the kind of health care our Congress has, it would be far better to see to it the Congress has the same care as their constituents. Congress has come to think of themselves as CEOs (due to their longtime bipartisan, cozy relationship with big business). If Congress were faced with trying to get coverage on a pre-existing illness, paying a huge deductible to keep premiums affordable or continuously shopping for a company who will cover their prescription � the insurance companies and pharmaceuticals would soon be …

Posted to Healthcare’s Enigma-In-Chief

I see no need for Republicans to be even mentioned in the article. I have long believed the War on Drugs is a total waste of money, lives and a huge contributor to crime in general. The Republicans have nearly zero power to initiate or prevent any legislation. Instead of putting the onis on them, go after the Democrats to end this stupidity. A look at the dollars which financed organized crime during prohibition should give a clue about how to solve our southern border problems today. It would be more effective and far less costly to offer treatment to anyone …

Posted to Antidote to Drug War Madness

It looks as though administration and party are irrelevant against the power of Goldman Sachs and their alums.

Posted to How has the new Congress most disappointed you since President Obama took office?

Scorp, While you are right-on, regarding the use of antibiotics on a virus, my doctor has cautioned against my taking too many of them since they may lose their effectiveness on a truly serious case of pneumonia (which I am prone to get.) I must agree with the piggishness in D.C. and Wall ST. The massive bailout and protection of bank bond holders is, IMO, one of the biggest travesties � EVER. Too big too fail? How does allowing mergers and buyouts fix that? Bonuses for the talent too big to fire? It's like sendin a "Thank You" gift to a …

Posted to Piggish Capitalism

Think about it... What if interrogating Mohamed Atta or any of those involved in 9/11 would have prevented the WTC and Pentagon attacks by using waterboarding or even, "...beating, sexual and cultural humiliation, forced nakedness, exposure to extreme temperatures, exploitation of phobias, sleep deprivation and sensory deprivation. Would you have done it? If your answer is "NO!" how would you feel about that? President Obama and his Attorney General seem willing to put their own "comfort level" of acceptable treatment of prisoners ahead of protection of the USA. Not a great idea if being nicer doesn't change the terrorists' behavior. (Oops …

Posted to The Psychologists of Torture

Nearly everyone I know is angry with the lack of real change. But who's listening? Elizabeth Warren, chair of a Congresstional oversight committee, made it pretty clear back in February that Henry Paulson, lied to the committee and came up $78 billion short in accounting for TARP 1. She made another report this week. How many people know about her findings? What can we expect of a Congress dominated by the party who also owns the White House? Are you aware of her findings? This week was the Tea Party "protest". Herei in my city we were instructed not to throw …

Posted to Bailout Bandits

What happened to create this global tar pit was not capitalism, per se. It was a perversion — a complex, and long developing sale of the US workers' jobs, a bipartisan Congressional/elite big business joint venture which fed the greed of a few at an immence cost to many. Under the guise of "good things at cheap prices for the consumer" — "only the low-end jobs will be lost" — "the new service economy" — we went from making things better than others, safer than others and healthier than others to flipping burgers, packing groceries and mowing lawns. (What when I …

Posted to The Meltdown Goes Global

This is the first time you and I have hit upon a point of agreement. My solution to expressed to my wife was, "You only have to shoot the first one." I noticed, however you're missing a major category of participant and cause of this outrageous situation � those who supposedly have our nation and citizenry's interests at heart. A large number of those in the U.S. Congress worked diligently over a couple of decades to set the stage. Eliminating the Glass-Steagal Act under Sec. of Treasury Robert Ruben), raising the banks margins from around 15:1 to 40:1 (Henry Paulson), allowing …

Posted to Wanted: A Perp Walk For Plutocrats

(I had already posted this with the question of the week, but it fits here as well.) AIG, even though a disgusting situation, is just a diversion from the real issue ��the stupidity or complicity of Congress in the largest ever financial scam in history. The individuals in the money center banks, the rating agencies and oversight committees are getting off scot-free. Dodd, Franks, Paulson, Greenspan, Geithner� the list seems endless. The U.S. Congress needs to be 90% impeached! These contracts were allowed to pass unchallenged, some in legislation which those who voted on it had no time to even read …

Posted to A Government of Men, Not Laws

Addendum to prior comments: While we are cancelling contracts we need to renegotiate the contract with members of Congress. They just got a pay raise. They have benefits and pay far exceeding their worth to the American people. If they work for us (well, that's another debate issue) they should not be allowed to set their own pay packages.

Posted to A Government of Men, Not Laws

AIG, even though a disgusting situation, is just a diversion from the real issue ��the stupidity or complicity of Congress in the largest ever financial scam in history. The individuals in the money center banks, the rating agencies and oversight committees are getting off scot-free. Dodd, Franks, Paulson, Greenspan, Geithner... the list seems endless. The U.S. Congress needs to be 90% impeached! These contracts were allowed to pass unchallenged, some in legislation which those who voted on it had no time to even read beforehand. The "correction" now being proposed is clearingly unconstitutional to anyone who can read: Article One, Section …

Posted to AIG paid out $165 milion in bonuses March 15th, after receiving billions in govt. aid. What should W

Reagan said government is the problem � Absolutely right then and now! Paulson left Goldman Sachs in time to save himself $200 million tax on the $500 million GS shares he "had to sell to eliminate possible conflict of interest" when he went to Treasury Sec. His major accomplishment there was the rescue of his Wall St. buddies with TARP 1. He had already managed to get the Congress to boost the margin for banks from 20:1 to 40:1 while at Goldman. Barney Frank gave his "spouse" at Fannie Mae a new pay package based on a percentage of loans issued …

Posted to A Spectre is Haunting America

Scorp, Long time, but how did your enthusiasm for the economic conditions pay off last year? I did my best to warn you, but still not too late to go for the gold.

Posted to A Spectre is Haunting America

Scorp, You obviously missed my views on Obama. I voted for him once Illinois � never again. (In fairness to myself on this, the alternative was even wackier.) You won't hear any defense of Obama or any of his team of Clinton retreads from me. The only "change I can believe in" is for a Socialist takeover of our few remaining freedoms. I my opinion Obama is the sound of one mouth flapping. Obama has only ever had one thing in mind, his own career. He is a very politically savvy guy who knows how to campaign. He has never stopped …

Posted to A Spectre is Haunting America

With no accurate alternative (retired) I check unaffected. However, many other retirees (my 90-year-old neighbor) have seen their investements chopped in half � which is their monthly income. By selling all in July and day trading inverse funds I was able to close the year without a loss. The crisis in confidence will not be remedied unless a lot of people in Congress, the rating agencies (S&P, Moodys) the SEC and Wall St. are punished for this huge continuing scam. I'm not holding my breath. Obama has already become part of the problem by adding to what he inherited without addressing …

Posted to The U.S. unemployment rate is now 8.1% – 3.2% higher than when the recession began in Dec. 200

He could restore America's confidence by doing the following: 1. Throw out the bankers, SEC and other watchdogs who allowed this, arrest those who falsely rated AAA and take back the bonuses they got to keep under Paulson/Bernanke (who should also go). 2. Spend these emergency funds he has rushed through on... JOBS, JOBS, ONLY JOBS �NOW all the rest can wait, but jobs can't!

Posted to During his speech to Congress, President Obama was confident the $787 billion stimulus will work. Is

The "News Alert" is a pain and a product of 24/7 air time to be filled. Much of the time the "breaking news" is what you have already heard or, worse, unverified (aka gossip). The War on Drugs was lost before it began and it is likely far more lives have been lost in it than in Iraq. Legalize everything � help anyone who wants to kick a habit and let the others kill themselves � our problem is people who want to live. The Rio Grande Border War, poppy growers in Afghanistan, Columbia or wherever can just get a real …

Posted to Fake Outrage Junkies

So much for :"change we can believe in". Obama remains true to form. In the Illinois Legislature he was working hard at reaching his next plateau. In the Senate his much vaunted seat was never warmed before he was off on the presidential campaign trail. Remember the impressive list of names on his economic advisory team? Volker, Buffett, Pete Peterson and others seem to be AWOL now that he is in the Oval Office. (Well, he has a key and I assume may spend more time there than Blago did in Springfield.) This new "leader" allowed Pelosi and Reid a free …

Posted to 67% of Americans trust themselves more than Congress on economic issues, according to a

BINGO! We got a team of Zombies from President GUMBY. So far Obama has proven to be FLEXIBLE in his appointments and is BENDING OVER BACKWARD to accommodate Wall Street interests. And is SOFT on all those "honest mistakes" in unpaid taxes. [Side note: Since 2006, when Geithner was informed of his "$34,000 "mistake" the IRS has hassled me twice on my tax returns �both of which I was finally found to be accurate and both of which cost me out of pocket to prove.] Now a tax dodger is going to running the IRS show. Obama's idea of getting tough …

Posted to Team of Zombies

This economic debacle Started way before Bush (not to excuse his particpation and enablement) and neither the Bush team � Paulson, Bernanke, etc. nor Obama's is addressing the fraud perpetuated on the American public. Rubin as Sec of Treasury presided over the removal of the Glass Seagall Act. Paulson went to congress and managed to boost Goldman Sachs and others ability to margin from 20:1 to 40:1! (He also was allowed a $200 million tax exemption on sale of $500 million GS shares.) He immediately rescued his Wall St. buddies with TARP 1 at our expense. Barney Frank (whose lover was …

Posted to Team of Zombies

I wonder what Milton Friedman would be saying about the Wall St. bailouts. His main theme, as I recall was free markets and free enterprise � certainly this is not what we are seeing � nor is it what led us to this sorry state of affairs. This is the mother of all government interventions! For at least two decades congress has run the biggest and longest bipartisan cooperative venture with big business in the history of the free world. The trashing of regulations instituted due to the Great depression experience was accomplished withthe full cooperation and urging of the very …

Posted to The Failed Prophet

SO FAR: � Three Tax dodgers (How many have not been unearthed yet?) � Former lobbyists (which were to be a NO-NO) � Asking Congress what to do about the economic crisis is NOT leadership � it is a recipe pork projects � la carte.

Posted to New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg is President Obama's third Republican cabinet nomination. What do you

Yes, there is hope at last. All Obama needs to do is get those 13 million Americans to kick in a tad more than $65,000 each and a $850 billion stmulus package is paid for. Now, that's CHANGE we can believe in!

Posted to The Interactive Presidency

Well, at least it is audacity.

Posted to The Interactive Presidency

No, the really dumb thing is connecting a wish to lessen air polution with attmpts to cure cancer. Do you really hate Palin so much you had to stoop to that commment? Why?

Posted to Cancer: Cause and Defects

Perhaps if we were to simply pull out of Iraq and take all the guns with us the other side (armed primarily with Russian and Chinese AK-47s) would quickly bring an end to the conflict... A better idea? I expect the author is generally anti-gun, so be happy. These are guns which will not be sold here in the states.

Posted to We Arm the World

Voting for climate change legislation is the kind of bill all politicians like... � It has received and will continue to receive strong positive media coverage. Al Gore, Hollywood, and Obama supporters will be ecstatic! � It will give a boost to the green job market. � Everyone will feel good. and best of all... � There is no way to prove or disprove the effectiveness during anyone's term in office.

Posted to The new year is sure to be politically momentous. Which of the following is most likely to pass on C

Is Obama's comment about things getting worse a brilliant grasp of the obvious, or an attempt to soften criticism for his inability to turn things around in "only one term"? The very people who engineered and encouraged this fraud are in charge of the "cure" — Paulson, Barney Franks, Chris Dodd, the entire congress under both Democrat and Republican leadership. The taxpayer funding of the rescue of Wall St. and now Detroit is the crime of all history. So far Congress has been able to cash in once again to the public opposition by adding pork to the recipe. In the …

Posted to President-elect Barack Obama said Dec. 7th that U.S. economic woes are "going to get worse before th

The auto companies have a business model which is totally unworkable. � Too many employees, too highly paid. Automation is to autos what computers are to millions of other jobs. � Too many dealerships � 15 times as many as Honda and Toyota. � Too many different models � to many parts to make and stock. Cadillac SUV competes with Chevy SUV, Saturn, etc. I opened a magazine last night and the first spread had an ad for GM's Saturn. There were five autos including a sedan, a sporty convertible, a crossover, an SUV and a van. Beside each one was …

Posted to Could an expanded federal bailout actually nurse the Big Three automakers back to health?

If nothing else, Obama is the supreme pragmatist. His entire career has been a matter of using (associating with outrageous or radical individuals) who could advance his cause for as long as useful and then moving on. While in the Illinois legislature avoiding votes on anything controversial which may later haunt him. While in the U.S. Senate writing two books about himself and no bills. Mastering the use of the sound bite and slogan to appeal to emotions with little explanation of plausible methods. Pardon my continuing cynicism, but I voted for him once and am still waiting for any results. …

Posted to Why Cynics Are Wrong

If young white voters are "less racist" does that mean Obama was elected because he is less black? Why is half black/half white considered the "first black president"? I am half Swedish if elected would I be the "first Swedish president"? ----------- Ok, with that nonsense out of the way, let's look at real life. Real world results and consequences are not graded on the curve. This is what I see as grading on the curve: Obama the orator : Following the guy who still says," 'merica" and "nuke-yu-ler" and whose principle segue is "aaaa"? Is it a mandate when following …

Posted to A Stunning Victory. Now What?

Obama got my vote once, but not this time. He's obviously bright and very polically savvy, as your article points out. It's not just what he says and does, but what he does not. I resent his blatant pandering to the voters with simple handouts of money. "My tax cut is bigger than his tax cut." "I'll give everyone health care, etc." Can you tell me anything Obama did while in the Illinois legisalture (other than advance his own career)? Can you point out anything while in the US Senate? Come to think of it, has he ever sat in his …

Posted to Honest Abe and Honest Obe

To David Sirota, Yes, MCCain has been running a dumb campaign. Obama, on the other hand is running a smart one. Unfortunately, one of them will be the next President of the United States, not because of what he will do, but because of the campaign promises and avoidance of revealing the either real person. Both appear to be so entrawled with the idea of becoming president that they are willing to say (or is not to say more accurate?) whatever it takes to fit the image their handlers think will win the "game." McCain's pasted-on smile and attempt to hide …

Posted to McCain Banking on a Confederacy of Dunces

"Vacation time shouldn�t be the privilege of a few, but the right of all." Funny thing... In my copy the fundamental rights list ends with,"...the pursuit of happiness." Not everything people want should be considered a right. This is just plain stupid and why our country is falling behind. We are nearly becoming another Europe where "rights" to a cushy life (short work week, early retirement, etc.) have had them in double digit unemployment and high inflation prices for decades. I was self-employed beginning at age 19 and, with the exception of three years working for a corporation and my military …

Posted to All Work, No Play

Racial generalizations are unneeded and degrading � including in the title of this article. If I were from Ohio I would be pissed off. I'm not, but I still am!

Posted to The View From Ohio

The two main characters in this marathon are collecting pay as US Senators while out applying for "something better." Meanwhile their current constituents are without a representative on duty. If they worked in the real world they would have been fired long before now. It just emphasizes how different their lives are from those they are trying to make believe they are "one of us."

Posted to The 2008 presidential campaign will be the longest and most expensive in history. What's an ideal U.

Those in congress are putting on a show of reluctance in order to keep their cushy jobs. They, like Bush, are saying we need to rework the system to prevent this ever happening again. It is pure BS! Most of these guys were there when the Glass Stiegall Act was repealed, when commercial and investment banks, insurance companies, savings and loans were all allowed free reign. They were charged with oversight along with the Fed, SEC, Treasury, rating agencies, insurers � all were gaining in some way by ignoring this fraud. Avoidance of taking the only real medicine for this affliction …

Posted to Turning a Wall Street Giveaway Into a Rescue for All Americans

Well, the bailout (sellout) has saved us! We can sleep well once again. Yeah, sure. At least someone benefitted by the time pondering how to vote for it without appearing to � those people who get a bit of pork from it. I love the one which gives tax credit to people who bike to work. The guy that threw that into the hopper gets double credit � a greener and healthier America for only $777B +.

Posted to Turning a Wall Street Giveaway Into a Rescue for All Americans

He should definitely tell about being there... ...and being a party to the trashing of America — our jobs, our economy, our benefits, our integrity, our national identity, our border security and two failed wars (3 if you count the War on Drugs). People tend to forget when distracted by superficial issues like gender, age, family responsibilities, etc.

Posted to What should Joe Biden focus on during Thursday's VP debate?

The average American will not be better off economically regardless of who ends up in the White House. This outrageous fraud which has robbed the US taxpayer (and others globally) is being aided and abetted by both parties and the vast majority of individuals in congress. This came about after years of removing the protective measures instituted as a result of lessons learned in the depression. Congress under Democrats and Republicans have been bought by Wall Street and have served the wealthiest (of which most are a part). The "solution" to the TOO BIG to FAIL problem which the government and …

Posted to No Time For A Minimalist

re: "Pit bull feminism" Looking back at some of Susan's articles and comments, I guess it depends on whose bull is in the pit. Tht's OK � there's plenty of "bull" to go around.

Posted to Feminism Without Feminism

For instance, Palin said about Obama, �it�s easy to forget that this is a man who has authored two memoirs but not a single major law or reform - not even in the state senate.� However, as the AP noted, Obama �worked with Republicans to pass legislation that expanded efforts to intercept illegal shipments of weapons of mass destruction and to help destroy conventional weapons stockpiles. The legislation became law last year.� Take a look at the above with a bit of objectivity � Writing books/Reading books Writing a bill/Voting on a bill The Palin statement stands on that basis. …

Posted to A Post-Rational Society?

However, a federal judge dismissed Stambaugh�s lawsuit. A bit inconvenient for this author, who apparently is not uncomfortable with condemning Palin based on other allegations as yet unproven and linking to former unrelated issues. What ever happpenned to Fair & Balanced? (Oh, I forgot, wrong site.) Are you that short of relavent issues to cover in this campaign?

Posted to Palin's Police Problem

I hope some good can come of this. From my TV view all I could think of was Mickey Rooney and Judy Garland who, whenever there was a seemingly insurmountable problem, came up with... "Let's put on a show!" (For readers too young to remember � They were the Andy Hardy movies.)

Posted to An Unconventional Convention

Hillary's speech, a turning point? Well, it turned my stomache for sure. The idea that all the campaign accusations have now been neutralized and "healing, unity and bliss" replace the rancor and vitriol is sickening. The hypocracy is blatant and belief that anyone campaigning is telling the truth or expecting anything they are saying to come to pass is insulting to our intelligence. The saddest part is too many people will react like those in the audience last night. I've seen smarter looking expressions on the bobble headed figures in a car rear window.

Posted to Was Hillary’s speech a turning point?

The lack of comments speaks plainly on the importance of conventions.

Posted to Do modern political conventions actually matter?

Obama's "aggressive diplomacy" is to have the Un send a nasty letter. Once again we have two professional politicans to pick from. With either one we still have a do-nothing congress, no paper trail election methods and economic policies the favor the rich. There's nothing wrong with being rich � it's how you get there that matters. The Wall Street, Treasury Dept., Fed and congress team will once again get the gold medal.

Posted to Moving Obama Left

The obsession with home ownership is a large part of the problem. Too many have become comfortable with the idea o deserving what they want. Advertising has played on this for some time: "Get the car you deserve!" "Plan for the retirement you deserve." it may have started with only "You deserve a break today," but we're way past that now. The PURSUIT of happiness is what you deserve, not the "gift" of happiness. Government intervention, pre-bubble with eliminating restrictions and post-bubble with "protecting" the home buyers is no different from a parent picking up the pieces when an unruly child …

Posted to Our Toppling House of Cards

What stands out here seems to be that when the Supreme Court hands down a decision which is obviously biased for or against a particular segment of society, it can be corrected by a later court which applies the precepts of our Constitution as the only measure of justice. Why we should never try to redo the foundations of our nation. It may not be perfect, but I wouldn't trust anyone to try to improve it.

Posted to Talking About Guns, Fighting About Race

Jon B, I must agree that there are advantages to home ownership, some of which you have mentioned. But the problem for ordinary people (excluding those who were playing the real estate market for fun and profit) is many who bought could simply not afford them. Our schools have been criticized for many things. Comparisons with other countries show a lot f shortcomings, but to me their main purpose should be to prepare a student to deal with the issues of everyday life. Prior generations graduated people who were generally more able to do the tasks at hand � prepare healthy …

Posted to Our Toppling House of Cards

Jon B, Either you are just much kinder hearted and compassionate than I, or a whole lot younger (both?) When I was in school grades were based on percentage � 94 to 100 was an A, etc. (no curve). By the time my kids were in school a bad grade would injure a person for life, everyone was a winner and when my youngest went into fourth grade he said he didn't like his new teacher � "She won't let us talk to each other in class." Now we no longer expel anyone, we mix the brightest with the ones who …

Posted to Our Toppling House of Cards

My experience of JROTC at my high school (1953-1956) served me well. It provided a clearer picture of military life and aroused an interest in American history which continues. When I enlisted I was obviously better prepared than many. The discipline and courtesy learned would be welcome to see in more kids today. Many thanks to M/Sgt Graham M. Cockfield and Capt. Casey.

Posted to No JROTC Left Behind

As one who is not a Bush lover, I resent being linked to such a stupid article in even a minor way. Government bureaucracy has been building for decades under both parties. Now Christopher Moraff has man aged to pin it down to Bush? Give me a break! The current Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac abortion is a prime example. The congress is supposed to be the oversight but simply "overlooks" the fraud an cronyism which is being foisted on taxpayers and sucking dry the individual investors in the name of "Too Big to Fail." This, like so many other examples in this …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Scorp, This discussion is so far beyond reason that nothing you say to those enthrawled will be considered plausible. Bush is not a favorite of mine, but he's become a convenient scapegoat for any and all US problems and issues. This too shall pass.

Posted to Feeding the Beast

As for the federal agencies themselves under any administration... Our lives are now being increasingly controlled by those appointed rather than laws from the elected. The Fed, SEC, Treasury are run by many whose conflicts of interest are legion. Shareholders and ordinary citizens be damned, they are making decisions which make the British policies of taxation without representation look like a welcome relief. I'd like to see someone throw them all in Boston Harbor.

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Scorp, You seem to have spent a lot of time on your post to me (Aug 20, 2008 at 10:06 AM), but I fail to understand what you are getting at. Are you trying to change my opinion of Bush? My opinion of bureaucracies? My opinion of congress? My opinion of this article? Please clarify.

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Wangle, I guess I would be classed a fiscal conservative and a social liberal these days. Really, though I think the labels are too often distorted to have real meaning. The connotations leave me with mixed feelings. Those who use them most seem to conserve little or want to confine me to live according to their views. Socialism has never appealed to me because I picture it allowing everyone to share what some have worked for. I like the Little Red Hen approach to life. Shortly before I was retired (due to my clients leaving for cheaper labor elsewhere), a major …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Wangle, My view on the capitalist mine: The mine owner either bought the land or the mineral rights. Either there is, or is not, a profitable amount of coal there. He has taken the risk of purchase, exploration and development. To make any money he must negotiate a price at which the workers will dig the coal so he can sell and continue to recoup his investment plus a profit. If they want a share in profits over and above their production agreement, they can offer to buy into the business, or buy shares if a public company. The owner can …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Wangle, If they were partners in the investment I see no problem with sharing the wealth, but doesn't seem like socialism to me. It's just a simple partnership arrangement (something else I would never get involved with). I recently read a history of coal mining in central Illinois and recalled stories my dad told me. His father took him down in the mine when he was in grade school to show him why it was important for him to study hard and get as much education as he could. People were wading in cold water with donkey manure floating in it. …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Wangle, Most of the definitions I found for socialism what I was thinking of and included comments like � � owned or regulated by the community � collective (i.e. public) ownership � public rather than private ownership I guess you are more in tune with this definition of socialism. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_socialism Some definitions of democratic socialism simply refer to all forms of socialism that follow an electoral, reformist or evolutionary path to socialism, rather than a revolutionary one. Once again I am uncomfortable with labeling in reports which so often leave us uncertain as to the accuracy of statements. Guess I'll take …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

Tim Brown, Earlier I mentioned Tocqueville's "Democracy in America." The bottom up aspect in the early 19th century is one of our main virtues in his eyes. It is understandble that today's immediate conmunication, huge increase in population, ability to cause mass destruction, etc. must change some of that, but there is still much to be said for the original idea. Our city of around 100,000 people has lost 10,000 manufacturing jobs to globalization. The housing crisis has made it nearly impossible for individuals to relocate. Tax increases have already begun to explode due to every level of government running budget …

Posted to Feeding the Beast

While watching the opening extravaganza and realizing there were people under the boxy columns acting in sequence, I got an uncomfortable flash back to the "waves" of Chinese coming into Korea. Just being able to coordinate that many people so well is unsettling.

Posted to Do you plan on watching the Olympics?

NEWS FLASH! War is not a gentleman's game (When they say, "After you." ) They aren't being polite. It's about survival.

Posted to 5 Minutes to Nuclear Midnight

My point is no one has ever been able to prevent the use of any new weapons technology. Not gunpowder, not machine guns, not nukes. And no one in his right mind trusts his enemy � or he's toast. Realizing what is so is not condoning, just facing reality. If an armed gunman breaks into your house and you are alos armed would you say, "I put down my gun if you will,"? I would just shoot.

Posted to 5 Minutes to Nuclear Midnight

PEPAndy, Since the fall of the Soviet Union and the undisclosed (unknown?) status of their inventory the problem is far different than during the MAD strategy days. The control is no longer in the hands of nations which can negotiate to prevent their use. It is the radical religious nuts who not only don't care if they die, but want to. Bringing that down to neighborhoods � the druggie desparate for a fix may not be to willing to negociate either. We have had increasing breakins in our neighborhood and drug gang related shootings are up. Our house was broken into …

Posted to 5 Minutes to Nuclear Midnight

Obama was probably right on the likely ineffectiveness of "The Surge." By the time Bush got around to canning Rumsfeld and sending an additional 21,000 troops to restore order the 20+million Iraqis were in total disarray. CENTCOM had three scenarios planned over a ten year period regarding Iraq. 1. No US troops � bombing only 2. Special Ops working with Iraqi dissidents 3. 500,000 troops for a full invasion and taking of territory Rumsfeld/Cheney chose to do it with 125,000 troops and a quick withdrawal (in a matter of weeks) CEOs are accustomed to having things their way ��Iraqis didn't like …

Posted to Big Media Hectors Obama on ‘Surge'

Interesting Obama article in the New Yorker with the controversial cover of Michelle and Barack. This guy is just another typical politician with a great sense of how to seize the moment � who to use and when.

Posted to Big Media Hectors Obama on ‘Surge'

Not giving them more troops? The incompetence is top down and of long duration. A series of massive cuts to our military has made several administrations look more solvent. Cuts to our navy has hampered our ability to move massive numbers of troops and equipment. This is a pattern we've followed following all wars. The greatest cause of shortage now is due to the arrogance of Bush's key advisors. Bush is sort of programable (Notice his verbal repetition, not unlike Chatty Kathy.) Rumsfeld canned anyone in the military who balked at his plan to conquer on the cheap and we are …

Posted to Promoting Incompetence in Iraq

If we give in to this it won't be long before they are voting, taking part in discussion with the talking heads and running our major corporations. ...On second thought is there a way to change my vote?

Posted to The Spanish government is likely to pass a resolution granting basic human rights to great apes by t

Most politicians...are geographically, financially and socially isolated from the blood-and-guts consequences of today�s two wars � the one in Iraq and the one on the middle class. YES! ...smiling anchormen, correspondents and congressmen follow the Big Lie theory of indoctrination YES! These voices of the status quo do not want the status quo challenged. YES! ...these are the methods of modern propaganda ...one with an underlying goal: keeping the real lunatics running the asylum. and � YES! I think we've also been numbed by the election marathon. To the old adage �If you can't Dazzle them with Data, Baffle them with …

Posted to 'Centrists' Running the Asylum

Diciteco and Francis Frank, I voted for John B. Anderson in 1980 ($0.50/gal gas tax for alt. energy) and Perot (against NAFTA) and instead of a lousy T-shirt, I got lousy government business (favoritism) -as-usual. I am sick and tired of our entire elective system and tired voting against the one I see as the worse choice. My decision this time will be made on the earliest impressions of the two finalists � everything now is simply spin to gather votes from various interest groups. For a definition of "Centrist" I would look to the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution. Neither …

Posted to 'Centrists' Running the Asylum

Francis Frank, Of the three books you listed, "Boss," is the only one I've read and so long ago I remember very little, but Royco was a favorite for me — ideas wrapped in incisive humor. I read a lot — mostly biographies, history and lately, economics. Since NAFTA was pending (and my business was evaporating) I have read a good deal of globalization theory and opinion, both pro and con. A list... Recent Bios: John Adams, Andrew Jackson, Gen. George Marshall, IKE—An American Hero, and currently reading the Memoirs of U. S. Grant History: "1776," David McCullough, "1812, "Walter Borneman; …

Posted to 'Centrists' Running the Asylum

If your country's economy is 70% dependent on consumer spending and you have been sending those people's jobs out of the country (since NAFTA in”1993) you eventually have too few people with an income that is able to support the economy. When you have borrowed (through sale of Treasury Bonds) $ trillions from other countries and your currency is being debased (to cover a mortgage fraud) then everything you import (including all those cheaper consumer goods) becomes increasingly expensive. When your currency is inflating (making each dollar worth less tomorrow) those countries holding the bonds begin spending that currency as fast …

Posted to How would you describe the state of the U.S. economy?

"If that�s not counterintuitive, I don�t know what is." You're right � you don't.

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

"The People of the Gun don�t have to live in the cities that are desperate to stay safe. The mothers of Chicago�s Englewood, Miami�s Overtown and D.C.�s Anacostia are losing their boys and girls by the dozens to guns that are peddled at countless gun shows and gun shops outside city limits." Wake up, Laura � If guns get into supposedly "gunless cities" like Chicago and D.C., it is only those who are disobeying these laws who are causing those deaths � they have them and will have them regardless of any ban. Take a look at the effect of the …

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

I have noticed recently how few people are interested in commenting on most ITT articles. I guess not too many of your topics are all that meaningful. However, each time Laura disses gun ownership, the overwhelming response is disagreeing with her. Fifty states now realize that we who obey the law are not the problem. Perhaps she should try to reform those who are interested in avoiding work and choose to make their living off the fruits of others or engaging in illegal occupations. Nothing she says on this issue is going to matter except to those of us who work, …

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

Right on, Sailor! IMO the only time the death penalty is not a deterrent is... when it is not imminent.

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

Scorp, Here we are agreeing once again. Our only point of disagreement has been regarding the economy. I say this not as an "I told you so" but as a friend. Without going into all my old arguments and reasons why I'm still pessimistic, here is an investment which has been paying off for me and I expect to for the foreseeable future. The symbol is SKF. It's an inverse financial ETF which trades at 2X up or down of group of financial companies. Things have gotten so bad here in Illinois' rust belt that every week for the past month …

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

Scorp, Neither candidate has had an original, long range economic proposal or idea yet. Therefore I expect to see the dollar continue to fall, our taxes continue to rise, regulation reinstituted, and nationalization (as in Ibdymac, Fannie and Freddie) to spread to other areas. We have been following essentially the same ill fated path as Great Britain took a century ago. Your "loser" label will eventually become a one-size-fits-all as our nation slips to second class status. My net worth hit an all time high last week because I am investing (trading) according to a real world perception of the total …

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

Phillip, Headed and fsilber, The world's problems are not due to gun or drug availabilty � they are nearly all attributable to people. We need to get rid of as many people as possible and as soon as possible in order to have a nice place for a few people (just like me). We can make more drugs available to people, or tech people to be better shots. This drive-by stuff is so hap hazard. First you get them high, then they will be easier to round up. Have them count off by twos (or alphabetically, according to height) pass out …

Posted to Gun-toters in La-La Land

Since so many of us are OK with killing kids who are an inconvenience, why not get rid of alll those "Street People" cluttering our cities? Oh, yeah, and the ones who have mental problems. Such a burden on society! While were at it, I'm hearing we have the highest percentage in prison of any "advanced" nation � we could just clean out all those doing time for using substances which a deemed bad for them. Wait a minute... Hasn't this been tried alrady in Europe?

Posted to Poison Pill Slipped Into Indian Health Bill

Look, he's running on the promise of change, so why get your skivies in a knot when he demonstrates it each day and every day? The only upside to the promises of candidates is that they can only really do what the lobbyists will write into a bill. Save your ideas and your money � buy a lobbyist.

Posted to Holding Barack Accountable

Due to the mismanagement and lack of a long-range vue, the employees will go to part time jobs with no benefits like millions of others since the rush to globalization. The CEOs will suffer the same fate as Roger Smith... a wealthy and care-free retirement.

Posted to With $4-per-gallon gas and a 50-year low in GM's stock price, what will become of US automakers?

The free trade debates, like a lot of disagreements, rely on certain assumptions and definitions. The problems are often due to the contestants working off differing perceptions of the key factors involved. In my lifetime I believe the only truly free trade has been that in the black market. My son was in the Soviet Union with his high school class in 1980. In this most governmentally structured economy the currency was ignored by Rusian teens wanting Levis, news magazines and Elvis recordings. An illegal black market economy set the prices along with supply and demand. It's a lot like saying …

Posted to The Free Trade Heretic

I cannot bring myself to take seriously anything said by either candidate from now until November. All will be a mad rush to placate one or another "critical" segment needed to be elected. A coin toss would be OK by me. Unless WE can make real "change" from our Lobbyist centered form of government to one which truly represents the bulk of our citizenry, nothing of importance will change significantly in our favor.

Posted to What is your view on Obama's recent reversal on telecom immunity?

Granted, the new media are not enough. Not if you really want to know what's going on. What we really need is an awareness of history � recent and the past century will do for a start. The "clustering of like-minded America" is actually what Republicans and Democrats have as common ground. Any perception of the opposite is merely Kabuki being played out for the 6 o'clock news and other popular public propaganda sources. Eisenhower's warning to be wary of the "military/industrial complex" should be revised to The Corporate/Congressional Complex. Free Trade, Free Enterprise, should be recognized as the same as …

Posted to This Summer's Trilogy of Truth

During my military service the "price of one American life" was a $10,000 life insurance payment. Is it now equal to one year's income as with the Iraqi?

Posted to The Price of One Iraqi Life

"At their most effective, Democrats parry by defining the �us� as the majority of working people, and the �them� as the tiny group of plutocrats who control the country. In recent years, Democrats have stopped making this case for fear of offending their big donors. But this is exactly the argument they must make if they hope to defeat John McCain." This type of reasoning � "What a candidate must say," is what is wrong with our selection of people to represent us. The Democrats (Obama) may say they are for the working people, but it is simply NOT TRUE! The …

Posted to Countering Race With Class

Interesting story on pbs.org about big global cooling 75,000 years ago. Three scientists working independently � one taking artic ice cores, one taking deep ocean cores, and one studying volcanic ash � identified a massive volcanic erruption in Sumatra as the cause. Apparently all that is needed to offset (not the Al Gore thing) the global warming scare is to get a large volcano to belch. Unfortunately it probably requires sacrificing a virgin and there are so few left. (Perhaps they could throw in a phone or an airline.)

Posted to The Great Election Robbery of 2008?

The Kennedys didn't need to wait for electronic hacking. Chicago is famous for creative counting. Can there be any question that someone could tamper with computer election results? We've all heard about the VA personal info which "accidently" was passed to the whole world, protecting ID has become big business, and with all the "emergency" hiring of anyone available to fix the Y2K date panic � we have no idea who is reading corporate and government data. As Natalie mentioned the mid-term Democratic congressional gains raised no questions anything like the last two presidential voting scam screams. Last week Bob Beckle, …

Posted to The Great Election Robbery of 2008?

The upside is we'll soon be able to plant corn much farther north.

Posted to A Textbook Case

Mohamed El Baradei has a long record of ineffective inspections. We're all aware of the of Jimma's record in that area. Before campaigning for reinstatement to his cushy U.N. job El Baradei openly admitted Iran had managed to successfully hide its nuclear project from the IAEA for fifteen years. He also stated he saw no reason to expect future IAEA success. With these two we have a case of the blind leading the bland. Mohamed will likely be the next in line for the No Bell Pizza Prize.

Posted to Israel's Openly Secret Nukes

The list of arrested did not include the owners or managers at the meat processing plant. Arresting those who employ illegal aliens is the only sensible thing to do. Arrest the business owners. Forget about tracking down the aliens � no jobs, end of the problem. If the fines are not enough to end it, let the employers do jail time.

Posted to ICE Cold to Kids

NAFTA and CAFTA are purely economic con games devised to peddle the idea that globalization (economic imperialism) is good for us all. With the exception of Ross Perot and Pat Buchanan US politicians billed it as a win-win situation which would bring foreign masses up from poverty and "We will only lose the low-end, low-paing jobs here." Gore said it was inevitable, Clinton pushed it through congress after G.H.W. Bush set up the ball for a spike. The result was obvious to anyone with an once of imagination... � Major US manufacturing job losses � These made a move to the …

Posted to ICE Cold to Kids

The first Nixon/Kennedy debate is available for viewing at The Museum of Broadcast History in Chicago's old public library. "...all the social upheavals of the �60s were making vast swaths of Middle America susceptible to a new brand of right-wing cultural populism." For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. (Just watch this November.) I would like to see some better descriptive adjectives replace Liberal and Conservative, since Democrats are no more liberating in their proposals than Republicans � they just want to ban, regulate and punish from different lists. Republicans have long ago ceased to conserve anything worthwhile …

Posted to The Divided States of America

Why is it I have trouble finding sympathy for Hillary or Michelle (or Susan)? Perhaps it is because on their worst day they are so much better off than 99% of the world's people � of either sex.

Posted to Damned If Feminine, Damned If Feminist

closeparen, Hillary, like Bill, is quick to claim being treated unfairly. Remember the Great Rightwing Conspiracy? Poor Bill. Poor Hilllary. (When it comes to truth and fairness, I guess it depends on what is, IS.) If you want to play with the big kids � don't whine. The best women in high and influential positions haven't used the gender card. Picture Golda Meier, Margaret Thatcher (The Iron Maiden) or Joan of Arc crying, "They aren't treating me fair!" Too narrow a point of view when thing of broads? (Sorry, couldn't resist.)

Posted to Damned If Feminine, Damned If Feminist

"...how does Obama, with no baggage, or resume, or history, suddenly spring from nowhere?” Just to expand a bit on Wolf's comments, I would add he got to the U.S. Senate and now to the run for the White House largely because of the weak competition he has faced. With Alan Keyes as the alternative, Obama got my vote. I am an old line conservative (I want someone who knows and adheres to the goals of the preamble to the US Constitution.) and it has been far too long since I had anyone I really wanted to vote FOR. In addition …

Posted to Damned If Feminine, Damned If Feminist

Scorp, Your mention of the JFK charisma edge in 1960 reminded me of this: We went to the Museum of Broadcast History in Chicago a few years ago where they played the first Kennedy/Nixon TV debate. I remarked to my two boys that in listening to it (even after Watergate) I would still vote once again for Nixon. Kennedy had absolutely no solid issues, just innuendoes and suppositions. There was a plaque at the theater exit stating in 1960 those who heard the debate on radio favored Nixon and those who watched were for Kennedy. We need, now more than ever, …

Posted to Damned If Feminine, Damned If Feminist

The better appproach is to let Jim Webb take the top slot first so Obama can see first hand how it should be done. We'd all be better off . Webb's is the kind of change I can believe in.

Posted to Who should Obama choose for his VP?

What you state as "...the real problem for a conservative movement" is not a strictly conservative vice. What we refer to as our "representatives" are far too often merely the face before the camera. Legislation is written by lobbyists for their special interest employers. The overwhelming size and number of bills written is sufficient to ensure that anyone who may try to responsibly legislate will be totally frustrated and in a short time fall into line. The "faces" are kept busy busy on their full-time reelection campaigns and soon become subsidized by corporate America. NAFTA, regardless of any recent campaign pretensions, …

Posted to The Populist Uprising

What's the point in pretending that our elections are fair (even without a paper back-up) if we don't pretend everyone's opinion matters? Either way we will probably continuue to hear more about this over the next couple of years than Social Security, tax reform or any other meaningful issues.

Posted to Should the DNC have allowed Michigan and Florida delegates to vote at August's convention?

There are people with excellent credentials who disagree with what has become the common wisdom regarding global warming or climate change. It may be we are entering a cycle such as the world has experienced many times before. Some say we may be about to experience another cooling period. What is without doubt is that our habits are causing toxic fumes and endangering lives � both animal and human. While we know this is true and not enough is being done, it is a topic politicians can back to get votes and never worry the results or lack of will come …

Posted to Red State, Green Campaign

Dorgan is one of the few in congress for whom I wish I could vote. He is consistent in his attempts to give us good national government based on a well reasoned understanding of events and conditions and how they affect ordinary people.

Posted to Byron Dorgan's Contracting Fraud Crusade

When Senator Harry Truman checked into the high rate of crashes in the B-26 (15 in a 30-day period) he was told by the head of the company producing it, Glenn Martin "We know the problem. The wings are too short, but we are meeting the government accepted specifications." The plane had been nick named the Widowmaker. Truman was outraged and replied, "Our boys are getting killed flying these things and unless you correct the problem immediately I'll have you jailed!" (I believe there were a few expletives here and there in his statement.) The plane was fixed and went on …

Posted to Byron Dorgan's Contracting Fraud Crusade

Perhaps there is something worse than an empty town. In "Who will tell the people?" Richard Greider tells what it can be like to work for a U.S. corporation which builds a new factory on a well manicured lawn and draws a large number of workers to the area. Delphi built such a facility a few years ago. When the mayor of the now far over populated village appealed to Delphi for help in providing drinking water and sewage disposal and better housing (makeshift shacks) he was turned down and threatened. The company said if taxes were levied they would simply …

Posted to Mexico’s Ghost Towns

f) Neither Democrat is worth electing because neither is worthy of being called a Democrat. It's been so long since we've seen either a "real" Democrat or a "real" Republican that we are beginning to accept anyone's claim to any party. I want to see someone who willl represent the US first, last and always. Having just watched the rerun of Harry Truman's life on The American Experience, I'd like someone who really does NOT want the job. When he believed it in the nation's best interest Truman even went against the unions. (For you kids out there: Democrats used to …

Posted to What is the absolute #1 reason we must elect a Democrat to the White House this November?

The Iraq War is not the problem, it is a symptom. In fact it is not "The War" either � the war in which WTC was a major attack has been declared against us and will not end unless it is undeclared by the same people who have been fighting it for decades now. We may well debate the D.C.�itis as hereditary vs environment. It seems true that, at least in recent years, anyone elected to national office soon becomes infected and reelection is Job One. Here in Illinois our 16th District Representative, Don Manzullo, was elected on the promise of …

Posted to Why Democrats Won’t Stop the War

Scorp, Correct! We need to maintain a sense of perspective (not something the media care about and most likely don't even know). Of the 3 remaining vocal candidates, McCain undoubtedly has a sense of this regarding war, but the others either don't know or simply choose to play on the public's lack of knowledge. We might also add the dollar comparison (inflation) when tallying financial cost and as a percentage of GDP. The medical gains both in methods and speed are amazing and should be recognized as well. My greatest concerns with the war are that voters will be lulled into …

Posted to Why Democrats Won’t Stop the War

Scorp, I know we are of two minds on the government economic data, but at least we agree on a few things. The use of food for fuel is as criminal as the UN/Saddam Oil for Food Scam. Nothing more than pandering for votes. The thirty years since the alarm first went off should have brought a good many changes in our energy policy. By now we could have a high speed transcontinental mass transportation system which would save energy, lives and improve the ecology. We could have developed alternative sources including our vast supply of coal. (I'm into a couple …

Posted to Why Democrats Won’t Stop the War

Scorp, Here is what think is an interesting article on solar energy. http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,550544,00.html "We don't have an energy problem," says Hans M�ller-Steinhagen, of the German Aerospace Center (DLR). "We have an energy conversion and distribution problem." Our southwest would make an excellent US source.

Posted to Why Democrats Won’t Stop the War

It was interesting to read this article, but also very frustrating. When I turn 70 recently, friends asked how it felt. My answer? "Like everything is a re-run." Richard Longworth's book, "Global Squeeze," was one of the first I read with which I could identify. Many of my friends and relatives were being bribed to take early retirement. (or coerced if that didn't work) My own business was feeling the threat of long-time clients shifting operations to Mexico and Asia. I had already been writing to everyone I could think of since NAFTA was being considered. My representatives, financial publications, labor …

Posted to Main Street Squeeze

anarcissie, The problem isn�t education. It�s power. �Those who hold a privileged position in the economic power hierarchy,� he writes, �are able to steer the bulk of growth their way.� From my distillation of the list of books on this topic I tend to agree with the above statement. The power of corporate paid lobbyists, the power of the congress, the power of the typical economic "expert" all have contributed to the current malaise average Americans are now facing. Some books in my list see globalization as a benefit and a win-win situation. Friedman's books and "A future Perfect" take this …

Posted to Main Street Squeeze

The sensationalist media inquest into Sen. Barack Obama�s associations has cheapened the national debate. It has also exposed the hypocrisy and double standard of the conservative media. Not to worry the liberal media is keeping up with them. (As evident in this article.) In ancient times (BTV) radio reports were generally of two types: News Reporters News Commentators Now everyone seems to think we care what he thinks and very little news is adequately documented. The rush to be first trumps all. The grab for attention is its only competition.

Posted to Fox News' Criminal Pundits

Baraka, Nearly all reporters (and the writer of this article) of either liberal or conservative stripe are rather blatant in their slanted evaluation of candidates. "The sensationalist media inquest into Sen. Barack Obama�s associations has cheapened the national debate. It has also exposed the hypocrisy and double standard of the conservative media." Double standard and hypocrisy: Hypocrisy in this article... "Bill Ayers, a distinguished professor of education at the University of Illinois at Chicago." (The guy was with the Weathermen, for Pete's sake!) The double standard as applied in the McCain/Rev. Hagee association. NewsWeek & TIME/Obama and FOX/McCain coziness. To express …

Posted to Fox News' Criminal Pundits

Baraka, Although I voted to put Obama on the ballott for the US Senate, I really didn't know much about him. I am not sure if what I'm seeing is a real change in his style of campaigning, but I think so. I think he has learned that to give a open, honest, possibly long held opinion on any subject is to invite an opponent or media clobbering. Obama's statement on clinging and bitterness, his wife's first time pride, Iran as a tiny nation (small threat), etc. Since he is relatively new at national scrutiny, it is taking a while to …

Posted to Fox News' Criminal Pundits

Baraka, There really isn't anyone who comes close to very many of my views and, yes, I love the US. (I just covered my ambitions re candidates in the new discussion question of why we need to elect a Democrat.) When I said, "As voters we want someone who will say only what we wish to hear, but be honest and forthright. To have a political history we like without exhibiting human weaknesses. He/she must express an opinion which differs sharply with a previously stated one, but must be open to change." I was expressing what I see as the dichotomy …

Posted to Fox News' Criminal Pundits

"Under Virginia law, driving with a suspended license is not an arrestable offense, and the officers were obliged to issue him a citation for a future court appearance rather than take him into custody. Disregarding this clear legal mandate, however, the officers arrested Moore." ------------------ It seems pretty apparent that the officers violated the Fourth Amendment in this action. The skin color of the alleged violator my have been how they singled him out, but the violation is still illegal search and seizure. It is idiotic not to describe a person being sought without including skin coloring. Would it be smart …

Posted to Supreme Court OKs Racial Profiling

Moose, Agreed. As I recall it was about 20 years ago the S. Court decided the end justified the means when searching for drugs. They OKed the use of road blocks as long as everyone was stopped. (To mess with individual rights is wrong, but doing away with everyone's is right?) I, for one, believe this deserves to challenged. There have been stops here to check for seatbelts, city stickers, etc. If stopped I will protest very loudly. Just yesterday I learned that if a citizen wants to buy a car and pays cash he must disclose his income at the …

Posted to Supreme Court OKs Racial Profiling

I know this is suppose to be a racal profiling thing, but this guy's race is not the "most important fact." This is a 4th Amendment constitutional issue. There is nothing in the constitution reagarding a persons race and illlegal search. Regardless of race they needed to have reasonable cause. If he consented that blows his case as it would with anyone. Racial profiling is in the eye of the beholder in this case. As for racial profiling the 1964 Civil Rights Act should be enough to cover it in this or any other case. The problem here is that since …

Posted to Supreme Court OKs Racial Profiling

From our current perspective, I would say that knowing more about military issues is a VERY BIG PLUS. Bush, by listening to Rumsfeld, Chaney and a few others who knew more about business, accepted their military strategies over those of professional military, long-term planning. We've now seen what a CEO run war is like. It seems the Middle Eastern opposition is less compliant than shareholders and a board of directors. "Opinion-makers, think-tankers and other assorted conventional wisdom spewers depict McCain�s thesis as unquestioned truth." Yes, opinion-makers and think-tankers are where politicians get their "grasp" of economic reality. I just finished, "IKE, …

Posted to Toward A New Washington Consensus

Cleareye, Obama's dismal list of econ advisors is typical of how presidents deal with the US economy. The only thing worse has been putting "successful" business leaders in charge of military operations. We've had Wall Street and university "experts" in the Fed (Greenspan and Bernake) Treasury (Paulson) while the mortgage fraud built, busted and now is bailed. If we can't get someone willing to personally understands the problems we could probably do far better with the average housewife advising him on how get a dollar's worth of anything. This list from the Trib is packed with the usual theoretical bozos (Think …

Posted to Toward A New Washington Consensus

Our current economic situation has developed over a period of decades and administrations. None of the candidates is adequately addressing our situation and may or may not truly be aware of just how dire it is. Neither is this a "White Working Class" issue. White, Black, Blue Collar or White Collar � we are gradually being shunted into the Uncounted and Unrepresented former Middle Class American. We may have Bill O'Reilly "sticking up for us" and Lou Dobbs fighting "The War on the Middle Class," but both political parties are listening to Wall Street not Main Street � all else is …

Posted to Winning the White Working Class

Hi Theloneous, We'll get the pain due to the ballouts and protection of the mortgage crooks by the Fed, the Treasury Dept. and Congress. The huge increases are being passed on to us as the dollar is made to fall and the price of everything goes up. I paid $3.95 a gallon for gas, but since I'm not working I'm not going anywhere. The people who are getting it stuck to them are those who must commute farther in order to get work and the cab drivers who can't raise their prices, but must buy gas or earn nothing. Food costs …

Posted to Winning the White Working Class

I think one reason your dad and I were able to do it was there was less spinning of the government financial numbers. The dollar was worth a lot more then. I was self-employed and was paying my income taxes and Social Security (Self-employment Tax) quarterly. Now they pretend things are just fine � except for food and energy costs. I wonder how many of those in government have ever tried doing without either one. Until the last few years that I worked I had to pay both the employee share of the Social Security tax and about half of the …

Posted to Winning the White Working Class

I see most people think race will be Obama's biggest liability, but I hardly think being half white will be that big an issue with the black voters :-) If race IS a problem it will likely be due to Wright's anti-white influence on him for over two decades. The Rev. didn't do him any favors. I believe lack of experience is his greatest problem, but that was not presented in the above list. Inexperience is not necessarily synonymous with youth. His website shows a lack of practicality or realistic views on the nation's financial problems and solutions. He is not …

Posted to What will be Barack Obama's biggest liability in the general election?

I put that down as: "I disagree." Right?

Posted to What will be Barack Obama's biggest liability in the general election?

Perhaps the "Race Chasm" will persist as long as individuals on each side continue to exploit and benefit from it. The 1964 Civil Rights Act supposedly prohibited the use of race (along with gender and religion) to discriminate. Before the word discriminate became only used negatively it meant to distinguish between by some trait. Rev. Wright uses black profusely on his church's website as he also uses white in his sermons and political criticisms. (I notice you gave him an inferred pass in this article.) When I was in the army in Alabama in 1963, I was appalled and sickened by …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Wolf, Good observations.

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Promehtheus 6, OK, so they got tired of waiting, that doesn't alter the effect. I have yet to read or hear any ojection in the MSM re any of the Black label *Hmmm even beer?) categories I listed. Is there any doubt what would happen if someone were to start a White Entertainment Television channel? I would also add the Hispanic channel without seeing any media outcry. At least I can understand the BET even though I had two years of Spanish (over 50 years ago). My only point is that we should NOT designate ANY racial listing which is inherently …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

I can watch Bill Cosby, Morgan Freeman or Tiger Woods without being reminded of their skin color. It does not matter. Comedy, drama, sports � each is good at what he does and none depends on special categorizing to be allowed to do what he does. Targeting audiences is just common sense marketing whether the category is Swedish korv, surf boards or music. None requires a whole network, special channel or other exclusive device. If they did we would have Better Black Homes and Gardens, Black American Medical Association or go back to Black Baseball League, etc. Do you not think …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

OK, I'll stay with the NBA. Regarding the NBA you said,"...it was not necessary to put �white� in its name to make it so." But,"...go back to its origin and see if there was any way to know Black people could participate in them without being informed by its name." Somehow they knew. Your argument makes my point exactly. A double standard will never breech the racial chasm because favoring either side by injecting black or white will offend the other. Now if we go the affirmative action route we need to set a racial quota on NMBA membership as we …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

The Associated Press did a video segment that�s on YouTube now where a woman in West Virginia...96% white...said she�s scared of �the other race� because �we�ve had so much conflict with them.� Who has she even met that she could conflict with? I have no idea and neither do you, right? I have had no problem with the black people that I know. However, the burglar he broke into our house, the guy who held up the ATM across from my office and the one who shot a woman a block from there all happened to be black. I carried a …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

I see you are a very selective reader � good way to remain prejudiced. I gave no indication that all the people of any color is likely to be a criminal. Obviously all people have that capability. I was speculating the woman you mentioned may be reacting to such an event. A child who has been bitten by a dog may become phobic about any dog. (Don't jump to my equating dogs and blacks.) You seem happier assuming the worst my comments. I guess that is yoour privilege I give up on the chasm between the two of us. Let's hope …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

How about... Harlem Globetrotters? NAACP? Congressional Black Caucus? What are my assumptions which bother you so much?

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

I was only joking about the groups I listed because this is not the point at all. I am not personally offended by any of the specific examples, but by the basic idea. I can watch the BET channel if I want to. I have no need for the Black Pages. I've enjoyed the Globetrotters. I've also enjoyed concerts by Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, The Duke and Teddy Wilson. None of whom were listed as black entertainers or in any way divisive, but rather merged the whole audience into one. What I am saying (if you will refer to my very …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Sure, I'll discuss it. (That's what I thought have been trying to do all along here.) The 1964 Civil Rights Act supposedly prohibited the use of race (along with gender and religion) to discriminate. Before the word discriminate became only used negatively it meant to distinguish between by some trait. I think it would have been better to follow this and eliminate ANY racial bias in the laws. Instead we have had increasing use of color in a way which some think makes up for past unfair and preferential treatment. 'm not saying that situations which are not labeled can't still …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

"See, everyone wants a better life." OK, for the sake of the discussion, let's assume that. Over the years the government has caused black people (and others, most of us in fact) a wide range of "damage". When people place responsibility on an entire group we often tend to treat that group as an individual with all the traits a single person might have. This leads to a lot of problems including building divisions as individuals say to themselves, "Hey, I didn't do that and would have been against it if asked." Think of a classroom which erupted into chaos when …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

How about using names for the organizations which are race-neutral, but still provide positive guidance and ideas. There are plenty of examples of helpful organizations with names that are not race-specific. The Boy and Girl Scouts, W.E.B. Du Bois Club, etc. How about something like "New Horizon" or "Free-for All" which are just general and not excluding by nature. Or something specifically goal oriented � jobs, education, or similar.

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

"I can�t go forward without you answering the question." My answer is to call it something without the label BLACK. There is no reason black people can't have an organization dedicated to whatever you choose without making it a Black named group or project. What is your problem with my prior reply? I don't expect you to curry my favor � you seem intent on creating conflict for some reason where is is totally unnecessary. The governent has periodically done a number of things, some good, some not. You seem to chose to ignore any attempts other than black instituted ones. …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Fine. You are entirely free to reject my report that what you see as the "only alternative" is offensive to a lot of people. After forty plus years in advertising I have a bit of experience on selling both products and ideas. If you prefer to use that approach because it makes you feel like you are getting even for past offenses against black people, go right ahead. I still believe it would be better to get along with each other than to get even. That is my alternative � take it or leave it. It's up to you. Good luck. …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

"I realize white people are offended by assertions of Black identity. Denying that identity would damage us more than white opprobrium is no more an option than is denying one’s Christian identity to assuage atheists." How does leaving Black out of a specific reference to race "deny" your identity? Why would leaving it out of any program name or project deny your identity? One does not need to say White Christian. Leaving the modifier "white" out of the title does not deny being white — it leaves Christian open to anyone. I am no longer what most would identify as a …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

This IS my answer: � Do whatever you want to do to help black people. � Do it without the label "BLACK." � Do not push for government programs like Affirmative Action quotas. That is NOT theoretical. I don't know how to say it any more plainly than that. I can see now that there is little chance of breeching this "chasm." If two people can't do it � millions will never be able to. I guess I'll write my congressman and get him started on a White Caucus, The White Pages,(I suppose Caucasian, since the white pages include all races.) …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

"This was my question. Before I go further, can you suggest another interpretation than that the suggestion that Black people should have no organizations dedicated to undo the damage we’ve absorbed, when the government does nothing due to popular opinion, is tantamount to saying we’re stuck where we are, and should be?" If we were face to face I could say, "Read my lips..." Do whatever you want to do to help black people. Form any organization you wish to have...dedicated to undo the "damage" you've absorbed. Do it without the label "BLACK." Call it anything without including the word "black" …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

You stated... This was my question. Before I go further, can you suggest another interpretation than that the suggestion that Black people should have no organizations dedicated to undo the damage we’ve absorbed, when the government does nothing due to popular opinion, is tantamount to saying we’re stuck where we are, and should be? ------------ I suggested another interpretation other than "Black people should have no organizations dedicated to undo the damage absorbed". That interpretation... is that you start organizations to undo the damage, but that they NOT have the word Black in the name of the organization. My reason for …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

I have told you what I think will work better, but you dislike my response and insist it is therefore NOT an answer to your question. It is AN answer, but not your preferred answer. You want me to go along with what you want. You don't want to give up anything or compromise in any way even if it may accomplish your ultimate goal. This reminds me of a designer friend of mine who once got a call from a man in a nearby town. It seems the man found my friend, Ken's business card lying on a sidewalk and …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

My answer is objectively based on my 40 years advertising experience of what works better in dealing with a mass market. In yes or no terms my answer is Yes. I have offered alternatives for your consideration. Here is your often asked question. Why don't you simply answer it the way you want it answered so we will both be happier? --------------------- What was my question? This was my question. Before I go further, can you suggest another interpretation than that the suggestion that Black people should have no organizations dedicated to undo the damage we’ve absorbed, when the government does …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Why do you believe you cannot have organizations dedicated to benefit black people without using the word black? Do you understand why some people may be put off by Affirmative Action? How would doing so target white opinions and not black conditions? There are organizations which benefit more than one race —Goodwill Industries, the Salvation Army and Catholic Charities. Are these "targeting white American opinions"? Of the three, Catholic Charities I would guess has limited itself primarily to Catholics for its support, but serves others too. The Salvation Army gets more support from the evangelical Christian public, but does not limit …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Well, I guess at least we finally understand each other's position. I have no problem with St. Patrick's Day parades. But it's not the same as my comments concerning the use of the word black for preferential treatment. More like black style music, much of which I enjoy. (Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, but not Rap) (I may be part Irish � I am a bit Scots Irish, but they were Scots which "...did the work the Irish didn't want to do." :-) It took me a while to find it, but here is something by Abraham Lincoln which I saved from …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Sure, I hope you will do the same. I think one of the big advantages of anonymous internet conversation is people can get into more intimate discussions than are likely between people in the neighborhood. At least guys don't usually get into this quite as deeply. Most people can sight an example of when they felt discriminated against in some way, but for me it was never anything I couldn't get over in short order and put behind me. Even though I have a vivid imagination, I doubt I can really understand the feelings caused by an ongoing, multigenerational prejudice. They …

Posted to Acknowledging the Race Chasm

Maybe it's not only the media trivializing the campaign. Since so much of each day's media coverage deals with Hollywood's latest crazy behavior or an athlete's violence and lawbreaking, this may be all most of them are capable of talking or writing about. Much of what the candidates have to offer is a band-aid for economical cancer. Instead of well developed solutions or doable ideas they come up with cash diversions which will never be funded. Perhaps trivia is more interesting to the electorate. Obama is well versed in what people are angry about. Hillary is pretty willing to get down …

Posted to U.S. Media Trivializes Campaign 2008

I might add that congress majors in trivia as well. What was the last time they passed any meaningful legislation dealing with domestic problems? Social Security? Medicare? US job losses? Health Care and Insurance? Dangerous imports? Inflation? Infrastucture? None of the above. They deal with those critical issues like former baseball stars and steroid use.

Posted to U.S. Media Trivializes Campaign 2008

Scorp, I hope you are right (Wright?) about Obama's finish. Americans have very short memories and the media love him. Isn't it interesting how little we hear about the McCains personal charitable and humanitarian work � from those who still think a government program is more effective?

Posted to U.S. Media Trivializes Campaign 2008

If anyone thinks the Wright/Obama 20-year connection is trivial... go to the Weekly Standard and read, "Jeremiah Wright's 'Trumpet' ," (his anti-white, anti-US magazine) which awarded Jeremiah Wright's 'Trumpet' their Empowerment Award and Wright's praise of Farrakhan as a 20th- and 21st-century "giant." Do we want someone who has been listening to and reading this kind of propaganda for two decades in the White House? http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/015/082ktdyi.asp

Posted to U.S. Media Trivializes Campaign 2008

It's not only pandering, but insulting and will not get the hoped for votes. What we have her is a contest between the 3 Blind Mice. Instead of real program proposals to deal with energy dependency McCain wants to throw a bone to voters which will do absolutely nothing positive, but will obviously (to any sane person) reduce funds needed for road maintenance and other projects. Cutting the price per gallon is not a winner any more than Hillary's $10,000 toward purchase of a fuel efficient vehicle or Obama's $1,000 per family tax cut. This is not something which calls for …

Posted to Is a summer federal gas tax holiday a good idea?

Come on, it is simply NOT POSSIBLE to embarrass a legislator into doing anything. While the rest of us are feeling the loss of jobs and job quality, the rampant inflation in food and energy (not part of the core they love to quote), increasing health care and education costs, they are getting automatic pay raises. The whole Fed mortgage charade is designed to protect those responsible for the biggest economic fraud in history. The legislative pattern for home foreclosure is the same one which gave us: � Homeland Security which searches grandma � allows illegal immigrants to flow across our …

Posted to The Plague of Potomac Fever

As one who has once voted for Obama I feel remorse that I was gullible enough to think this guy was a "different" kind of politician. The "Wright stuff" has sparked exactly the opposite kind of "change" which Obama so glibly promises in his standard speech. I can now see a lot of similarity in his emotion rousing style (although, wisely in a lower key and volume) and that of Rev. Wright. Technique: Repeat often and in sound bite chunks all the complaints and shortcomings the audience has in common. It is important though, to realize that when speaking to a …

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Baraka, I guess you never bothered to read my last response to your angry exit. Your reactions are exactly what I think Wright's continued diatribe instills and perpetuates in his listeners and why I've scratched Obama from consideration in this election. You see any opposing or alternative view as coming from a hateful, racial bias. By injecting the word "white" into all negative aspects of his sermons and teachings Wright may be reacting to his life experiences, but by dwelling on these he is prejudicing the next generation. You say I am "spewing hatred. Where do you see hatred? You infer …

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Natalie, What you pointed out here (Yes, out of context, but never the less enlightening in a way other than Wright intended.) is the way I suspect Barack Obama views the religion and gun clinging, small town average American. �We cannot see how what we are doing is the same thing al-Qaeda is doing under a different color flag, calling on the name of a different God to sanction and approve our murder and our mayhem!��Jeremiah Wright sermon, 4/13/03

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Baraka, Look again. There is no criticism in my comments which refer in any way to either Wright's or Obama's statements or motives as relating to their race. The only time race is mentioned is in referring to Wright's inserting color in his complaints of US short comings. Mentioned his wealthy living conditions because it could be a motive for him to continue his anti-white sermons. As for the Pope that is an for Catholics. As far as I know Catholic priests are not paid by the parrish, but I'm not sure how their pay is determined. Since I once was …

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Baraka, I voted for Obama for the same reason I have voted in nearly every election. He looked less bad than the alternative candidate. In this case it was Alan Keyes an ultra conservative whose ideas I saw as almost totally detremental. It looks as if at least part of our conflict is in our differing definitions. I don't think I'm rejecting Obama because of his religious preferences. My disenchantment stems from his comments, his wife's and those of his pastor. It seems apparent his personal assessment of white Americans has been negatively influenced by theirs. Of course I'm aware of …

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Well, Obama finally did and said what he would have been wise to do initially � dispute the Wright rant. I have a nagging feeling he would be just as hesitant as president. We've seen how Bush's delay in dumping Rumsfeld has become extremely costly to the nation and to him. Rumsfeld's OK of redition (torture), pushing for "useful" intel rather than truthful and lack of post combat planning is now Bush's legacy. People are known by the company they keep. Often this is a valid measure. This morning I noticed a neighbor removed his OBAMA 2008 yard sign, so Wright's …

Posted to Bill Moyers Interviews Rev. Jeremiah Wright

Kuya, We have several tug of war areas contributing to these global problems. Corn for food/corn for energy, substitute foods/foods people want, entrenched wasteful habits/new conservative methods, large families/shrinking food sources, land for agriculture/massive building programs. I'm afraid the "rich world" attitude is precisely not only what has caused many of the problems, but will prevent any large scale attempt to institute the solutions which you list � eating less, driving less (ride a bike or walk!), flying less, burning less, throwing less away, and simply using less. This is obviously the sensible approach. Too many people are able to afford …

Posted to As Hunger Rises, Chew on This

Kuya and ptbSFO, Perhaps a genuine tough economic time is exactly what we need here. When I finally gave up smoking after more than thirty years, it was because I got asthma at age fifty. When it's your next breath in question the urgency factor kick in. Many of us have had it so easy for so long (it only takes a generation) our lack of imagination dulls the hardships of others we only hear about and can't relate to. The oil dependency/Middle East foothold is something only a long-term attitude readjustment (not the Happy Hour one) can change. We are …

Posted to As Hunger Rises, Chew on This

With the problems we've known about for decades — energy dependence, environmental issues, aging infrastructure, traffic congestion — we could/should have engaged in a massive national effort to provide an integrated mass transportation system. After the fall of the Soviet Union (remember the "Peace Dividend?) I began sending a basic plan to connect villages to towns, towns to cities, coast to coast combining road, rail and air so anyone could travel anywhere in the continental U.S. Included were drawings and suggestions for funding. It would, where possible, use the median of the Interstate Highway System for monorail passenger lines, both interurban …

Posted to How often do you use public transportation?

What kind of reaction would the Rev. Wright have received from his congregation if rather than, "God damn America!" he had said, "God help America!" ? It is evident from their website that his overall approach has been divisive. His kind of "performance art" is hardly going to unite or heal opinion for either black or white. In his handling of this issue Obama appears to be a master of the William Clintonesque "performance art" of divert rather than confront.

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Wolf, To add to your comment on benefitting from the past conditions � My wife and I were in London in 1991 and I couldn't help noticing the high percentage of minorities in three-piece suits on Fleet Street (their version of Wall st.). I must assume this is due in large measure to the centuries of British colonial rule in India, China and Africa. While something few people would want to submit it certainly benefitted a lot of people. Hmmm, maybe we were a little hasty splitting away. :-) BTW, I came across a figure people should keep in mind and …

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Drobe, I didn't say, "...people should consider themselves lucky to be the descendents of slaves..." What I was pointing out is that we are all what we are largely through past circumstances. My ancestors had nothing when they came here, but I am better off because of what they did. What I do with my life, my circumstances, my abilities or handicaps � is my responsibility. But I can imagine if I had had fewer advantages that it would have been more difficult. BTW, to believe "all" people of any classification nationality, race, gender, are (fill in the prejudice) also shows …

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

The latest Obama speech, delivered in his same deliberate, calm style, seems indicative of how his twenty years with Rev. Wright has "colored" his view of America. Not only did he screw up royally, but true to form (like his mentor, Wright) ..."no apologies." He left out only the word "white", but managed to denigrate small town residents, believers in God, the Second Amendment in a few well chosen words. I think Condi will avoid identification with this one. I now wish I had never voted for him � I guess I'm just a small town boy at heart.

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Drobe, My hasty comment has a smily face after it which I meant as an indication that I was kidding. Actually one side of my family (mother) includes a General in Washington's army who fought the whole eight years to be free of colonial non-representative rule. My father's side came at the end of the 1800s to escape the hard times in Sweden. I don't often quote the Bible anymore, but as I remember there is a comment about someone meaning something to be evil, "...but God can use evil for good." It seems perfectly reasonable to see the good which …

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Drobe, I guess I assumed that we pretty well know the downside of colonization the lack of freedom, the insults and oppression. I just wanted to point out there are some positive results. I was actually pleasantly surprised when seeing the large number of "three piece suits" in London. I do remember reading one of Winston Churchill's comments (I believe it is his book River War.) when he expressed the attitude (late 1800s) that he felt responsible to care for the people in the colonies, almost as if they were "Britain's children". I was not sure whether this was a condescending …

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Eddiemyboy, You wrote of wage slaves. I have mentioned occasionally how I think today's economic trend in the U.S. may be a uniting factor to override the racial divide. In fact, it could even be the uniter of many categories of discrimination � racial, sexual preference, gender � all of which are increasingly being shoved aside in favor of imported low-income foreign workers. It began with encouraging Hispanics to come here as sub-minimum wage workers. Then our best jobs were exported. Now both are happening at all levels of income, even lawyers. You may remember hearing how as a service economy …

Posted to A Speech Even Condi Could Love

Back in the 1990s when NAFTA was proposed, Ross Perot was the only candidate who saw what it would eventually bring to the average American. He got my vote and my Congressman got my letters urging he vote against it. He has gotten lots of letters ever since. The last line of my first letter in November of 1993 ended with my comment, "NAFTA � Not A Fine Thing America!" Maybe if Supply Side Economics had been applied to our former nationalistic idea � that Congress was instituted to represent Americans � it would have been a good thing. Supply Side …

Posted to The Upside of Nationalism

I think today's economic trend in the U.S. may be a uniting factor to override the racial divide. In fact, it could even be the uniter of many categories of discrimination � racial, sexual preference, gender � all of which are increasingly being shoved aside in favor of imported low-income foreign workers. It began with encouraging Hispanics to come here as sub-minimum wage workers. Then our best jobs were exported. Now both are happening at all levels of income, even lawyers. You may remember hearing how as a service economy our people are getting better jobs in the tech sector. Recently …

Posted to The Upside of Nationalism

You asked, "Is Wright Right About Racism?" Check out the church's website. It looks like Hannity is right on when he says, �[The church] is all about the black community,� Hannity thundered, claiming that means Wright supports �a black-separatist agenda.�

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Although Obama wants to change the focus to racial problems ( and has largely suceeded), the issue is not what Wright thinks or why he thinks it. The issue is to what degree Obama is conciously or unconsiously influenced by twenty years of associating with Wright. What if a candidate had a Clansman as his "mentor" and friend for two decades � wouldn't that give cause for concern? Would we simply say, Well he had bad experiences with black people and it has influenced his attitude? Read the stuff at the church's website and substitute white supremist each time it says …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

ACCoop, Re: degrees of racism: OK, many of the clan guys resorted to lynching and to the best of our knowledge Wright has not advocated that. But listen to him. Watch him. Notice the similarity to the pre-WW2 speeches of Adolf Hitler. They are both whipping up emotions with a scapegoat target. I don't believe Der Furher ever mention concentration camps and ovens in his speeches, but the Hitler Youth brought up with his hateful sermons were quick to get with the program. It is not going to solve any kind of division to condone such behavior either explicitly or implicitly. …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

hl223, I agree with Natalie � there is no excuse for bad behavior. But what you see as a plus is exactly what I see as a problem. You say, "How would it have looked if Obama just up and abandoned something he�d been a part of for 20 years?" and... "That is a key to being a great politician ... standing for what you believe in and what you�ve been a part of." That is THE PROBLEM as far as Wright goes... Obama was a part of it for twenty years and saw no reason to leave. If that's what …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

opeluboy, Well, I'm beginning to see your problem — too many assumptions, too little perspective. My view that Obama's 20-year assocaition with a bigoted, emotionally motivating preacher has nothing to do with Israel. It is his racist totally attitude, broad generalizations and anti-American rhetoric. Not the kind of long-term influence I want in a candidate. By not leaving Obama gives tacit approval. You seem also to assume I will vote for Hillary — not in a million years. In some ways for the same basic reason as Obama. By staying with Bill (a person I told a friend prior to being …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

I will vote for John McCain. And may write in Natalie for VP. She makes a lot of sense.

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Wolf, McCain's endorsement by the religious right is not a plus as far as I am concerned, but as far as I know he is not a fundamentalist Christian and don't expect him to be influenced as strongly as Bush who apparentlly thinks God has called him to a mission. We have to go with whoever is least objectionable to each of us. I haven't voted FOR anyone in a long time � almost always against someone I see as probably worse. I believe (hope?) McCain will be more likely to put the nation first than Hillary (who wants it too …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Theloneus and Wolf, I realize it is impossible for me to truly identify with Rev. Wright's feelings due to differences in our life experience. His "truth" in confessional mode and mine will never be the same with regard to racial issues. However, he is a person in a position of influence and as such should realize his "self" revelation is bound to play a strong part in shaping the perceptions and lives of others — especially the young. His condemnation of our country matches Hitler's rants against Germany's conquerors post WW1. Even though I am of a similar view regarding those …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Wolf, Of course Wright is entitled to free speech, just as he is entitled to his feelings � but... � What good could possibly come from such a vitriolic outburst as was shown? The latest is the report of "No apologies," attributed to Rev. Wright. � With the idea to day that a greater punishment should be given for a "hate crime" we also are in danger of being prosecuted for "hate speech." Anyone speaking publicly should be very careful. While the quotes you posted may be true, the Talking Points listed on their website give a different picture. Example: "� …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Wolf, You may have a valid point re the perceptions of Euro and Afro superiority since almost everyone, individual and as a group, tends to lean toward "my ideas are better than yours." Certainly from the general economic footing there is a European advantage in recent centuries. Although Africa had a good head start and, of course, all subsequent societies are built on the experiences and discoveries of the prior ones. Even though I fear no outright uprising from Wright's congregation, it is the insidious unmeasurable foundation of anti-white bias passed on to the next generation which concerns me. My own …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Natalie and Wolf, What this country needs is NOT another President, but a triumvirate. Where should we meet for the first town meeting :-) Kidding aside, the best racial unity comment I have heard lately was from Morgan Freeman. (I believe it was in the AARP magazine.) When asked about being a popular black actor his reply was simply, "If you won't think of me as a black actor, I won't think of you as a white reporter." (paraphrased)

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

NotThisTime, I wish I still had some of your faith that it will be different, but as you get older, or if you read a lot of history, you will notice that people in positions of power � both nations and individuals � form similar stupid beliefs and make the same stupid decisions. At my last big zero birthday I was asked, "How does it feel to be 70?" My immediate reply, "Like everything is a re-run." Unless we can break the pattern of Congress as a lifetime career, special interest lobbying influence and electability based on financial strength � it …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

NotThisTime, Sure it's OK to share your opinion on Obama. It's not a question of holding Obama's feet to the fire. My point is just that Congress, not the President (whoever may win) decides � or more often refuses to decide to attack the real problems facing the country. They'd rather investigate and form a task force to diddle away the time in hopes people will forget. And we usually do. Many Americans would be hard pressed to name the last five Presidents and most don't know the first five. They pay more attention to what the latest Hollywood bimbo blather. …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Poptown, Natalie, Notthistime, While I agree with many of the principles outlined in the Ginrich speech, especially: "...to make business and the development of wealth and the creation of economic opportunity more important than politics and to focus resources on encouraging people to go into business, not bureaucracy,� the devil is always in the details. Most of what passes for economic policy is based on economic theory. As Einstein said, "In theory and practice and theory are the same. In practice they are different." Here are two basic economic theoretical ideas... � Competitive advantage advises buying from someone else that which …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Notthistime, The primary reason foreign wages are lower is their lower standard of living. Many of the things we take for granted have never been instituted in Mexico, China, Africa. Things which took generations to put in place for the benefit of our society as a whole � child labor laws, environmental controls (EPA), safety rules (OSHA), and benefits like retirement plans, sick leave and vacations. We could compete with Europe and Scandinavia because they operated along the same lines. Back in the mid 1980s a client of mine that made fasteners began outsourcing the standard items such as screws and …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Baraka, In reading your list of Wright's virues I see the claim, "What is even more remarkable is that this man entered the Marines and Navy not many years after the two branches began to become integrated." The U.S. military was integrated by President Harry S.Truman more right after the war (WW2). I'm not going to back track all the other historical info, but this statement does cast some doubt. Rev. Wright's military service is not an issue and should be respected, but as poptown indicates, excuses nothing. Whether he was using someone else's quote to make his point or expressing …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Baraka, As I noted in an earlier post here, I did vote for Obama in his run for the Illinois Senate. I will vote for McCain even though I am not impressed with his economic expertise. I trust him more than the others to do what he thinks best for the country. (None of the candidates has a realistic picture of the economic situation.) As for religion: Haggie endorsed him, but is not his pastor. I have honestly stated the above before which you will find if you read from the beginning of this thread. As far as prejudice still in …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Baraka, "I�m interested in which of my comments and opinions seemed to have been formed with little or no evidence?" The specifics are not as important as the apparent underlying attitude. Rev. Wright's generalizing is similar, but all the more disturbing due to the influence of his role as pastor and role model to his congregation, community and especially the kids. You are both attributing continuing guilt to whites in general, for a list of historical events as if the country were an individual with a single personality : � "There is no dispute that previous US governments did murder thousands …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Baraka, Take a deep breath and take a look at what I was referring to. You said there is "no dispute"... referred to murder (disputable)...warrior nation, etc. To dispute any or all of these items you class as "indisputable" is not my point. We would need to get into historical circumstances and a lot of lengthy detail. Does that answer your question of why not? In your reply you did exactly what I was trying to point out when I suggested: "You seem very quick to form opinions based on little knowledge or evidence." You accuse me of being angry � …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

Dean204, Hannity is not one of my favorite TV choices. I was just agreeing with the quote in the article. I'm even more of that opinion now that we have all had Wright's "context" to the max. It is interesting that both Hannity and Wright have so much in common. Both have developed a rather affluent occupation by capitalizing on other people's biases and prejudices, then presenting their arguments in a way to whip up the emotions of a large audience. Hannity has a broader menu of topics. Wright seems to have only one main course � using race to further …

Posted to Is Wright Right About Racism?

I first became self-employed at age 19. I have never had an economics class, but it seemed obvious that to buy anything which was not needed (as opposed to wanted) by borrowing was counter productive. After over forty years in business the bills uncollected from customers totaled just a bit over $600. "Neither a borrower nor a lender be," is good advice IMO. I soon learned not everyone is to be trusted to check out their payment history before doing any work. "Look before you leap." is another old saying which should be remembered. I borrowed to buy our house as …

Posted to Susan Douglas notes in "Debt: Our 9 Trillion Pound Gorilla" that America's national debt is pushing

"But even the crippling human and financial costs of the Iraq War have taken a back seat in presidential politics to �the economy��as if the two are different subjects. They aren�t, and the Democrats, especially those running for Congress, should make this, and the Bush debt, their mantra." Hey, where have you been? We've been heading down this path for a long time. The 1970s should have been an eye-opener. The only thing Perot had wrong was the sound effect � it's been a slow hiiiisssss rather than a "Giant Sucking Sound." I voted for him then because he was the …

Posted to Debt: Our 9 Trillion Pound Gorilla

eddiemyboy, Where are these internment camps? Who is in them? The only fear I have of our government surfaces whenever they offer help.

Posted to Debt: Our 9 Trillion Pound Gorilla

Patrick Hattman, I guess you figured you couldn't change things here so you left. Do you feel you have anymore say in the way things are run in Japan? I t looks to me like this latest financial mess is global. Since they have virtually no natural resources what will you do if commodities continue to rise producing ever increasing inflation there? Do you still have relatives back here in the states? I could not have left my parents and hope my kids don't leave.

Posted to Debt: Our 9 Trillion Pound Gorilla

There is enough fiction in newspapers and TV newscasters — who needs more? Take the report last week that Bear Stearns was worth $80 a share. The Obama evaluation that Wright's revolution encouraging, anti-white guys sermons are outweighed by his "good works" (for the black community only). And the on-going serial, "The Economy is Good." Laughs, anger and one which will have an O'Henry ending. (Or perhaps Edgar Allen Poe)

Posted to Alright, y'all are some serious fiction readers. That's heartening to hear! So, how about NON-FICT

Hi Hourglass, "...these looped edits and commentary were provided by the same fascist media you realize is lying to you." Are you saying that the videos we saw have been doctored? If so, did they add words to change the meaning or remove something which would have made them less offensive? I understand what Obama said about Wright's experiences which formed his opinion, but still find it disturbing that a prospective president switched the topic to avoid explaining why he maintained membership there. IMO to call this Black Theology is a dodge for what in fact is a political or social …

Posted to Alright, y'all are some serious fiction readers. That's heartening to hear! So, how about NON-FICT

Hi Hourglass, "...these looped edits and commentary were provided by the same fascist media you realize is lying to you." Are you saying that the videos we saw have been doctored? If so, did they add words to change the meaning or remove something which would have made them less offensive? I understand what Obama said about Wright's experiences which formed his opinion, but still find it disturbing that a prospective president switched the topic to avoid explaining why he maintained membership there. IMO to call this Black Theology is a dodge for what in fact a political or social ideology. …

Posted to Alright, y'all are some serious fiction readers. That's heartening to hear! So, how about NON-FICT

We've seen this over and over � bipartisanism at its peak performance. It matters not who is in office. Whenever a free market, hands-off, anti- protectionist scheme goes sour � it's time to circle the wagons and invoke the "In the best interests of the national economy" cavalry charge. When City Bank's Mexican cement company loans were in danger of default they were rescued. (Too bad for Mexicans whose peso was cut by a third.) The savings and loan mess, Russian bonds � all the profits were kept and the cost passed to us and our kids. This time it is …

Posted to New Housing Crisis, Old Isms

"...there is no national security threat" Wasn't that the conventional wisdom pre-9/11? 9/11 � That was when the World Trade Center was destroyed and several thousand people of various countries died. It is hard to tell who is dumber these days � the ones who got us into this mess or those who believe pulling out of Iraq will end the war. We are there like it or not. To complain about the cost in dollars ignores the cost so far in NYC and the potential cost of another such attack. If anything the threat is greater now than pre-2001. Our …

Posted to Vermont Argues Iraq War is 'Mission Expired'

As Natalie pointed out the Saddam connection is clear. The following URL summary gives the latest Pentagon report with info. from over 600,000 captured documents. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120631495290958169.html?mod=opinion_main_review_and_outlooks Maybe we could just offer them Vermont. Naw, they probably believe maple syrup is another decadent U.S. item. I'll bet there are still some Vermonters from the "Greatest Generation" who understand that no post 9/11 attacks here doesn't mean the threat is gone. (And more than a few terrorists who would love to see troops be withdrawn prematurely.)

Posted to Vermont Argues Iraq War is 'Mission Expired'

One of the greatest handicaps facing the U.S. is our short attention span. It seems to shorten with the increase of the speed of communication. Combine that with the lack of historical perspective and we get articles like this one. • The U.S. Revolution lasted eight years. • As a percentage of population it had the highest death toll of all our wars. • Since we had virtually no army at the beginning in a sense nearly all casualties were "civilian." • The brutality in that conflict is comparable to that of any war. To measure any war in dollars is …

Posted to Vermont Argues Iraq War is 'Mission Expired'

Poeticat, re: fearmongering Sometimes fear is prudent. While we should fear disinformation as "fear designed to influence opinion," the reverse was applied immediately post 9/11. We were told, "If you change your life style the terrorists will have won � go out and spend." Rather than tell us what we could do to help prevent terrorism (gov. fear of panic?) it was to be business as usual and stupid PC airport searches. Both parties have played PR games with regard to the seriousness of the threat to our country. The Republicans did it going into Iraq and now many incumbents in …

Posted to Vermont Argues Iraq War is 'Mission Expired'

This week on C-SPAN Senator Byron Dorgan, (D) S.D., was advocating allowing the Consumer Protection Agency to ban imports from those companies which have repeatedly sent us dangerous products. We've heard how only 1% of foreign goods are inspected, but until now I had no idea that there is no one empowered to stop this stuff from coming in. He mentioned one Matel supplier in China caused three product recalls in five weeks � and there is NO WAY to cut them off. Our country is suffering from terminal silliness.

Posted to Hope in the Time of NAFTA

"...this whole conversation about NAFTA is absurd, as well as being dishonest" Yes, as is yours. Go out into the real world of people who have been adversely affected by the economic changes of the past 14 years. Perhaps the greatest problem today is the willingness to accept as fact the numbers which are fed to us each day. Your data and arguments you presented above are irrelevant and unrealistic. The switch from agricultural to industrial took place over generations � globalization and outsourcing in a click of a computer key. The productivity data ignores subassemblies produced in cheap labor markets …

Posted to Hope in the Time of NAFTA

Ross Perot saw this coming and so did I. He got my vote because of this one issue and his being the one candidate with enough imagination to be concerned. (To be fair, perhaps others also saw it, but were more concerned with electability and realized people don't want to hear bad news.) My life as a graphic artist and designer required a good imagination. While it is a gift that enables one to take what doesn't yet exist, ask "What if?" and by-pass the least favorable ideas while choosing the better � that ability is also a curse � since …

Posted to A Trade Transformation

Major, Good one.

Posted to A Trade Transformation

Why stop with only proportionate representation by race? There seems to be a distinct shortage in the media of Swedish decent. Does anyone care? Calls for quotas, group representation and diversity will do little for equality in the treatment of individuals. If we abide by percentages of population which minority athletes do we cut? Such continued fragmentation as affirmative action offers no long term aid in eliminating bad feelings toward each other.

Posted to Missing: Minorities in Media

MajorMajor, Yes, you are right and I apologize. My comparison was more like one apple from the bushel to an entire basket. Also, instead of Swedes � who are known for intelligence, compassion and a willingness to accept any and all regardless of ability, talent or other characteristics to help the their country maintain its socialist benefits � I should have compared Africans in general to Europeans in general. On the other hand, if as you assert, the fragmentation quotas benefit people, perhaps we should go a bit further and compare only those from each group who have large (or small) …

Posted to Missing: Minorities in Media

Hmmm, come on, Major � So who among us has not seen or read of: � Martin Luther King � General and Secretary of State, Colin Powell � Sec. Rice � Bill Cosby � Jesse Jackson � Morgan Freeman � Gwen Ifill � Juan Williams � Ella Fitzgerald � James Earl Jones � Jackie Robinson � The Tuskegee Airmen � George Washington Carver � � The Harlem Globetrotters � Marian Anderson � Dred Scott ................. How far back do I need to go? Must I also list Hispanics, Asians or some other category? Anyone who still thinks in terms of the …

Posted to Missing: Minorities in Media

MM, You're way out of bounds in your assumptions. You know nothing much about me, but believe you can list what or who I complain about and do not complain about. You have slapped a bunch of labels on me — racist, sexist, religious bigot and yet you know notning more of my religious views than you do of my blood type. Apparently you reserve the right for yourself to determine what is just. Your rant covers just about all topics on which anyone may have an alternative opinion. Oh, you left out gun control. (How the hell did we end …

Posted to Missing: Minorities in Media

"Clinton, Obama and others who aspire to federal office are constrained by the political realities of a system that was bought and paid for long ago." Yes, unfortunately there is little self-constraint in making un-fundable promises. Al Gore said he wanted all of us to have the same kind of health care the Congress has, which was of course, a totally unaffordable goal. I would be satisfied if somehow we could limit the Congress to benefits and salaries based on their constituencies. We would see much more effort to solve real problems and a lot fewer committee blocked proposals. Before we …

Posted to Political Climate Change

This question will no doubt bring back all the old favorite arguments from both sides. So I may as well start it off: Here in Illinois five women were shot to death in a mall clothing store last week � none of them was armed. If even one had been it is likely the assailant would have been saved the distaseful job of killing himself. Illinois and Wisconsin are the only two states which still prevent honest and law abiding citizens from the right to self defense except within their homes. Prohibition did not stop alcohol use, the "War on Drugs" …

Posted to In the last two weeks there have been three major shootings in the United States - 5 women killed in

A lot of truth and good ideas here, but they do not address the underlying causes of our current predicament � this long downward spiral was brought to us by political ambition and corporate greed. Economic terms like Free Enterprise and Free Markets, Competitive Advantage along with promises of the benefits of cheaper consumer goods though Globalization have been perverted by those in power. Skewed statistics and short term comparisons have ignored and avoided admitting the evaporation of our middle class and the shrinking of freedom which comes with the selling of our best jobs. Here again misrepresentation helped sell the …

Posted to Escape From Recession

natriley, The U.S. dollar has been declining in value since the end of WW2, but in the past few years it has been falling at an increasingly fast rate. There is nothing to support its value other than faith. The long-standing reliance on the dollar as a standard of world trade has been eroded by a the tech bubble when stocks showing no earnings were bid to extremes and the housing bubble when over evaluation of properties and loose lending practices extended runaway consumer and (as usual) government spending. The idea that the Federal Open Market Committee can control our economy …

Posted to Escape From Recession

chseitz, Yes, the deficit is not our real problem, nor is the debt. First of all the debt is measured in dollars which have no intrinsic value. They are only backed by faith and that is a growing problem. ("Blind faith" is no exageration.) The immediate problem (well, one of many) for the investor and ultimately for everyone, is which will we face over the next several years � inflation or deflation. Sometime the world markets and currencies will readjust to the only truly "Free Market" reality of supply and demand. The entanglements which globalization has created make it much more …

Posted to Escape From Recession

"As the campaign heads to the struggling Rust Belt under banners promising �change,� this bizarre class war may end up guaranteeing no real transformation at all." The "Change" slogan is just that, a slogan. Obama hasn't the power to deal with big money any more than an ordinary citizen can get his letter read by his "representative". Stockholders can no longer influence the companies they "own" and an individual voter cannot communicate with his elected officals above the local level. Corporations' CEOs and members of Congress have far more in common than either with their constituents. They have been working hand …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

scorp & eheller I'm afraid my expectations of the citizenry in general is pretty low and falling. It appears that the majority are swept up with the vaccuous calls for change without thinking of how little is even being offered or, more importanty, how unlikely the Congress is to do anything to "change" the status quo. While some people really meant to help minorities through government welfare programs, I can't help believing the resulting dependence they created were not expected by their political designers. One of the freedoms which Americans exercise in extreme is the freedom to remain uninformed of history …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

Scorp & Eddie, Re: There is no difference between parties Change is the popular word these days, so how about this... The biggest change in the two party system is they no longer fit there long time descriptions. � Democrats were known as the party of Labor and considered liberals. � Republicans were known as the party of Business and considered conservatives. The words conservative and liberal are also misleading. Neither party has done much top conserve American values and neither is liberating � whoever gets the power wants to make us fit into their idea of what's good for us. …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

Scorp, Why am I not surprised you are still locked into the idea that if life is good for you, it is good for all? ("What's good for GM is good for the nation.") "You seem to think that everything that happens is bad, all these bad things are the politicians� fault..." There is enough fault to go well beyond just the politicians. People who only see what is happening to them are content elect to those people most likely to protect the status quo. If you still see NAFTA as a positive for the U.S. I'm afraid you are beyond …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

Jon B and Scorp, re: ...questions about unemployment statistical methodology The Bureau of Labor Statistics spells out in detail how data is collected. However, a few facts are not included. • In some states (as here in IL) do not allow unemployment insurance payments until a person has worked full time for one year at the same place. . • People who lose a job and become self-employed not only are no longer "unemployed" (regardless of earning or not), but are counted as a new job . •  Check out the practice of tallying the "birth/death" factor. There are many assumptions …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

Jon B and Scorp, Scorp is right in saying the Household Survey is the most accurate info we get on employment/unemployment. We need to realize this is an estimate it is not a precise tool. However, while it cannot measure everyone, it is far better than the polls we so often hear touted. In the survey every effort is made to get as accurate a count as possible whereas with most polls we have no clue what method was used. My eldest son has a degree in statistics and has worked both in retail research and an agency job. Data quality …

Posted to The Democrats' Class War

The events in Iraq and reasons for them have already generated enough print to fill a medium size library. Let's make it as simple as possible. � Why are we there? Probably our oil dependency is the prime reason. � Why didn't the U.N. inspections work? So many reasons it's hard to choose � IAEA head, Barradei, admitted while running for re-election their inspections were unsuccessful regarding Iran's atomic activity for 15 years! Sec. Albright's interference alerted Saddam to several "surprise inspections" in Iraq. It reminded me of Jimmy Carter's proposed musical chairs/missile shuffle back in the 1970s. Only the U.S. …

Posted to The Next President's Iran Dilemma

Scorp, I look forward to seeing how their campaign babble may change if either Barack or Hillary are in the hot seat at 1600 and receiving the daily info. I fault the Bush administration for many things including their inept PR reating to the Iraq/Iran situation, but with the huge volume of info can simpathize with anyone who must decide what to believe and when. � and then take action.

Posted to The Next President's Iran Dilemma

When I voted for Obama to give him a shot at being our senator here in Illinois, I had high hopes. He hasn't served as our senator enough to get his chair warm — almost immediately he went on the presidential campaign trail. There is no doubt he has the personality to rally the masses, but his proposals for defense, economy, and social issues have been mostly a matter of finding a parade and jumping in front of it. People in general are so fed up with the mess dumped on us by Washington —” not just the Bush blunders, but …

Posted to It's down to Clinton vs. Obama. Who are you voting for?

All I can say is � It is a genuine indicator of employment famine when people are protesting to get jobs at Wal-Mart. This is the American Dream? The nation owes Ross Perot a sincere apology.

Posted to Where is the Dream?

"Member since 1991" is on my card. We just got an overdue charge even though we always pay immediately � it comes in on one day goes out the next. Obviously they are playing games with us. I will give them a choice � either drop the penalty or drop our card. They will get NO penalty payment. So, sue me! Several years ago I had a similar experience when paying off a loan against my life insurance. When the IRS no longer permitted a deduction for the low interest loan, I sent a check for the total as soon as …

Posted to Killer Credit

re: Late charge on credit card bill paid ASAP... One phone call to one person and they dropped the $39.95 late fee without arguement.

Posted to Killer Credit

When I was a kid playing Monopoly on a rainy day, it was common for the winner to keep the game going by giving a few bucks to the other players. The big boys today have an added incentive � to shift the blame for letting another bubble to burst during an election year. Note the rise in bipartisanship here. This has been building for years. First the tech bubble and now the real estate bubble. Why nail those who caused these problems (also bipartisan) when it can't simply be inflated away? And... the big players get to keep their loot. …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

JT & Jon B, I agree on the idea that 401(k) is a scam, or at least a dodge. It was instituted to allow corporations to escape from the corner they had painted themselves into with pensions. In addition by shifting the responsibility to the employee it gave Wall St. a big new category of control and politicians the ability to claim we nearly all now benefit from the "free market." n reality, as you point out, the employee has very few options for investing. The non-401(k) shareholders have far less ability to control the companies they "own" since the big …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

Wolf, Stuff! How right you are. Have you heard the George Carlin monolog about all his stuff? Funny one. Last week a friend posed the question, "Do you think we (U.S. in general) are better off, or worse now than thirty years ago?" His view was that all those things you listed and several more have made things better, while I think, for the most part, they just make things different. The worst part of it is the way you put it � when we think we "need" them. The two of us are on the same wave length as to …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

Wolf and Jon B, I went to listen to an economist last night. He presented a graph showing two hypothetical portfolios investing $10K for 20 years (1984-2004) to make his point that buying and holding dividend yielding stocks are where to be. They were compared against the Lehman Brothers U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. He started off with the oft quoted, "Historically the stock market has returned 10% per year." (I suppose he also was saying that in the late 1960s as we were heading into a decade of practically no gains in the stock index.) Anyone writing a finance book or …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

Lancer & Jon B, While I agree that the 401(k) was instituted to relieve the corporations of the pension load, it was not a totally bad idea � U.S. competitiveness is at a big global disadvantage and this is one of the biggest drags. I can't see any reason why an employer should provide for an employee's future. The employee would be better off receiving a larger paycheck and saving or investing for himself. I know, in theory it's better, but in practice many people would blow it all on today's goodies. When the unions became too powerful they gathered too …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

Jon B, I agree unions pushed for company paid pensions and it cost the CEOs nothing to give in to them, but people would be better off managing their own. Some people I know have been retired for years and are now getting benefits cut. With the 401(k) deal they got the responsibility without the freedom. CEO pay has been a sore point with me for years. I worked on several companies' annual reports over 2 to 4 decades and saw the gradual evolution of boards packed with buddies. One year three of the companies had four or five individuals who …

Posted to The Stimulus Swindle

Picture the poor designer � he has to come up with a way to fit the warning label on the packaging for these things.

Posted to Nanotech: Tiny Particles, Big Risks

There was a time when I favored abolishing the death penalty if guaranteed no chance of release. Not only has this never been the case, but without even a threat of death, lifers go on killing or attempting to do so while in prison. Why not? Guards are in extreme danger daily as are other prisoners. The gangs control prison life, since prisoners know they will kill if crossed and guards will be constrained by laws. We currently have a man up for parole who raped, tortured and killed a paper boy decades ago. He was sentenced to 150 years in …

Posted to New Jersey recently became the first state in 40 years to abolish capital punishment. What is your

tmw3, Without the death penalty as an option, a convicted killer while in prison he has little or nothing to lose by killing a fellow inmate or guard. The death penalty is a definite deterent to that happening. The main reason the official "death penalty" has not been a deterent is due to the long delay of the appeal process. The convict who threatens an other convict does it without appeal or delay — very effective in getting what he wants. With new technology such as DNA testing we can be more sure than ever in assessing guilt. Removing such terrorists …

Posted to New Jersey recently became the first state in 40 years to abolish capital punishment. What is your

"Clinton claims that if she had better information in 2002�had she but known!�she would not have voted to go to war." Leadership is not about "The Decider" working from neat and clean information � it's more a matter of playing the odds. Unfortunately most of our elected leaders are primarily weighing the odds of re-election and the factors concerning their own careers. The odds against a successful conversion of Iraq into a democratic society were apparent to anyone familiar with the history of the area. Nationhood was imposed on them by in the 1920s. First and foremost in their lives (except …

Posted to Pollsters and Puppets

"Americans want government that will both protect and empower them, says George Lakoff, the noted political linguist from the University of California, Berkeley. He says that a democratic government is based on empathy and caring for each other." Agreed. Some things have not changed... "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, (sic) promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." I have always considered …

Posted to Mr./Ms. Change Goes to Washington

Poppolphil, re: Lakoff If when he says, "...democratic government is based on empathy and caring for each other," what is stated in the Preamble to the Constitution...provide for common defense, general welfare, etc., OK. But this is certainly not enough to motivate and maintain a government or a society. Where politics goes off the tract is in using either/or solutions � Republican OR Democrat, My Plan or the bad plan � whatever. (They should try the creative design approach article on this website. Not to be confused with Intelligent Design, which appropriated that label already.) Let's take health care as an …

Posted to Mr./Ms. Change Goes to Washington

Natalie and Bud, As a conservative in the purest sense, I often feel there is little left to conserve. The freedoms which were the cause and foundation of the United States have been gradually eroded until only the most extreme trampling seems to arouse objections. Class division is, IMO, just beginning to be recognized as the primary division in the U.S. Race, gender, religion sexual preference are really subdivisions beneath economic class headings. Just look at the variety of polling subject headings. (Such subdividing worked very well for Hitler.) A couple years ago I reread, Huxley's Brave New World. Perhaps he …

Posted to Stay Classy, Huckabee

Creative (imaginative) thinking could have eliminated the morass Iraq has become. It could have given the U.S. a workable energy policy at some point between the 1970s oil lines and today's $100/bbl price. As a former graphic artist and packaging designer (with a bit of product design here and there) � a few observations from the real world... Designers tend to think in terms of reducing the design problem to its simplest form and then go at from a "what if" approach. A group of intelligent ideas with great ideas feeds on each member's input and I'm sure they will present …

Posted to The Revolution Will Not Be Designed

Lido, YES! The "problem" presented is often a result or symptom of the condition to be addressed. A free-thinking approach allows examination from all points of view. By first reducing to the essence and then expanding to ultimate application designers could make life better for all. It is the defining of specifics too early which stifles creativity and is the death of so many ideas. The best part of the school this article describes is their proposal that "design thinking" be applied to intangible issues. If only our political leaders, elected bodies and policy makers would expand their thinking rather than …

Posted to The Revolution Will Not Be Designed

David and Diciteco, There are serious problems when it comes to running a fair, accurate and trustworthy election. With the advent of the computer and the apparent trust so many people place in it almost anything can be pre-planned and ordained. What happened to the demands for a paper trail? Is that even enough security? What is to stop someone from programming a slim victory for the candidate of choice in each district where a close race is usual and expected? Who's to say if the program could not then self destruct and erase the evidence? People seem willing to accept …

Posted to Why do YOU think Hillary won New Hampshire?

I can see it now � instead of kids saying, "My Dad can lick your Dad," we'll have Secretaries of State with, "Our Robos can whip your Robos." If you think you're frustrated when your screen gives you a no can do message, picture the guy in the field whose robot's batteries conk out. We built fighter jets without machine guns, let's not trash the small arms training (or Medics) quite yet.

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Felixfelix, Robots are neither good nor bad in themselves, but rely on the ethics of the operator. Our soldiers have at least as much conscience as any of us and, like the currently used drone aircraft and missiles, they will be controlling these robos. As Wolf points out, it is the other side which plants IEDs which kill without control or conscience and suicide bombers who kill as many as possible regardless of age, gender, or any other consideration. The last couple of paragraphs of this article is foolish rambling. Perhaps I should say this may be the assumption of the …

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

MikieNes, Can you explain WHY you believe the alegations on aliberaldose to be the truth? If I sent you a URL which denied it would you still believe it? Why or why not?

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

MikieNes, Yes, I read them. The Soviet Union was quite consistent for 70 years. Hilter's propaganda had a consistent theme. For centuries people wereconsistent in thinking the sun revolved around the earth. I go one step further than you — I am skeptical about everything. We cannot say that someone has no vested interest in lying. Truthfully, we can only say that we know of none. Neither can we be sure something is written and, while believed true by the writer, he is mistaken. Your reasoning is overcome by your distrust of Bush & Co. That does not mean these wild …

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

MikieNies, Get a grip, Mikie. I can accept that in war some go berserk � murdrer, rape � and they should be brought to justice. But your hyper-type statements, "...butcher and roast" and claims of our gullibility that "the enemy is less than human" is too much! The comparison should not be their crazies versus our crazies, that only excuses the extremists on either side. BTW, I see you are in Japan. How much do you know about their crazies in WW2? Like the man said, "War is hell."

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Right. I'll repeat � I read it. I read the exact description. So? It is an undocumented accusation, on an internet blog, by who? Hardly what should be called "the facts". Have we become so stupid as to believe anything said that backs up our biases is enough to convict. If it is repeated enough does it become reality? I heard it on the radio. I read it on the internet. I actually saw it on TV. � Therefore I know it to be true. As for the reference to the atrocities of WW2 � I was merely pointing out that …

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Now wait a minute... Read what you are claiming here. ------------------------------- You said, "...our �crazies�, who, for example, butcher and roast six-year-old babies and their parents in front of preteens before raping and murdering them " The Guardian put it this way... "He claimed Green then shot Janabi several times in the head, and the soldiers poured petrol over her body and set it alight to try to hide the evidence of their crime. Cortez burned his own clothes and Spielman allegedly threw the AK-47 used to kill the family in a canal." http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,,2019724,00.html � Bad enough, but not quite the …

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Wolf & Mikie, Well, at least we agree on a solution to end the dependency on oil. Cheers.

Posted to RoboCop in Iraq

Congress is taking their typical approach � investigating the cost of a building an "embassy." This is a fort. The issue is not should the U.S. establish a base of operations from which to defend our supply of energy � The real issue is... What can we do to remove our dependency on foreign sources for our country's energy? With the emeging countries also needing more each year and our increasing needs as well, this can only lead to more military conflicts. If we think Iraq was tough, look forward to an energy tug of war with China.

Posted to Empire's Architecture

Kuya and Magginkat, Let's take the long view. As we have each indicated this is not an approach to the problem which was initiated by the W administration. In fact, this is a centuries old "solution" to any perceived national problem. Hitler tagged it Lebensraum � in short: "WE need more room for what WE Want to do and WE are going to simply take it." He managed to justify this policy by taking advantage of the national mood and economic conditions in Germany post WW1. Our fortress in Iraq is similar short term thinking easily ignored by anyone who is …

Posted to Empire's Architecture

Sounds good to me � as long as a paper trail is included. As an Illlinois resident I don't want anymore representation from Chicago cemeteries. As for Bad-boy-o-vich, I'd settle for a voice vote of "Goodbye"!

Posted to Dropping Out of Electoral College

I have always respected McGovern for expressing his beliefs clearly and sticking to them. Occasionally I get a bit nostalgic for the good old days of the Soviet Union and the Cold War when the "good and bad guys" were more easily defined. With McGovern we'd probably still be in the same situation, so maybe I should have voted for him. I believe he is absolutely correct in the lack of historical perspective to the point of nearly total ignorance by our politicians. Truman was possibly the last President to have a truly comprehensive view. The trouble we are now in …

Posted to McGovern Still on the Antiwar Path

frank67, To be fair we would have to say "some who have actually taken part in war are against war." "Once a cat jumps on a hot stove, he will not do it again. He will not jump on a cold one either." The wisdom is in knowing the difference. The real war here is not with Iraqis, not with Iraq and the invasion was not really due to the attack on 9/11. IMHO it was "an opportunity" to establish a major military base in the midst of the oil rich Middle East. This action will not prevent another attack here …

Posted to McGovern Still on the Antiwar Path

Is it surprising that banks continue to add even more devious ways to make a buck if only 20 percent of the customers getting screwed leave them? After 23 years with my neighborhood bank they announced over the speaker, "We can't accept this check." With no prior notice it seems our long standing agreement for my one person business to have a single integrated personal/business account had been modified. First I was told by an officer it was "the law" � baloney! I insisted on talking with the bank manager who confirmed it was a change in their policy. The new …

Posted to Beware the Credit-Industrial Complex

Anarcissie, I believe you hit it with the idea that the regulations have much to do with the examples given in the article. People do have choices � not all banks are the same. Today banks are faced with similar problems as other businesses. The internet makes it possible to be under-cut just as Amazon and Wal-Mart do to the neighborhood stores. They have been increasing fees and cutting staff/services for some time now. The major banks send their "back room" work to India. People need to be more watchful and skeptical concerning where they park their money. Read the fine …

Posted to Beware the Credit-Industrial Complex

Oldmanheinz. I certainly agree big business and especially big financial interests have the greatest influence on our government I'm afraid I can't share your optimism about the effects of individuals writing to our representatives. For decades I have written to both state and federal representatives and have seen a marked decline in relevant replies. There was a time when, even though I doubted that they actually read their mail, I think an occasional assistant brought one to the attention of an actual elected person. I have received stock answers and form letters several times for the wrong topic. With the increase …

Posted to Beware the Credit-Industrial Complex

I had hopes for Obama and crossed over (in IL we must declare a party in primaries) from my usual Republican ballot to nominate him in his run for national office. I've been disappointed and think he needs more experience before a run for the White House, but expect he will be back. Whoever gets it the time (party and individual) is in for a massive headache and I don't envy the "winner." The only Republican I could vote for is McCain based soley on his military behavior and his awareness from day one that the Iraq invasion was way undermanned …

Posted to Who Are You Voting For In The 2008 Primaries?

I, like many of my friends, am sick of the Presidential campaigning. We have managed to turn nearly everything these days into a "horse race" or worse yet � "virtual reality". We're tired of hearing what he/she must do in order to appeal to whatever special interest group of the moment. Bored with what "plan" is proposed for each soon to be ignored weighty issue. Instead of meaningless and narrow quizzes designed to test the candidates abilities to "think on his feet" � would like only two questions to each person: � What does the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution say? …

Posted to Who Are You Voting For In The 2008 Primaries?

Wolf's sarcasm is exactly what the critics of Cosby's and Williams' advice seem to be willing to accept as a part of the community's complexity and vital cultural expressions. Muwakkil charges, "For Cosby and others of his ilk�like Juan Williams of National Public Radio and the Fox News Channel (whose book, Enough: The Phony Leaders, Dead-End Movements and Culture of Failure That Are Undermining Black America�and What We Can Do About It)�these miscreants are the true enemies of the black community." Hmmm, that seems a bit like a sweeping indictment. If there is any hate in their messages it is for …

Posted to Come on Cosby, Stop Hatin'

Peace, I can agree with your point 1.) in part. All kids, regardless of race, are likely to have the problems you list if parents are uninvolved. Our past government programs gave the illusion of aid, but contributed to the disintegration of families and the ethical and responsibility standards which were dominant during the upward movement of our society as a whole. Over the past several decades the middle and lower classes have actually lost purchasing power even with more people per household working. Male or female if you center your life on making money (whether out of need or greed) …

Posted to Come on Cosby, Stop Hatin'

Dumb and Dumber! Up front Sanhita Sinharoy tells us that NIE means National Intelligence Estimate. The key word is without doubt ESTIMATE. Estimate, theory or best guess � to come down firmly on either side of this issue without verification is folly. --------------------------------- The two following statements are in the same class as this article: A. My good friend informed me he has been smoking cigarettes for over 62 years and doesn't have lung cancer. I quit twenty years ago, so I guess the joke is on me. B. We keep hearing global warming is a serious threat, but today we …

Posted to The Boy Who Cried WMD

Why are so many more teens getting pregnant? Some observations: The carryover effect of the 1960s "If it feels good, do it," attitude has made the reasons for abstaining irrelevant. This has become the age of ME FIRST. Before: Individual responsibility — If I father a child I will marry the mother. or: If I become pregnant I will bear the child, love and care for it. Now: Forget it! MY life is more important. Before: Social chastisement — for both male and female. Now: It has become accepted that to resist ones physical urges is beyond human expectation. You must …

Posted to Abstinence-Only Proponents Claim That The Recent Rise in Teen Pregnancies Is Not Due To The Failures

We all know a state cannot choose to secede from the Union... but is there anything to prevent expulsion? Why should any state be entitled to U.S. military protection if they see participation in our military or any attempt to recruit as an infringement on individual privacy? Who would be preferable as members of our military � high school grads or prison parolees?

Posted to The Military's Stealth Test

Major Major: You are hereby stripped of all rank and privileges and reduced to the status of PNC (Private, No Class) in the State of Confusion. WTH :-)

Posted to The Military's Stealth Test

Tane, A well reasoned approach to the topic posed by this article. It seems strange to me how people who would favor free speech and pro choice shift to the "ban it" side when their own view is threatened. If it weren't for all us people, the world would be an OK place.

Posted to The Military's Stealth Test

I'm unsure whether the author is out of touch with reality or just too young to realize this, but there is nothing new about the Democrats' "generous corporate financial backers on trade." As I recall the Democrats controlled Congress except for about three years of the last several decades and there was a steady increase in lobbyists all the while. About the only way the Republicans can be given any additional blame is they managed to double the number to over 36,000 under the guidance of Tom DeLay. There are a very few individuals in Congress whom I would trust to …

Posted to The Democrats' Path to Victory

Zizek's tying of capitalism to authoritarianism is no more valid than linking democracy and capitalism by Bush. While neither is mutually exclusive, they are not sets of Siamese twins. The problems in any form of economics or governing are due to the human condition called greed. Money and Power are joined at the hip � the nourish each other if not balanced by such virtues as love, ethics, humility are likely to lead to excess. It has been interesting to follow this exchange with each contributor listing various examples of the results in countries with both elected and imposed systems. Most …

Posted to China's Valley of Tears

We managed to get rid of the elderly when the card catalogs were trashed. A large area is now devoted to CDs and DVDs (in two languages) which attracts those who can't read or don't care to. But... If we privatize libraries where will all the homeless people go?

Posted to What's your view on the privatization of public libraries?

Hmmm � This concern about the ethics of studying the likes and dislikes of people, some of whom have been killing our troops, seems a bit lame. Getting shot at may give those in doubt of the ethics release from the guild of such service. Some of these people (the Radical ones in Sudan) want to kill a teacher for allowing a Teddy Bear to be named Mohammed by her class � We may all derive benefit from this new military procedure. David Price worries about the wrong issues. Why not just say, "Thank you General."?

Posted to Anthropologists on the Front Lines

Occassia & Kuya, It is now more complicated than it needed to be only because too few politicians are familiar wiith history. Harry Truman be well be the last in depth reader of history among our Presidents. The folly of trying to impose democracy on a group of diverse tribes whose favorite passtimes include feuding among themselves now calls for far deeper understanding of the customs and religious conflicts among those who may possibly want some degree of peace and stability in the area. We also need to realize their criminal element is just like our own � only concerned with …

Posted to Anthropologists on the Front Lines

We wouldn't want our anthropologists to snitch on our enemies. WARNING: When science is banned only the bad guys will have scientists! (Start saving sticks and stones.)

Posted to Anthropologists on the Front Lines

Zhong Fu was not impressed: "Your national polls disagree with your friends." One wonders how much of Zhong Fu's view of America is based on the opinions absorbed from his teacher and his teacher's friends.

Posted to Talking American Democracy in China

As often happens with many issues �"It's OK as long as it's not in my back yard." A balance between what's good for nature and what's good for people shuold be taken into account. A recent TV documentary spoke of the increasing numbers of grizzlies destroying livestock. To save wildlife in Florida people in Georgia are critically short of water. So cool it and give it a bit more thought. ----------------------- The biggest endangerment the nation is facing now is almost totally ignored by the entire slate of candidates � Our failing economy� due to: � The destruction of our manufacturing …

Posted to When Protectors Become Predators

I am am totally disgusted with the excessive pay and benefits going to the CEOs, but I see Susan's rant exclusively targets neocons � did she sleep through the 1990s? Actually this has been going on even prior to the Clinton/tech bubble era. Under Republican Presidents and Democratic Congresses the money has flowed freely from legislation passed and signed in bipartisan fashion. Perhaps she hasn't noticed either that the members of congress have voted themselves similar benefits and golden parachutes. (Perhaps I should say not unvoted, since they get a raise unless they vote NOT to.) Has any disgraced legislator ever …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Laura85, 1. Some people do get rich by working harder and saving their earnings. 2. Dan Quayle aside � taxes are not a punishment, but the only funds available for any governmental body to work with. 3. You say, "Wealthy conservatives actually believe they deserve their wealth." And so, by implication the wealthy liberals DO deserve it? All those idiots in Hollywood deserve it? Don't fall into the same habit this author has � overstating the case. A well reasoned argument can do more good and an obviously biased one can cause people to blow off the whole issue.

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Scorp, We agree on the perversion of the word liberal. Both "conservative" and "liberal" are tossed around with little thought of their original meanings these days. I hold to the idea of individual liberties being worthwhile conserving, but have seen and continue to see them diluted, compromised or just ignored by both major parties. Along with those liberties goes individual responsibility. I maintain government aid should be restricted to emergencies and not continuous. (I don't expect to see trait either to prevail.) Susan Douglas advocates "Tax & Spend" which is exactly what we've been getting from both parties for decades. Even …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Scorp, The scene you describe is straight from the script being read to us by most politicians and Wall St. salemen. Of course the effects of the falling dolllar have not been felt... yet. Economies move a very slow pace and those who want to keep the ball in play as long as possible habitually choose short term comparisons to allay fears. There is no one around with Volcker's guts to do what needs doing this time � Greenspan is a sick joke played on a gullible public. That's how we got the tech and real estate bubbles. Bernanke will continue …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Scorp, You asked whgt happens when the United States stops buying China's cheap goods. Well, our pets live longer, our kids are once again protected by our domestic safety regulations and we no longer need to worry about the valiidity of our prescriptions. As for the spread of democracy � nothing has been done about paper trails for ballots, we will elect another person to the White House based on the candidates ability to avoid saying anything which may upset too many people. This of course will insure another mediocre, but wealthy President who is out of touch with mainstream Americans. …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Scorp, I've given a bit more thought to your China question. American corporations and economists have been enthralled with the idea that China is a one billion person market. With that in mind we've built factories there, sold or even given them technology, and Most Favored Nation status. Those "favors" include putting up with high tariffs on our goods while keeping ours low on theirs. Oh, yeah, we file protests over counterfeit goods, stolen proprietary processes and poisoned foods and toys — then they bow, smile and promise reform. But the lure of big profits both from sales to them and …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

Scorp, What makes you think China (those in control, not the people) have changed? We may not have heard of tanks and machine guns mowing down protesters lately, but do you think they've finally "got religion"? They have learned how to work the capitalist system to their advantage just like Wall St. has. As for my own business — my whole working experience has been competitive — price, quality and service, you can have any two of them. My comments had to do with the globalization switch changing the game to where price trumps all else. The managers have been cashing …

Posted to Tax and Spend? Hell, Yeah!

�The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting,� he ranted at the stone-faced crowd of America�s black elite. �They are buying things for their kids�$500 sneakers for what? And won�t spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics!" This is not exactly a disagreement, but rather an expansion on Cosby's wisdom � it applies to all of us regardless of race. Columbine, and now the copycats, are not about black kids from poor families, but about too many people are NOT parenting. I realize some one parent families are not so by choice, …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Melocoton, I totally agree with Cosby's philosophy and with Wolf's and Natalie's appraisal of Ms Washington's article. As for the "helpless victims" excuse, if you lived through the 1960s you either chose to ignore this view or were on some other planet. This was responsible for the "War on Poverty" , Affirmative Action, increasing payments for additional baby production � the whole attitude of nothing is an individual's responsibility only a "right." Regardless of race public aid should only extend to emergency situations we cannot guaranty happiness, only the right to pursue it. Parents need to accept the responsibility to teach …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Deeprince, "Bill Cosby mister upper crust is telling those on the lower rung they have failed black people." No. Not so. Check out what he's saying again. He is telling people they need to take care of themselves. This is not a racial issue � that''s just a cop-out to avoid taking responsibility for your life. More people of whatever color are doing this all the time. The founders didn't say, " Somebody should do this for me." They pledged their "lives, fortunes and sacred honor" to build a nation. What is it with this country today? We so often hear, …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Jeff Savage I hope you are joking about the White House. In fact I can't take any of this very seriously. Why would anyone think for a moment that any dollar amount as "reparations" would solve anything regarding racial discrimination? The one thing where I connect is your assumed reaction to the idea of reparations. None of us living now had anything to do with slavery. Many of us didn't even have ancestors living in the U.S. during that period. I will not accept responsibility for any except my own actions. I'm in Illinois and I voted for Obama in the …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Blacksentinel, When I quoted from the Declaration of Independence my point was that the founders were willing to put everything on the line and not seeking guarantees, or for someone else to do it for them. They were a representative mix of the population, but putting EVERYTHING at risk to gain freedom from British oppression was a great equalizer. At this time they were proposing the Colonies should be independent States, so "... that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and do all other Acts and Things which Independent …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Blacksentinel, When my father's father came to the U.S. in 1900 from Sweden he had literally nothing. When my father-in-law came here at age 19 in 1922 he had nothing. (His brother wasn't so lucky —he died in WW1 as an American and proud to be one.) Yes, they were white, (score one for skin color) but also discriminated against. My grandfather was a farmer in Sweden, but the eldest son in those days inherited, so he came here. He could not buy land to farm, went to work in the coal mines and died young. My father-in-law got work cleaning …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

I agree with both Natalie's and Awkeup's views on ownership, working with and attitudes. I find it much easier to accept people I have come to know as individuals and find my prejudices kick in when thinking in generalities. This goes for race, gender, sexual preference, political philosophy or whatever label we tack on. What really bothers me is when anyone expects special concessions due to their own choice of label. An example: About a decade ago the minister at the church we attended was approached with a request to institute a gay and lesbian service in the chapel while the …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

Amen Aunty, If people keep thinking like theblacksentinel we will continue with the same kind of diversity — the haves and the have-nots. Just as the effect of compound interest only works on a bank account over time, so it is with raising one person or a group on the economic scale. The first $1,000 saved for investing requires determination and disipline — there are parallels in all aspects of life, health, education, athletics, business skills — everything. My perception of our economy right now is that we will continue to see wider economic spreads as our middle class erodes. This …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

TWIMC: There's an interesting article about Morgan Freeman in the latest AARP magazine. When 60 Minutes' Mike Wallace asked how we can overcome the race issue Freeman replied, "Stop talking about it. I'll stop talking about you being white and ask you to stop talking about me being black."

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

theblacksentinel, Kuya and I are not pretending that everyone gets a fair shake and neither is Morgan Freeman. What we are saying is each of us has to start with what we have and go from there. Treat other people the way you want to be treated. As for the idea of equal pay � the Soviet Union and others have tried to dictate prices. their 70-year experiment flopped. There is always a genuine "free market" (not the BS one talked about) of supply and demand called the black market. (No racial pun intended.) Since I retired my barber and I …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

HopefulandLearning, Well, OK, you managed to tell me: � Blackness versus whiteness is the primary reason for a black person's failures. � Everything is stacked against the black person. � A black individual should be given community assistance. � YOUR problem is MY fault. You seem to believe this is a situation which calls for a large scale remedy (sort of "one size fits all") rather than something individuals can fix on their own. The 1964 Civil Rights Act stated that NO ONE was to get treated differently due to color, gender, religion or age. But along came government cures such …

Posted to Come on People! Bill Cosby is Right

'...the strategy is "fundamentally unpredictable."' Well, sounds like real life � everywhere. Why is it we hear so many people looking for guaranties and sure things? War is the last place to expect it. If you want predictability install a dictator and give him total power. Wait a minute � that's where this all began.

Posted to Funding Iraqs Citizen Soldiers

Today I attended a detailed presentation of the 13th Wisconsin, a Civil War regiment serving as support and mostly stationed behind the battle lines. Except for the names of individuals and geographical locations the story could have been taking place right now in Iraq. Emotions were high both for and against the North and the South throughout the central states where they were deployed. Civilians were intimidated by guerrillas each wanting to impose their power and influence. No one could be sure who was for them or against them. Harsh penalties were instituted against combatants without uniforms and private property was …

Posted to Funding Iraqs Citizen Soldiers

When I read anything using the word "ilk" a red flag goes up. "Ilking"" a group goes hand in glove with tagging words like "never" and "always." What makes it reasonable to label markets in totalitarian fashion and weld them to liberal/conservative, good/bad, or any other simplistic categorization? re: The inseparability of political freedom and economic freedom� Would the author care to give an example of a nation where there is one without the other? Is it not a matter of degree with each of these? re: greed � It seems to me this is a universal and timeless human characteristic …

Posted to The New Road to Serfdom

ddrew2, There have been times when I wished I had lived in an earlier era — there is something very appealing when visiting a place like Williamsburg, VA or reading of the slower pace a century ago. As a retired graphic artist (formerly known as a commercial artist) who has sold a few "fine art" pieces, I can tell you I would have starved if not for industrial clients. Many of the revered masters' works in museums did little for the artist during his lifetime. I hated switching to digital production and have often compared drawing with my hands versus with …

Posted to The New Road to Serfdom

ddrew2u, I'm not opposed to organized labor, I'm opposed to either management or labor having too much power and lording it over the other. I always worked alone (except for 3 years and my military service) as a one man business, but it seems to me neither is any good without the other. In the 1970s labor was strong and management figured it was better to give them whatever they asked than to shut down and lose their big salaries and bonuses. The result was our cars were less dependable than foeign ones. This was the beginnning of the end for …

Posted to The New Road to Serfdom

Whenever I get to feeling too optimistic, I check out ITT where every silver lining is at least tarnished if not counterfeit. If we give aid to anyone it must be: A. going to the wrong people B. for our own profit or other benefit If we don't get involved: A. we should have, or... B. it's due to racism or some other prejudice If the climate is changing: A. it is a crisis and... B. primarily our fault Whatever is bad must be due to a conspiracy planned and carried on across generations for decades. What could be more profoundly …

Posted to Biofuels Are No Cure for Climate Change

Drive55, The first truly sensible thing I've read here in a long time.

Posted to Biofuels Are No Cure for Climate Change

Come on, you can fool some of the people, some of the time, but this is so transparent! "Harman�s bill would convene a 10-member national commission to study �violent radicalization� (defined as �the process of adopting or promoting an extremist belief system for the purpose of facilitating ideologically based violence to advance political, religious, or social change�) and �homegrown terrorism� (defined as �the use, planned use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual born, raised, or based and operating primarily within the United States [�] to intimidate or coerce the United States government, the civilian population …

Posted to Examining the Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act

"Now it is Americans who are addicted to Chinese junk. And our own government policies and corporations are the ones stoking the jones. Slick marketing and consumer fetishism push Americans to buy the latest, lightest, biggest, smallest, fastest, trendiest items. And even if you are not hooked on the latest gadgets, repairs or upgrades are impractical. The half billion computers we trashed in the last decade have to go somewhere, and shipping them to China and other poor nations is a win-win solution for Chinese and U.S. industry." and... "America�s insatiable appetite for cheap Chinese goods has created a trade deficit …

Posted to E-Wasting Away in China

Private Equity Funds are just the latest technique � the strategy has lost the U.S. millions of jobs, loss of benefits and generally lower job quality for years. See comments � "Pirates of Private Equity" article

Posted to What should we do about private equity funds?

Welcome to 1990 and beyond! Private Equity Funds are just the latest technique � the strategy has lost the U.S. millions of jobs, loss of benefits and generally lower job quality for years. Mergers and acquisitions have followed this same pattern for as long as I can remember... but with the advent of NAFTA, takeovers, employee dumping and off-shoring have accelerated the effects many times over. Here in Rockford, IL, I watched the process take over 10,0000 really good jobs since 1990. Most recently the Sundstrand Corporation (formerly our largest employer) which was bought by United Technologies in 1999 shipped much …

Posted to Pirates of Private Equity

The I.D. crisis is a universal political problem in the U.S. and has been for some time. It once was a given the Democrats were for labor and the Republicans for business � no more. The labels have become blurred as both parties have sold out to the biggest donors and biggest potential client for whom to lobby when leaving congress. The dollar is following the economy down the drain. The last couple of decades has seen the number of D.C. lobbyists triple. The best jobs have been exported and the foreign goods which consumers are blamed for "wanting" will soon …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

CORRECTIONS: (For some reason the edit feature didn't show up.) 3rd para � Chances are we could get... Lastr para � ....so many special iinterest...

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Scorp, Sorry, The Revolutionary and Civil wars were before my time. Let's look at more recent history. The disunity obvious to anyone willing to remove his rose-colored glasses is on the increase in the U.S. We now have a combination of a mishandled war in Iraq (look up "Gen. Sanchez's Scream" this week at opinionjournal.com) and an economic calamity much like the early 1970s (I was around then.) We could get the same kind of inflation or deflation. I won't attempt to predict just to be prepared for either. As I recall the last time we had this is agreement about …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

The Free Market � success or failure? The free market is talked about a lot, but the reality is we have never truly tried a Free Market � it is purely theoretical (except for the black market version). China is "free" of restrictions lsuch as � OSHA, EPA, minimum wage, etc. � our own businesses are not. They also use tariffs and other means to limit free competition. Ours are lower. "Free Market" usually becomes an issue whenever people making money are afraid something will interfere with the status quo. The the primary reason for failure in the War on Drugs …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

scorp, It seems as though the VA (Veteran's Affairs) health care could fit the description of "Socialized Medicine" � but my experiences have been at least as good as the private care which is now limited due to the potential of stupid lawsuits and insurance companies dictating limits. At my last visit to our family doctor on staff at a local hospital, I asked if the doctor wasn't going to do any blood work. He asked what ones I wanted (so who's the Dr.?) He said they don't do them routinely anymore because some insurance companies refuse to pay. The 32 …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Jon B, A rational essay and very well put. The very first time I heard William Jefferson Clinton speak I thought, "Hey this guy's a Democrat, but I like what he says � I could vote for this guy." A few months later my opinion had changed and When my best friend (very liberal) spoke highly of him, my comment was, "I thought so, but now I believe he is morally bankrupt." It is difficult to accurately determine anyone's motives, but after a couple of decades it seems evident that there has been very little difference in U.S. policies under either …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Jon B, I see the labels as nearly meaningless partly because of the similarities in action (or in action) by people claiming to be of different parties, groups or political philosophies. As for Bush if he is a political conservative then I don't know what I am. What I want conserved is summed up in the Preamble to the Constitution. If we are to continue to be a nation we must first and foremost support, defend and care for each other and for those who follow us. (The Wikipedia definition comes pretty close.) If personal gain is more important for most …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Jon B, They say it takes money to make money and Wall St. will get their share and then some. In addition to the almighty buck the protection when schemes go bad like the current sub prime pyramid is like a blank check. When Enron graduated form analyst's favorite pick to Scam of the Century my congressman sent back a contribution from them. How much they spread around we'll never know. Interesting that we so seldom hear any long term comparisons like you just made. Much easier to cover financial illnesses by taking the temperature minute by minute. The 401(k) changeover …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Jon B, For years many "experts" have been debating whether we should be more concerned about the likelihood of runaway inflation or deflation. Just a few years ago I believe Greenspan (not a favorite of mine) mentioned it somewhere in the midst of one of his highly acclaimed wisdom marathons to a Congressional committee. I expect some of each � domestic products (like houses and autos) forced ever lower � taxes and imports going into orbit. For several years I have been paying close attention to Marc Faber, Bill Fleckenstein and Paul van Eeden. All have been deeply concerned about the …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Jon B, Stock options are a real sore point with me. As a graphic designer and illustrator I worked I worked on more than 60 annual reports for local clients. Most of the company officers were fine decent people. But there seems to be an invidious attitude which can creep in on even the nicest people as they acquire money and power. They may begin to think of themselves as entitled to more and more. It�s kind of an attitude that makes them think, �I�m rich, therefore I must be deserving.� At one time I did reports for five local corporations …

Posted to The Left's Identity Crisis

Is there nothing this congress wouldn't rather do than address real-time, genuine issues of importance to this country. Since hiring foreign workers to do the jobs "Americans Don't Want" is the slogan of about half of the elected "public servants" cluttering the U.S. capitol... it looks like time for us to run an ad for their jobs.

Posted to A Resolution Too Far?

This could be just an over reaction on the part of persons unknown with the police doing what they are hired to do �enforce the law. Or a chance for S.T.O.P. to capitalize on a situation to promote their group. A lot of people are being funded to do feel good kinds of jobs. Paying someone to Walk-for-Whatever-Cause would make more sense if the participants were doing something constructive, say getting a donation for each window washed or bag of trash collected, but.... Solutions seem so simple that there must be underlying motives on each side. OK, there's a problem. Where's …

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

neilemac, It looks as though you and I may soon have the same limited choice of candidates to rule over us as a behind the scenes economic scheme plays out. NAFTA is progressingly merging us into an amalgam of Mexusda. I had a couple of years of Spanish, guess I'll buy a few French tapes and phrase books. We'll get your government health care and you'll get our government debt. Sorry about that. At least now that the two dollars are equal it will save time figuring the bills.

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

neilemac, While I don't like to use labels since they seem blurred from what they should indicate, I guess it is fair to say I have been a life-long conservative. (Most self-employed get that way if not born so.) I assume your use of "redundant" is the same as our London friends � retired or obsolete. My occupation became redundant as "globalization" and price trumped loyalty and service. I have reread our Constitution many times in recent years and noted how far we have strayed from the short statement of purpose known as the "Preamble". We the People of the United …

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

neilemac, In fairness I should add that not everyone who thinks globalization is a good idea is consciously putting one over on us. I have read a friend with a degree in economics who keeps quoting from his ancient textbooks the benefits of comparative advantage, the problems of a transition from agriculture to manufacturing, etc. He retired before NAFTA and other policies made price the only criteria. Another friend was in banking as a trust officer and is maintaining the view that there is no alternative due to "market forces." Neither one has lost any portion of their livelihood or net …

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

neilemac, Thanks for the referrence � I'll check it out. My oldest son has a degree in statistics and worked for several years at a consumer research firm. The company insisted on being allowed to design all surveys rather than let the client use their report as a means to "prove" the result they desired. It is obvious our government is not one of their clients. I won't exactly say our government makes a practice of hiding the truth in the official economic reports; anyone willing to search can find the more accurate data on such sites as The Bureau of …

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

Hi Kuya, I'm sure Reich was thinking of those values itemized in the Preamble to our Constitution. I wish those in power positions would. As for making a buck today — the Dow is in dangerous territory as is our whole economy. I think we agree on quite a lot. While I don't approve of war for oil (We should have cut dependence after the mid 1970s embargo.) I believe it is inevitable regardless of who is in the White House. For other countries too and rapidly adding to the competition for it. Making (keeping) a buck: To guard against the …

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

Anarcho, You claim, "Anarchy is a society where crime, and war are obsolete." Name one society where this is so.

Posted to Feeding the Hungry is a Crime

In around 80 years the Congress (if there still is one) will likely be discussing a resolution branding the "turkeys" of this Congress as the ones who were responsible for a much slower form of genocide: � The destruction of the U.S. middle class through passive acceptance of a sub-minimum wage for immigrants and of-shore employees and the mass importation of unsafe (but economical) products. And.... Nationocide (?) � The transition from a sovereign nation into the North American Trading Corporation. � The holder of the title "World's Most Debt Ridden Nation �Ever." Will we replace "In God We Trust" with …

Posted to What's Your Opinion Of The Congressional Resolution Recognizing The 1915 Genocide of Armenians?

Stolenchild and Hourglass, If nothing else the U.S. / American Indian wars and conquest should make us humble enough not to lecture anyone else about their shameful historical behavior. The present Turkish population had no more to do with the treatment of the Armenians than those of us living today had to do with Wounded Knee. The taking of territory has always been and may always be temping to the strong. Whether Viking plundering, pilaging and raping, or our "Louisiana Purchase" from those who did not own it what is ancient history should be studied and recalled to avoid repetition. Sackcloth …

Posted to What's Your Opinion Of The Congressional Resolution Recognizing The 1915 Genocide of Armenians?

All good ideas. Our local farmers' market apples are less photogenic, but they taste like real apples should. However, with the huge volume coming from foreign food producers and only one percent inspected, it seems futile. More immediate action needs to be taken to stop the inlow of contaminents. Foreign prices are low for good reason � there is no equivalent to the standards we took generations to impose. Those "cheaper consumer goods" have a high price tag attached. In 1985 one of my clients shifted their plating operations to Asia where they dumped the solution used out the back door …

Posted to Recipe For Disaster

"...most Americans support more gun control laws." Try asking, "Do you favor stronger anti-wife beating laws?" Or � "Do you favor better health?" "Less crime?" You'll get a LOT of affirmative replies. � Most Americans don't even know what the current gun control laws are. � Most have no idea how little the vast number of added laws have affected crime. � Most don't know that all except 2 states issue carry permits and have seen no huge increase in shootings and in some cases have had a decline. � Most don't know about the increase in "hot buglaries" (when guarranted …

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

davidpaddock, Bullseye! Nice group too. ------------------ Theodore, Who may be willing to subsidize the anti-gun cause? � The drug dealers � The neighborhood gangs � The guy who burgled our house � The people who actually subscribe to this magazine � About two-thirds of Hollywood � All those who think there are simple solutions to a complex issue If I think of any more should I send them?

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

jdege, "This is a true grass roots issue. Shut down the manufacturers, disband the NRA, and you’ll still have tens of millions of pissed off gun owners, absolutely convinced that not only do they have a right, but that they have a moral obligation, to Keep and Bear Arms." Well put and Right On!

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

Inherently, guns are neither good nor bad. They are just a tool like a knife or a screwdriver. (Either of which can and has been used to kill.) People behaving badly are the problem. Banning guns would be a boon to black market sellers. This morning, just after I finished my pistol range session, a young man entered the shop and asked to see what holsters they had for sale. It seems twice lately (yesterday the most recent) local gang members robbed his store. This time they entered shooting and he and his employees exited the rear with bullets flying past …

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

xmountie, Thanks for the info on registration up there. I remember reading stories both ways � refusal and "success" � we get the same kind of mythical anti-gun stats down here. A few years ago we had a "buy back" locally, sponsored and financed (thankfully) by those who think crime began with the invention of gunpowder. They paid $50 per gun in any condition (2 gun limit per person) and then bragged about how many were "taken off the streets." Of course being folks to whom any firearm is of the devil � they knew nothing about what they had bought. …

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

MM, If stats should determine what we do away with perhaps you should consider that between 40,000 and 50,000 die in auto accidents annually. I don't know how that compares per capita with horse drawn deaths prior to the car's invention — but I wouldn't be surprised if you do.

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

Maybe it was the availability of children which was the problem. How about a push for government enforced infanticide to lower the stats in those states? More government = less freedom. Stats without knowing how the question was posed is useless.

Posted to Let's Pry Open Those Cold, Dead Hands

Susan, Either stay with the motherhood topic (or perhaps there is something other area in which you have knowledge), but avoid economics unless you take time to study it more. The economic mess the U.S. is in is the product of decades of inept and misleading financial reporting. Many administrations and mostly Democratic congresses were participants and advocates. Greenspan served the purposes of three administratiions with his disembling and vocal fog. If ever there has been a category of bipartisanship the making and manipulating of money is it. Bush is as much a Republican as Clinton was a Democrat. Both are …

Posted to Twilight of the Market's Idols

Go back to your hole, rabbit. ;-)

Posted to Twilight of the Market's Idols

Hi again, Hippity, Sorry �You won't get any argument from me on the stupid economic policies of the U.S. I have been concerned for decades. This is going to affect the global economy in a big way. As spendthrift U.S. consumers run out of credit sources the world will need to sell to people perhaps less willing to blow their pay and mortgage their futures. It will be interesting to see if greed continues to be the universal language and simply migrates. -------------- BTW � How long could you do without oil down there? I expect if things get really tight …

Posted to Twilight of the Market's Idols

What about the paramilitarism and attempt to regain empire by the radical Muslims? Did he forget about that already? Due to the over-extention of our military in the Iraq escapade we are in bad shape to deal with another wacko regime whether Iran, Korea, or ? Both the left and the right need to stop the medial civil war and establish a coherent military policy which includes the other free world leaders who have also been attacked. With a solid front we could handle this with strategies economic planning backed by a global miltary threat rather than resorting to unilateral force. …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Maria, Perhaps you would rather Iran or Korea were the dominant military in the world � well, you are entitled to your opinion. History shows us that someone always fills that role. I notice you chose to ignore my suggestion, ��establish a coherent military policy which includes the other free world leaders who have also been attacked.� And� �With a solid front we could handle this with strategies (like) economic planning backed by a global military threat rather than resorting to unilateral force.� Someone had better take on the policeman job and I would prefer it be a federation of nations. …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

David, Love your enemies? Turn the other cheek? Would you do away with the RCMP? Check out history � without enforcement civilization would disintegrate. Who, how and to what degree is debatable, but not IF. ------ Nuke "mistake" � What's the big deal? For decades during the cold war there were B-52s with nukles flying 24/7. Until armed, which requires deliberate action, they are not a problem. What makes you or anyone think the Russians and several others (including us) don't still have missiles at the ready. Do you think on 9/11 those guys flying into buildings wouldn't have loved to …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

"Do you honestly think we are even allowed to make choices? We have no serious choices to make, because we are wage slaves, and our lives are dictated by the need to make money, and little amount at it. We do not make choices, we are coerced into doing things by our need to make the wages." ----------- Anarcho, First off the U.S. is not a democracy it is a republic, but that is a different topic. As to your assessment of life in the U.S. � certainly each of us is facing different personal issues. Some are born into better …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Many important factors are different. During WW2 the top tax bracket was over 90 percent! � Today top guys make 300 to 500 times as much as their employees. The war, Social Security and Medicare (huge dollar amounts) are all �off-balance sheet.� Creative accounting has become a national art form. The dollar cost of war should not, however, be a factor � what is the cost of losing a major city, thousands, tens of thousands of lives, the use of land or water supply for hundreds of years? These are the true costs to consider. WW2 deaths in combat were I …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Anarcho, Slavery in the U.S. is only a mind set. I'm not saying you SHOULD leave, just that you COULD leave. I'm also a victim of the outsourcing. I have the names of 56 individuals I know who have lost their jobs, been forced to take early retirement or have gone out of business. (My case is one of the latter.) I first began to see it happening in the mid1980s when a fastener mfg. client shifted their operation to Taiwan. I see the NAFTA vote in 1993 as the "official" blessing by congress and wrote to everyone I could think …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Maria, Yes, you are correct. There are estimates of as many as 60 million deaths. Stalin alone is believed to have been responsible for 20 million. I was thinking in comparative U.S. losses WW2/ Iraq. However much people may not want war � it is inevitable � just as crime is. Politicians here keep saying the people want us to "end the war" and pull out of Iraq. That would end nothing, just relocate it. You can start a war unilaterally - you cannot have only one side stop.

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Scorp, Last night while watching "The War" I noticed the B-24s produced at Ford had over a million parts. We were able to produce a plane every 63 minutes! Look at us now that our manufactruring has been deported. NAFTA � Not A Fine Thing America.

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Anarcho, I realize there are many people who fit your example of the Wal-Mart employee. Their numbers have been on the increase for some time now. Unless or until a person or someone close to him is in that situation it is hard to realize or understand. Maybe you are just venting at Wolf because it is impossible to communicate with the ones who could/should do something about it. There are a couple of men in congress who have been addressing the issue, but are vastly out numbered. Bernie Sanders and Byron Dorgan come immediately to mind. Unfortunately, after the drubbing …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Wolf, There was a time when I would have agreed with everything you say here. But no longer. I have too many friends who are not doing anywhere near as well as when they were younger. My own income dropped steadily from the early 1990s until my last client left in 2004. Job retraining is the stock answer from nearly all who have not missed a paycheck or lost benefits. I was continuously “retraining” from 1990 to 2004. I made the switch to digital and spent nearly $100,000 on hardware and software over that time frame just to stay in business. …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

David, You may reason with me, but I'll not attack you. If some unreasonable person were attacking your family would you still not resort to deadly force? Planes crashed � no detonation. You are worrying about the wrong things. I am familiar with the Bible. The only way it protects anyone is if it is heavy enough to use as a club. You're talking religious philosophy and I'm talking reality. Big difference? One is theory and the other is practical. Incidently, talking religion with the Musllim extremists can be dangerous to your health. Funny how you see the U.S. treat but …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

To whomever thinks they know if and when Iran began to build a nuclear weapon� This is what Mohammed El Baradei had to say about the time he was campaigning to keep his cushy U.N. job as head of the IAEA. Dec. 5, 2003 �People have been saying Iran has been cheating the agency, iif you like, for 18 years,� El Baradei told reporters. �Yes, Iran has been successful in doing research and laboratory activities and this we were not able to detect, and I don�t think we will be able to detect in the future.� He went on to say …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Anarcho, You are skipping several centuries of bloody history in your belief that our (U.S.) being �in the Middle East� is the cause of radical Muslim terrorism. I�m sure many people over there resent us, some with good reason perhaps, but others because of the vast amount of anti-American media coverage � including a good deal of it originating here. It appears as if you are very willing to accept anti-American commentary as evidenced by your belief that we are �starting the war in Somalia� and other statements. Frankly, I could easily opt for isolationism, but they don�t ask my advice …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Anarcho, You are making the same shorthand comparisons as those who equate opposition to illegal immigrants and immigrants in general. �All Christians� as if I were talking of ALL Muslims. I am not.

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Anarcho, Sitting here �on my ass� is simply the easiest way to make my opinion heard. (Not that it is likely to change anything.) You�ve heard it and obviously disagree. Your privilege. I have often expressed my appreciation or displeasure to my representatives, I have voted in every election since old enough, have served in the military, service and religious organizations, been a part of rehab for troubled teens, raised funds for the mentally ill and taken care of my family and my own problems � financial and otherwise. OK, so tell me what are you doing which has more effect …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

David, If you were Iran's president I'm sure there would be no sabers being rattled. Unfortunately that is unlikely to happen. Many people choose to ignore Ahmadinejad's bellicose behavior, but if I were charged with the responsibility for 330 million people I�m sure I would not. If a thug threatened my wife I would probably give a verbal warning before I shot him. (�Bullet rattling�?) BTW, one of the Iranian hostages during the Carter days lives near me and is positive Ahmadinejad was one of his captors.

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Maria, Did I say any such thing? I merely was pointing out that he is no angel. It is incredible how you people jump to conclusions just so you can criticize anyone in the U.S. He is not assuming this Iranian was one of his captors he is certain. You tend to remember a person who holds you captive for months and takes his turn beating you. It looks like you are willing to make a hero of anyone who is against the U.S. But, Chavez? Good grief � talk about prejudice! You are a doozy!

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Maria, Sorry, I forgot that English is not your first language. Doozy (I�m not even sure I spelled it correctly.) is an old expression referring to the one of a kind automobile in the 1930s� the Dusenburg. Each Dusenburg had a custom made body which made it unique. So it is not really an insult as much as a way of saying "different" or in this particular instance I might have called you "exasperating" because you seem to assume the worst when Americans are involved. Perhaps it is due to our language preference (My Spanish was two years of classes over …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

Maria, “…. I have no religion or political view because I don’t need anything that separates me from the rest of my fellow beings.” My religious views have evolved from a Christian (relatively conservative, to quite liberal, to agnostic) over the past 30 years or so. It was an uncomfortable struggle and not a quick decision. I suppose the same could apply to my political views. While you see each of those topics as divisive, I’d suggest they could also unite, which in my case they do. “…if you read the list of wars you mentioned you will see that they …

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

re: the article's title Just for a bit of perspective here are some numbers based on the recent Ken Burns' TV special THE WAR. (WW2) Before the war the U.S. Army consisted of 175,000 men. Total number of Americans participating before it was over was 16 million. Total cost in dollars was $304 billion which they said would be $3 trillion in today's dollars. Something to bear in mind as the media and politicians ask, "Are we there yet?"

Posted to Another War We Can't Afford

An economy in the midst of a war zone can hardly be expected to thrive. I doubt that many of us would concern ourselves with getting to work, measuring productivity or even returning phone calls while dodging bullets and IEDs. This is whole issue absurd. --------- What most disturbs me is that we are broadcasting every move and disagreement to the world. This idiodic behavior directly endangers our troops and benefits the enemy. Never in history has such stupidity been carried on to this degree. Picture Ike during the D-Day planning telling Hitler when where and how many troops would be …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

JonB, My alluding to Ike and WW2 had to do with the secrecy then and the blabbing now. Telling every move or even the debating of such is the most idiotic behavior ever, regardless of who is the enemy. A better comparison is Custer at the Little Big Horn � so confident that he left his Gattling guns behind � not only had too small a force to deal with the enemy, but arrogant enough to divide them. This same arrogant attitude led Rumsfeld to go in with a force one-fourth what the reluctant generals called for. In one of the …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

JonB, Bush appears to have a very limited range of interests and knowledge. It's too bad we can't draw up a job description requiring Pres. candidates to have a comprehensive view of history. If only being aware of the Middle East 20th century events no one in his right mind would set democratization as any kind of goal. Viet Nam should have taught the lessons of guerilla war with unidentifiable enemies and ideological conflicts. I remember Reagan telling how he faked a ball game he was reporting on radio back in the 1930s � His comment was, "Weeellll, it could have …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

Jon B, A lot of good reform ideas there. I�ve got a few more: � Congressional pay, health care and retirement based on median U.S. income with their D.C. housing and travel expenses provided by the Federal Gov�t.�military equivalent. � Mandatory term limits. � Cut out the TV grandstanding hearings and go to work 5 days per week, 40 hours minimum. � No amendments to bills for non-related issues. If these guys worked for me I�d can 90% of them.

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

Kuya and Jon B, It seems as though nearly everyone except those responsible for our invasion of Iraq realizes and is willing to admit it was a bad idea poorly managed. The military performed well under extreme conditions, but there was simply no thought given to the post combat problems. We are way too dependent on foreign energy sources. We had thirty years after the 1970s oil embargo wakeup call and did essentially nothing more than eyewash. Al Gore didn�t invent the stupid idea of offsets � Auto companies have been allowed to average gas guzzlers against more fuel efficient models …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

Jon B, Thanks for the book reference. I am familiar with the subject through articles by Dr. Joe Duarte and occasionally visit the Peak Oil website. Whether or not the world�s oil supply runs out the world is using almost exactly what is being produced. It�s not just that the oil producing countries can manipulate supply � the refining capacity has not increased in 30 years and with more countries using more oil natural disruptions are becoming increasingly problematic. As you pointed out the relative price has not yet reached a new high yet, but while not adjusted for inflation it …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

JonB, I must agree with the sad scene presented in the Counterpunch article you mentioned. I would add that while we are likely to experience deflation in some areas in the U.S., we are at the same time going to see inflation in everything from abroad — especially oil and anything else denominated in dollars. But even if oil is denominated in another currency (as some have started to do) a weak dollar means increased cost for us. Domestic goods and services are likely to deflate (along with wages) while imports will rise. There is an arrogance to the idea that …

Posted to Crocker's Kooky Economics

Jon B, The current economic mess has been building for at least two decades. The tech bubble and the housing bubble are both products of the Greenspan Blather era. Untill a very short time ago he denied the existance of either. Now that the entire world has been exposed to the effects of unfettered creative accounting he is passing the buck to those too ignorant and too uninterested to have prevented it. (Both apply to both Bushes.) Americans have been duped into reckless spending by individuals, cities, states and most agressively natrional leaders. The congress, big business, and several administrations have …

Posted to Earth to Bush

JonB, ""Lower interest rates did allow many people to own homes they never could have with higher rates." True, but many of them would be better off renting. Just as we can't all afford a new car not all can afford a house. When my son applied for a mortgage three years ago I went along. It had been forty years since my wife and I bought our house � what a difference. Even though we were both working and were able to keep up the payments they would not count her income and my father cosigned or we would not …

Posted to Earth to Bush

No surprise here. OUR "representatives" have been sucking up to the illegal immigrants for years. The illegals already know they can get most of what they want just by demanding "their rights" � picture how it will be once they get amnesty. Yesterday on C-SPAN Byron Dorgan, one of a very small number of people trying to enforce protective laws which took generations to get, told of the idiotic bill to allow Mexican truckers free access to our highways. There will be no inspections or varification of drivers abilities, of vehicle safety compliance or cargo inspection. All kinds of seatbelt and …

Posted to On Strike Without a Union

StokeyBob, Money/power or power/money � each one attracts the other. I have read very little about Wilson, but believe he had a stroke and died not too many years after leaving office. The quote you posted would make it likely that he was truly depressed with the failure to achieve his goals and felt used. The current subprime mess is just the latest in a long history of creative accounting scams foisted on the public. This one is worse than most due to the global contagion. Even though I believe people should be alert to deals which seem too good to …

Posted to On Strike Without a Union

minerva, Why should anyone do the work they do for minimum wage? As long as people can be had for less than minimum (definitely an oxymoron) employers will continue to exploit them. As long as labor is cheap no one will develop a method to do the job any other way. We would be using illegal immigrant labor to pick cotton if machinery had not replaced the cotton pickers. Illegal immigrant labor is virtual slavery and the crap that “they do the work Americans won’t do” is designed to mollify gullible people like you appear to be. Try going to Mexico …

Posted to On Strike Without a Union

Wolf, Farmer, Kuya, Right on! I wish you were on our school board. Back in my grade school days in the forties two brothers who lived up the block were expelled from our school for continued disruption. They were sent to the Catholic school where the nuns were totally in charge. They both learned to toe the line, avoided graduation to reform school and became good, hard working citizens. Kids need structure and limits. If they don't get it at home where they should and schools have their hands tied, the kids are the ultimate losers.

Posted to Restoring Classroom Justice

Like any subject with emotional or strong opinions this willl be taught from the perspective of the teacher. Unless closely watched the same kinds of distortions as those involving religion will dominate. I recently read a book on the history of history � History in the Making, by Kyle Ward. Revisionism is nothing new. He follows well known U.S. events such as slavery, our relations with the native Indian tribes, the Spanish American War. From the earliest texts to the ones ten years ago the accounts move up and down, back and forth with the mood of the country.

Posted to Labor Takes a Seat in the Classroom

There is no question that our troops have been stressed to the limit. Not only are they serving extended tours, they are doing it to attempt an impossible goal � reuniting a nation which has never truly been united nor a nation. We need to enlist the aid of other nations in the defense against radical Islamic terror and intimidation. Not just in Iraq, but wherever they surface. We just did not have the troops for pacification of 23 million people who live to hate each other. We need to admit it and seek additional international cooperation. Next time an administration …

Posted to Extending Tours, Stressing Troops

Be sure to watch for the coming discussion of the President's dog for more of the same � bitch, bitch, bitch.

Posted to How Does Laura Bush Sleep at Night?

Somehow my memory fails me �when did we first decide the individual has no responsibility for his own life? Behavior such as drunkenness now a disease. This week it was annnounced that obesity is due to a virus. Women have been having babies by multiple fathers and fathers decline to support the women or children. Children have "behavioral problems" and receive drugs � not a spanking. Presidents while in office lie, cheat on their wives, pander to special interest groups at the expense of the rest of the citizens and go on to charge big money for books and speaking engagements …

Posted to The Counterproductive War on Gangs

C. LyOns, OK, I understand that unity can come of simiilar circumstances and problems, but instead of forming gangs (which requires leadership) why don't they form a company, a union, a social club or some other association wiith a positive goal? Isn't it just because that would require work? It's much easier to join together and commiserate about how tough life is than to do something to improve it. It is easier to blame the system, some other people, or a lack of opportunity than it is to think of a service or product which people would be willling to pay …

Posted to The Counterproductive War on Gangs

Key2success, The stats you sight are staggering. But I fear that minorities will once again suffer even more with the continuing job losses due to our rush to globalization. (Inevitable? Perhaps, but a planned transition would help.) I agree as a community we need to stress education and do our best to make it available equally to all. However, unless it is held in high esteem at home little will come of community efforts. My wife was an enthusiastic teacher�s aide in the Title One program back in the �70s. The school she worked at had kids from the poorest part …

Posted to The Counterproductive War on Gangs

M&M, What a thoughtful, clever coment.

Posted to The Counterproductive War on Gangs

�She says employers commonly use immigration status as a weapon to attack organizing workers in the hospitality sector.� Como se dice en Espa�ol �scab�? Once the illegals become strong enough they will form their own union and complain about anyone willing to work for less than they have negotiated as fair pay. Isn�t that why she wants to organize in the first place? This whole story will probably come to nothing anyway. How many times have we been promised action to secure the borders already? Promises without funding�Foreign controlled ports� Additional Border Patrol staffing�All just smoke and mirrors. These people should …

Posted to No Match? No Mas!

Since it has already been accepted by so many people that it is OK to kill a kid (if pregnancy becomes �an inconvenient truth� � Sorry, Al.), why not delay termination until, say age 16 or 17? Think of the implications of, �Clean up your room,� or other parental commands and requests. It would put to rest the arguments that we may be getting rid of the next Einstein (or Hitler) if we could see just what potential this not-yet-a-person possessed. It's an opportunity to do away with juvenile delinquency and school massacres. The most important thing is not to set …

Posted to Life begins at...

Perhaps this question should be posed in tandem with... It�s OK to terminate life at... �The first major insurance claim. (Keeps those premiums lower.) �Eligibility for Medicare. (Absolves congress of a huge problem.) �A point between, �You�ve told that story before and that�s the 200th time we�ve heard that.� ( I don't like this one.) �The stoplight � if the thumping, bone jarring music drives you ballistic. (I'll drink to that.) Vote

Posted to Life begins at...

What part of this story denies the equating with murder?

Posted to Equating Stillbirths with Murders

Forster has an impressive resum�. However, he makes some pretty sweeping allegations and a cheap shots at �...retired generals who called for the ouster of then-Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld (after they had their pensions safely in hand)� If they were retired then, yes they would have a pension wouldn�t they. Should they then give it back? Keep quiet? What�s his point with this comment? Others gave their opinions and were ignored? I saw no mention of them. If Foster is still at the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, National Defense University, Washington, D.C. is his pension safely in hand or …

Posted to General Failure

Since Gregory Foster is a West Point graduate, it is safe to assume he should know the civil-military relations during the Revolutionary War were less than satisfactory. In fact it would be difficult to choose a time when more stressed than then. We constantly hear high percentages of the public want us out of Iraq. We now have heard of many dissenting opinions regarding our going into Iraq which were made by people with the credentials to give their views weight. I hope Foster�s comment �...the public hold the military in higher esteem than most other institutions of society...� is common …

Posted to General Failure

Scorp, �Name Two.� Ok... 1. We went in with too few troops (125,000 � 1/4 what was called for) to establish and maintain order in a country of more than 20 million people. 2. The post combat phase was tossed back and forth between State Dept. and CENTCOM. Gen. Franks was finally given the task while he was in the midst of conducting the actual invasion. Bonus problems: 3. Sec. Rumsfeld was so self confident his combat/light plan would result in the Iraqi army defecting to our side, that he did not even OK shipping the total supplies to Franks before …

Posted to General Failure

Scorp, Even though this was addressed to Hayden: �And you can point out a historical error or omission in my arguments?� I�ll try to help you understand. Progressive attacks are misdirected here � I don�t care what they say, it is irrelevant to my comments. � The cuts too .S. military strength are SOP, �... each time we have an outbreak of peace.� (to borrow from Archie Bunker) Pre WW2 we were down to a little over 100,000 troops due to the War to End All Wars twenty years earlier. In less time than this war has lasted we went from …

Posted to General Failure

Brian, I put very little weight on approval ratings or polls. Unless we know what was asked and how they mean very little and are easy to skew to suit the pollsters preference. An example from my own experience... Caller: I�d like to speak to a female employee. Me: There are no female employees � (click) A few weeks later... Caller: I�d like to speak to a female employee. Me: I have no employees. Did you put me down last time as not hiring women? Caller: Yes. The same goes for war polling... If asked would you like to see our …

Posted to General Failure

Brian, �The surge in troops was to give the Iraq government time to get their shit together.� Come on, we�re talking about a country which had 30 years under Saddam�s total rule. We�re talking about a country which has never been a nation (in any traditional sense) in the lifetime of anyone living there. We�re talking about such diverse groups as radical Islamist who are �commanded by their god� to kill anyone � that those who disagree with them will get the hell they deserve and those who agree will pass Go and immediately receive their reward. (A lot like �Kill …

Posted to General Failure

Cabdriver, Public polling is often misleading and always fickle. If we don't know how the questions were posed, the answers are questionable. On 9/11 public opinion would most likely have been in favor of nuking any country believed to be attacking us since we had no idea of the extent of the operation while it was progressing. Most of the problems we now face in the U.S. are due to a collection of stupid actions over several administrations. The residual emotions of the Viet Nam War (both pro and anti). The constant attempts by politicians to make their economic era look …

Posted to General Failure

Giving treatment is a practical choice just as decriminalizing is... It is far more costly to treat people in an emergency room (required by law) than to do preventative treatment. The cost to arrest, prosecute, provide legal council and maintain prisons is a waste of taxpayer dollars far in excess of any treatment. We could limit the treatment time and then let anyone who won't quit buy cheaply if they choose to kill themselves. As it is now: � We are spending a huge amount of money, energy and time and at the same time making drugs immensely profitable to thousands …

Posted to What is the best alternative to the War on Drugs?

Here's where an amnesty could do some real good � for everyone. Let them out and wipe the slate. Legalize drugs and classify the same as alcohol adiction. Offer treatment for anyone who wants to kick the habit. Without the artificially high price (which banning adds to anything) people from Afghanistan to Columbia would go to raising healthful crops, the gang wars would need to find some other commodity to push and many of the "children" would stop shooting each other.

Posted to The Drug War's Collateral Damage

Illegal guns? You want a War on Guns? Look at the War on Poverty. Then there's the War on Drugs � a lot like the experiment with alcohol which financed the big gangs in the 30s. Not a good prospect for success. Chicago has had a ban on guns within the city for at least two decades. Anyone notice besides those law abiding citizens who had their rights taken away? We put people in prison for using drugs (unless they are a celeb in rehab � then they do the talk show circuit). Wouldn�t it be better for us all and …

Posted to Bloomberg Could Tie Centrists in Knots

It�s not too difficult to come up with reasons we should not have embarked on this ill fated, windmill-tilting plan. (I use the term �plan� loosely.) � Too little hard intelligence � Too much international opposition � Too few troops � Too much unchecked arrogance Repairing it is far more challenging. The mass of detail coming out �post combat� shows just how narrow a view the administration planners held. Ten years of professional military planning was trashed. Many senior officers� warnings were ignored. Post combat planning was not so much an after thought as a play-it-by-ear approach. State thought CENTCOM was …

Posted to Iraq: Mismanagement or Mass Murder?

Jon B, I'm not much of a believer in conventional wisdom or polls. Polls are meaningless unless you know the way in which the questions were posed and are the primary source for what we call conventional wisdom. I believed we had too few troops before entering because I knew Bush Sr. and Clinton had cut the military in order to attain better looking economic numbers. So did many military leaders. Everything is related � we've sold out our manufacturing capacity and can't supply our own miliitary. We've avoided any general national sacrifice or even inconvenience in "fighting" the war on …

Posted to Iraq: Mismanagement or Mass Murder?

A lot of people have been burned in this scam � the home purchaser (if he had a down payment), some of the resellers, the investors in mortgage companies and hedge funds � in short those directly connected. The fallout will spread to those who will now have an even more difficult time qualifying for a loan due to the tightening of lending practices form those who �got religion� (until the next time). A long time, very good friend had to be moved into a assisted living facility nearly two years ago. He had been unable to do home maintenance for …

Posted to Tranche Warfare

CORRECTION: 1700 to 2500 sq ft (Bill Gates doesn't live near here.)

Posted to Tranche Warfare

This article was billed as a response to a �hyped� Operation Iraqi Freedom press release. Jumping to the conclusion: �These tragic deaths represent more than another sad chapter in the Pentagon�s Tolstoyan-length Book of Lies.� Kind of makes me suspect the truth may lie somewhere between this view and the press release. The �evidence� presented here? � The BBC � Hardly an unbiased source for news relating to either the war or the US. � The villagers � Telling the truth? Were they really villagers? Where do their sympathies lie? As we should have known before taking on this adventure you …

Posted to Death from Above

realityhurts, ...and you know this is the reality because....(?) � "They identified...." Who are they? Are "They" reliable? � This was "murder" because... What? Are you saying our troops killed they for the sheer joy of it? � "...more lies from the USA. Almost NO Al Qaeda in Iraq," And you know this by your inside info? You "know" no more than what you choose to believe. I hope you are never on a jury.

Posted to Death from Above

realityhutrs, Oil? Consider this? We are hearing that 70 pct of the US public want us to pull out of Iraq. Claims like yours that we are there for the oil are more true than most of us will admit. While 3,000 to 4,000 troops have died since the invasion in 2003... � In the US more than 45,000 die in auto accidents annually. � The soaring prices at the pump have not appreciably cut consumption. � If we abandon the Middle East this country (and most of the industrialized world) would grind to a halt. How long would we be …

Posted to Death from Above

Maria, As usual you choose to believe the US is responsible for any and all deaths in a land where people wrap themselves in a bomb and kill indescriminately. Think about it.

Posted to Death from Above

iamaman, First of all thank you for your service. It must be confusing and demoralizing to hear all the 24/7 media noise and mixed messages when over there. It is bad enough to try to sort them out here, but I remember how much more difficult it was when mixed with rumors and partial news in letters. I often think about how much of a shock this must be to those who thought the college money was a good deal and never thought they would be called up. We were on 24 hr alert for a year when the Berlin Wall …

Posted to Death from Above

Let the buyer beware! There was a time when lenders were fewer and more cautious to whom they loaned. Their investors expected them to use disgression when loaning their money. When my wife and I bought our first home her income was not counted. Even though we were confident we could make the payments, my income was too low for us to qualify, so my Dad co-signed the mortgage. We found a fifteen-year-old car with low miles and avoided buying other things until we had the cash. After six years we were able to sell and buy a larger, nicer one. …

Posted to The Subprime Bait and Switch

Michael Moore "obligated" to tell the truth? Well, certainly if it is a documentary it must be true. I mean did Al Gore not stick to the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth in his documentary? OK, the insurance companies and pharmas are screwing us � that's not new and not likely to change � but that doesn't make this guy St.Michael. I haven't heard that he's donating the proceeds to the uninsured yet. Would he go on a crusade merely for the money and notoriety? Neat tricko! You gotta give him that.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

Iams, re: Obligation to tell the truth � I was being sarcastic. The problem as I see it is with anyone who deliberately tells only that �truth� which gives a distorted view. Worse yet, (since we should assume people often will do this) so many people are willing to accept the story at face value and run with it. It happens so often in advertising, politics, investing and now with documentaries. It amazes me is that anyone will accept anything being thrown our way as �fact�. Canadians are coming down here for MRIs, non-emergency surgeries and other treatments with long waiting …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, I hadn't thought I was giving advice � merely an opinion. I guess you can't accept that anyone may not agree with you, judging from your (over)reactions. You're no fun anymore.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, Last I heard opinions were still a part of free speech. If you can't stand the free exchange of different opinions perhaps you should just be content to live in the land of movies and make believe.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, I still think 150 years of data is too llittle to base this whole crisis on. That's my opinion. Call it anything you choose. We are obviously not going to agree. Why you think we should need to do so is your problem � I really don't care. But if you get this stressed out every time someone disagrees with you � I'll outlast you.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, Are you deliberatly being obtuse? When I said I don't care it was in reference to the two of us agreeing. A. You can think what you will nd I will think otherwise. OK? B. Even if we were to agree it would not influence the outcome.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

nazario, I put Moore and Gore in the same class as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh� opportunists who jump in front of a parade and know how to make big bucks by fanning the flames of fear. The recipe: � a bit of truth � a lack of balance � a lot of emotion � a method of delivery Moore has picked a great subject this time. We all see and smell the bad air. There is photographic evidence of melting. It has such a long time frame he cannot be proven wrong.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

Wolf, I guess you don�t need to be an extremist to catch it from both sides. I have been called both a Nazi and a Commie by people who come here to �discuss� � intolerance knows no boundaries. Take LB for example � It�s his/her (there has been confusion) view, swallowed whole, or else comes the ranting. Is it any wonder I see little hope from congress? They have the added incentive of trying to keep their cushy jobs, but LB is a mystery. Must be some kind of �savior� self image or some such. We have another whole year of …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

Wolf, I�m beginning to understand why I have had a problem appreciating Moore�s POV. I�ve been using the wrong approach all along. From Brian: �fahrenheit 9/11 is top grossing documentry of all time.� If it makes a bundle it must be true. -------------- And of course if you use the same tactics as Moore you will identify more closely. From LB: �WTH and wolf are getting their critical input solely from the right-wing nit-pickers, with out even seeing the movie on which they are making judgment.� Joined by: �WTH seems to think that his ad infinitum strawman and categorically false assertion …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, �Medicare is a good example of congressional action brought about by public pressure.� Did you think it fell from the sky?� No, but it has certainly fallen from what it was in the 1980s when I was handling it for my Dad. Medicare is unsustainable and a far greater problem than Social Security. It is not being ignored due to a lack of awareness � it has been screamed about for years with no quibbling about the numbers. Still no action by either party. Both of these programs will only continue to worsen because no one wants to commit political …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, Since you only took issue with the last comment, I guess we agree on the reast of my comments � we ARE progressing, at last.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

Babyface, You make some good points. We should be able to exchange ideas. I am basically in agreement with Moore that the system needs improvement and that insurance companies are a large part of the problem. But I believe Moore is accomplishing very little since those of us for whom health care is a problem have little influence with those who could do something. IMO (as stated earlier) Moore's exaggerations and one-sided presentation is counter productive to producing change. The problem between Luminous Beauty and me is one of experience versus faith � and his refusal to simply let my opinion …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, Wow! Talk about intolerance! My expectations of the likelihood of congress doing anything worthwhile still stand. I expect little from them other than more of what we've already seen. And in many cases or issues I think we're better off without their meddling. If you choose to be a Pollyanna or to have a conniption over my views � be my guest. I'll get along just fine without your blessings or your evaluation. Get a grip.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, By �the topic at hand� I assume you mean the warming article and/or its author. Michael has his opinion, I have mine and you have... well visions of saving the world from the dangers of divergent ideas. the article to: � Whether congress is competent � If people can be respectful of a different opinion � Don�t confuse realism with nihilism (talk about a red herring) Pretty safe to be insulting from a thousand miles away � I�ll bet you were equally obnoxious as a child. (Oh, there I go assuming you are an adult. Sorry.)

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

Correction: ...following "divergent ideas." We've moved on to: • Whether congress is competent etc. --------------------------------------------- Wolf, I must admit to just killing time here. I've said all I have to about the film and Moore in the first couple of posts. I guess I am just toying with LB as I might with a kitten. (At age19 our cat is not playful anymore.) It is also an experiment to see if LB really ever even reads what is in opposition to his views. On another thread I recently explained that I was able to get another excitable character to reply in …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

LB, The subject was exhausted long ago. I'm sure your congressman would enjoy hearing from you. You could borrow from the old SNL show and slightly modify, "Jane, you ignorant slut..." I'm sure he'll guess who it's from.

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

cabdriverinchicago, �I don�t get what�s so hard about Universal Health Care. It�s so desperately needed. Pass it already. It�s a classic no brainer move.� It would seem so � We have universal roads, universal libraries, and from the look of many drivers and people next to me at the supermarket, universal telephone service. So why not health care? My father started working for a company just before WW2 which had just instituted a unique management system. It was called a Corporate Partnership. Instead of employees they were �members� of the corporation. They had excellent health care � spouses and dependent children …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

cabie, sorry I had to leave �(continued) I suggest there is a parallel between the members of the �Corporate Partnership� and their employers and between the average citizen and those in leadership positions. The original owners of the company realized THEIR welfare was dependent on the welfare of their workers. They knew a worker not only needed to earn a decent income, but would be more efficient, effective and productive if he gained directly from the success of the company. And...he would be able to perform better if his family were also well taken care of as well. A look at …

Posted to Sicko's Critics and the Upside of Hitler

�The only way to stop this is to create public financing systems whereby taxpayers provide qualifying candidates money that does not come with the expectation of specific legislative favors.� And just what protection would we have that this would not be corrupted also? Start with �qualifying candidates� without �expectation of specific legislative favors� who would vote for anyone? A candidate is �expected� to simultaneously support/oppose gay rights, military action, abortion, affirmative action.... We are getting what we should expect from our �representatives�. It is widely accepted that an individual cannot be elected by simply giving his honest opinion on any given …

Posted to Kissing up to K Street

OK, I�ll bite � Is it summer rerun time or did you not get enough agreement from readers the first time around on this? Ask the folks in London what they think about �threat inflation� right about now.

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

Terry Allen has finally written an article I can agree with � all except the last paragraph. I say, put them in prison and feed them only from uninspected, high profit foreign imported crap. Their terms would run as "Life without parole or until medical attention becomes too costly for the prison budget." We can start with those current or former members of congress who voted to export our jobs or to cut funding for the FDA and USDA.

Posted to Food Poisoning for Thought

Al Pacino and Robert De Nero were truly convincing in HEAT, the movie � but this book is a non-starter. Monbiot�s response to a legitimate question is equal to the best Clintonesque diversion/avoidance style. Q: �Are there still scientists today debating the inevitability of two degrees? Or is there a consensus on this matter?� A: �The EU, the British government and other governments have all been saying two degrees is the point beyond which we cannot go.� This is the same bunch who was so sure Y2K was going to be an international disaster. --------------- � What do we know? � …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

the_seanald So you are confident that all the computers were upgraded to compensate for the date �problem�? That�s why no calamities. IMO the worst thing about that whole �Chinese Fire Drill� was that in the rush to fix a nonexistent problem the US State Dept. allowed eastern European programmers in to work on our systems. Now there�s something to be ticked about. Thanks to Madeline Halfbright.

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Major, Seanald, Do either of you personally know anyone, anywhere whose computer crashed due to Y2K? I do not. Did you have anything done to yours? I never did anything to compensate for the "problem" and had 23 programs in my computer at the time. NO trouble at all. Neither did any of my cilents. I'll concede there is a lot of CYA due to possible lawsuits and companies often do a lot more than needed to avoid the one time of getting nailed. Maybe I had no trouble because I am on a Mac rather than a Bill Gates piece …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

This issue is getting emergency attention for two major reasons: 1. There is money to be made dealing with it � books to sell, equipment, proceduresm, to develop, and training to market. 2. Politicians can get credit for "saving" mankind without fear of being proven wrong in their lifetimes. MM, I agree with your assertion that credit is not given for preventiion. If I scare off a burglar or holdup man with a handgun � no news. If a bunch of drug dealers shoot it out � "X number of "children" die each year from availability of guns!"

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Scorp, I listened to thethis author on C-SPAN Book Channnel this weekend. People who think this stuff is more urgent than the war should read � �Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America�, by Brigitte Gabriel ------------------- Book Description (from Amazon.com Brigitte Gabriel lost her childhood to militant Islam. In 1975 she was ten years old and living in Southern Lebanon when militant Muslims from throughout the Middle East poured into her country and declared jihad against the Lebanese Christians. Lebanon was the only Christian influenced country in the Middle East, and the Lebanese Civil War was the …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Scorp, Americans have short memories, or perhaps it is our western style of thought � �If it hasn�t happened lately, it must have been an aberration.� I have the entire 9/11 day saved on tape. I was already taping CNBC and went to check the tape just as the first report came on. I watched it live all day and have looked at the tape just once since. I never want to forget the feelings of that day � wondering if they would hit the Sears tower near where our son works, not knowing how many more attacks there might be …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

luminous, Hey, don't hold back. Anger management can only do so much.

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Thanks Wolf, I don�t expect to find total agreement, but I too have noticed how quickly the same people resort to personal attacks rather than giving a rational alternative view. Some go after the individual and others like to dump a load of blame on the U.S. as if it were an individual with some long term master plan to dominate the world. Low self-esteem? As far as catastrophic global warming goes � there may or may not be some validity to the issue. My objection is how 24/7 media coverage can make it seem like the most important of all …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB says... �You do need to learn the distinction between weather and climate. I was referring to weather in relation to validity of �predictions�. and... �It is undeniably true.� So, end of discussion. That much, I will agree, is undeniable.

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB, You may change your mind on the predictability of climate if you read, �The Black Swan,� by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. (Also regarding bell curves.)

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB, If you don't want to buy the book, at least read the amazon.com reviews. For an example which relates to your views on climate prdictability � just slip into a Borders or Barnes and Noble and read the 1001 Days story. (vs 150 years of data)

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB, �Taleb�s book is very interesting, but it does not really apply to climactic predictability.� I beg to differ � � Climactic predictability is a good example of the human tendency to believe we �know more than we do. � Climactic predictability is based on an extremely short term 150 years vs millions. � It ignores any possible unexpected benefits (again unknown) due to a possible warming. � It goes along with Taleb�s claim that people like to condense events into story form and then selectively seek supporting evidence while ignoring other possibilities. (Once again let me remind you I am …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB, �You are confusing the reality of scientific opinion by giving undue credence to anti-scientific projection of scientific opinion.� It isn�t a debate, it�s a pathological denial of reality.� IMO you are accepting scientific opinion as scientific reality and denying scientists of having human frailties. Also you are giving current �scientific consensus� the qualities of scientific reality, universiality and leave no possibility of future discovery. Think of the generations of scientific consensus which were later replaced by newer views based on additional evidence. ---------------- �Third, what could possibly give you the impression that I have, or have ever had, a rat-fuck …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Scorp, A bit of background: All I did was make an off-hand comment about the global ballyhoo over the �Dangerous Effects of Y2K� being similar in the way the �Global Warming Disaster� is being hyped and LB took off like a July 4th rocket. There was no denial that people have been messing up our own nests. No attempt to eliminate eco clean attempts. I used to bate Rabbit/Ghost Rabbit and once got a 16,000 word reply (4 posts in a row). While I�m discussing human�s as lemmings, LB is writing a doctoral thesis on scientific method, but completely ignoring how …

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

LB. Your reading/comprehension is faulty. And... you are beginnning to ramble. Take a deep breath and go sit by the shore. Over and Out!

Posted to Two Degrees From Devastation

Moberg�s bio says... �Recently he has received fellowships from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Nation Institute for research on the new global economy.� He cites many benefits of European workers which have long been true. We probably could have had �mandated� vacations, early retirement, etc. also if willing to pay the price. Frankly, when we were in London for our first time (1991) and I saw the price of gasoline ($5 US gallon equivalent) a pair of Levis ($50) which included the the VAT on all items, I was just as happy to have lower taxes …

Posted to What Vacation Days?

ddrew, While I personally have no problem with a minimum wage, (it should be COL adjusted) I�m afraid the $12.50 would be no panacea. Not long ago I saw what was referred to as a�Living Wage� scaled to the cost of living inn various states. Hawaii was the highest with over $22/hr and Alaska was near that. We will never settle on an overall satisfying minimum wage or benefits package things have obviously been sliding the opposite direction. Personal and corporate greed seems to be increasing. Whether it is the CEO, sports star, movie actor or some other overpaid premadonna � …

Posted to What Vacation Days?

ddrew, �We don�t have a balance of power in the labor market in this country because Americans have no idea how much better they could be doing.� I sure agree with there is no balance, many people are very aware they are getting screwed and more are finding out each day, but... The ability for US corporations to access cheap foreign labor makes it very difficult to gain any sort of worker clout. What isn't leaving is endangered by increasing Hb1 visas. A local area Chrysler plant subassembly supplier, Grupo Antolin (Spanish company), makes door modules for the Dodge Caliber, Jeep …

Posted to What Vacation Days?

ddrew, Labor has been weakening for the last two or three decades � their leadership just does not care! When NAFTA was up for a vote in 1993 and ever since, I contacted the AFL/CIO. Essentially what they replied was, �You mind your business and we�ll mind ours.� � "To get Americans to wake up to the need for labor to be much stronger�which can be achieved overnight just by passing the right legislation..." We can�t even actually communicate with them, much less get them to enact any such laws. They have no intention of confronting the major issues of importance …

Posted to What Vacation Days?

H. Candace Gorman says, Gonzales, �... falsely concluded that language in the Geneva Conventions, specifically the prohibition on �outrages upon personal dignity� and �inhumane treatment,� were �undefined� and �difficult to interpret.� ... and then, �Thanks to these legal halfwits, the door to full-blown torture swung wide open, inviting in the physical abuse, psychological injury, physical abuse and death that followed.� Well, Ms Gorman, when you describe U.S. methods of interrogation as �full-blown� and �wide open� torture you are alluding to your client Al-Ghizzawi, who, �... was subjected to the most brutal forms of torture.� You can�t give the details of Al-Ghizzawi�s …

Posted to Torture By Another Name

With support for his arguments like Michael Moore�s �Fahrenheit 911� it�s not likely anything I have to say will change the author�s mind. I don�t know where the AWOLs, desertions and under filled quotas data comes from (he seldom lists his sources as long as it supports his view), but the latest data on MSM (a source of equal quality to Moore) refutes at least the enlistments YTD and except for the Army others this week were reported to be up. To save time I will simply insert my comments from the "These Guns for Hire" thread... No two wars are …

Posted to Thicker Than Oil

Wolf, Ja fur sure! Half way through basic training don't hardly nobody want to be der no more, Leo. The Finns put up a hell of a fight against the invading Soviets about 1938 or '39. My wife's uncle went over from Sweden and joined them. When the international news media reported that the Ruskies were bombing Finland, Stalin's Foreign Minister, Molotov claimed they were only "dropping bread to feed the hungry." In return the Finns dug covered foxholes and as Soviet tanks went by they popped out and threw bottles of flamming gasoline down the hatches. They said they gave …

Posted to Thicker Than Oil

Wolf, As a Swede (Well, half) and fellow Viking � I have adopted a slogan for my family quest (if I ever design one)... Grym n�r inflamarad Vicious when riled :-)

Posted to Thicker Than Oil

�But the various terrorist �plots� exposed by the Bush administration so far have been notable for their lack of credible threat, the central role of a criminal informant and the strong whiff of political opportunism.� And if the plot had been carried out just how would Mr. Muwakkil have written the story? Weeell, perhaps something along these lines... -------------- The Bush administration, whose foreign policy has provoked the kind of global anger that motivates terrorists, resulted in this unfathomable example of damage, death and destruction. In spite of six years in which to develop a network of human informants and claiming …

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

OK, ITT, let�s try to look at the subject a bit more objectively. I�ll borrow Ron Paul�s quote from your article to use in a different context. �We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us.� Article head and subhead: Entrapping Inflated Threats Was the terrorist plot to blow up JFK Airport a threat or a joke? We all know your offices are located in Chicago. What if an informant provided information that some wacko who disagrees with your anti-military, anti-administration, anti-Bush general approach to nearly every issue …

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

Farmer, I recently read �The Black Swan� by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. The subtitle is: �The Impact of the Highly Improbable�, but I would say it is a book about how human beings tend to think. He emphasizes there are things which we don�t know � we don�t know. That we arrogantly form conclusions too soon with too little reliable information and then refuse anymore input or accept only what fits our story. As Mark Twain put it � �It ain�t what you don�t know that gets you, it�s what you know...that just ain�t true.� I would add that everything in life …

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

Farmer, � �I think that a global coalition of nations will be required.� Yes, that was Plan A for Iraq and too many would not sign on � France, China, Russia were all making too much money with Saddam in power. So were a bunch in the U.N. from Kofi on down. But it is essentially what we had going in Afghanistan. � �If there is no safe haven for terrorist�s to plan, train, recruit and operate from, the dangers that they pose would be limited.� We may be able to get more cooperation along these lines now that several other …

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

Scorp, Farmer, After having read so many articles here which displayed more sympathy and concern for the terrorists than for the US. From their first editorial� http://www.inthesetimes.com/article/1619/the_problem_with_evil/ The Problem With Evil, By Joel Bleifuss �In the wake of this atrocity, President George W. Bush is talking war.� All prior attacks outside US borders and the 1993 WTC were ignored. To most of us this is a war � admittedly different than many, but the enemy has made very clear we are the prime target and the object is our demise as a nation. That it is a transnational movement makes it …

Posted to Entrapping Inflated Threats

The head and subhead make this sound like an outrage has been committed, but what�s with the photo of kids billed as the Bougainville Revolutionary Army? I wonder why Bougainville �...was blitzed by U.S. forces during World War II...�!?! Is it possible that Kari is just too young to know any better way to put it, or was this intended as a slam, because she dislikes the current administration? In any case it makes me wonder about the objectivity of the rest of her reporting. How much is accurate � how much is hyperbole?

Posted to Fighting Corporate Copper in Bougainville

mono, Thanks for the clarification. Most issues are more complex than what we hear due to sound bite reporting and the short attention span of most of us. I've always blamed that on our "education" by advertising � Before/After, Bad/Good, Expensive/Cheaper. All Black or White, skipping the wide range of grays.

Posted to Fighting Corporate Copper in Bougainville

mono, To me "blitz" is what Nazi Germany did to London each night for about two months in 1940 � deliberate targeting of civilian areas. This author may see it in a different way � probably just a youthful oversight.

Posted to Fighting Corporate Copper in Bougainville

mono, Communication is a delicate and tricky art � something we need to keep in mind with so much information �blitzing� us 24/7. Having just finished reading the �Black Swan�, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb I was at least inclined to give a young (everyone is now) author a bit of slack. (Note: �The Black Swan� is sub-titled, �The Impact of the Highly Improbable.� I would have called it, �Thinking for Dummies.�) WW2 has long been an interest of mine and I have read a number of books on that theater of operations � I�m sure someone really thought the assumption logical …

Posted to Fighting Corporate Copper in Bougainville

I would like to recommend that Mr. Caplan (and Mr. Hayes) adjust their thinking first by eliminating all assumptions about the American voter/Consumer. Hardly anyone can, or tries to relate to ordinary working people. It is so much easier and less complicated to set up the usual criteria we hear from economists and other data-drummers based on government bureaus. Since they all learned from the same textbooks, read the same reports, and are not inclined to talk to real people, books like this will be written and passed on between them as dogma. In reality we have very little influence on …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

Gaius, ztnjv, Matt W, I believe we need to differentiate between those who pontificate out of ignorance and those who manipulate from greed. It�s not always easy to determine and makes no difference to the results, but at least not all are the self-centered bastards they appear to be � just untouched by the process � so far. For decades our textbooks have codified the economic tenets of free enterprise and free markets. They have become the holy book to which allegiance is pledged and evangelized daily in all forms of media. Once in a while a heretic emerges, or in …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

ztnjv, Paragraphs 1-2: I would agree the consumers� decisions are felt more specifically and more immediately - when they have a choice. With nearly everything being manufactured off shore freedom of choice is increasingly limited. �...most (and I do mean nearly all) professional economists are in agreement that free trade is a net benefit for society... � We are in total agreement on this statement. But I believe they are out of touch and locked into a training and educational backwater. It is based on economic theory and ignores mitigating factors. In past labor shifts � agriculture/industrial, manual/mechanized � a greater …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

ztnjv, I would add the rational voter has even less to choose from the the rational consumer. At least it strikes me that way. While I have generally considered myself conservative in most categories (less so religiously and socially). I could just about have flipped a coin in the last two presidential elections. I did not see much with Gore, Kerry or Bush. You are right when you point out the dilution of an individual�s political views. I go even further in that I believe our representative form of government has also been so diluted that unless one is part of …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

Matt, �Markets are not bad - they are very good and useful tools, but they are not self-regulating.� As with any tool, markets are neither inherently good nor bad � it is people who make either good or bad decisions � at times in spite of regulations (which may be good or bad).

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

Scorp: �Firstly, real wages are not really falling. A simple statement of a simple truth, solidly backed up by economic statistics and multiple studies, as documented by Alan Reynolds, Steve Conover, and others.� It always amazes me when I get lumped in with leftists. I voted for Nixon, Goldwater, Nixon again, Reagan and two Bushes. (Not always because I thought they were good as I stated earlier). My investments are far more conservative than investment theory recommends even at my age of 69. My basic political opinion calls for less spending and fewer laws, but... In spite of commonly accepted data …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

ztnjv, �What CEO�s earn in relation to other employees is really irrelevant. The board will not pay wages that do not produce results....at least not for long.� I have had occasion to witness up close what boards will do. I�ve seen a CEO get a six-figure bonus when profits were down over 23 percent. Locally, I�ve worked with companies (4) whose boards were composed of overlapping membership � all voted great deals for each other. Boards often present each succeeding CEO with a better package and contract which were paid off even when firing a guy for doing a poor job. …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

ztnjv, � �...what really matters and affects wealth: productivity, purchasing power and efficiency.� �These things do affect purchasing power and quality in positive and they are the main factors in wealth creation for all people....� Theory again. If methods of increasing productivity, whether robotics or cheaper foreign labor eliminate your job it hardly is a positive on your purchasing power. ----------- � �...as opposed to government mechanisms.� My argument is that government mechanisms are skewed to favor the wealthy in the US�s trading policies. The 2004 American Jobs creation Act was a sop to big US corporations after congress placated the …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

Scorp, Silly leftist, ztnjv, Matt, brian28, The consumer may be rational in his thinking and still make poor decisions based on false or misleading info. Take Scorp�s comment for example � �The Dimocratic Party, the Old Media, and WTH are loud and clear (and dishonest and misleading) that wages really are falling for the lower economic quintiles.� Why are they promoting this falsehood?� Ignorance?� No, they have a political agenda which they cannot accomplish by telling the truth.� For now, let�s just ignore his assumptions that anyone who disagrees with him MUST have a political agenda, be lying, ignorant, etc. and …

Posted to Who's Afraid of Democracy?

What a cop-out. �People who are angry � and come from tremendous struggle; they have poetic license, and when they say things that offend you, you have to talk about the conditions that create those kinds of lyrics.� That sounds just as phony as Imus claiming the lyrics give him �license� to talk as he did. �We might better channel social resources if we listened more attentively to those tales.� Not likely. This idea reminds me of the panhandler who came up to me on Boston Commons and said, "Hey Four-eyes, got an extra quarter?" One of the first things to …

Posted to Blaming Hip-Hop for Imus

Rocco, �Is it not easy to pass judgment on cultural expressions which have no effect on you or your life, rather than see hip-hop - and the use of internally offensive language - as a double-standard or playing the race card?� I�m not applying a double standard � quite the opposite � I see no reason to give either a free pass. �That sounds just as phony as Imus claiming the lyrics give him �license� to talk as he did.� Also, everything in life is interconnected. This kind of cheapening of humanity whether form an overpaid shock-jock pandering to the lowest …

Posted to Blaming Hip-Hop for Imus

These �independent contractor�numbers are surprisingly high. �But will any of them look beyond sound bites and campaign slogans in the next election?� The above comment by farmer is something we need to keep in mind for ALL news reports. People have a tendency to look for reasons for all events after the fact. Along with this tendency are a few others to keep in mind... � Too quick an acceptance of what fits our own biases. � Ignoring whatever does not fit with the story we�ve accepted. � Applying old stories as a pattern for the new. � Believing we (or …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, We�re certainly in agreement on much of the current Iraq situation. The �surge� is one of the dumbest military ideas and ranks close to the one of allowing Rumsfeld a free hand way too long. When Plan A wasn�t working there was no Plan B to fall back on. Several retired Generals pointed out before the invasion (That is why some of them are retired � for pointing out...) that we needed more troops for such an undertaking. Gen. Zinni, who had already retired as head of CENTCOM prior to 9/11 supervised ten years of planning and determined 500,000 were …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, Kuya, We�re in agreement on a lot of issues � � Iraq has been badly mishandled for all your reasons and then some. � oil plays too influential a role in US foreign policy (We should get truly serious about becoming energy independent and quit playing political games.) � the treatment of veterans is disgusting and shameful. Not only the Walter reed mess, but returning vets are getting short changed on their promised educational benefits. The WH thinks a 3.5% wage increase for troops is too costly, but pays 10 times as much for mercenaries. To me it matters little …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Framer, In Illinois to vote in the primary you must first declare a party. For most of my life, since I am a fiscal conservative, I have taken the Republican one. I never have considered myself to be of either party and often cross lines, but I have become increasingly cynical regarding our voting process, our claim to have a representative form of government and accepting that our candidates truly regard themselves as �public servants.� We seem to be rapidly evolving into the elitist governed country which Alexander Hamilton thought necessary. At times when I see who is voted in and …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, You mentioned Tom Delay � not my favorite guy. He doubled the number of lobbyists after the Repubs had congressional control. As a name on the Republican mailing list I was phone by his office and asked to be on a presidential advisory committee representing small independent businesses. When I asked I was assured this was not a fund raising committee, that I need not fly to D.C. to participate, and could contribute by conference call. I thanked the lady and said if she would leave a phone number I would consider it and call back. �Oh, it is rather …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, You call yourself a �moderate liberal� and I guess I�m comfortable as a �moderate conservative� � I think between the two of us we could straighten out most of the issues congress see as too complicated to tackle. The key in my opinion is just adhering to the Preamble to the Constitution. In that one sentence the framers summed up goals and guidelines that worked until people became professional legislators and a majority became representatives For Sale. Those few who still seem to have the basic interests of the U.S. ahead of all else have little chance to accomplish their …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Just to touch upon the topic once again � If we can get thousands of armed guards all the way to Iraq, why couldn't we get those 3,000 new Border Patrol agents per year we were promised by George?

Posted to These Guns for Hire

The professional politicians of both parties are in sync with big business. This bipartisan, joint venture has created a monster which operates on the same model: They make their own rules, codes of conduct and �punishments�... Congressional committees: set up great deals for members � automatic pay increases (unless brought to the floor for an anti vote), wonderful benefits � health care, pensions, ever lower number of working days per year Corporate board of Directors: set up committees for execs (often serve on each other�s boards) bonuses, stock options, health care, pensions, and golden parachute clauses if fired. Since most companies …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

�It will take one hell of a good person to deal with all this and keep our country moving.� Yes it will � and I am not impressed with anyone so far who is running. I had hopes for Obama, but he sounds like most of the others on most of the issues. Iraq has been a huge mess, but stay or leave, the original problem will still be with us � those radicals who want to kill anyone not subscribing to their religious views. IMO the only way to effectively fight them is through an international (Non-UN) cooperative effort. They …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, I am enjoying our conversations too. (One of these days I expect to be cut out of this topic�s discussion � happens to each sooner or later.) �The Radical Islamists will be a thorny issue for anyone. Because they won�t compromise. And we can�t very well kill all of them. That will only sow more seeds of hatred.� I watched a bit of the last Democratic �debate� last night and tonight the Republicans will go another round. I can�t stand to watch very much because it seems so phony. Talk about dumbing down � if a question gets too tough …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Natalie, Thanks for the link. An excellent presentation of the likely result if we �...just walk away� as Ron Paul advocates. I�m currently reading �1776� by David McCullough and suspect there were calls to �...just walk away� when Washington�s troops withdrew to New York after being soundly defeated by Howe. British and Hessian troops bayoneted prisoners and left them pinned to trees � can we picture how the Loyalists and occupying Brits would have treated the Patriots from then on? In war there is no Second Place Winner.

Posted to These Guns for Hire

Farmer, �The main problem with the Iraq operation was that folks who had no clue over rode the military planner�s. And the military planner�s are to blame for rolling over like a tame puppy.� Well, yes and no... We are set up to have a civilian Commander in Chief, who then appoints a Secretary of Defense (at times called Secretary of War). It is generally a good arrangement, but many things before Bush were generally good arrangements. Professional military leaders have been known to try to buck the system (MacArthur vs Truman) but they are outranked and can be fired. Several …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

wintermute, �so does this mean that EVERY time we start some ill-planned, unwinnable, and very possibly immoral war (Iraq, Vietnam, various small-scale Central American conflagrations) we are then always bound to follow it to the sad, bloody conclusion?� Where to start? First you�re starting with an awful lot of media influenced assumptions... � ill-planned ? � After the fact I guess we can all pretty much agree on this. Although several experienced and thoughtful military leaders expressed their opposition to the full scale invasion (mainly to having too small a force) Bush let Rumsfeld perform his minimal force experiment. � unwinable? …

Posted to These Guns for Hire

What a bunch of nonsense. You seem to think U.S. kids are raised in total ignorance. ------------------ On the other hand, the parents of these kids are up to their eyeballs in debt with no signs of waking from dreamland. For the last several years people have been playing roulette with the real estate market, adding a new car into the mortgage or taking a car loan for up to 96 months, maxing out their charge cards. I the kids are like the parents, you may be right in your asscessment of their gulibility. There have, however, been enough brave, patriotic …

Posted to Which U.S. military recruiting technique is most alarming?

Hourglass, I think you are expressing the situation of the US military during the Viet Nam era when you say, �the ever growing underclass realize the cards are stacked against them and some even opt for the military as their only hope for a hand up - that�s not new - but should�ve been a thing of the past by now.� Generally it is a think of the past now. The current volunteer military is more highly educated than ever. I�m reasonably sure many of them signed on for the college money thinking they would not be called up for combat …

Posted to Which U.S. military recruiting technique is most alarming?

tallenvt, �A recent study headed by Jay Giedd of the National Institutes of Health using MRI scans shows that the brain of an 18-year-old is not fully developed,� Apparently some brains take a whole lot longer. You may not realize just how many �children� exhibited outstanding competence during WW2. I have several friends who at the age of 18 to 20 commanded and led large groups, flew complicated aircraft, made life and death decisions daily. Without their service it would not be likely for you to express your concern over our exploitation of the �child soldier�. �In Junior ROTC, kids get …

Posted to America's Child Soldier Problem

I'll miss you too, Studs. I'm currently reading what right now is your scariest book, "Hard Times" � talk about those who don't learn from history. My suspicion is you chose to leave rather than watch another re-run. There are still a couple of your books I have not yet read, but with the current state of TV I think I read your last next just to get a hold of some historical perspective. P.S. I hope some of your tapes will be available � uncut � they'd be great! I'll be along before too long.

Posted to Curiosity and a Cat Named Studs

Right on, Wolf I�ve been waiting for someone to challenge this under the First Amendment. If General Pace believes homosexual acts are immoral, he has a right to express his opinion. If someone disagrees with Gen. Pace they also have the right to express theirs. If someone incites people to physically attack either person for their expression of an opinion or any other reason, we already have laws to deal with the problem. It is not only unconstitutional to charge a person for name calling, but IMO, just plain silly. Whatever happened to �Sticks and stones...�, etc.? We have too many …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Jacqueline, So it looks as though you believe that a crime against someone based on a difference of sexual preference, race or other hateful (as opposed to loving?) reason, should receive a more severe punishment. How reasonable is that? All bigots should be punished for their speech. Think about it! That is just another form of bigotry! A crime is a crime and should be punished as such. Enough.

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

I liked John Ireland better as an actor. :-)

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

What we have here is a failure to communicate � � cabdriverinchicago says: �You can�t outlaw hate but you can certainly outlaw violent crimes motivated by hate.� I�m sure we all agree, since we already do this. -------------------- � Wolf says: �Yes i can see where you are coming from. Censorship of what you disagree with, very liberal i suppose. . .� :)� Aunty Rightwing replies: �I do not advocate censorship of those who disagree with me as I�m not a right-winger. That should be obvious given the double entendre in my posting name. Use the dictionary, if you must. I�ve …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Aunty, �I didn�t use a smiley face for my sarcastic comments. I don�t teach elementary school students. Frankly, I�ve found that I only sound pompous to my students who spend their time goofing or lack the ability to comprehend.� re: comprehension� The smiley face comment was to point out to you that Wolf was being sarcastic. (HIS use of a smiley face) I made no reference to elementary students. --------------- �...if you act on those hateful thoughts and hurt others, the penalty will be that much worse. That deters many.� Well, finally it looks as though we have some common ground. …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Aunty Rightwing, OK, if you insist. � The main idea of this article was about the weakness of enforcement and the underreporting of hate crimes. Doesn�t anyone want to talk about why this occurs? No. Not a significant problem relative to the long list out there. � Why aren�t these crimes reported more often? Could it be because so few people, including those who are victims, know the idea is absurd? � Is there, possibly, stigma attached to them? Not as far as I am concerned. � Why are they stigmatized? See above answer. � What is the underlying motive and …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Aunty Rightwing, No, I am not �missing the thrust of the article� � you are missing what I and others are saying � We just totally disagree with the idea that a perpetrator of what is already a crime and punishable as such, should be �declared worse� due to the motive. Murder is a capital offense � so execute the guy if need be. What more do you want � to draw and quarter him? It matters not if they think it is justifiable � not to the victim, not to his family � just to people like you who think, …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Natalie, Wolf, (Natalie � I was confusing you with someone else when I commented this was the first time we have agreed.) Too many good observations from each of you to comment on individually. I too have noticed not only a lot of hate from those claiming to be liberal and compasionate, but a refusal to grant the possibility that any other view could even be civilized or rational. Anty fits right in there. In her mind she is right and that�s final. The extreme left, as evidenced on the hate crime topic, is out to make the rest of us …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

AuntyRW, �Have you ever heard of the term"aggravating factor�? Of course you have. We use it to more severely punish other crimes.� � I believe that option is already available to a judge and jury. -------------------------------- �Probably, but we feel no compunctions about it when it comes to crimes committed under the influence.� � Well, having had experience with a father-in-law who was an alcoholic (a mean drunk, not funny, not just sleepy)I have little regard for the idea that this is now considered a �disease� � BS! The same goes for all the other �addictions� � Telling people it is …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Wolf, He was never caught, so I guess we'll never know for sure. He may not have hated her as much as he loved her car. But he didn't keep the car � it was left in the parking lot next to my office. I'm sure he would never have done any of this if had known there is a law against it. Certainly not if there had been a more severe punishment for calling her some naughty, politically incorrect name. Too bad he didn't stop in at my office to switch her car for mine. At least we would know …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Aunty, Sorry, I�m not just being stubborn � I see no need for additional laws to deal with any crime. The guys in the murder which you described should get the maximum allowable punishment IMO. A judge and jury should be allowed to decide what it will be after hearing the evidence. I certainly can�t see �a drunken lark� excusing anyone or diminishing the verdict. If this crime was under punished then the need is for better qualified judges � �judgment� should not be hampered by predetermined penalties or mandatory sentences. Our criminal system is never going to be perfect. Innocent …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Tex, I live in Illinois which is attached to Chicago (the tail that wags the dog). Chicago has had a gun ban for years with no affect on their crime rate. We and Wisconsin are the only two states which still "protect" their citizens by not allowing honest, law abiding Americans to carry legally. We have several friends in England where they have even made WW2 vets turn in their SMLE rifles or have the barrel plugged (and ruined). Anyone who wants to compete at Olympic target shooting must keep his weapon on the continent and go there to practice. To …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

Aunty, ChrisRico01, We�re just not going to agree that there should be degrees of punishment based on motive. As far as I am concerned beating people, murdering people, or whatever action is already a crime � is absolutely wrong and punishable. �Absolute� does not come in various degrees. Punishment is up to the courts. We don�t need to approve of everyone�s choices or beliefs and they don�t need my approval. We�re free to disagree and to disapprove. The judgment rendered by the court is often, in my opinion, faulty. It only matters to anyone if I happen to be on the …

Posted to Defining Hate in the United States

lams, Don�t get too excited about the Democrats � they are united and have been united on free trade for decades. They are united with Republicans, Wall Street and Big Business and listen only to lobbyists and forked-tongue economists. �The November elections�when 37 House and Senate seats changed from �free trade� to �fair trade��created a Democratic majority that needed to stake out a new position on trade.� is just semantics. There will be talk of tariffs (Currently China taxes our goods at 25% and we tax them at 2.5%.) hearings and a load of BS leading up to the election. We�ll …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

lams, I never had an econ class, but forty years in business gives a pretty good idea of what is workable. When NAFTA was first proposed I suspected it was another case of our elected people swallowing what the experts said with no thinking on their part. That or worse yet, they realized it was good for their contributing base and screw the rest of us. Probably some of each. In the mid 1980s a client whose company was buying fasteners from Asia told me he saw them dumping plating solution out the back door into a rice paddy � think …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

Wethepeople, Over my forty years in business I was approach every few years by the local Chamber of Commerce. Although I investigated the organization, I never saw any reason to join. What I observed here I would expect goes for the top as well. They were pro-whoever can advance their personal careers. Each one followed the same pattern � They had lots of meetings, sought media time to announce formation of the latest task force, primarily pushed membership expansion and left for a larger city as soon as advantageous. When we had serious problems such as a racial discrimination lawsuit in …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

scorp, �We are manufacturing more than we ever have, using fewer employees.� And the American economy is no longer measured in tons of steel or cars produced, but in megabytes of data and technological growth.� Whining about the loss of manufacturing jobs is like crying about the poor saddle makers and buggy whip manufacturers, whose families are starving, or whatever they are doing.� Yes and no... Manufacturing more than ever? Yes, the introduction of robotics has boosted productivity and eliminated huge sums which pension plans and health care for employees caused us to be noncompetitive globally. But OUR manufacturing is now …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

cabby, Your economic views show a reasoned and rational approach, yet we see such a different picture, you and I. You quote: �According to the US Commerce Department...� �According to the FED...� I believe it stems from your acceptance of �official� government data. You may be getting it directly from BLS or US Census websites, or like most people through the big 3 networks, cable news or mainlining the hype at CNBC, but... I almost totally disregard any and all of these sources � especially the short term data. My personal business experience working with company execs on financial reports and …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

Scorp, Do you see the contradiction in what you have just said? � �Manufacturing more than ever? Yes ... � � �But OUR manufacturing is now done largely by cheap, unregulated foreign labor in foreign locations.� There is no contradiction. We may be manufacturing more (the we being US companies), but it is not benefiting the country as a whole. The employees have been the first losers, but any gains made in buying the cheaper imported goods will soon be far exceeded in welfare cost and the taxes to pay for them. � �In 1993 RAM upgrades cost me $45.50/MB and …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

Cabby, Yes, increasingly foreign firms are operating in the US � not all good and not all bad. The auto companies were among the first. Foreign autos began a surge back in the 1970s when US quality was at a low ebb and gas was rapidly rising in price. Good product at the right time. They have gained market share ever since. In 1974 I sold my one-year-old Pontiac LeMans and bought a VW Beetle. I have owned 6 VWs to date, my 1991 Jetta GLI is still fun and economical. VW only lasted a few years in the US (My …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

cabby, What is your point? That FDI is good? OK. But what is the net effect on U.S. workers and consumers? �Trade issues are not as important as FDI which is the core of globalizations dynamic in the last couple decades.� I beg to differ � big time! China�s tariffs on U.S. imports are ten times ours on theirs � 25%/2.5%. U.S. manufacturing firms who were my clients began moving operations (jobs) to Asia in the mid 1980s. All of those companies have now left our city. We are a city of 150,000 and lost 10,000 very well paying mfg. jobs …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

cabby, It looks like we are only debating the definition of �trade�. My view is that the companies now exporting to the US from their own cheap labor foreign facilities claimed they needed to go there in order to compete in the global market � which is all about trade. These trader (traitors) to our people are getting richer every day at the expense of the US middle class. The illegal workers here are making other employers profit by being paid sub-minimum wages and taking work from the lowest economic rungs. Millions were let go over the past 15 to 20 …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

Hi Frog, So you�re seeing the same thing there. I guess while there is �no honor among thieves� they are perfectly willing to adopt each other�s techniques when it comes to personal gain. This will apparently continue until the masses reach equilibrium globally. A former local machine tool exec had an article in our paper yesterday which clearly shows what we average people got in return for real jobs. It reminds me of the story of Jack and the Beanstalk � complete with a scary giant at the other end. http://www.rrstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007105200016 WTH

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

cabdriver, It's good that some legislators at least recognize there is a problem � Sen. Byron Dorgan is the most vocal advocate for the American worker who I have heard and read. I think it is way to late to undo the damage.Too many companies have left the country, too few experienced workers are available to teach the skills and then, the original problem is still going to be there � trying to compete with those who are now producing far cheaper than we can. Not just because of the cost of labor, but due to the uneven load our companies …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

Frog, The EIGERlab mentioned in the article is a nanotech company billed as �A Factory in a Shoe Box�. My efforts to influence my state representative, our mayor and the local business writer have been met with either indifference or outright hostility. All I asked was, �If we were unable to stop the loss of manufacturing by a company like Ingersoll, (who made machines so massive they had to be assembled at the purchaser�s location) how can we protect this new miniature business?� �Dismantling EPA /OSHA and equivalents are on the agenda for the TNC�s, as we see from appointments of …

Posted to Making Trade Work for Everyone

I�ll just skip by the silly comments about our having weapons of any kind while trying to prevent others from getting them. (Those who are the avowed America haters are not signatories to any treaty.) Remember that, "All's fair in love and war" and this ain't about love. ---------------------------------------------------------------- Let�s think about the extreme possibilities here: What if Iran or some other country processing nuclear capability should happen to be seriously considering an attack on the U.S. now or in the future and we are less than totally prepared? � Remember the uproar over the unpreparedness for Katrina? For the 9/11 …

Posted to Duck and Cover

Any attempt to micromanage our military preparedness could lead to our ignoring the advice of professionals and trying to accomplish a major operation without adequate resources. Oh, yeah, Rumsfeld did just that. Too few troops for an all-out invasion (CENTCOM plan was for 500,000). Immediate deployment of the RESERVES (40% of total force) is at least an oxymoron, at worst what we now have. Too little manufacturing capability to provide body armor or replacement parts for Humvees.* * Since both Democrats and Republicans have been enthusiastic supporters of deporting our industries you don�t hear anyone contrasting our WW2 output with our …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, �does anyone actually believe that any nation state, such as Iran, would ever seriously consider attacking the United States and risk a full nuclear reprisal...� Let�s put it in a list of other possible happenings. � Did anyone think a century ago we�d be talking about man-made temperature concerns? � Did anyone think 100 years ago that man was capable of inventing a weapon capable of such massive destruction? � Did anyone think the Soviet Union would attack us if allowed to install ICBMs in Cuba? � Did anyone think 10 years ago a group of radical young men would …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, � The �Iraq War� is as bad a label as �The War on Terror.� We need to remember this is not a nation versus nation conflict like World Wars I & II, or the Cold War. We are in Iraq (big mistake) and now verbally jousting with Iran (�all options are on the table") and others due to the radical Islamic actions of the last several decades (perhaps even longer). The countries who have given financial support, weapons or allowed training of terrorists to be carried on within their borders are a problem, but not THE primary problem � they�re …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, I�ll go with your last question first � �...what about Bush appealed to you twice?� I would never vote for anyone based on his religion. Nothing really appealed to me about either of the Bushes. Gore and Kerry just had no appeal either. Gore is two-faced about ecology with stupid �offsets� and as much tied to the oil industry as Bush. I didn�t trust Kerry anymore than I now trust Bush, but for different reasons. I even considered not voting, but old habits die hard. I can�t refute the idea that a lot of countries have a low opinion of …

Posted to Duck and Cover

David, U.S. integrity, intentions or whatever: �How do you measure it?� Certainly not by media reports or political polling. The same media sources which were gung ho during the invasion are now hyper critical of our being there. They do little investigating and a lot of pandering. If we leave this mess as it is, they will also decry that 24/7. I�m reading a very interesting book, �The Black Swan�, by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. He points out the human tendency to attribute cause to everything and how we over simplify everything. This is only one of many traits and habits he …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, I wish I could give you workable and meaningful answers. I can�t. I have come to believe that there aren�t necessarily answers to all problems. It seems as though we (mankind) have come to assume that we could or should be able to �do it right.� Mostly we do this when something seems so stupid after the fact. We aren�t too good at prediction. As Yogi Bera is supposed to have said, �It is hard to predict things, especially about the future. � I know many people think Bush lied, purposely distorted information and anything else to �justify� going into …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, Tex, �I think what you express is a growing frustration being felt by more and more Americans over the lack of real dialogue. We have no outlet for our angst and seem to have no power.� You are certainly describing my feelings, dcosby and it appears to be so with Tex too. It is physically impossible for even the most diligent elected representative to read the inflow of communication from us, but their canned replies are so skewed to match polls and media blather that it is insulting to our intelligence. While I don�t swallow much of the reporting we …

Posted to Duck and Cover

dcosby, re-illusionment? I�ll just apply it to the war. We are not alone in our feelings that our country has not lived up to expectations. While I put little faith in polls when making choices, I do believe they are fairly accurate in measuring emotion. The media is pervasive. We are affected in subtle and insidious ways. They like to keep it simple � black or white, good or bad, right or wrong. We need to keep an open mind, remember human failings are not always conspiratorial or sinister. Keep a sense of proportion � 3,000 casualties are bad, but in …

Posted to Duck and Cover

Terry Allen says, �The problem with pet food�whether it�s ground steak or chopped rectum, sawdust or grain filler�is that with FDA approval...� But... we are ignoring the biggest problem here � the FDA itself. The �approval� she mentions is largely implicit. I recently read the FDA inspects only ONE PERCENT of the pet food. Within the past year the FDA did a self test and gave itself only a 33 percent grade! We�re talking HUMAN food here! Now I am not one who believes the government should be deeply involved in our individual lives, however, while we�ve been busy passing seat …

Posted to Poisoning Pets with Industrial Food

bostonblackie & mike, Thanks to both of you for the complimentary comments. It�s nice to hear, but I can�t get too puffed up since the intellectual competition here has been pretty weak lately. (Just kidding � don�t anyone get all buzzed off.)

Posted to Poisoning Pets with Industrial Food

Ask a silly question... �How do you classify and develop policy toward an organization that has committed acts of terrorism in the past, that currently provides important social services such as health care, schools and financial services, that defends its country from occupation in the south, and that plays by the rules in official Lebanese national politics (and thereby exercises democratic principles in a region with a less than stellar democratic record)?� Funny, this description would have fit Nazi Germany, but we didn�t wonder how it should be dealt with. Next question.

Posted to Deconstructing Hezbollah

Suggestion: In case there is still any question... For details on how to deal with Hezbollah, contact the widows, children and parents of the 241 Marines.

Posted to Deconstructing Hezbollah

Blackie, Would you have felt the same way if they had been U.N. "peacekeeping" troops sent to Lebanon to put down a civil war?

Posted to Deconstructing Hezbollah

Why is it that I am still surprised by the loaded questions in your polls? Maybe it is because they are getting even more so. I have noticed a dwindling interest by other readers. Probably since there is nothing worth discussing.

Posted to What do you think of the U.S. attorney scandal?

Hi there, Hourglass, I guess we can always find something to discuss � silly me :-) What bothered me about the questions most was that I just came from my Center for Learning in Retirement discussion group where I heard the same kind of foregone conclusions to nearly every topic. What I found most interesting there (and here) is how selectively their method of validation is applied. Examples: Validation by current consensus � The Al Gore movie, �An Inconvenient Truth�� "More than 900 scientists agree that human behavior is causing the rise in temperature." Katrina, Columbine, Virginia Tech � Political/Media saturation …

Posted to What do you think of the U.S. attorney scandal?

hourglass, My point was actually about the risk in favoring consensus to determine truth. The thing I found interesting about your reply � even though I agree with the possibility, or even likelihood of some of it � is that most of what you say either is, or has been the consensus reported in the media. Think about how consensus is often formed today. Repetition of dubious or unsubstantiated reports and polls. The importance to be first with a story and nearly everyone repeating the same story for days on end. The desire to please their majority audience � political (left …

Posted to What do you think of the U.S. attorney scandal?

I have been receiving my prescriptions from the VA since before 9/11. Since then the cost has more than doubled (that�s OK � still a good deal), but the work load placed on the doctors and staff has grown immensely. The people at the VA do what they can with what they are allotted. Reneging on these contracts fits right in with the Walter Reed mess. This is a national shame. For the individuals being gypped I suggest working through an existing veterans� organization such as the VFW, American Legion or Viet Now. To organize a new Iraq/Afghanistan group will take …

Posted to GI Bill Fails Vets

Kuya, �When the recruiter tries the sell-job, stay skeptical. The recruiter gets paid, and receives bonuses, based on the number of newbies he or she can convince to sign the dotted line.� Good advice. In fact it is good for almost any situation. Always ask yourself, �Whose interest is this person going to look out for?� Stock brokers, car salesmen, insurance agents, CNBC, that pharmaceuticals ad � all try to make you feel confident they have your future at the forefront of their concerns. Back in the 1950s, when I went into the army, recruiters said, �If you go RA (Regular …

Posted to GI Bill Fails Vets

Kuya, Aunty, The explosives were able to be stolen because we had only enough forces to rush into the oil fields before Saddam blew them. According to Gen. DeLong, second in command of CENTCOM under Gen.Tommy Franks we managed to prevent all but two from blowing. There were around 5,000 wells with charges. This also allowed the looting to take place. Remember the TVs and other stuff taken during the US rioting in the '60s? I guess Rummy didn't. Gen. Michael DeLong also says in his book (A General Speaks Out: The Truth About the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq ) …

Posted to GI Bill Fails Vets

Having read other articles by Mr. Muwakkil, there was nothing here which I found particularly new or surprising. I fully expect most ITT writers and reader responses to be highly critical of the U.S. on any issue. Why should Africa be treated differently? He wrote, �America�s new Africa initiatives are driven by the same concerns as the imperialism of the past: unrestricted access to the continent�s resources and geopolitical advantage over perceived enemies.� This one passage pretty well sums up his position. Rather than list the points in the article with which I either disagree or detect no attempt at objectivity, …

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

Iams, Keep writing. You've begun to sway my anti-abortion stance. Maybe there are times it would have been the better "choice."

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

Iams, "I do desire we may become better strangers."

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

Wolf, Africa should just ban guns! Wait a minute � last night I watched a program about Liberia where they hacked a guy to death with machetes. They should ban machetes, and clubs, and stones... Hmmm, even in the natural state there may be problems we can't fix. Could that be?

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

This post is starting to sound like a bunch of presidential hopefuls. Looking forward to the �debates�?

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

BM, Yes, you're right. My appologies to each of you. In a sense I was actually upgrading those who are running, contemplating a run or thinking of announcing the formation of a committee to determine whether a run for it would be of an advantage to them in some obscure way. We really need to draft someone who does not want the job, but has a strong sense of duty and honor.

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

BM, Goldwater got my vote without reservation. He would not have sent troops to Viet Nam. Remember the joke of the day? "If you vote for Goldwater we'll have 500,000 troops in Veit Nam!" "I voted for Goldwater and sure enough we got a half million troops in Veit Nam. Goldwater spoke straight out and got creamed. Johnson was accomplished at "D.C. double-speak" � and, of course, got elected. ----------------- I know you are opposed to the military in general, but stupid undermanned and over publicized excursions like the current one are enough to discourage almost everyone. You don�t need to …

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

BM, You might find this interesting � Goldwater's comments on campaign length. ----------------------------- http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-libres0407,0,3211274.column Jimmy Breslin Let's crack this case together

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

Iams says, �BM & WTH: Collaborating on the time and place for the next KKK meeting???� Or do you guys consider yourselves more of the neo-nazi type of racist???� What the hell set you off? Neo-Nazi? It�s impossible to follow your train of thought or where it comes from. On the other hand � Iams? � Aren�t you one of those cans of dog food which is contaminated? I guess that accounts for the limited vocabulary and civility. I think you belong at the current article, �Poisoning Pets with Industrial Food�, By Terry J. Allen.

Posted to Globalism with Combat Boots

Honeychrome, Yes, we have a potential problem of finite resources and virtually no limit to population and consumption. However, so far natural and man-made disasters have kept the overall problem from becoming critical. When I was young, over population was the �Global Warming Scare� of the day. By 2000 it was said we would be unable to feed the huge numbers. As with all crises this is partly true. There are areas which can�t be fed. Mostly because of human intervention preventing humanitarian aid � not due to a total population or lack of food. As usual the human factor prevails. …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

LB, �Yes, your cynicism is sure. So utter and complete.� So absolute and un-nuanced.� In other words, it is the very recipe for the paralysis and inaction of which you despair.� I didn�t give them the recipe. I�m just reporting my perusal of the menu. With no help from me � they�ve cooked the books, fattened their own incomes, passed out �Pork� and sandwiched in a number of perks. (I�d really like to see them stew in their own juice.) Incumbency brings its own reward, so why should they change anything? (It�s time they got their just desserts.) Do your comments …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

Loonymess, Your nasty, pompous, reply reveals your simplistic approach as � Make lots of noise, then rally around the petition until they pass legislation which will make you feel as if at least something has been accomplished. I notice you neatly avoided dealing with the real problem I highlighted � getting the 1 billion person polluter to jump on the green wagon. China is buying up all the coal she can get. The air in the big cities there is already three times acceptable levels of pollution. They have only begun to join the global market and are not prone to …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

LB, I can see from your last post just how you can manage to be optimistic. � Kyoto: �... they (China) are signatories to Kyoto...� (They get a free pass on regulations � The U.S. does not.) �...and their responsibilities will increase as does their economic position.� (Yes, Dear, of course I�ll love you in the morning.) The West is so enamored with the prospect of a billion �customers� they are wetting their pants. China�s offenses have been overlooked at every turn. The past three U.S. administrations have gone over to straighten them out on violations of property rights, trade barriers …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

LB, You are easily convinced (providing it�s what you want to hear). Only a few years back, China is where they were shooting their own citizenry in the street for doing just what you advocate for us to do here � trying to pressure the leaders. They were able to get U.S. tech companies' cooperation to limit internet information going into China � but you are willing to accept whatever data they allow to go out as truth! RNC pain: The congressional internal �struggles� between parties are kabuki for people like you. The sad thing is too many of you guys …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

JB, If we are going to stay at all near the ITT topics � there is nothing beautiful. Sturgeon's Law is an optimistic view of congress. Yesterday I watched Sen. Dorgan and Sen. Brown making the case for a turn around of US economic policy � they are among fewer than 10 percent who are in tune with reality. IMO they were speaking to a less than half full chamber. And your opinion?

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

LB, "At least you benefitted from their remarks, I trust?" No, not really. You see, part of the reason I am fed up with congress, US political parties et al, is I have written scores of letters, emails since NAFTA went up for a vote in 1993. They went to not only my "representatiives", but to many others, as well as all major financial pubs, the AFL-CIO � anyone I could think of who might be able to get the attention of powerful structure. The unions told me to mind my own business (which of course was dwindling with the globalization …

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

LB, The beauty is I am done working and I made it to Social Security/Medicare just as my last client packed up their stock options and bonuses and went out the door. Now I'm going out to work in my garden. (also beautiful)

Posted to Global Warming: Dim Bulbs, Bright Lights

Biofuel, wind, or whatever � this topic is a governmental/political dream. It is complex enough that most people won�t care enough to deeply investigate (put media in that list) and statistics can be batted around creating the illusion of wisdom. Legislation can be passed to make us feel better about it and any definitive effect will take so long that incumbency will reign. This is true with the current push to use corn. The candidates (or in this case the president) can gain support from those who benefit financially in the short term � AND the rest of us who will …

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

David, I agree totally with what you posted, �You are looking only at one side of the equation.� Government programs usually ignore the side effects. To favor one special interest group usually distresses others. Pork for a representative�s constituents detracts from someone else�s. I believe the author�s subtitle is illustrative of misplaced faith. Moberg asserts: �The answer depends on how governments regulate the industry.� (I think he sees government as part of the solution, while I usually see them a big part of the problem.) Governmental regulation of industry often perpetuates/exacerbates the problem. The subsidizing of ANY commodity, product or process …

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

Correction: I see I addressed this to "David" � I meant to send to Ron. (Wish I coud use the EDIT feature, but not Mac OS 9.2 friendly.)

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

Mike, I can't see how anything similar to the Interstate system could be done without central (in this case federal) overall planning, but there is no reason why it couldn't be privately run. The Eurpean rail system is far superior to ours. (At least it was ten years ago in Germany, Austria and Great Britain.) We had a good rail system at one time which operated with little government meddling. Does California still have higher environmental standards which increase the per gallon price? I once bought a used car from California (about 1967) which had some kind of EPA device not …

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

Mike, re: Destruction of former passenger rail � I guess we can blame the government for allowing the railroads to �prove� it was no longer being used. The mother of a good friend had a lifetime rail pass due to her late husband having worked for the Burlington RR. She used to visit here by rail until the only connection required her to go to the middle of a huge freight yard (on foot, no building, just a small open sided shelter) at 4 AM to catch a train. Proof enough for approval to cancel passenger service. We used to take …

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

Mike, I�ve always hated laws like the seat belt mandate and now the car seats for kids � not that I don�t think belts and seats are a good idea � I installed seat belts in our 1955 Chevy front and back. I just think people should have the right to do stupid things. I got to the point of switching channels or hitting the mute button really soon with the Imus stuff. (I have it on mute a lot and turn it on if something looks interesting.) I also think people should have the right to sayand do stupid things. …

Posted to Biofuels: Promise or Peril?

It is so tempting to sound authoritarian on such a �heated� topic � and not difficult to arouse people on something which will be unproved in our lifetimes. One of the advantages of growing old is being able to remember so many terrible disasters which never came to be. � It was either TIME or NEWSWEEK which in 1950 (or there abouts) predicted that by 2000 the �Population Explosion� would have us all standing shoulder to shoulder. � The Soviet Union and the U.S. would unite to fight off the hoards of Chinese military as they launched a move to take …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

Jon B, Well, we�re in agreement that this should be addressed by scientists. Obviously you have been interested enough to read a good deal of the competing theories. (more than I have) I have read about most of what you point out here, but have read nearly as much (non-media hyped�more scientific) in opposition to the urgent arguments as in favor. I am consistently skeptical of nearly everything which gets the kind of media attention this has. I suggest that some of your comments are media influenced, for example: � �By FAR, most climate scientists consider it man-made...� How many climatologists …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

Jon B, johndoraemi, Mike, I have no quarrel with studying the issue to determine if there is a genuine problem and to seek a solution if need be. My objection is in the attempt to rush spending $ billions of dollars, limit products and processes which may not contribute to temperature change and all the political/media blather passed on to us as gospel. The Gore movie, regardless of how many scientists chime in, is a political ploy at best or a �Don�t forget about ME!� cry from a failed pro-pol. The carbon credits crap is like someone who maxes out the …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

Mike, Thanks for the book title. Capitlism is getting a bad rap these days just like guns. Neither is good nor bad apart from the people involved with them, but are such convenient scapegoats. Pople need to make time to think rather than just react as the media so often does.

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

It seems to me the most important questions are whether or not man made factors are the primary cause of any warming and whether man should tinker with it. If people had screwed around with temperatures a while back, we'd be shoveling huge piles of dinosaur crap off the lawn each morning. Every time some massive government-designed solution is enacted to deal with a problem � mankind only succeeds in creating several more problems. (Read Jacques Barzun, �Science the Grand Entertainment.�) Can�t you just hear what it would be like for 2000 respected scientists who get a call to solve this …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

Jon B, Come on, I know there were no human beings around with the dinosaurs, except for Fred and Wilma. (It was a bit of sarcasm) I�m just tired of all the BS from Gore fans talking about Scientific Consensus � as if it were (a.) a fact (b.) important. Consensus is a political feature (even then seldom intelligent). The law of gravity was not decided by a show of hands. No matter how many �experts� line up on either side of this topic the truth is not going to be affected, but political policies will. Think of how long consensus …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

sceneshistoriques, Well, you totally missed my point � � First of all let me say I�m totally against government subsidies. You actually gave a good example of what I was trying to point out to Jon B � government programs as subsidies to these fossil fuel companies are a cause of more trouble than they are worth. Whether subsidies of cash payments to big oil or subsidies of illegal immigrants to big growers, the problems continue to multiply. In our city we have federally subsidized buses which must be at least a given size to qualify � the result is gas …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

Jon B, I stand by my analogy regarding consensus � no matter what people claim to be the �consensus� it does not make it the �truth.� In addition no one will be able to enforce any restriction coming from such a consensus. Wars are even messier. If you want me to stick closer to the original topic, OK � the assault on science regarding global warming is a two front war. People on both sides are claiming the high ground without really preparing a battle plan. They are just hollering, �Follow me!� I don�t believe it is as simple as VTer …

Posted to Resisting the War on Science

So, you say, �Guilt is the primary reason white Americans prefer to look away from the abomination of race-based slavery that laid the foundation for this nation�s wealth and implanted enduring notions of white supremacy.� Sorry, but it�s not so with many of us. (I will not assume, as the author, to know what all other �white Americans� may think.) The fact is, while I do see huge racial problems in the U.S., I seldom think about slavery at all. I never owned a slave. (You never were a slave.) As far as I know my ancestors did not own slaves. …

Posted to Slavery and the State of Denial

Mr. Sirota, There is a difference between a democracy and a republic. Thank goodness we are a republic and not run by a simple majority vote (which the internet now very easily could tally). Had we been a pure democrracy on 9-12-01 we might well have voted to, "Nuke the bastards!" As it is now, however, whoever gets the PR & Lobbying machine running most effectively can sway our elected representatives and our easily duped citizenry. That is, if they can lure them away from American Idol and present their own vitual reality program.

Posted to Democracy Haters

Iams, Mike, While Americans continue to play the �Who-is-the-Most-to-Blame-Game� our country is going down in flames. One thing radicals (Muslim or otherwise) have is � enough unity to get something done. Neither major US party exists in its traditional form anymore. Democrats are not backing democracy and Republicans no longer represent �We the People.� Both are beholding to those special interest groups with the biggest budgets. Just look at the payoffs this past week in the War Budget Blather � the price of a single vote was outrageous! That�s where inflation is rampant! While the DC kabuki plays on for public …

Posted to Democracy Haters

VTer, Well, you have much more confidence in high school graduates than I. The last I heard most of them didn�t know who was vice president and without their calculator couldn't give you the square root of 4. At any rate just look at the quality of discussion/debate at this website (Iam & Blondemike) if you think the �will of the people� is any criteria of how major decisions should be made. I�ll grant that congress has been at least as bad as the executive branch, but I doubt there is a form of government capable of dealing with the speed …

Posted to Democracy Haters

VTer, You are indeed fortunate to have excellent schools. After federally mandated busing (to achieve racial balance) for over 30 years, everyone who can afford to has sent their kids to private schools here. The gang problems continue to grow and we�ve had cops on hall duty for decades. Kids graduate, but the level of learning under such conditions is minimal. The lawsuit cost was in the hundreds of millions and the educational quality is worse than I ever thought possible. My wife and I have both been volunteers � she in grade school and I in high school, but no …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Wolf, I�m in northern Illinois � When I graduated from our schools 50 years ago a diploma from here was accredited at any college in the U.S. Many friends were teachers in the �60s and �70s, but most took early retirement when offered due to the conditions which followed the lawsuit. Even the man who initiated the suit became disgusted with the handling by the federal court � only the Chicago lawyers made out. (Taxpayers even had to pay the law firm for the time it took to tally their bill � no kidding!) Since then, there has been virtually no …

Posted to Democracy Haters

BM, Rkfd Institute: Like so many � they have good intensions and we know where that leads --------------------------. The suit: There were some legitimate complaints, but fed intervention was a disaster. All form and no substance. The operation was a success (we finally met the numbers racially) but the patient died. Our best teachers quit. Our taxes went up. Feel good programs were instituted. Good programs were dropped. Some of the newer schools were closed. New ones built. In my opinion there is more anti-black feeling as a result of the special treatment brought on by fear of more gov. involvement. …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Hi, LB. Been a long time. I do think our system is top heavy with administrative jobs and the salaries those jobs pay. I don�t think it is anywhere near 90% � that is outrageous � better to divide up the funds and let people hire tutors. I know some special arts and other programs have been instituted and have no problem with that, but I have also heard sad stories of kids graduating without being able to read above a grade school level or balance a checkbook. Some local companies had started to teach basics like reading in order to …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Mike, Iams, re: education � Actually, the father who instituted the suit had some legitimate concerns regarding the conditions at his kid�s school � the building and equipment as well as the inexperience of the staff. I don�t recall (if I in fact ever knew) the details of his approach to the problems � but if the school board and he could have developed a plan to fix it without resorting to the courts, everyone and especially the students would have been better off. As it turned out quite early in the process he backed away from the Chicago attorneys and …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Mike, I think I first heard of Adler in connection with the Great Books. I have read a couple of his books including Aristotle for Every Man and I think I may have read a biography, but it may have been bio info in one of his other books. An interesting person to listen to on a wide range of subjects (he was on Chicago radio quite often). His thinking was far more independent than most, but his one-world views, as with all of those socialist dreamers, ignores basic human traits (both the good and the bad) � love, hate, greed, …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Mike, Sailor�s account of the Obama �Dream� book is about what I got from reading between the lines several in several reviews. I voted for him in the primaries for his last election � as usual the opposition was pathetic � I seldom vote FOR anyone due to the poor selections on the menu. He is obviously more intelligent than the average candidate, but then, so was Bill Clinton. He is politically savvy (or possibly street wise), but I hope there is more to him than the superficial picture in his books. I honestly think it is too soon for him …

Posted to Democracy Haters

Great polling! You left out when did you stop beating your wife?

Posted to What's Bush's biggest lie so far?

How much? Difficult to quantify. My early upbringing involved Christian teachings which doubtless maintain an effect on my ethical views. My judgment of a candidate, a policy or governmental action (more often inaction) is closely tied to what I believe to be the "right" thing to do. I have no desire to change anyone�s religious beliefs and resent anyone trying to impose theirs on me. I have come to my own view over a long period of examination and am comfortable with my conclusions. I believe the �church and state� objections are seldom valid and oppose the banning of such things …

Posted to How much does religion shape your political views?

Over or not, productivity certainly has been OVERRATED! Let�s take a look at two points from the article: 1. Productivity growth... �It measures the value of goods and services produced in an hour of work.� 2. � While everyone knows that computers and information technology were central in this boom, computers (even PCs) had been around for decades without having any measurable impact on productivity growth.� What has accounted for the increase/decrease in the productivity numbers? To look good, companies, financial gurus, government agencies can simply use a new yardstick. Official data measuring has changed over the past couple of decades …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Wolf, I seem to recall the two of us having this exchange before. My recent experience (bad) versus your experience (good). We are better off in many ways than 100 years ago, but I maintain we are not as well off in general as thirty or forty years ago�more taxes, fewer benefits, lower quality job prospects. I think the author was writing about even more recent times. The numbers reliability will decide the outcome. I see the 4.5% number as a real low ball and not just because I live in a rust belt state. Job quality is talked about in …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Wolf, Here is an article on the current job market � March 15, 2007. http://www.cepr.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1082&Itemid=77 Over 40 million U.S. Jobs�� 1 in 3�� Pay Low Wages

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

IMO Productivity has always been the only legitimate way to �earn� more money for any given task. I mean really EARN it. Pay as a reward for longevity, as a thank you for loyal service and hard work are �feel good� measures and, while nice, are inflationary and may become seen as entitlements. When I left my last job (1966) which had a single boss (the studio owner) I knew I was producing twice what he was, but making less than one-third what he was billing me for. His only cost was my per hour cost � I was turned down …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

cabby, That day will come when workers can afford to buy more congressmen than CEOs can. Instead of political willl we have an over abundance of "political won't". Notice how few soloists we have on any issue � the Iraq war, health care, Social Security reform, the economy � everyone joins the chorus, but each wants to direct.

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Mike, You never heard anything from me about productivity being more important than customer demand. My only point on productivity is that it is the only reasonable measure for increasing pay for a given job. There is no single reason why products and services sell and the reasons fluctuate. Supply and demand are basic, but as you point out producing unwanted items are going to leave you with a large rotting inventory. To sell you must do it at a price the customer is willing to pay for an item he needs or wants, of a quality which is as good …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Caro, Mike, �....it�s a rigged market.� (Caro) �If there IS rigging it is due to government intervention that favor some interests at the expense of the rest.� (Mike) --------------------------- Exactly! Congress, big business, several presidential administrations, Wall Street gurus, economists, CNBC and a media willing to babble on with whatever it is fed � all continually intervene and promote in their own interests. All of the above have acted in concert to enact legislation and policies most favorable to a select few. The individual tax breaks get all the controversy and divert attention from the massive moves such as he American …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Which side are we on? To paraphrase William Jefferson Clinton, �I guess it depends on which �we� WE is.� Is it still, �We the people of these United States of America...�? I�m posting this same commentary on a couple of threads here because they are in a very real way each part of the same national problem � that of deciding just who is the �WE� today. The issues of productivity, medical care, income inequality are all interrelated. These issues, which greatly matter to millions of us, go unaddressed while congress diddles with high visibility investigations of great interest to the …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Wolf, I have related a bit of my own experience and that of my youngest son � both graphic designs and illustrators � our diminishing value was due to a number of factors, but primarily the computerization of the graphics business, the addition of world wide price competition through the internet and the effects of globalization on our clients. I have a list of over 50 people (who I know) that have lost their jobs, their businesses, their benefits, or all of these. They span the U.S. and include machinists, architects, a TV producer, a bank trust officer, several salesmen, engineers.... …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Cabby, �My stats are not bogus. They are from the Congressional Budget Office.� ------------------------------ For your consideration: JUICED NUMBERS - How the Government Gets the Statistics It "Wants," Markets Get Manipulated, and Citizens Get Deluded, and Worse http://www.financialsense.com/fsu/editorials/2006/0325.html --------------------- I find the hedonic adjustments to be especially creative.

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Wolf, Agreed � not good business, but many business decisions are made more for an immediate individual benefit than for the good of the company. For example: If the boss says our department needs to cut our budget by ten percent cutting the person making the most money (and sales) might get it done. Showing good numbers in the short term is often done at the expense of the long term. He gets promoted for giving a good employee the gate. Government is notorious for such shortsightedness. In Illinois about 15 years ago more than 400,000 mental patients who were judged …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Cabby, Globalization is not new. Columbus and other explorers engaged in globalization as has every major nation throughout history. What is new is the manipulation by the U.S. campaign to use it as a ploy for restructuring our society to the benefit of an elite few. Every day when I hear/read the latest political and economic spin I can�t help comparing our life today with the foresight of Aldous Huxley in his book, �Brave New World.� I reread it and his later one, �Brave New World Revisited� last year � wow! There are so many parallels it is uncanny. One similarity …

Posted to Productivity: Is The Boom Over?

Well, Barbara, I can't take congress seriously in suits and ties, so maybe their painted faces and dancing up and down the aisles would help. Naaa :-)

Posted to Reclaiming What Makes Us Human

Dear Congressman Sanders: I am addressing you through this website because I have a better chance of you actually seeing it here than by any other avenue. As your website states: �...Vermonters receive highest priority. If you are not from Vermont, the sheer volume of email we receive means you might not get a personal response, but we do review each email.� While this is understandable and you do have a phone number listed, it is nearly impossible for any ordinary citizen to communicate with his own or any elected representative. Your stated ideas of increased assistance to low and middle …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

BM, �...there�s nothing with the tax cuts, the rich pay much more so naturally they get more back. Basic economics. I�m tired of little guys like you whining about a fair shake.� By God, Mike, (though I�m agnostic) are you naive on the big boys and taxes. When the Kennedys sold the Merchandise Mart in Chicago back somewhere in the 1970s(?) � I learned I (�a little guy�) was paying more income tax than Teddy was. CEO pay already IS an issue with government, whether you think it should be or not. Who do you think sets the big boys up …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

BM, I know we're closer on economic issues than on most others. It looks like the left/ right, conservative/liberal tags may be another. IMO, the extremes of neither group are very liberating � the "left" wants our guns, the "right" wants our souls as trophies. (or stars in their crown) Neither is truly conserving anything. The "liberals" want to protect snail darters, spotted owls and whales � causing a rush into corn-fed fuel and the inflating of beef, chicken, and everything else corn related. The "conservatives" (who have already spent way beyond our means) will pay subsidies for a less efficient …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Tigertiger, �Maybe dumblondemike thinks no one out here reads Chomsky. The only way Chomsky could have endorsed those comments is at gunpoint.� I think it safe to assume many people at this site have read Chomsky. (Also, Mike has a .357 � soooo? :-) It is only common sense to know some government regulation is necessary to establish and maintain any society. The key is: who decides, how much is regulated, for what reason, and whose benefit. Our resent spinach problem revealed we only �think� we have an FDA protecting us. Security and a sense of security are not the same. …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, As an author, surely you must favor copyright protection. As a gun owner � The Bill of Rights. As someone who one way or another moves from place to place � streets and highways. All require government spending to some degree. No taxes no more of many things.

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, The Bill of Rights came to us from what was a recently established government. It has been defended by government established courts and taught by various levels of government supported education. It will continue to be a meaningful guide to the rights of people as long as we, the people, maintain a watchful eye on those we allow to govern. When Government (capital G) fails � it is OUR failure. Like government, capitalism is neither inherently good nor evil. Problems come from the monolithic power acquired when the two are united rather than maintaining vigilance over each other. The bribery …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, If you think you can get anything from China through the WTO you are sorely mistaken. Ask New Balance Shoe. Dulles may have made such an assertion re int'l law - it does not make it so. and certainly not after after half a century. Think about it. Who will enforce the law? The UN had 12 years to straighten out Saddam and did nothing. They've been "monitoring" the Middle East while death and destruction go on all around them. Talk about Keystone Cops! As for Nazi Germany's gov. I was only speaking of the US. Whoever or whatever brought …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, If you consider the Bill of Rights as brought about by private individuals at the Constitutional Convention "trying to limit government", are you claiming these individuals were NOT voting delegates? If they were in fact voting delegates, then they were a part of a governing body. There is nothing which prevents government from trying to limit government � that is what the balance of powers is all about. If you are going to "prove" goverment is unnecessary and can be replaced by "private" means � you can hardly refer to a governmental action in your evidence. All or nothing is …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Which side are we on? To paraphrase William Jefferson Clinton, �I guess it depends on which �we� WE is.� Is it still, �We the people of these United States of America...�? I�m posting this same commentary on a couple of threads here because they are in a very real way each part of the same national problem � that of deciding just who is the �WE� today. The issues of productivity, medical care, income inequality are all interrelated. These issues, which greatly matter to millions of us, go unaddressed while congress diddles with high visibility investigations of great interest to the …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, Shareholders have about as much chance of influencing management of a company as you or I have of getting an audience with W in the oval office. Most companies of any size are dominated by institutional sales. Even the relativelly small companies for whom I designed annual reports went from largely local ownership they had in 1980 to 60% fund ownership by 2000. These fund managers don't give a damn about anything but looking good on their next wage/salary review. They don't really even care what a company does as long as the numbers are good. At first sign of …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, Bankruptcy, if it ever had a legitimate reason for being, has long since become a tool of convenience. If a person or company does not honor voluntary agreements it should be made known to everyone. Eddie Richenbacher paid off every cent he owed when his automobile company folded. He then went on to found Eastern Airlines. In his mind he owed people, so he paid them. It was as simple as that. I soon learned not everyone in business was that honest and was cautious before doing business with new clients. In forty years I had only a little over …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

This is not a left or right managed economy it has been a joint venture for years. Unfortunately, the concentration of wealth is allowing the creation of jobs where the greatest benefit to the employers happens to be � everywhere but the U.S. The falling dollar (never mind the strong dollar BS) is going to make the current price of gasoline look like a bargain. Anything denominated in dolars _ oil, gold, corn, iis going to go sky high in short order. The fed talks about inflation as it continues to crank the dollar presses. The should tighten, but know that …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Pretty clear whose side in this case. This morning I saw an article on recent changes of disclosure in executive pay and benefits. Anything more than $10,000 must be reported. John Brock, of Coca-Cola Enterprises was reimbursed $50,000 in attorneys� fees � paid to them for negotiating Mr. Brock�s pay package with the company. The guardians of the owners� interests paid the opposition for working a deal favorable to the employee they were hiring. (Read �Perfectly Legal� by Peterson.) In other words the board (the Foxes in charge of watching out for the chickens) paid the �thieves� for stealing from them. …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Mike, (For some reaon I cannot get back into the discussion on Counterinsugency 101, so I�m posting this here.) Step back and take a look at what you are claiming here: � That moving them to Syria bullshit never had any basis in reality and is only the pathetic fallback line of the last ditch Bush apologists. � The ONLY suicide bombers Hussein gave money to were Palestinians fighting against the brutal Israeli Occupation. � Robert Fisk has had a much better track record than the discredited neocon sources that you cite and to whom for some inexplicable reason you give …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Cabby, Mike, This AM Citigroup announced plans �...to shed thousands of jobs and sharpen its focus on its operations outside North America.� The 10,000 initial jobs are what you can bet is only the beginning. They employ 325,000 globally and claim the move will net them $1 billion in �savings.� (I wonder who�ll get the savings.) ----------------- (Again posting here by default.) I couldn�t receive the whole message and not sure who from, but... re: China � Yes, they spend far less as a percentage of their GDP on military, but then they don�t need to waste time and money on …

Posted to Which Side Are We On?

Health care arguments often divide along lines such as: Who should pay? We don�t want �socialized medicine.� Our system is already the best in the world, that�s why it costs the most. Blah, blah, blah. With the current flap over the military care it is hard to argue for government provided anything. But we WILL pay one way or another. The accepted idea is that a group of people spreads risk and makes cost bearable for the whole group. Good in theory � poor in practice. As a one-person business I had only major medical insurance for our family of four. …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Imagination needed... What if instead of constantly attacking/defending socialized medicine or private, we do a combo? This is in fact what eventually comes to be even where government health care has existed for generations. Our friends in England have resorted to private clinics when National Health moved too slow for their ailments. Canadians who can afford it have come to the US for MRIs, elective surgery, etc. due to overloading or non-availablity. If insurance companies were required to actually �pool� those in medical need with the well, the numbers would allow a fair profit and make more individuals able to provide …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Mike, In a totally privitized society where would a black or illegal siick person go for help? A poor person or even just one unwilling to pay the charges if the unregulated health facilities decided to establish very high prices? With a privitized police department and justice system what would another health provide do if willing to provide cheaper care, but was a very poor shot (or reluctant to defend his busiiness plan)? I just seems to me that certian aspects call for an agency (even though imperfect) of such a magnitude that private enterprise is impractiical. FDA, Justice, transportation safety, …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Mike, In a sense you are correct � a doctor may need to be a business person. Even if working within an institution he cannot indefinitely give away his services. Either he personally would be overwhelmed with charity patients or the hospital would be. However, a person can often make occupational choices for reasons other than simply monitary. My mother became a teacher (which did not pay well) because she loved kids. I chose to stay in my home town when I could easily have earned double by moving to a large city. Both my wife and I were only children, …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Cabby, �Wages are not just the �price of labor� they are how the majority of people are able to live. Obviously markets don�t determine their rate and never have.� Most people are paid wages � agreed. Markets don�t determine their rate � ? Sorry, the market ultimately determines the value of everything. Attempts to control markets succeed for a time, but that which people (the market) are willing to pay for goods and services ALWAYS will eventually decide. I made a very good living from the mid 1950s to the early/mid 1990s as a graphic designer and illustrator. My son now …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Cabbie, It is the over supply of world labor which alllows the wealthy to ignore the middle and lower class. It is the oversupply of demand (billions of people comprising the global market) which allows them to ignore domestic demand. The U.S. consumer (70% of the U.S. economy) is no longer the primary customer for much of the corporate class. We have no cllout.

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

lams, I agree with everything you just wrote and I in no way expect benevolence of any kind in the general market � invisable or otherwise. Markets and economies are neither inherently moral nor immoral. Individuals have the ability to be moral or immoral in their personal desisions or as corporate managers within their sphere of influence. Over my working years I knew some CEOs and owners which were examples of both. I did see a gradual decline in behavior with more greed. less concern for both employees and business ethics as smaller companies were sold to larger ones. There are …

Posted to The Health Care Monster Returns

Ken, What is it about Petraeus? It is that what he did in Mosul should have been done across the whole of Iraq (CENTCOM planning called for 500,000 troops.). If we didn't have the forces, we should not have attempted such a mission. Rumsfeld turned away all who disagreed with his low number of boots. McCain has it right, "Rumsfeld will go down in history as our worst Secretary of Defense." To beat out McNamara for the title is a dubious achievement. Most of our legislators only respond to a lobbyist throwing money, so we went in under-manned, under-supplied, and under-equipped. …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Jon, �How is it progressives �love� the Baath Party when it was the Reagan Administration that was making deals with Saddam, Rumsfeld shaking the hand of Hussein AFTER, repeat AFTER it was known that Saddam had slammed the Kurds with chemical terrorism.� ------------------------------ While I see you have ascribed this policy to the Republicans while more often it is lumped together with other past �marriages� with strange bedfellows as something like... How can the US claim the moral ground on (fill in any number of issues) when a few years ago we/they did (again a large selection is available). There is …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Jon, I guess were coming out in about the same place. You covered it with being unable to trust either party. But here again I would point out that, like countries, parties are not unifed entities. It used to be generally accepted the Dems were for labor and the Repubs were business. Now it is indistinguishable along party lines � most are free-lancers watching the wind. When it comes to government of the people, by the people and for the people, the most intelligent comments I've heard lately were from Arnold Schwartzeneger a couple weeks ago when he spoke to the …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Scorp, �When you criticize the USA for being inconsistent in regard to conduct toward Iraq and toward Saddam, in this instance you get an A+ for perception, and a flat 0 for context, leaving you with a failing grade.� Well, I must give you low marks for comprehension. My main point was that to use examples of national policy or action out of context AND to attribute them to a single long-range plan as if talking about an individual is neither fair nor prudent. Circumstances as WW2, the Cold War, changing economic realities all play a part and are subject to …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

JonB, I think we�re pretty much in sync here. As for Hilary & Bill � almost clones � A couple weeks ago She was on TV and my wife said, �Gee, when you listen to her if you didn�t know who was speaking it would sound pretty good.� Which reminded me that the first time I hear William speaking I thought, �Hey this guy makes sense!� Within a year I was telling a close friend who spoke highly of him, �In my opinion this guy is morally bankrupt.� The Clintons have only one goal in life... to do what works best …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Scorp, Gee, I don't know. I do know it's not my first offense. Actually, Mike is his own worst enemy � anyone who is so adamant about so many things has to be very unhappy. We all need to lighten up a bit around here. A lot of people who come to this site are so one dimentional it has been an eye opener to me. I�ve always thought the extreme right was too close-minded, but now I see the left extreme is at least as much so. The nice thing about BM is he is an equal opportunity basher � …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

The Kurds were also viciously attacked after the 1991 Gulf War. For a first hand account of the devastation read, �Martyrs� Day� by Michael Kelly. Put together our failure to stop Saddam�s helicopters in the Kurdish north and leaving the south to Saddam�s slaughter is it any wonder they didn�t exactly rush to join us during the 2003 invasion? Today all the Iraqis who acted as translators and guides for our troops have been left to shift for themselves as the several factions compete to punish them. As of last week only 10 have been granted asylum.

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Mike, I know we are 180 degrees apart on the military in general and the war in particular, but how do you decide whose account to give credence? Michael Kelly reported on what he saw all the way from Kuwait to the Kurdish north. The attacks on the Kurds were vicious; demolishing whole cities to the last stone on stone. I�m unfamiliar with Cockburn. Was he also there or is he reporting what someone reported to him? My most interesting accounts of Iraq and Afghanistan have been those from individuals who were there (several enlisted Marines and soldiers and a couple …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Mike, I notice you you seem to have a habit of refuting most of generally accepted history in favor of a radical minority version � why is that? And why do you believe one over another? Are you inferring that Chamberlain did not try to appease Hitler? What myth of British disarmament? When years are you talking about?

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Mike, I have always thought it at least as important WHY people (including myself) believe, as WHAT they profess to believe. I recall questioning religion in my teens and telling friends that had we been born anywhere other than �Christian America� we would be Muslims, Hindus or Buddhists. I also remember four of us sitting in a car, all smoking and all �believing� that even if it was bad for your health, �they� would find a cure before it mattered to any of us. I�ve lost rack of two guys, but a third did develop throat cancer (is still clean after …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

Mike, �There are such things as facts, at this point we know that Bush was lying about Al Qaeda connection, WMD�s, Iraqi alleged threats to US or Israel, 9-11 connection, etc. It�s possible to have an opinion based on facts.� -------------------------------------- It is also possible to disagree on what are the facts. If you are willing to accept as fact what you state above you will come to one conclusion, but if you accept as fact reports from people who were at least in a position to have access to info not generally available, you may see things in a totally …

Posted to Counterinsurgency 101

I guess it�s safe to assume that when Cornel West said, African Americans should ask Obama, �How deep is your love for the people,� he wasn�t referring to all the American people. Sharpton�s scolding for �...making his announcement before a predominantly white crowd and asking �what�s his embrace of our agenda.� isn't helping things either. I�m hoping Obama is too smart to go down that path. Since he is half black and half white he may be the one to finally get beyond this dead end.

Posted to Obamas Base: Broader Than Black

Mike, Yes, objectively there is a difference, but what both Sharpton and West are introducing into the mix is their SUBjective slant. Whoever runs for office had better avoid that prejudiced �special interest� battle cry if they want to win. Rev. Sharpton never had a prayer (preacher or not) of winning anything except talk show status � even after the haircut. He could have the map �to the promised land� and never get past GO to collect his $200 with his �embrace of our agenda� attitude. SillyLeftist, I agree Obama is lacking in experience, but if he can inject some serious …

Posted to Obamas Base: Broader Than Black

Hey, I think these people are on to something here. However, iit will only work if all parties concerned agree to it. They should immendiately dispatch groups to protest similarly in Baghdad � one bunch to the Sunis and another to the Shiites. If funding is a problem, contact the Holllywood crowd. They are big on fantasy.

Posted to The Occupation Project Begins

I seldom find myself in a situation where I need to decide on this form of categorizing. If I know the person, I use his or her name and if I don't know it I just ask what it is. For a passing comment or question�Sir, Miss or Ms seem pretty safe. Let's just get over this kind of pettiness. I do have one friend and business associate for about 35 years who is very PC aware who I occasionally tease by slipping "Oriental" or "girl" into the conversation. She is of Korean ancestry and still falls for it sometimes, but …

Posted to A Politically Correct Lexicon

Whoa! Does it occur to anyone to question anything here? This is directly from the article: �Accusations of drugging �In These Times has learned that several other detainees have joined Padilla in claiming they were involuntarily drugged.� Words like �accusations� and �claiming� should lead to further investigation, not totally accepted as fact. I am NOT saying torture and mistreatment has not happened. What I am saying is since it is alleged it should be investigated and the results made public. �Padilla�s lawyers call his treatment �outrageous.� They're his lawyers. �The Bush administration seemingly claims...� Did they claim or not? Too vague. …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

BM, �WTH, use your frigging brain for a change ! If the witnesses stepped forward THEY would be prosecuted as enemy agents or some other form of government retaliation.� This Administration will stop at nothing.� Well, just as I thought, all mouth and no balls. I have never read anything by you other than pissing and moaning about how bad the US is � BUT if nobody is willing to step up and make use of our justice system then we deserve nothing better than your worst scenarios. Apparently TIME magazine has no interest past printing claims of attrocities � an …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

Redhorse, �Look at it this way...if this was not true...with all the Gov�t controlled security at Gitmo...Do you really think this story would get out at all....?� Wait a minute...If security is so good it wouldn�t get out, BUT even with total security ANYONE can start ANY rumor they want to to whatever purpose and cover the globe in minutes. What I am trying (continually) to point out is that virtually anyone, can say anything, these days without adequate proof or documentation. They do it on TV all the time: �A high Washington official... A source who chooses to remain anonymous... …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

�WTH, you are so full of naivete. It�s not just a few people that change things, that can help, you have the obtuse attitude that if only the facts can be brought out, presto !� Riiigghhttt... why bother trying to get the facts when it�s so much easier to just blame your usual suspects by buying into an article which presents no substance only innuendo and supposition. This website is almost always more emotion than reason � perhaps because the articles are mostly yellow journalism catering to a receptive audiance. Rush Limbo and Bill O�Reilly have their cheerleaders and the lefties …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

David, Redhorse, BM, You�ve read enough of what I have previously written to know I am not a big fan of the Bush administration. I think what could have been an improvement the Middle East has been terribly botched through poor leadership, partisan decisions and a whole lot of arrogance. I am totally at odds with our economic policies and have been for thirty years � the same goes for our increasing dependence on oil (foreign and domestic) we have had 30 years to establish a national transportation system and have accomplished nothing. OK, so much for that basic stuff. In …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

I�m puzzled why any of you would be opposed to the people claiming these things occurred submitting evidence and testimony or proof of some kind. There is so much trial by news media that I am unsure if an individual can ever again get a fair trial anywhere. Do you ever consider much of your bias is built on similar article? Prejudice (prejudging) in any form is demeaning to both the target and the issuer. I see similar treatments on issues by both right and left extremes. A friend who was about to me with a Muslim acquaintance of his last …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

Theopapa and Redhorse, I'm on a Mac which needs a browser upgrade and have assumed that's why I cannot edit. Has this just recently changed for you? It sounds as though you have been able before.

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

BM, �RP, your statement about me is totally false and libelous. Better give proof or retract. Your a lowlife, granted, that still doesn�t give you a right to invent lies.� Good one, Mike! Now you�re getting my point. Don�t let them get away with that. People should not make accusations without proof to back them up. You realize, of course, that there are many similar accusations and opinions which may give rise to an anti-Blondemike movement as they travel across the internet. And, like many other claims, it may gain momentum. You could very well end up in a similar situation …

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

I would be interested in anyone's comments on this article. Is the only difference with the U.S. system that we tell everything to the world? I had not heard any of these European tactics before. --------------------------------- http://www.opinionjournal.com/wsj/?id=110009712 GLOBAL VIEW The Napoleonic Code is more conducive to counterterrorism than the U.S. Constitution. BY BRET STEPHENS Sunday, February 25, 2007

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

Mike, How long have they been living under these rules? Was there any resistance?

Posted to Interrogations Behind Barbed Wire

I have two problems with this statement: �The truth does not reveal itself by virtue of being the truth: it must be told, and we need to learn how to tell the truth more effectively.� Those problems are... A. What and B. How to sell it -------------------------- A. What: �The truth does not reveal itself by virtue of being the truth:� -------------------------- Consider this: �We hold these Truths to be SELF EVIDENT...� What is true is so � regardless of our perceptions, hopes and wishes. Eventually it will be revealed. It may not be as soon as we want and may …

Posted to Dreaming Up New Politics

LB, If people keep going back for more McDonalds, I assume they like it and are ignoring dietary warnings - same for cigarettes. If we continue to vote for the "sizzle" and snake oil as usually presented in our election ads and pseudo debates, we can expect to get more of the same there too. This far ahead of the next election and we keep hearing stupid stuff � How can he/she appeal to the _____________ (fill in the special interest group? Not what are his true opinions. They talk of how the candidates look. How big is the campaign fund? …

Posted to Dreaming Up New Politics

There he goes again. This is the same blondemike who wants to release convicted murderers back into society. The guy who says the military never did anything to protect him. Now he wants to do away with any benefits � forget the contract � just cut them off. Well, As I recall Mike, you said you carry a .357 and now I know why. Better get a flak jacket as well � you must have one coming with your name on it. You�re a real sweetheart, Mikey.

Posted to Getting Vets Their Benefits Back

BM You are a sick joke.

Posted to Getting Vets Their Benefits Back

Blondemike, So, the US has been the cause of the world's troubles since before you were born according to your view. I feel genuinely sorry for you. Really. It sounds as though life has been a totally depressing time experience for you. Maybe your expectations are just too high.

Posted to Getting Vets Their Benefits Back

This program will be a definite success � ...at least for several years and $ billions. It usually takes that long for the people in the real world (in this case parents, students and eventually employers) to realize the end result. Yes the program will succeed, however, the children probably will not. Like most top-down planning it will be vulnerable to the application of street smarts. Just as individual learn how to work the system, so local and state tinkering will go for the money. To get �credit� needed for per student federal funds, school districts hold short days (enough hours …

Posted to Education Reform: Pass or Fail?

RH, I just read a report from the NYT, �What it Takes to Make a Good Student� by Paul tough. It was given to me by a good friend who tutors at a local school in a poor neighborhood. He is a retired former director of a state mental institution, very active in several social programs and extremely concerned about the lack of parental involvement at the school. There are a number of interesting points in the article, but my overall conclusion after reading it is the same as yours � it is the parents which make the biggest difference in …

Posted to Education Reform: Pass or Fail?

Redhorse, My mother started teaching in a one room country school at age 17 right after graduating from high school. Her first year she had a boy in eighth grade older than she was. Back then parents pulled kids out during spring planting and fall harvest so it took a while. She attended state teachers college each summer, got certified and taught for several years. She was required to quit when she and my dad got married. My father nearly finished high school, but had to drop out in his senior year when his father (a coal miner) had a stroke …

Posted to Education Reform: Pass or Fail?

�Many blacks wonder if mainstream whites love Obama because of his lack of history as a slave, which elicits no feelings of historical guilt.� I live in Illinois where it is required to �declare a party� to get a primary ballot. For the first time I declared �Democrat� just to be able to vote for Obama. (When Allen Keyes turned out to be the Republican opposition, it was no contest for Obama to get my vote.) Though both men are of African ancestry any connection to a slave history never entered my mind. I have never heard of anyone I know, …

Posted to Baracks Black Dilemma

Hi Redhorse, I do think Obama�s lack of baggage is a large factor with everyone right now. It�s just as you know, we white guys can�t connect with the black history � impossible, I guess. It is his lack of a long trial of political issues to haunt him. Somebody took a stab at it with his early Wahabbi Muslim contnection, but that fell flat. He has tried drugs was a non-starter too. If he in fact does go for it, I hope we can get we can get some genuine issues genuinely debated. I hate what usually is billed as …

Posted to Baracks Black Dilemma

�...the folks cognitive scientist George Lakoff describes as �biconceptuals,� who lean liberal in one regard and conservative in another�uncomfortable with the war, perhaps, but equally daunted by what they view as immorality at home.� Hmmm, I guess that could be a description of me. Very conservative fiscally, only somewhat socially. I am disgusted at much of what passes for entertainment on TV and other venues, and by the political correctness which encourages people to be offended at what could be a good laugh at ourselves. (I�m against the banning of nearly anything.) I�m increasingly uncomfortable with the handling of the war …

Posted to A Wingnut in Sheeps Clothing

BM, I didn't say anyone is lying. My point is that so much of what's presented as news (24/7), as a problem (Y2K, bird flu) as a scam, (War on Terror) is really manufactured to sell magazines, papers, or TV commercials. At least this article's headline doesn't start with a question. I hate that! "Will actress so-and-so have his baby?" (Oh, so much to worry about.)

Posted to A Wingnut in Sheeps Clothing

Slavoj Zizek, a philosopher and psychoanalyst, OK, analyze this... From his text: �...my partners who I communicate with in cyberspace: I can never be sure who they are.� �...cyberspace�s direct democracy...� Not knowing who they are, you are willing to claim them as partners. Hmmmm? Direct democracy? We could take a vote and eliminate � crime. Right? Also poverty � just vote to divide everything into equal shares. Pass an international rule that everyone MUST be nice. That should be interesting. Efficient, I must admit, but how enforced? By whom? Yeah, I realize this is an extreme and unfair interpretation of …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Scorp, For some reason I cannot enter the discussion at "lethal" anymore, so here is my reply to your last. ------------------------------ Scorp, Don�t know Krugman�s view. Maybe I should check it out. Following the consensus can only lead to mediocrity. Analysts are more concerned with not being wrong than with being right, about being a part of the herd. That way if there is a catastrophe they can say, �Who could have known?� The way to make money is to avoid consensus, sometimes, even do the exact opposite. ------------------ �You did not whine when over 90% of the farming jobs left, …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Eric, �WTH is a Jesuit Priest in El Salvador laughing at all of us.� Well, you got me laughing with that one. When I was in the army a buddy used to say, �You�d make a good Marine.� just because I spit shined my shoes. As we got to know each other better I�m sure he realized I�m not one for blindly following orders � military or holy orders. Your point IS well taken � we don�t �know� those �partners� we correspond with here. Every so often someone accuses one of duplicate entry code names, but generally I have found a …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Scorp, �Hardesty is so stupid that he thinks that the markets went up because of Clinton and went down because of Bush...� Easy enough to check � the markets started collapsing late spring 2000. They went down because the hype ran out before the earnings went up. They came back up when the bell was rung (on Wall St.) saying a bottom had been reached. (without even a ten percent correction) �...Bush applied the proper corrective action, the effects of the recession were minimized, and the recovery has been complete, with employment, productivity, markets, and tax receipts at record levels.� To …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

BM, �BTW, WTH, having an opposing viewpoint to the thumbsucker rightwing one is NOT �anti-American.� You are starting to sound like Scorpy Doobie.� Huh? What are you going on about? (A little spacing between rants please.) You�re train of thought is hard to follow.

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

LB, �You are somewhat correct in saying that government statistics are subject to manipulation.� But is not necessarily so.� Well, it�s not that they are lying exactly � a person can find the true story if he is persistent. The problem is that the media is: A. Not persistent in searching for the truth B. They love sound bites. C. Information handed to them is easier and more profitable than digging for it. Therefore a desired picture is easy to portray. � The simplest distortion is short term comparison. from U.S. Census Bureau Report � Changes to Median Household Income 1969-1996 …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

LB, (Scorp pls check this out) �I think you meant 1996 dollars in your statement about income levels.� Let�s see, the nine�s tail curls to the left...Yes, you�re right. Sorry about that. -------------- � �I�d like you to explain the cost of housing in a bit clearer manner, though.� Part of what I previously wrote came from Bill Fleckenstein�s newsletter and I no longer subscribe. I think the best reference (better with his graphs) for the CPI is at... http://www.contraryinvestor.com/2005archives/momar05.htm You should be able to access it free � if not I can paste in the main part later. ------------------------ Another …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Scorp, �Isn�t it strange how the voting machine problem went away when the leftists won in 2006?� At least two of the Senate races were decided by less than 10,000 votes, a perfect set-up for fraud if there was any fraud to be found.� Who looked? What makes you think any party is worth a damn? Is this like your Red State/Blue State theory? Pure tribal thinking. The only thing worse than getting screwed by your own elected officials is not noticing. The chiefs are looking out for each other and to hell with the rest of us. Education equality is …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Scorp, �Isn�t it strange how the voting machine problem went away when the leftists won in 2006?� At least two of the Senate races were decided by less than 10,000 votes, a perfect set-up for fraud if there was any fraud to be found.� Who looked? What makes you think any party is worth a damn? Is this like your Red State/Blue State theory? Pure tribal thinking. The only thing worse than getting screwed by your own elected officials is not noticing. The chiefs are looking out for each other and to hell with the rest of us. Education equality is …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Theo, I do agree with many of your comments � it is a chance for people too shy to speak out in a �real� setting and having time to collect your thoughts is helpful. I for one seldom say anything on line anonymously that I don�t say in my weekly discussion class or any where else. I don�t worry much about what most people think anymore. The emotional run-ons do get tiresome, but occasionally are worth the effort of sorting out the thoughts. I can't say any of my basic beliefs have channged, but I have gained insights into some issues …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Theo, (soon to be someone else) Great! I love it! Thanks Now that I'm retired I obviously have too much time on my hands � especially in winter. I mentioned my discussion group. It is at our local junior college in a program called Center for Learning in Retirement. When I first signed on I soon learned my general bias was more conservative than the other twenty or so members. (That's where I first learned of ITT.) After a couple of sessions I commented that I seemed to be talking more than most. I didn't want to monopolize, but I was …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Scorp, Do you NOT see the irony in quoting data from some other internet source to prove a point on a article about all the vagueries of internet communication? Information is not the same as truth. �Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?� T.S. Eliot, �Choruses from �The Rock�.'

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

TheoPapathanasis, Perhaps the reason you don�t know what a conservative is anymore is because they are so rare. We are an endangered species � in fact I may be the last one :-) I would agree George W Bush is NOT a conservative, but neither was his father. As an example, as one who in the truest sense would like to conserve something, the idea that we need to lower the cost of oil here (because we use so much and are �dependent on it�) is totally wrong. When something is expensive people will use less � lowering the price will …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Oh, shit! (Now why did I say THAT?) I just discovered the flag on my last posting has only 48 stars � what�s happening here? What day is it? For some time now I�ve suspected Eric is really Tony Blair, so whose he posting thru in this country. Bush? Naw, shucks, I mean shit, he don�t know nuthin� � bout them comepeuter thangs. Sprised he ditn skip ethelnol and go fur more nukeyouler inergy. I gues he�s just butween Iraq and a hard place now. Merde doats un dozey doats un little lamzey divey. This thread is about done for. Oh, …

Posted to In You More Than Yourself

Good article �perhaps the single, most positive one I ever remember reading at ITT. We need more people willing to listen and to try new approaches to timeless problems. I have heard comments like these from some of my retired military friends, but none of high enough rank and position to do much more than the local level chocolate bar handouts. I hope we will build on this to involve all freedom-loving nations to join in eradicating those conditions which permit tyrants like Saddam coming to power. IMO one of our biggest mistakes in Iraq was not making a convincing case …

Posted to Love the Warrior, Hate the War

Tex, Wolf, Kuya, LB, Blondie, Well, at least we have consistency � LB is always identifying with the poor, misunderstood murderer or terrorist and shows no compassion or sympathy for their targets. (see discussion on capital punishment ITT home page) Blondie always finds something to saddle the U.S. with in the �blame game.� How long do you think Saddam would have put up with you before giving you flying lessons from the top of a building? Lucky for you with your holocaust views, you don�t live in Europe. Kuya, look on the positive side of things. During WWll these guys would …

Posted to Love the Warrior, Hate the War

LB, It would be interesting if someone else would read our exchange on the capital punishment thread and point out any examples of compassion or sympathy which you expressed toward the victims I wrote about or their families. I found none.

Posted to Love the Warrior, Hate the War

�Remember oil? That thing we didn�t go to war in Iraq for?� Not exactly a straw man in the truest sense, but also not worth arguing about. Of course the Middle East is about oil � it has been for at least a century. But... It is crucial to our economy and our very existence. (Whether it should be or must be is a different issue.) People will fight over water or wheat, corn, whatever is essential to their survival. If not nation against nation, then as individuals. I would not be surprised to see globalization's threat to individual jobs erupt …

Posted to Spoils of War

David and Tex, I would agree oil was/is not the only reason for the war, but oil production and usage are currently so close that the increasing needs by emerging nations will make it even more important a factor for years or decades. Refining is the bottle neck at present. As for other reasons... �None of them good.� I guess it depends on whose ox it is and how far out you look. There is a continuing push from the White House to integrate Canada, U.S. and Mexico at least economically. Anything more would likely meet with resistance from citizens in …

Posted to Spoils of War

BM, �Hitler NEVER had any interest in conquering western Europe, he even conceded Alsace-Lorraine to France...� The chronology of this eludes me. Was this before or after Hitler took Paris? --------------- Recursive prophet, �The coming �Oil Bourse� transfer of Iranian oil now being sold in Euros-along with Venezuela�s-may well be the real target. Follow the money? Anyone have thoughts/insights about this aspect of the current situation?� Haven�t you heard � we�ll be able to do without foreign oil very soon :-) Interesting article on the �corn barrel� approach to energy independence. http://www.opinionjournal.com/weekend/hottopic/?id=110009587

Posted to Spoils of War

BM, You stated: �Hitler NEVER had any interest in conquering western Europe, he even conceded Alsace-Lorraine to France...� My question was...The chronology of this eludes me. Was this before or after Hitler took Paris? � �WTH, THE CHRONOLOGY IS AFTER THE UK AND FRANCE DECLARED ON GERMANY. Frankly, I would have thought obvious.� Obvious only to you Mike. The Poland, France, Great Britain defense link was well known by all. The idea of Hitler offering to give anything away at that time is hilarious. I didn�t know you were such a comic. --------- cabdriver, �HITLER WAS A VERY BAD GUY!! He …

Posted to Spoils of War

Tex and Scorp, �TASER the bastards, and be done with it.� Seems strange anyone could be opposed to this as a weapon of war being too severe. My skeptical view is if it became SOP it would embolden an enemy to think � A. He has little to lose and will still be able try again. B. He�s dealing with a wimpy bunch. I guess I would admit it as preferable to nuking the whole bunch. Since we still are unwilling to commit the numbers of troops needed to truly secure Iraq, I can see a danger of a nuclear escalation …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, Your reaction makes you sound like a part of the management class which is cashing in on options as the labor cuts boost the per share price. I argued for the last ten years before I retired with some of these guys who claimed it was so painful to let people go. They eased their own pain by voting each other great bonuses. If our manufacturing capabilities were as good as you think they are we would be able to provide body armor and replacements for the HUMVEES, etc. I live in what used to be the machine tool center …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, �But you mistakenly believe that making products �faster, cheaper, and more accurate� necessitates a general loss of jobs.� Those are the only true measures of �increased productivity� which is the only reasonable criteria for increasing anyone�s pay. -------------- �Two hundred years ago, over 90% of our population was engaged in agriculture; today the figure is closer to 3%.� Where did all these farmers go?� Did they lose their jobs and starve to death?� Not quite.� Our society has transformed itself from an agricultural base to low tech manufacturing and logistics to high tech manufacturing and logistics.� � But, it happened …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Blondemike, This is not a smart/dumb issue. People will always be more apt to think of their own experience as the norm. I just happened to be among those who at the end of my working days got nailed. If I had been untouched I would be harder to convince. A bit of humility was acquired late in life. It caused me to start spending my retirement savings about the same time the stock market tanked in 2000. My youngest son lost two jobs as a result of globalization and is still working at less than half what he made 12 …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, �...the solution is not to close down trade.� I have never proposed this. What I do propose is spelled out in the Bill of Rights � concern for the general welfare and posterity � OUR own citizens, OUR kids, yours and mine, OUR national future. The problem is greed which ignores inequities (protections) which have been adopted over decades and are now preventing domestic producers from competing but not preventing traitorous expatriate business/political practices. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- �The Pacific Research Institute has a study out for some time comparing the states and the policies of individual states that affect the economic status …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, I remember the Carter years very well. I had been investing for some time already and in the 60s there was a period called �Go-Go� investing. The �experts� were super confident, but looking at the near term only, stocks being bought and sold without much supporting data and the U.S. thinking we could support a major military expense and still do business as usual. Then came the 70s Nixon�s price freezes and then � Carter�s double digit rates. It was very much like I see now. In 1969, Warren Buffett liquidated his fund and got out � since my money …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, �The American economy has a tremendous potential for growth if we can keep the politicians from screwing it up.� I see this as the primary issue and reason for approaching danger. Politicians (of any party) want what? 1. To be reelected � for that they need campaign contributions � from? 2. Big corporations � CEOs CEOs want what? 1. To make money � they and their boardroom buddies vote stock options for each other 2. Want shares to rise and boost shares by cutting payroll 3. Legislation which allows them tax breaks on overseas earnings (The American Jobs Creation Act …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, Take a look at your own comments: � I fail utterly to see how doing things better and faster threatens �national progress�. � The object of such a course of action should be to enhance employment and productivity. � ....but raising taxes further strangled business activity, and raising taxes resulted in lower tax receipts. � Are you seriously complaining that prices for computing power are going seriously down? Are you really worried that �anyone in any country� has access to technology?� No wonder you have such a negative outlook on everything. � Could you pay for all the reference material …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Dream on, Scorp I predict: � The dollar will continue its downward movement, inflation will come on big time, (especially if oil valued in Euros) and U.S. bonds will lose their allure to foreign lenders. (They won't dump them � suicidal) They will just quit buying them. � Gold will continue upward to a new record within five years. � The congress will not make any substantive trade policy changes, but the Democrats will get continued pressure for welfare to the unemployed and underemployed and will act on it, if not in this session, after they retake the White House in …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

CORRECTION (The edit won't work with my OS.) � When enough white collar jobs evaporate, our Democratic dominated government will begin �tough talk� about foreign imports/tariffs. They won�t change policy, but will pacify people with universal health care and a boost in the Social Security cut-off point on wages. ----------------- P.S. As you said, �You are projecting your individual circumstance onto the nation at large, and big chunks of the left media are glad to capitalize on your fears.� I am amazed that so many people allow themselves to be manipulated by the agenda-driven, nonsensical drivel of the NYT.� To paraphrase: …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, For some reason you often refer to the New York Times, if that is who you consider to be a source for economic data, you should question journalists. As for economists, I never follow ANY consensus. Consensus will tell you what the average �expert� thinks the average average person will do in the future. Neither do I invest based on any media blather any more than I dress based on the weather forecast. --------------------- �You honestly seem to think that the only two sides of any question are Dimocratic or Republican, and you are oblivious to objective truth.� I have …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Scorp, Don�t know Krugman�s view. Maybe I should check it out. Following the consensus can only lead to mediocrity. Analysts are more concerned with not being wrong than with being right, and about being a part of the herd. That way if there is a catastrophe they can say, �Who could have known?� The way to make money is to avoid consensus -� sometimes, even do the exact opposite. ------------------ �You did not whine when over 90% of the farming jobs left, so why are you whining now?� All those farming jobs went to better paying, more productive manufacturing jobs.� I …

Posted to Non-Lethal Weaponry: The Next Generation

Kuya, �Is that what you really, actually thought??� If you read �Cobra ll� you will find that is EXACTLY what Rumsfeld thought. In spite of dissenting opinions by professional soldiers, statesmen and intelligence operatives with Middle Eastern knowledge calling for 500,000 troops � Bush let this arrogant CEO at large run free and unchallenged for three obviously disastrous years. Now, we see our strategy hasn�t been working so we�re sending a few more troops... If this war were a big fire, would we send a few guys with buckets? Then a few more, and a couple more and then say, �Well, …

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

Hawaii Jack, Yes, eventually that's what we sent. It was like Chinese water torture or pulling off a Band-aid v-e-r-y slowly. If you go to war... go to win. A massive initial force saves lives on both sides. Are you saying zero because you are a passivist?

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

Hawaii Jack, I am not debating whether to go into Iraq. We ARE in Iraq and if we intend to salvage anything from this action need to get serious about it. Each word can be important � the key here is "initial" � a massive initial force to end it quickly and then be able to maintain security post combat. Hence my analogy of the firefighters. Instead, just as in Viet Nam, are persuing a policy of gradualism. Perhaps we have insuficient forces to do it right � in which case we should have used one of the alternate CENTCOM plans. …

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

pursuing looks better

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

Hawaii Hans, �The results of WW1........WW2 ............ Both �victories� were much worse than any defeats.� Ja? Sprechen sie Deutsch, Hans? ---------- Blondemike, Anyone who thinks even WWll was unnecessary is from another planet. I�m sick and tired of all your pontificating and belly aching about the U.S., your anti-Israel drivel, and now, whining over poor, mistreated Saddam. HIS sadistic murder? So that�s what you get concerned over � what the hell did he do pre and post �91 Gulf war? You are a real piece of work. Yes, sending troops into Viet Nam over a two year period was gradualism and …

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

nolaman, First let me say that some of us appreciate your service as much as those who served in WWll. (A war, by the way, which was declared against us by Hitler post Pearl Harbor as per the Axis pact. Something Blondie would wants to ignore. He had also been sinking a considerable tonnage of U.S. shipping which tends to piss off rational people.) Maybe if LBJ had sent a large enough force initially, had kept his big mouth shut and had not restricted the battlefield to imaginary foul lines some of you guys would not have had to go later …

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

Blondie, I am fully aware your version of history and find it � like all your sweeping statements � vacuous ;-) It must make life a lot simpler to be able to accept only the version you like.

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

Blondie, You need to get a program to help you keep the players sorted. BTW, Scorp and I are in commplete disagreement on the economy discussion where you and I are somewhat close in opinion. Calm down � all this rage and ranting can't be good for your blood pressure. No one who can change things will ever see these arguments anyway.

Posted to I Hate to Say We Told You So, But

I am cautiously supportive primarily due to the chance of a parole board releasing (as they have done) people who will then repeat their terrible crimes on other innocent victims. "Life in prison" should have no alternate meaning. Locally a man who tortured and killed a young paper boy is periodically up for review of his life sentence and the family has to relive the whole, decades old nightmare. The same is true of a friend whose wife was sexually attacked by a man who was on parole for a similar crime. She can never have children and I know my …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

Hi LB, I was not talking about those simply "accused." These two guys were convicted far beyond reasonable doubt. Keeping them alive with ANY hope of release only maintains them as a danger to others. Wealth and power be damned � anyone like these should be eliminated (in a humane fashion) as we would do with any other animal. I used to argue for life in prison, but am no longer so naive as to think there is such a thing. I would settle for execution of those who were instrumental in the release of any prisoner who repeats such heinous …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB and Rabo12, My two cases were specific rather than generalizations. While some may remain inside for life my view of justice is to protect their vicitms and prevent further victimization by them. Too many, like the ones I mentioned, are released due to people sympathizing with the perpetaror. I see a similar tendency on your part with your immediate response about those falsely accused. These 2 guys were guilty without any doubt. There should be NO way for them to re-enter society. Death is final � better theirs than another innocent person.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

�Actually living in France so I�m not really sure why the German flag appeared.� Oh, no, not again! France is always among the first to go...Today ITT, tomorrow the world!

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB � I know there is such a thing as life in prison and I don�t expect it to be pleasant. I am not "anxious to eliminate people", but since there are no real guarantees of no parole and with the track record of some who have been I do not trust the life in prison idea anymore. Frankly, LB, I don�t give a damn how these two got to that point � the chances of preventing another such monster are too slight to chance their release. Rabo � I�ll admit there is NO gray area in an execution, that is …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

David, I'll say this much for your point of view � if I should ever, for any reason, be on trial I like 12 people and a judge just like you. I will be able to confess to cleanse my soul and still be home in time for dinner. On the other hand, if anyone is trying to break into my house, attack my wife or kick my cat � I'll take care of it myself. :-)

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

David, How about this one � same story, different ending. ...and he turned to the crowd, saying, �Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.� Just then a someone stepped foward and threw a perfect strike to the woman�s temple and she slumped to the ground. �Ooooh, how many times do I have to tell you? Not everything I say should be taken literally, Mom.�

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, Wow! I certainly don't want you on my jury :-) ------------------------------ In case you�ve forgotten my initial comment: �I am cautiously supportive primarily due to the chance of a parole board releasing (as they have done) people who will then repeat their terrible crimes on other innocent victims.� �Life in prison� should have no alternate meaning.� Also: �...my only reason for advocating it ...just assurance they (the perps) will not ever be allowed a chance to do it again. And to eliminate the victims from the need to repeatedly testify in order to keep them locked away.� I�m speaking about …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, �I don�t understand.� Is killing those who commit murder going to restore the lives of those who were murdered?� LB, are you just trying to be obtuse? I think you�re brighter than that. If not, then it�s not that you don�t understand � you just insist on putting your frustration with the fact we have a death penalty on my head. You asked, �Is killing those who commit murder going to restore the lives of those who were murdered?��Have I ever said so? NO! I have repeatedly and clearly stated what my concerns are. I guess if you are serious …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, �It�s all about your own desire for private revenge.� I apologize � since your comments have been posted in English, I assumed you could read English and comprehend English. �� there is NO gray area in an execution, that is my only reason for advocating it in cases like the ones I was writing about. Not as punishment, not as justice, not as a deterrent and not as community retribution...� �IMO the main purpose of any society is to benefit its members and protection should be one of the primary benefits. To give equal protection to even those proven to …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, �Human.� All too human, WTH.� Should I be flattered if you think I�m human? �You are absolutely intent on denying the humanity of �these� bastards� without the slightest curiosity as to what caused them to become murderers or (this is the crucial point) to recognize or reconcile the murderous feeling that their actions generates in your own consciousness.� No, that is YOUR crucial point. Mine is: �� there is NO gray area in an execution, that is my only reason for advocating it in cases like the ones I was writing about. Not as punishment, not as justice, not as …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, �Perhaps you can explain, WTH?� Apparently not so you can understand. If it were my wife or my son who was a victim like those two cases I have outlined, I may want revenge, I don�t know and believe I can�t know without the actual situation. �You are not killing a criminal because he is old and dying but as a punishment for his actions, no matter what sophistry you use to disguise it.� This is twisted and just plain false. His age is of no consequence � his possibility of freedom is. I changed my view on capital punishment …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, Gee, thanks. I�ll just tell my friend, �Not to worry. The threats he made are all in your mind. Get a grip. Forget about trying to keep him off the streets. His attitude and behavior are his problem and, should he happen to show up with a screwdriver again � teach him how to use it constructively. You�ll feel better, be a better person and he�ll be of no more threat to anyone.� Reminds me of a story... A Catholic, a Jew and a Christian Scientist died and went to hell. When they got there the devils asked each if …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

Oh, I understand. I just totallly disagree and you can't accept that.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, "Your response is utterly non-responsive." In other words if someone does not agree with you � there was no response. Or... like the Christian Scientist � simply "not there." Your, "...genuine and honest non-judgmental concern" can't/won't judge between the aggressor and the victim of aggression to the point of doing anything to actually prevent all possibility of a rerun.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, David, You both insist on dealing in broad generalizations � �one size fits all� � while if you go back to my original entry makes clear I am referring to two very specific cases. As I indicated my vote is cautiously in favor. LB ��Resolving the one particular situation of your experience with an execution is only another act of violence and it will inevitably lead to another.� Not against the prior victims nor to anyone else by these two perpetrators. This is not a case of a group or nation and probably not even family members retaliating. If �life …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

David, So you honestly would have done nothing to prevent the guy from attacking my friend's wife. Well, OK � I guess when you're dead you'll feel no regret for not stopping him. What can I say to a genuine pacifist except if my wife is ever it such a situation I'd rather have one of the Hell's Angels nearby.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

BM, �David said he would be willing to take the blow himself.� That is not doing nothing.� What are you thinking?� I�m thinking the bad guy then steps over David�s dead body and continues his attack on the woman. An increased waste of the innocent in order to experiment with the causes/cures for a worthless (no, worse than worthless a vicious person). What is worse the the Good Intentions Paving Co.? Your slogan, "If it feels good, don't do it" You feel santimonious, she feels just the screwdriver.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, �It is a policy of the State.� A coercive and onerous one that invests in the State the power of life and death over its citizens.� You are bypassing one very important step � the right to trial by jury. A jury has the ability to override the judge�s instructions � which in effect puts the power where it belongs � with the people, not the state. (Sadly, most people do not know this.) �I fail to see how your fear and insecurity over the merely theoretical and factually uncertain consequences of the conditions of parole are of sufficient moral …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, Once again you jump to a broad general issue � "world-wide horrors of violence." As I 've said repeatedly my vote was for "cautiously support". I'm not advocating mass killings or even manditory death sentencing � make life in prison meaningful and I could well go back to my position of 50 years ago. I do think we should make suicide a capital offense :-) I have nothing further to add.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

LB, Good, I'm glad.

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

David, �Do you really think that intervening using words and wits is a waste?� I assume you�re referring to my comments... �I�m thinking the bad guy then steps over David�s dead body and continues his attack on the woman. An increased waste of the innocent in order to experiment with the causes/cures for a worthless (no, worse than worthless a vicious person).� --------------- My belief is that you would be throwing your life away since after he attacked you there would be nothing changed. He would then continue his attack on the woman. Possibly others as well. One of the reasons …

Posted to How do you feel about the death penalty?

A picture is worth... only 703 words to Phoebe. Perhaps because it needs no translation. Unless the women in the picture were FORCED to pose � forget about it!

Posted to Portrait of the Activists as Young Women

Barbara Ehrenreich is a person whose opinions and actions deserve the highest respect. Her book, �Nickel and Dimed,� brought attention to the plight of the working poor. She didn�t just interview them, she joined them in their overworked and underpaid world at some of the least appreciated jobs available in this country. I�m glad to see she is now tackling the plight of the white collar displaced persons. The examples in this article are very familiar to me. I have written to every major economic publication, the AFL/CIO, the NRA, local, state and national officeholders 1993 (NAFTA) with little or no …

Posted to White-Collar Workers Unite

Sure there is a racial problem and it cuts both ways. I doubt there are any �Universal solutions.� All laws can do is try to prevent favoritism or outright discrimination. Notice I said �try.� The Civil Rights Act of 1964 forbids discrimination, but obviously hasn�t stopped it. In fact in some ways government attempted to to deal with since then have arguably made things worse. Catering to any classification � race, gender, age economic � offends or dicriminates against others, which at best perpetuates the problem and at worst magnifies it. Let�s not let ourselves be conned by some political candidate …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, Blondmike, �Been taking those long walks...playing with the grandkids.......eah.. � LOL � (Sorry, no grandkids.) Just able to identify with the WWll guy�s insight from my own experiences. BM just doesn�t seem to get it. �Nothing beautiful about war, it is legalized mass murder. Damn boy I�m gonna cancel your subscription to the Weekly Standard, WTH, you come up with the damndest nonsense but I think your a nice guy at heart. Unlike Redhorse, he�d mug you in an alley in a flash,� OK, one more try, BM... The point isn�t that the war was beautiful, not that the killing …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondemike, Sorry about your experience. We have also been victims of crime. Burglary at home and at my office neighborhood � shootings (1) armed robberies (4) car jacking (1). I carried a gun to work and had one mounted under my drawing board. All of these were committed by blacks. Not violent, but devastating psychologically and economically to a large number of people, some of the biggest recent crimes in the U.S. have been the work of white guys in white collars. (think Lay, Skilling, Enron) Believe it or not, I am white, but had nothing to do with those. People …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

eaanders, texasindependent, �What is needed is a strong coalition of all labor, similar to the AARP, that has real power in Washington and can represent workers that unions and elitists have abandoned to achieve their own ends.� Unions are just another fragment as is the AARP (an insurance company with a magazine). What we need is to realize that when any of us exploits other Americans to further or own ends, we are destroying 230 years of unity and will go the way of the other societies. E pluribus unum

Posted to White-Collar Workers Unite

BM, Got the runs again, I see. If you are wiling to accept anything from MADelaine Halfbright as proof no wonder you are so confused. Please accept my condolences and best wishes for a speedy recovery. As for your other sources of �proof� � UK medical journal?, Lesley Stahl?, 60 Minutes?, the UN?, Hey, you left out the Dog whisperer! Whatever the tally of deaths to attribute them all to the U.S. shows only how little discrimination you can muster in your small mind. (I guess your �discrimination� is exhausted in its excessive negative racial application.) Did you know Kofi Annan …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondmike, Yes, of course, Saddam did a wonderful job. Riiigghht ------ �Stop the psychobabble...You�re a rightwing weasel. ...a low IQ, rightwing pinhead like yourself� You exhibit a broad vocabulary. I'm impressed. I think this is where I�m supposed to say something like, �Oh, yeah? My dad can lick your dad.� If you saw it on TV � it MUST be true. Information is a poor substitute for thought.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, David (glad you�re back) and, yes, Blondemike too... �WTH the killing was initiated by the US..additionally one would also assume that Israeli intelligence is in on the genocide.� My argument generally is that too many people are assuming too much too often. As for Abdul, who shot him and why probably makes no difference to him. But assumptions of who and why make a big difference to everyone else. BM had a list which included TV reporters, a Brit medical journal, a former secretary of state, all of which may (?) have ulterior motives, an agenda, misinformation, data picked up …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Mike, Redhorse, JonB, David, Cabdriver, I repeat: My argument generally is that too many people are assuming too much too often. Mike says I don�t present adequate arguments to prove my points. (paraphrased) My whole point is expressed in the above sentence. I am NOT trying to disprove the points in the expressed opinions of any of you. (For any who may have missed my early posts, a brief summary of where I stand on the war at the end of this message.) With the 24/7 �news� we are overwhelmed with information of questionable accuracy and purpose. Internet/satellite communication allows nearly …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondie, �WTH, enough of your crap to start the morning.� I can see it has a laxative effect on you � your response is always the same ol� shit. I will no longer address you so, if you don�t like to think about anything just don�t read it. Ta-ta.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

BM, You'd make one hell of a diplomat. "I am not in a personal feud with you, only concerned about the issues here." Oh? "Far Right jackasses like you." "Your insane idea..." Just the most recent insults. Sounds rather personal to me. Don't you realize you have insulted nearly everyone who posts on this site? It is probably just as well that we never meet face to face.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

beatricity, I cringe at the calls for �more diversity� or �economic equality� since it seems to me unity is more desirable. What we need economically is equality of opportunity. Then the money would be distributed according to quality and quantity of individual effort and production. (This comment is not meant to exclude charity for those who CAN�T produce for themselves.) While I see no reason to officially make English our national language, it is a no brainer that a single language is a unifying feature. I have a slight ability in a few languages, but never traveled out of the U.S. …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondie asks, �"Unity� of what ? Making sense of your bumbling wordsalads is no easy matter, What The Hell.� ------------------------------------------- I can see English is not your native tongue so I�ll give you some clues... 1. What flag is that on your e-mail posting? (lower left, as in leftwinger) 2. U _ _ _ _ d S _ _ _ _ s 3. This country is NOT the Diverse States of America. It is the _________. ------------------------------------------ So, I guess all those dumb blonde jokes aren�t really jokes after all. Don't worry � there will be no tuition charge or fine …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, You make some good observations here which never occurred to me. � The standardized tests unrelated to a child�s perspective � Any kind of top down program is handicapped by a lack of understanding and an inability to relate. People start from their experience � imagination and the ability to place yourself in another�s world is in short supply. It seems to me the solution might be to deal with elementary education as close to home as possible. As it is our money goes into the federal dollar shrinking machinery and is or is not returned to our schools haphazardly. …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, Actually we and all other western nations have made extreme military budget cuts (under both Bush 41 and Clinton) as a percentage of GDP. The biggest transfer of money has been to the wealthy as a result of globalization scams and tax cuts. All of life begins as risk (obvious in nature) and a game of survival. Everything which exists (and even that which does not) has an effect on everything else. I just read the Amazon reviews on a book recommended by Frog, �The Great Risk Shift.� It is obvious the politicians and corporate partners pushing the transfer of …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

scorp, Thanks for the BM data. Actually, I was beginning to feel a bit guilty for yanking his chain and foe some of my insults. At least I can say that anyone who likes animals can�t be all bad. I have been coming to this site for some time now and generally disagree with the thrust of the articles, but must admit that through the exchange of ideas here some of my own have been modified. There is no substitute for hearing people relate their personal experiences regarding an issue. We all come at life�s problems with different biases born of …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Scorp & Redhorse, Life is funny. A couple days a ago I made an appeal on this thread for more unity � no way did I expect results so soon. BM has lumped the three of us together as a conspiracy in the making. We're about to takeover an electric grid! Unity is here! I must admit I am begining to wonder about my own identity though. I'm being discribed at times as a Nazi and then in as in league with a commie and "criminal". I know at times I have agreed with each of you on different issues. Left, …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondie, Calm down. This is just a discussion venue, not a recruiting forum for a world takerover. For a while how about trying to just state your own position, read some other ones, kick back, relax and give different ideas some thought. Life is too short for so much anger. (And it can make it still shorter.)

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, �WTH.........yu do have an eye for the ironic.....I�ll make sure I�m sitting when I laugh about that one....� I try to have a little fun every day, but I do think we have far more to unite us than divide us � Including Blondemike, even if he doesn�t realize it. After all, none of us are going to get out of this alive. (Except a few select fundamentalists in each religion, of course! :-) ----------------- �The nations move to the right has nothing to do with anything but for the fact that this nation is full of a bunch of …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Cabby, I have a hard time with the carelessness with which the terms left/right, liberal/conservative get slapped on people, issues, motives. I think of myself as a conservative in the sense that I want to preserve the best of the America where I grew up and extend it to the whole country. (Other countries having it is OK, but it�s their choice.) I thinking of things like: strong family relationships, good jobs, enough extra to save and plan for the future, secure neighborhoods, basic educational opportunities, individual responsibility. However, I tend toward a more liberal approach to personal social issues � …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondemike, I�m not going to get into a head count which to me is not the issue. You can decide for yourself if a million one way or another defines an atrocity verses a �simple mass murder.� The horrors were individually experienced person by person. Dachau was not labeled as a death camp, however 30,000 people died there. There were ovens for disposal of bodies. There were concrete punishment cells too small to lie in. There were people stacked on bunks of plain boards, four to a bunk, four to six bunks high, one thin blanket for the four, without heat …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondemike, �1) There was no centrally planned conspiracy to exterminate Europe�s Jews.� � Nazi Germany was a totalitarian state � they had plans for everything and kept excellent records. � 2) There were no gas chambers, which heretofore been presented as the main engine of extermination.�� A while back I wrote concerning the difficulty in proving a negative assertion. (If a blind man doesn�t see it that does not mean it is not there.) �3) The six million figure is grossly inflated.� � The exact number is irrelevant to me. �Photos can be doctored...� �... they wanted the Jews for slave …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Blondemike, I merely asked the question, "Why do you stay here if you think the U.S. is so bad, " � never said you should leave. Apparently it was too difficult a question, so you replied in your usual blather... If you can't dazzle them with with knowledge, baffle them with bullshit. Right? I will agree not to address anything your way and I'll expect the same consideration in reurn.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, Frog, Cabby, David, Major, Scorp, etc. (I agreed not to address BM anymore.) It looks like this topic has about run its course. The deterioration of discussion to mud slinging makes it look like we�re running for office :-) We�ll find something soon for us to chew on � Hey, with old Saddam reportedly a few inches taller, we ought to be getting claims of his appearance in Argentina in a condo with Hitler and Elvis by the revisionists. Or, maybe that he has been given a new ID and working for the CIA. How about the idea that he …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

David and Whisperer... I love it! Great imaginative way to end the year. As one who is addicted to quotations let me add, �Imagination is more important than knowledge.� � Albert Einstein

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, David, Angry�63, The older I get, the more often I am angry � no wonder they are called �Elder Hostels� :-) For anyone interested, one of my favorite authors, P.J. O�Rourke was interviewed on C-SPAN 2 this past weekend. Funny man, but thoughtful. The program (3 hours) will repeat Sat. 1-14-07 at 8 a.m. EST. Since I agreed with his definition I guess I am a Libertarian. Says P.J. � �Libertarians believe in Liberty and Responsibility. Libertarianism provides measures of how well a government promotes liberty or how it impinges on it. A Libertarian candidate would literally stand on a …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Hi whiny Jack, And you might try abstinence.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

David, Of course you were right. I guess to Hawaii I should have just said, "Quiet." For brevity, clarity trumps levity with some.

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

Redhorse, David, and "Mrs. Calabash � wherever you are..." (If you get that you must be close to my age.) A slight change of topic back a bit closer to the article. I read in the latest Kiplinger Newsletter that as of the January 21, the Consumer Price Index will be a more precisely stated � in three decimal places. This will enable us to get poorly collected, but very encouragingly distorted data than ever before. Thus the �experts� from the Fed on down to Jim Cramer will be assured of full employment, the media will find it easier to fill …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

hawaii jack, I was being sarcastic here: �This will enable us to get poorly collected, but very encouragingly distorted data than ever before. Thus the �experts� from the Fed on down to Jim Cramer will be assured of full employment, the media will find it easier to fill 24/7 programming and the fairy tale (Goldilocks) economy may stay on life support a bit longer. Who says the government doesn�t create jobs?� ------------------------------------------ � poorly collected data (a rubber ruler is used) � very encouragingly distorted (to make it look good) � full employment for � the FED, talking heads like Jim …

Posted to White Progressives Don't Get It

cabdriver, There is no question the U.S. uses anti-personnel weapons � in a war your goal is to wound (preferably) or kill the opposition. On what do you base your other comments of what our goals are? We are not fighting a conventional military enemy. If you think we are genuinely targeting the civilian population I suggest you are not reading a wide enough range of material. I urge you to read, "Operation Homecoming" sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts to get some first hand info. If we really set out to destroy the Iraqis we could pull all …

Posted to What We Leave Behind

Blondemike, I see you have it all figured out. Does closing your mind to any other possible scenario make you feel more secure or just smug?

Posted to What We Leave Behind

Blondemike, OTHER SCENARIOS: Don't believe everything you see and hear in the papers and on the tube. (It won't grow hair and losing weight needs no magic formula.) You jump to conclude that I do not see the present Iraq situation as disastrous. IMO the war went well the post war is a total flop. You buy into the idea it was all based on lies. Then assume the lies were all from our side. You claim we are purposely targeting civilians. You infer that some wars are less �legal� than others, as if we are playing some sport in which …

Posted to What We Leave Behind

Blondemike, Well, like I said before, I see you have it all figured out. I won't waste any more of your time or mine � feel free to just skip over my comments and go on to someone else's opinion for your daily rant.

Posted to What We Leave Behind

"Both Khaled El-Masri and Binyam Mohamed are victims of extraordinary rendition, torture and disappearances, all of which are unlawful practices that the Bush administration and the Clinton administration prior to that have been involved in." As an attorney why has she not brought legal charges against both Bush and Clinton for these activities?

Posted to Witnessing Extraordinary Rendition

This title is something we should all remember�Live At Your Own Risk! We should expect nothing more than a chance. We are not owed anything more than that. From the moment of birth life is risky. But I agree with most of the author�s assertions and observations. Our middle class is an endangered species. In addition the lowest rung on the ladder will be filled by someone stepping down � not a good thing for those struggling to move up or even stay even. The article on the Opinion Journal site today exemplifies the basic lack of understanding by those in …

Posted to Live At Your Own Risk

Sorry, I forgot to include the article I mentioned/. http://www.opinionjournal.com/la/?id=110009316 Change for the Better The case for economic turbulence.

Posted to Live At Your Own Risk

kagreen2k, International law: Talk about word games. War by its very nature is lawless. It is born of fear, greed, self preservation, survival, or whatever motives � and always more than just one motive. Those who start it and those who fight it don�t necessarily do so from the same motive. Without someone to enforce it there is no international law or any law, anywhere. My point was only that left or right, both believe their opinion at the exclusion of other possibilities. Rumsfeld and Maher were using the same logic to support opposite views on the war. Both could be …

Posted to Live At Your Own Risk

littleplanet, �Considering that after 9/11 America was urged to �go shopping� I don�t see how we can have it both ways.� I totally agree! We�ve been getting mixed messages all along. The urging to carry on here with business as usual (or they win) and a cavalier attitude toward border and port security has raised doubts among the most avid initial supporters that there is a genuine threat to the U.S. Now we�re selling airlines and sections of the Interstate to foreign companies, but �Our economy is good.� They�ve never made this seem like a real war here at home. It …

Posted to Live At Your Own Risk

kagreen2k, Who can argue with such solid, objective reasoning? :-)

Posted to Live At Your Own Risk

One of the most honest comments I have read by an economist was that the market is not moral. �The fact is, a free-market system is blind. All the market was designed to do was to provide the most output at the least cost. It will distribute goods and services in an economically efficient manner. It is important to emphasize that this does not necessarily mean it will distribute these goods and services in a socially desirable way.� (Robert Goodman, �Independently Wealthy� pg. 4) A key word here is necessarily. Becoming rich is largely a matter of intellect, while moral behavior …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

blondemike, �He had some nonsense on his website about how globalization will really work in the long run (as Keynes noted we�ll all be dead then)...� I have a very good friend who majored in economics at University of Wisconsin on the GI Bill and is totally a disciple of of Milton Friedman. He and I were both self employed small business owners with quite different markets. Nick is usually a �half-full� kind of guy while I tend toward the �half empty� view. His business was benefiting from cheaper foreign products while my clients were cutting budgets because of them. He …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

blondemike, It seems to be a human tendency to try to make an example of something into a doctrine or formula. Religions, societies, political parties � usually start with one or more primary themes to which enough subscribe to be able to coerce others to allow. I can see merit in Milton Friedman and Thomas Friedman to a degree�also Keenes and Galbraith, but theory is seldom a universal truth. I like this from Albert Einstein. �In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they are different.� There are times when tax cuts for the well off are best (They …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, �WTH, that�s quite a story about the CEO wondering about the jobs...� In 2004, the 100th anniversary of the company, they moved out of town and some of those same people DID lose their jobs. I suppose it is possible that if the top guys made less other employees could give more, but I was only thinking of the truly big contributions which are mostly trust funds which were set up by the founders and usually before the companies went public. Contributions to local charities such as United Way travel with corporate headquarters and this has become a big …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Hi Frog, In no way did I mean to imply that only intellect is the only way to riches or a guaranty of wealth. (It�s not just the cream which floats:-) While intelligence has often been a key factor perhaps �cunning� has become more universal. You said, �Capital has no boundaries� to which I would add �other than those we impose.� Isn�t the realistic imposition of such what we expect from our governments? Tariffs or other taxes were been quite common before international corporations with no allegiance to anything other than greed became the norm. Too little regulation is as bad …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, My only personal experience was for three of small privately owned companies � two were family owned � grocery after school and one year between my two years at college. The first was only for a year � they paid less than minimum wage $0.70 vs $0.75/hr. The second was in their ad dept. They shut it down and I worked an arrangement with them to work on contract � my first self employment at age 19. The other one I suppose you could compare to a dictatorship, a graphic art studio owned by a guy who was very …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Frog, I read the Kolko article and found it to be insightful. His assessments of both the global economic woes and the Iraq situation are well thought out and well presented. Near the end are four words of wisdom which I would like to hear from our �leaders� and �deciders� � �We simply cannot know.� For some time I have been aware how often top level corporate management begin to believe they are infallible. People are too quick to defer to the guy who writes their paychecks and he sees this as agreement with him. Many execs know so little about …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

--------------- Frog, I went to amazon.com to read reviews of Kolko�s book, �Another Century of War?� (I�m only going from his article, a single professional reviewer and a few reader reviews, so this is in no way a critique of his book.) Amazon reviewer � �Another Century of War? insists that the roots of terrorism lie in America's own cynical policies in the Middle East and Afghanistan, a half-century of realpolitik justified by crusades for oil and against communism. The latter threat has disappeared, but America has become even more ambitious in its imperialist adventures and, as the recent crisis proves, …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, Frog, Since no country�s currency has any intrinsic value, but is a matter of faith, I see more need to closely monitor every investment than ever before. Since gold and oil are still dollar denominated their volatility (all 3) makes life interesting. The Euro may very well replace the dollar before long. In addition to outrageous government spending I see a number of huge economic strategic mistakes which could eventually drastically destabilize global markets. The shift in U.S. jobs which is turning us into a two tier standard of living � the super rich and the rest � is …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, I am familiar with most of what you mentioned � JIT, loss of manufacturing (especially auto related) firing of experienced workers, exec benefits and bad business decisions. Dr. Deming was here and I�ve read his Quality Circles literature. After the Japanese began to out do us at least one of my customers adopted his methods � they are still here, many others are not. The bad decisions department is the reason for all the others. Somewhere along about the 1970s corporations became enamored with the idea a guy with an MBA could run any business. Bringing in people from …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, Frog, �I can�t help but think that W. Bush is actually speeding up the process of our regression, making bad foreign policy decisions and wasting money at probably an unprecedented rate.� Intelligence is not one of the adjectives which come to mind in the same sentence as �George Bush.� (either father or son) I tend to see W as programmable. Keeping it simple must be the family motto... �Stay the course, We�re in a war, The economy is good, Everybody wants to be free� and now, �Going forward.� Unfortunately the alternative candidates were at least as dim, IMO. More …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Frog, I hope your friend�s business survives. One local small factory owner here was interviewed by a TV economics show host a couple years ago. He was told the company had done what it could to keep employees, but a few had to be let go even though the owner had not taken any salary for over two years. �Well, even so, you must admit the tax cuts have been a big help, right?� To which the owner explained, �If you are making NO PROFITS there is no tax to pay and therefore NO tax saving.� ------------ You pointed out that …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B, Yes, you�re right. Some time ago I saw Bernie Saunders and wrote to him with my thanks. I am not familiar with Brown and Tester, but have read Webb�s WSJ piece and his book, �Born fighting.� I hope the geographical spread of the people will be recognized in D.C. This economic deterioration is nation wide and not limited to the �Rust Belt� or �lower level jobs.� As usual the people who have the least will feel it first and worst. It seems to be a universal truth � whether bad economic policy or economic sanctions � the top of …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Blondmike, ibid (What we leave Behnd)

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Frog, In our fair city we have still a net loss of 15,000 manufacturing jobs even though there has been much ballyhoo about our recent �recovery.� There is a plan about to be hatched to start a $20 million revitalization plan on a hockey stadium in the downtown area. The building was placed there 25 years ago to �revitalize the downtown area.� It has NEVER made a profit (wrong location) and has been on life support and costing an additional $900,000 per year from tax payers the entire time. Yesterday a local downtown theater closed on what was to be the …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Frog, I believe it is too late to change back to what we had before NAFTA and any attempt to reverse will take far longer than it did to get where we are now. (I am using NAFTA as a proxy since it was our first official participation in globalization.) My opinion revolves around what I have witnessed, what I have read and what people I know in various parts of the U.S. have related to me from their locations. While my experience is linked to manufacturing many others have seen similar effects in a wide range of occupations. The local …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Jon B & Frog, I don�t know a lot about Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) � it came for a vote as I was wrapping up the last annual report I will ever work on. The chief financial officer and accounts were livid due to additional �busy work� it would cause their department. What I have read doesn�t seem like it would be likely to prevent another Enron debacle. What do you think? As we deregulated the financial businesses we made up for it by imposing (IMO) far too many new laws and restrictions on individuals. We are forgetting the government is supposed to …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Frog, �We have a weird society, do we not, when we allow millions to have inadequate health care and then legislate nitpicking �safety� measures.� My suspicious mind tells me that the cities, the states and the federal governments here are all in dire financial condition so they are stopping people more often to supplement their own budgets. That way they can say they are not raising taxes and since it is one individual at a time � no protests. Drugs in prison: Same over here. My letters to representatives have pointed out the War on Drugs is pointless � if they …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

Interesting article: ---------------------------------- Sweden's New Year Ushers In Battle Over Welfare State's Future Dec. 22, 2006 (Bloomberg) -- Swedes will wake up to a different nation on the first day of the new year: one with lower taxes for those who work and lower benefits for those who don't. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=a0kXvwao3Wtw&refer=home ---------------------------------- Sounds familiar doesn�t it? I do know they have been having immigration problems for some time. It seems their secret is out and people have moved in from around the globe. I have a friend who moved here from Sweden as a young man and maintained dual citizenship. About twenty-five …

Posted to What We Learn When We Learn Economics

First: �You Break It � You�ve Bought It!� ...has been posted in thousands of antique shops for years. Note: Tom Friedman should only be mentioned when pointing out how little he knows about economics. (He is one hell of a book salesman though.) Second: Read �Cobra ll� for the context of how Colin Powell used this plate analogy. His meaning is very clear by the second part of his statement, �...be sure you use enough troops.� Rumsfeld has been given a free hand by Bush far too long and against the advice of many senior officers (now retired after speaking frankly). …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, Lighten up. Broaden your thinking a bit. Read differing opinions and please try to be a little objective. The book I mentioned, �Operation Homecoming� would be a good start, since it literally covers the full range on the war. Not everything bad is due to conspiracies. Honest, well meaning people can do dumb things. While there is no shortage in the world of sleazy ones simple-minded ones like Georgie can cause a lot of trouble while truly believing they are right. (Often these are the most dangerous.) Of course there have been opportunists involved in the war � all wars …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, �Now WTH...you know that Redhorse doesn�t trust � Honest , well meaning people....�, they�re the ones who might get yu killed first� Give me a skeptic...� Well, I am definitely a skeptic on most things, just not into the conspiracy mode. Little ones for a short term I can buy, but not the big, long term stuff. Even (or maybe especially) the crookedest and best planned schemers soon start to screw each other. Look at the gang wars of the 20 and 30s or the drug gangs today. The truth will eventually prevail, so let�s wait and see. I agree …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, I think I�ve said this before, but our disagreements are not all that great. I think it�s more a case of degree than basic disagreement. You have named a bunch of what I can consider conspiracies too, but all I�m saying is not everything which is being labeled as such today necessarily IS one. Even slavery was not a universal conspiracy when the revolution was in process or the Constitution was being written. The expediency of politics extended it even when a majority of individuals thought it was outrageous. (Not that that did much good for the people being held …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, BlondeMike, I'm still thankful to live in the U.S. � whatever. Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, The following is something I just sent to cabdriver on the �Immigrants Sue...� thread at this site, but I think a steady diet of ITT and similar reading can drastically distort reality. The overall thrust of the articles on this site... � Negative (I know nearly all media reporting is of bad news, but these are overwhelmingly editorializing with an anti-bias.) � Blame is a central theme. Who to blame is variable � Bush, the U.S., society in general, Christianity, government, whites, the rich... seldom the individual "victim". � Going hand in hand with the above is � generalization, insinuation …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

BlondeMike, If I still had any interest in your opinion I would have addressed my comments to you. Meanwhile be careful while totin� ...don�t look in the end with a hole in it � that�s not the sight

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

BlondeMike, I've been a member of the NRA for decades, but it is guys like you with your implied threat to Redhorse ("I be carry'n") that tag responsible shooters as gun "nuts." Grow up for Pete's sake.

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

Redhorse, Agree on the marginalization technique. Certainly that is how Hitler came to power as opposed to the way Stalin and the Japanese Imperialists did it leading up to WW2. Even after he was in control the rounding up of �undesirable� segments of the population allowed Hitler to do it with a general feeling that what was happening was good for the country. The majority thought it would only affect them in a positive way � criminals, homosexuals locked up � later just the Jews � finally everyone who opposed or even spoke against the state. I see a parallel here …

Posted to A Nation Is Not a Plate

cabdriver, �The tax cuts didn�t make jobs. We had a jobless recovery remember. During the comparatively high tax Clinton era millions of jobs were made and growth proceeded at an annual average 3.5% between 1995 and 2000. The recession began in the first quarter of 2001 and ended in the last quarter of that year.� Win some � lose some: Tax cuts are only of value to those making money. The more you make the better they are for you. Yes we had (are having) a jobless recovery. Jobs during the Clinton era were a figment of the tech roulette being …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

While I can agree with many of Moberg�s assertions, there is one point which I believe is crucial and cannot be overstated. He brushed against it, but this is a gross understatement � �It was a vote against Bush and the Republicans, more than a vote for the Democrats.� I am an independent voter and fiscal conservative. As such I have voted most often AGAINST one candidate and FOR the lesser threat to freedom and economics. While Moberg�s following observations may be true... WHY are they true is important. 1. �There was a straightforward correlation between income and votes: the poorer …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

W Otis, cabdriver, blondemike, Hyjinx22, Look, there is some truth in all of our reasoning � that�s what makes it so hard to change anything in a democracy. (Also what makes it possible to get screwed by politicians.) W Otis said he doesn�t know economics, but as one who was also self employed for over forty years I can see from some of his comments that business has taught him some of the most basic and most important � � supply and demand set prices � when times get tough people will do it themselves if possible However, it is not …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

blondemike, Thanks for the correction on The Big Lie. I have a copy of Mein Kampf, but never truly done more than skim it. (He may have been a rousing speaker, but a truly dull writer.) I might have picked up someone else�s big lie attribution through my log standing WW2 interest. Or, I may have jumped to David Ogilvy who recommends the �Big Idea� as an advertising communication tool. There is an article at the Wall Street Journal website today by Senator elect, James Webb. I read his book, �Born Fighting� last year (half my heritage is Scots Irish) and …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

texasindependent, Yes, of course, you are right � �Social Security is a pyramid scheme.� But it is OUR scheme, a long standing PROMISE and greatly in need of intelligent reform. There is NO money for either S.S. or Medicare� just IOUs. Both parties have spent it all and more. They have been decreasing the benefits and delaying eligiblity. (My two sons must wait until closs to age 70 so far.) I never really thought Social Security would be around for my wife and me and saved big time all my working years. My mandatory switch to computers (or go out of …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

blondemike, �Whattheheck, you are full of shit about no government, throw away those worthless ayn rand trash novels and remember that we live in a civilized society...� Reread my comments to you and then the ones to texasindependent. (The closest I have ever come to Ayn Rand is the movie Fountainhead with Gary Cooper.) -------------- �Bush�s nonresponse to Kartina was racist, criminal and verged on genocide. When an exactly similar hurricane hit Havana Fidel had two million people safely evacuated without ONE casualty.� The Katrina mess was badly handled first by the mayor, then the governor and finally by FEMA. There …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

blondemike, You can believe Reuters if you wish, but my wife's cousin is a cop in Malm�, Sweden and they have big problems. It ain't workin' out so pretty good no more, by golly. ----------------------------------- On Sweden, immigration, etc. 3/5/2005, Weekly Standard Volume 010, Issue 24 Stockholm Syndrome I originally hail from Sweden, but am currently teaching economics and European studies at Skidmore College. I found Christopher Caldwell's "A Swedish Dilemma" (Feb. 28) interesting. I hope it will open American eyes to a problem that is visible all across Europe. Although Sweden is on the extreme end of things, I do …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

blondemike, Since you asked, �What we arguing about ?� I guess I would say while we agree on some events, policies and info, we disagree on who should take responsibility for life�s troubles and what is more credible � news reports, �official� data, consensus thinking (group think) or individual testimony, personal experience and that of friends and relatives. Personally, I want to check the TV and internet reporting against the claims by people I know and trust. You may note my reading includes authors who are diametrically opposed in their writing. In my experience anecdotal news often becomes the news reporting …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

W Otis, You can accept what info I offer or not. But here is my view as a previous one-person business owner/worker� Even if you have no direct foreign competitor eventually all are vulnerable. The housing market has been strong due to low interest rates, no money down mortgages and massive refinancing � that is ending. California has been reporting increasing defaults and mortgage company bankruptcies. Just as the globalization/technology revolution has reached the white collar people it can trickle down to you. I got me. I recently talked with a fellow graphic artist who just lost his last major customer …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

blondemike, >>whattheheck, your grasping at straws, the story came from the UN, Reuters only reported it. To �balance� this careful, objective study...<< If you believe anything from the U.N. is objective we have another point to debate. They are probably careful not to get caught most of the time, but the Oil For Food Program is one of the biggest ripoffs in history and Kofi can claim it with Guiness to add to his trophies. You said, �Defense� or Pentagon welfare spending is the biggest single component of the budget.� Maybe you meant compared to Social Security, but last I heard …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

cabdriver, �I say raise the income cap on payroll tax from the current $92,000 to $100,000 or more. What�s wrong with this proposal?� The only thing wrong is it is temporary and only effective until inflation makes $100,000 start to pinch most people when gas is $10/gal. with milk at $7.50. Removing the cap and taxing all income would eliminate the tax dodges of those wealthy enough to hire clever accountants. It would then be possible to lower the percentage everyone pays to single digits. The best retirement plan if you can afford it is the Roth IRA � tax free …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

Cabdriver, �So, WTH, do you want to eliminate the cap in order to gain more money to secure the program and stop the cheating?� Yes. As it is now there is no �cheating� necessary. There are perfectly legal (moral is not an economic term) ways to avoid taxes, including the Alternative Minimum Tax. Like the song says, �Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.� Well, everyone wants the benefits which come from taxes � roads, schools, police/fire protection � but nobody wants to pay. Taxes are the only way government has to pay for all that. As …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

BlondeMike, Let me see if I have this right... If the US does something bad � we are to blame. If the UN does something bad � we are to blame. If the UN agrees with us (Resolution 1441, sanctions against Iraq, etc.) they are NOT to be blamed� just the US. I guess I get your point, but kind of makes me wonder why you stay here in this terrible country with such a dreadful track record. Could it be you like being blamed for the ills of the world? That's sick!

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

Gosh, Blondie, I guess if you know what everyone in the world thinks you MUST be right. So, Iraq did nothing to deserve any outside interference from the coalition (I guess only the US went in, so we�re to blame again.) Nobody would have missed little Kuwait anyway. I have already given my opinion concerning the fallacy of sanctions, but wait � as a fascist I couldn�t have said that�it must have been when I was in my Redhorse persona. We aren�t going to leave until we finish locking up all the leftwingnuts and reinstate the concentration camps. (We�re monitoring your …

Posted to What Did the Voters Say?

The following quotes from this article make it pretty clear what the remedy is. � �They said they think I sent money for illegal drugs or a coyote,� says Torres. �They were treating me like a criminal.� � Doubtless a significant amount of money is sent to Arizona to pay coyotes; under the current immigration system, they are often the only way for Latin American immigrants to come to the United States. � Many see the seizures as a shocking abuse of power against an extremely vulnerable population: non-English speakers and undocumented immigrants who are wary of any contact with authorities …

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

Cabby in Chi, It is probably a big deal to all the people who are following the legitimate process for immigration � No es verdad? When a person is cutting into the line it is not wise to bitch about someone else�s bad behavior. Never heard of Barb Coe.

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

cabdriver, This not just addressed to you, but your latest comments reminded me of something I have been aware of for some time. The overall thrust of the articles on this site... � Negative (I know nearly all media reporting is of bad news, but these are overwhelmingly editorializing with an anti-bias.) � Blame is a central theme. Who to blame is variable � Bush, the U.S., society in genral, Christianity, government, whites, the rich... seldom the individual. � Going hand in hand with the above is � generalization, insinuation and guilt by association. Your comments: Generalize about those who come …

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

Redhorse, The following is something I just sent to cabdriver on the �Immigrants Sue...� thread at this site, but I think a steady diet of ITT and similar reading can drastically distort reality. The overall thrust of the articles on this site... � Negative (I know nearly all media reporting is of bad news, but these are overwhelmingly editorializing with an anti-bias.) � Blame is a central theme. Who to blame is variable � Bush, the U.S., society in general, Christianity, government, whites, the rich... seldom the individual. � Going hand in hand with the above is � generalization, insinuation and …

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

cabdriver, In 1963 I was in Alabama while in the army. I had never been that far south before and was appalled at the White Only and Colored Only signs. I can�t believe after all this time and ebb and flow of the population that they can still be that provincial and backward down there. I am quite familiar with your description of the refusal to accept Jewish refugees here in the 30s and 40s. Ships were turned away just offshore � I have always thought this (guilt) plays a large part in the U.S. backing for the establishment of the …

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

Cabdriver, I would like to...1.) stop the illegal crossings (I personally don�t think a wall or fence will do that, but...I don�t think that will happen.) 2.) digest the numbers already here 3.) go ahead with measured immigration to suit needs. I would oppose another unconditional amnesty, since the last one only encouraged more illegal entry. My main objection to any continuation of non-regulated immigration (in addition to the health and security issues) is the paying of less than minimum wages under the guise of �keeping prices low� or the idea that �no Americans will do this kind of work. � …

Posted to Immigrants Sue to Retrieve Funds Seized in Arizona

We have computer voting with a paper trail. Many are willing to accept this as adequate. I have talked about this with many friends who use computers every day � they buy and sell, do their banking, pay their income taxes with complete confidence. This always amazes me. I would like to hear if anyone out there with programming experience has this kind of confidence.

Posted to Do you think electronic voting can be accurate?

BINGO! hourglass, �wth, you are old enough to remember when the gov promised that social security numbers would never be used for id purposes. ha!� When I signed on with the VA I was asked for, �...your last four.� (The last four digits of my number.) I proudly commented that I still knew my entire seriial number. The last four of my Social Security number was what she wanted. They are now the military number for each member � talk about security! I saw a congressman on TV (sorry, forgot the name) who had extensive computer business experience. When asked about …

Posted to Do you think electronic voting can be accurate?

While the time was indeed long and not knowing the extent would make it even longer, there are many things I would like to know which seem more important. How was he brought to the attention of those who arrested him? Was an anonymous tip involved? Could somebody he knew have wanted to make trouble for him? Mistaken identity? Why was he in Pakistan at that time? Did he go there regularly in connection with his bookstore business in England? There is mistreatment inferred, but only threats of a possible death sentence are specifically mentioned. We have heard so much about …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Kaela, Redhorse, Kaela, you evidently lead a very sheltered life and are quick to judge if, �He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.� is the most brutal you have ever read. First �That comment followed a series of questions as to why he was arrested and that since he was apparently not tortured by the military at Gitmo I was glad. Second � Who can deny if he had NOT been in Pakistan at that time he would probably NOT have been a prisoner? Redhorse, First let me say I have tried repeatedly to reply to your last …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Kaela, Redhorse, Kaela, you evidently lead a very sheltered life and are quick to judge if, �He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.� is the most brutal you have ever read. First �That comment followed a series of questions as to why he was arrested and that since he was apparently not tortured by the military at Gitmo I was glad. Second � Who can deny if he had NOT been in Pakistan at that time he would probably NOT have been a prisoner? Redhorse, First let me say I have tried repeatedly to reply to your last …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

hourglass says, ��we only have his word� ... bite me you phony half-baked intellectual ... this is a family-man who was scooped up illegally, held illegally, forced to swear that fallacious statements concerning him were truth under threat of physical harm or death. then spent all his time writing his defense or rebuttal to his forced confession. think about it ... he had to ask which direction the sun rose - he was drugged whenever moved - he was held for 2 frickin� years. unfortunately, i would trust this man with the truth before anyone in our administration - just think …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

�hourglass is out of sand� Hmmm, more like kitty litter. You are so gullible, self-satisfied and narrow minded, you are pathetic.

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, If you will carefully read what I wrote, you will see that I am not saying this didn�t happen the way he wrote it. I am saying we do not have enough info from what he wrote, we only have one side of the story and apparently (APPARENTLY) he was not tortured. I have heard and read about the issues you mentioned, but that does NOT mean: � everything we have read is universal � every person�s account is true � that no prisoners should be held � that all prisoners should be � or, in this case that if …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, It�s OK if we don�t agree. At least we can consider and evaluate each other�s viewpoint. Some of this disagreement is the old half full or half empty thing relating to individual perception. Personally I don�t think there can be an over analysis if we are really seeking the truth and fairness. (More analysis when he was picked up may have avoided this whole episode.) On the other hand fairness requires learning or at least considering both sides of the story. If everything in this article happened as he says, he was treated unfairly. But even then we don�t know …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse. �US policy has away been imperialistic by nature� European is no different...� I would like to add that virtually ALL countries have ALWAYS had a habit of expanding their scope of influence either buy outright annexation of territory, (taking or buying) financial influence, or coalitions such as the League of Nations, U.N., NATO, etc. As early as 1931 Japan (who has nearly no natural resources of its own) began a ruthless grab for territory involving thousands of square miles and millions of people. They were largely ignored by the west partly because Hitler seemed more threatening to us, but largely …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, You see our 5% of the world population "using 80 -85% of the world's resources" and I see it used to develop polio vaccine, rescue tsunami victims, provide new time saving and life saving inventions, etc. Much of the good has come from businesses and individuals � some out of a a sense of caring, some from a sense of guilt, some from other motives, but to those who are in need � who cares why? The really massive emergencies have come through our taxes plus donations. You see us in the worst possible light with anything we do tied …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, Your response to my view of the U.S. was: �...Keep dreamin�....the polly anna act is for kids..... You know as well as I that 80% of the world resources is over kill thievery.... Save your dream scenario rhetoric for Natalie...... Contrition...take responsibility....pay reparations........� Can you honestly name any country in the world which would fit your desires and be better overall than the U.S.? If we are so terrible why are so many trying to get here?

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, �People go through hell and high water to get here because Amerika has stolen all their chips..... Now I�m sure you think everything this nation has was honest booty...but without 300 years of slavery....and the scholarship of folks like Elijah McCoy....Amerika wouldn�t be jack.... You owe the rest of the world...but are irresponsible in your reparational behavior....� How many people do you know who went ��through hell and high water to get here because Amerika has stolen all their chips.....� ? Without 300 years of slavery you could be in some part of Africa where genocide is running wild. If …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, �There is none so blind as he who WILL not see.� -------------------------------------------------------------- You may look at my words, but you read what you WANT to see. You don�t see your own racial prejudice: �whether you like it or not...slavery is the foundation of the capitalist economy ...you so admire...you profit from it�� �Like most white folks you really don�t see or thing about that...your white skin privilege , blocks it all out...� �Denial and lack of responsiblity.... Sense Redhorse is of Afrikan and native heritage...their is no telling where or what.... Redhorse would be doing...� ------------------------------- Well, Redhorse, life is …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, I disagree with your definition of racism � �Racism is the economic depravation of a particular group of people by another based on the color of their skin....� � this is only one aspect of it � any time a person puts down or blames a group based on skin color � it is racism! When you lump �white folks� (including me) into your accusations of blame for past inequities that is racism in my book. Check your comment: �Feeling bad about the racist jokes your friend told at the last cocktail party you went to...or maybe it was at …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, I will be voting. We use computers (not my preference), but with a paper trail. There are two independents available on our ballot and I will be votiing for one. He iis a write-in with little chance, but it is in protest of the globalization our current congressman has pushed for years. I honestly don't care which party "wins" the congressional majority since neither will do anything worthwhile. At least with a deadlock they can't do as much damage as they would like either. (That's as upbeat as I can muster.)

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, �Damn WTH....in the mist of our little turmoil...we agree...I will be voting for green party candidates...� Right! I think some of our disagreements are largely theoretical. I just came across this Einstein quote: �In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they are different.� When it comes to practice I suspect we are pretty close, but disagree on the theories of how best to do it. For example: How to and how not to treat individuals � agree. Who should be responsible and to what degree government can/should be involved � disagree. I just made up my mind …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse � same here with Obama. In our state we must declare a party to vote in the primaries and usually (not always) I have declared Republican, but this time in order to vote for Obama I took the Democrat ballot. (This declaration has always been a sore spot with me.) I also think it is too soon. Senator Durban said he was a great candidate due to his lack of a long track record. (That says a lot about Durban�a career politician.) I would prefer to see a candidate�s record and Obama's is just too short right now. I plan …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

RH� �The problem with Obama is that , people tend to believe that he�s some sort of magic bullet....getting on the fast track can ruin a guy...� I can see why the Democrats would like him now � everyone else with a high profile (in both parties) has a lot of negative character flaws. He looks like the Lone Ranger by comparison. Obama is obviously intelligent, he is personable and when he says something it has the ring of sincerity. I know I have become increasingly cynical, but the first time I heard Bill Clinton I thought, �Hey, I could vote …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

RH, �Redhorse is more skeptical of the profession...than of the man...� Many think any win becomes a mandate. They never consider many of us voted not FOR them, but AGAINST the other idiot. Our current congressman initially ran on the promise of his own term limit � 6 years... Then, guess what, he had become chairman of the small business committee and for OUR benefit just had to stay. In his time there (12 years) he has insisted NAFTA is great for us. He likes CAFTA, WTO � all the globalization goodies. I know he never reads my letters (dozens since …

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

Redhorse, Well, my guys lost. So another term with the same governor (although he may be indicted) and the same NAFTA lovin' "Representative." At least Rumsfeld finally is out.

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

RH, After I read Webb's book, "Born fighting," last year I e-mailed him and surprisingly got a reply. We exchanged a couple more and he seemed like a very interesting guy. I hope he wins. I wonderwhat would have happened if VA had been a computer voting state without a paper backup. A friend got me to this article by David Gergen � "Let's Get It Together" In the U.S.News and World Report, October 16, 2006 http://www.davidgergen.com/index.php?page=home&item=752

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

I heard about Allen throwing in the towel right after I last wrote. Earlier I heard they thought it could take as long a two weeks to do a recount � so much for paper balllots aren't good enough.

Posted to Abandon Hope, All Who Enter Here

For the first time Fortune magazine listed 400 BILLIONAIRES this year. I see this as largely a result of globalization. Some say this is not a zero sum game � They are probably among the 400. When I started my own business with a wife and two young children on borrowed money, several friends remarked that it must have been a scary time. Not really. The country was growing, businesses were expanding and the first year I was out of debt (except for my house mortgage) and doubled my income. The U.S. was a creditor nation. My last ten years before …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

Above I wrote my views on some of what we have lost to Globalization. Here is a bit of what we got in return for the job losses... --------------------------------- Saturday,�October�14,�2006 FDA: Test of food warnings failed often By Libby Quaid THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON � A warning system meant to alert food companies in the event of a food poisoning outbreak failed one-third of the time in a recent government test. -------------------------------- Last month it was E Coli flavored spinach, last week it was lettuce. Each time you bite into a salad think about the sound bite �cheaper for consumers.� From …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

Hi Frog, Sorry about my last comments to you � I was pretty much a wise ass � it was a bad day around here right then. I couldn�t get back into that discussion to apologize. I don�t know if people are getting fed up with the squeeze where you are, but I think the economy will get much worse here before enough people get serious about change. ------------------- gglodoe, Sorry to hear about your situation. I have a good friend who at 46 is switching into the med field. She was in graphic design as I was, but that is …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

Frog, I haven�t read Dorgan�s book. After his ITT article I read the description and all the professional and readers� reviews and decided I already know enough of what is happening. I have read all of the following within the last few years. (I may have sent you this before, but I don�t think so.) The best thing about Dorgan is that he is conscientious and has the guts to speak his mind. Too few legislators care about anything except perpetuating their cushy jobs. In our local paper yesterday an unemployed machinist�s letter to the editor was printed. Lately there has …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

gglodoe, Yes, to me 55 is still young � all is relative. Age, wealth, happiness and attitude � you score high with attitude! Viktor Frankel, one of my all-time favorite authors was able to state after three years in Nazi concentration camps and even finding humor and beauty there, �The last of the great human freedoms is our choice of attitude.� You asked, �What can we do too make the picture clear to them? (those who need encouraging) How can we help them?� I would recommend Frankel�s book, �Man�s Search for Meaning.� It�s short, but powerful. The picture needs too be …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

Frog, Hourglass... Whoa! What do we have here � an agreement on something? I'm usually odd man out around here, but the three of us have found common ground. Wouldn't it be ironic if Globalization (the golden goose of the globalrich) turned out to be the catalyst for a coalition of ordinary, middle class, to actually demand some meaningful changes for the good of all? With mid term elections coming next month I find this interesting: In my neighborhood there are many yard signs � candidates for all local, county and state offices have one thing in common � Party affiliation …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

ggldoe, Your daughters are exceptional, intelligent, hard workers and with noble goals. As their parents, you must be very proud and should take a lot of credit as well. It�s encouraging to hear one daughter has chosen economics. Most economists, are still sticking with textbook views of... comparative advantage, the customer controls the markets and �free markets uber alles!� One of my best friends majored in econ, ran his own audio business and is convinced of all the above. He is now 83 and actually benefited from the lower priced Asian imports. He bought me �The Lexus and the Olive Tree� …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

gglodoe, I also had some teachers who stand out in my memory. The toughest/best was Elizabeth McGuire (called �Mugsy� but not to her face) Senior English. I went from straight As all through high school English to a C+ my first grade from her. Memorization: lines from Beowolf, Chaucer, Shakespeare (100 lines from Macbeth) � I still remember much of it. 20 new spelling/vocabulary words per week. Friday�s spelling test: any 20 words from compounding list � her definition, one in your own words, used in a sentence, in ink, no cross outs. First word on her list: undulating, moving in …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

����������������������������������������� FDR and Winston Churchill not only were great communicators, they had a declaration of war, rationed items such as gasoline, asked people to be involved in the �war effort� for the �duration� and rallied their nations to unite. Bush has no lasting congressional declaration, urged us to NOT change our lifestyle and allowed the media to define our involvement for over two years without making a convincing case to the American public or the rest of the free nations. Is it any wonder things are in a mess? ---------------------------- (Some of this I remember � recruiters in theaters, ration cards, …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

da vinci, You mentioned the clout of big corporations � Some of them are have larger sales/profits than the entire GDP of many countries. We are in the midst of a shift from nationalism to international corporatism. I believe the VISA charge card was the first corporation to have no national headquarters about twenty years ago. It is nearly impossible to know which economists are pushing globalization out of greed and who are doing it from ignorance. Our local district congressman is, I believe, convinced it is a matter of necessity rather than choice, but he is willing to accept the …

Posted to How do you feel about the impact of globalization on the U.S. economy?

Real Diversity... Each individual is unique to a degree that real diversity comes with each of us. Categorizing is exactly opposite in that it groups people by their similarities. The terms: race, diversity, affirmative action, define people by group. We are born and die as individuals. Most of our life experiences are as individuals. If Johnny falls and skins his knee, only Johnny truly feels the pain. A local example: For many years our high schools had a �Honors Program� (college-level classes for those students capable of doing advanced work). Following a discrimination lawsuit many changes were made. Students were bused …

Posted to Is Diversity Enough?

theloneous, winterchestnut, Jay Cline, richard123, Maybe it�s because the author is working from a misconception (IMO) that his thoughts have sort of fallen by the wayside. He said, in the paragraph beginning,��The question is...� �...the sense that in American society, effort and hard work are rewarded, that there�s a rough justice in the distribution of wealth, and that inherited inequality is not a fundamental problem�are widely held views in American society.� After having running my own business for forty years I can guaranty the idea that effort and hard work will bring their own reward is just plain stupid. Widely held …

Posted to Is Diversity Enough?

Now Hear This! (Breaking News) �Life is NOT fair.� Redistributing the wealth? Who is to decide how much goes to who? What criteria would be used? How would/could it be done fairly? Whether people are rich or poor depends on many variables. Racial factors, geography, ancestry, intelligence, health the llist is long . The reality is the �real� market decides everything where economics is concerned. I am not saying this is the way it should be. Like gravity �it is what it is. Eventually even the 70 year Soviet experiment discovered that. Passing a law won�t change that � look at …

Posted to Is Diversity Enough?

Richard123, I wasn�t specifically addressing your comments. I guess any disagreement I have is with the basic thrust of the book. What the author sees as important... �As Michaels sees it, the social focus on achieving diversity diverts attention from the most fundamental injustice in our society�economic inequality. Moreover, the pursuit of diversity, especially in universities, gives legitimacy to the growing economic inequality of American society, because it protects the inheritance of economic privilege and does little to create opportunity for the poor, whether black or white.� I see this way: � His lament about the �...most fundamental injustice of our …

Posted to Is Diversity Enough?

Mr. Foster loudly states... �In public appearances, interviews and newspaper commentaries, he has made the World War III mantra the centerpiece of a Churchillian patois designed to burnish his qualifications as a prospective commander in chief.� Let me I remind Greg Foster that history has proven Churchill to have been quite accurate in spite of the overwhelming opposition to his views. Even after open hostilities began many thought during the Phony War period that he was overreacting. ------------------- However, my next choice for Commander in Chief may well be a Democrat, an Independent, or a Libertarian! We hear talk about needing …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Scorp, Don�t confuse the political unity immediately post 9/11 with �winning the hearts and minds� of anyone. Politicians love to jump in front of a parade. and, like most of us, they were angry enough to want to retaliate against the perpetrators. Emotional reactions like this are akin to a lynch mob and why a slow moving form of government should never be replaced by computerized consensus (a la electronic voting). All protract wars have eventually bogged down and become �unpopular�. From the Revolutionary War through Vietnam this has been the case. The Spanish American War of about three months is …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Scorp, It was as you said, �But the UN mandate (this was the UN Kuwaiti operation, carefully crafted to include the views of a large coalition of UN partners) was for ending the occupation of Kuwait, not for regime change in Iraq.� A number of the UN members of the coalition objected to going further in Iraq.� I doubt if that would console many of the Iraqis who we told we�d back against Saddam. He slaughtered so many that I think even Rumsfeld should have expected NO trust from them this time around. (Read: �Martyrs� Day� by Michael Kelly) Ah, yes, …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Redhorse, Come on, Redhorse, this is not a Repulican/Democrat issue. (except for election spin ) Unfortunately, this is typical D.C. Good-Old-Boys insider society SOP of protecting their own. I saw two former pages interviewed last night who Foley had approached ten years ago. (YES, TEN YEARS!) Both turned him down, but kept in contact for some time. Why didn't they blow the whistle on him? "You don't want to burn any bridges with a congressman." They were 16 at the time and already totally into the D.C. scene and game plan. Like most news � no info on what they are …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Redhorse, There is NO WAY Foley is going to jail. To be fair we need to hear all the evidence as to whether he actually broke any laws. The first reports didn�t sound like it, but when more came out all of the boys in the party said, �I don�t really even know this guy.� and all the Dems said, �See, conservatives are no damn good.� Either way he should not be alllowed to resign � he should be bounced out ASAP. Not being a Catholic I always wondered how a �celebate� guy could council people about sex in any authoritive …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Redhorse, At about age forty after about 15 years of intense study of the Bible and the views of diverse theologians, I decided I am an agnostic. There was a sort of weekend men�s revival meeting the church I belonged to back then and the preacher said, �Turn to the person next to you, give him a big hug and tell him you love him.� Not my kind of thing, for sure. We didn�t even know each other�s names, but we have been best friends ever since � I looked at him and he looked at me and then he said, …

Posted to Route-Stepping? Our Way to WWIII

Wow! Talk about a �lexicon� : �Certainly, there are troubling tendencies among the radical Muslims who increasingly see the United States as the enemy.� "Troubling Tendencies"? Have you ever considered how often the articles on this site excuse the violent reactions of these religious radicals to innocuous situations? Somebody please tell those guys about �sticks and stones." " Troubling tendencies", hmmm nice alliteration and a workable sound bite, but it hardly brings images of suicide bombers, nun shooters or cartoon-crazies does it? But then, that is something we should simply avoid by catering to there particular �insult� categories. Maybe the pope …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Why is it important to define this activity or decide on an universally acceptable label? Fascism? Religious or Secular Radicals? Historical comparisons? What some other group of nuts did or whose religious feelings are trampled on be damned! The UN is a gold mine for late night comics as are most politicians of any party or country. The only thing that matters is that enough international cooperation is mustered to stop this nonsense. Soft pedaling it as �Troubling Tendencies� is just plain bull shit! There is no excuse for this behavior by anyone. Next they will be blaming early toilet training. …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Tex, Scorp & Redhorse, I�ve been reading �On the Home Front� (Alistair Cooke � 1941), an editorial by Tony Blankley (Washington Times � now) and a small booklet, �Britain� (1943) picked up at an antique store. Both Cooke and Blankley pointed out how long it took for people to realize to fully accept they were at war. Blankley is English and a naturalized US citizen and compares England during the �Phony War� period with us now. In �Britain� there is an article which mentions the image of Americans was based on movies and novels of the time, so we were thought …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Redhorse, Thanks for the reference, but I can�t view videos. I have enough trouble just getting back into this site. I have been waiting to get high speed connection before upgrading my computer. I got a notice on my doorknob that DSL (AT&T) is available in my neighborhood. My phone company (McLeodUSA) could not tell me if true or not. (I talked to �Linda� in India and finally her supervisor � both told me they had no way of knowing and they were,�Sorry, but we cannot connect you with someone in the U.S.� Great! USA is part of the name and …

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Hmmmm, So it is just a coincidenece that a doe is a female rabbit? Uh-huh.

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Good Grief charlie Brown, just think if they start breeding on the internet!

Posted to The Neocons Lexicon

Byron Dorgan is one of the few in congress I wish I could vote FOR. (I�m usually voting against the worse of two choices.) He has often spoken out on this issue, but as always with Short-Span TV, he is outnumbered in any discussion and cut off by a commercial break. (Probably by one of those companies who are selling us out.) I have not read his book yet, but I hope he mentions something about the obscene sums of money being stolen from stockholders as �added incentive� (6 or 7-figure salaries are not enough?) for corporate executives and directors. Directors …

Posted to The Prairie Populist: Byron Dorgan

Spinoza, Whattheheck is your point regarding "...trying out for the most disgusting poster" bit? I would agree not only that there should be ways to benefit from trade without lowering our living standards � in fact we used to benefit while raising living standards. That was before we had 36,000 lobbyists in DC. Boards used to be approachable and concerned about the interests of individual stockholders � but that was before huge computerized trades by mutual funds swamped investing. Today most annual meetings are conducted by proxies and most proxies are institutionally controlled. Which way do you want it � A. …

Posted to The Prairie Populist: Byron Dorgan

I didn't vote for any of the above for a couple of reasons. A Federal Minimum Wage is only meaningful to an individual relative to his cost of living. A few years ago I read that a "living wage" in Hawaii was around 4 to 5 times what was needed in the lowest state. To talk in terms of a "Federal Minimum Wage" is hypocritical as long as we continue to allow employers to hire illegal alien workers at rates substantially lower. The congress has decided to dodge this issue until after November (not a surprise). Congress, while favoring the export …

Posted to What range do you think the federal minimum wage should be?

johndoraemi, No, not tied to inflation � it hasn't been raised in ten years. It appears to be loosely tied to elections. "If elected, I will..." Even people working for more than minimum have actually been losing purchasing power for quite some time. In addition many have lost benefits. The unions have been as useless as most politicians. Senator Byron Dorgan is an exception. (see article on this site)

Posted to What range do you think the federal minimum wage should be?

Yesterday my wife and I had two small icecream cones. We paid $2.45 for them. In the 1940s they were called "nickle cones." (A nickle is that coin which almost has Jefferson's head on it.) I'm currently reading "The American Home Front" by Alistair Cooke. (Written in 1942, but published last year.) He noted that Boeing was paying $0.65/hr and the west coast ship yards $0.95/hr. I fully expect to live to see a $7.00 Whopper � quite soon.

Posted to What range do you think the federal minimum wage should be?

As always, in her expectation of a perfect world, Terry Allen begins by pointing out any and all US faults. Also as usual even accidents and misjudgments are lumped in as vicious plots against alll but the priveliged few. (I guess they must all have been vacinated and will be at zero risk.) I suggest Terry go to Iran and demand to inspect any and all research labs and military sites. (I suppose she would have protested the A-bomb development if able. What did your Daddy do in the War, Terry?) Let�s have a bit of balance here. Sure there have …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Hi Frog, I only threw in the part about her Daddy because so many WW2 guys I know credit the dropping of the bomb for their lives. One WW2 Marine friend has a daughter who goes to an annual candle light A-bomb protest � he has to remind her that not for the bomb she would not be here. In fact I have only heard opposition from those who would not have been in on the invasion of the Japanese islands. To a man those who participated in amphibious attacks on Japanese held islands are totally convinced that Japan too was …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, You say you are �an incorrigible optimist� � OK, but just as you think I am obsessing about terrorists it seems to me your are so with facism. Given the European experience of the 20th century perhaps I would be in your camp. Living in the U.S. perhaps you would view the global blame game in a different light. By the way, the doctor didn�t say there was no defense against bio. He said there could not be an effective serum developed in time to treat a vast number of victims for a rapidly morphing virus. There are many things …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, We certainly agree on the effects of globalization and the down hill slide of our societies. I believe our basic disagreement on terrorist attacks is one of the primary common denominator. I just sent a comment to the new discussion question concerning the Federal Minimum Wage opinion for the U.S. My disgust at the massive cooperative effect of government, big business and the idiotic media continues to grow. Senator Dorgan has been tenacious, but nearly alone in his attempts to address the issue � what a frustration! I am sorry to say the comments by Maria do not surprise me. …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Maria asked, �Did I get you right? You don�t seem to be shocked by the idea of the CIA practicing torture, but by your president saying it in a loud voice.� No, unfortunately, you did not get me right. When I said, �I am sorry to say the comments by Maria do not surprise me.� I meant the part about companies disregarding the health, safety and jobs of other people. For some it is always this way. My point on torture is that Bush refuses to let this issue be totally forbidden. He still wants to be on record that in …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I don�t see any contradiction here. �Behind the tough old rather militaristic guy is a �Greeny� trying to get out !� Jimmie Carter was totally alien to Washington � He didn�t know or like them and ran his administration as though he were still back in peanutland. IMO he is a well meaning person, but not equipped to deal with the realities of life. He wants to believe in the basic goodness of mankind and we were lucky all he gave away the Panama Canal. (That should get a response about empire building.) �IF the US had declared a War …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I heard on the news his morning the Food & Drug Administration has OKed the addition of certain viruses to various food products to help prevent some kind of obscure disease. �It kills 500 citizens per year and sickens another 2000.� Amazing! I�ll sleep better tonight. (I would guess that is about how many people die each year from tripping over the household pet and drown his water dish.)

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I read Virginia� Tilley�s article, �Putting Words in Ahmadinejad�s Mouth� and also the interview with Robert Pape regarding the motives for suicide bombers. As usual I come away with more questions than answers. Having only a smattering of any languages other than English I can readily accept variations in translating as well as interpreting what was said and what was meant. For that matter look at all the discussion of anything a head of state says even among listeners whose native tongue was used. In addition to genuine miscommunication we must add the subconscious predisposition of the listener/interpreter and also …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I don�t know why I find it surprising, but nearly everyone I hear is saying the Pope needs to apologize for offending Muslims with his use of the 14th century quote. Even if he were expressing his own opinion the killing of a nun, burning of churches and other violent forms of protest are inexcusable. The media and many of the world�s spokesmen are so afraid of this minority group idiot religious fanatics they treat them like a spoiled child. With anything they don�t like they simply throw a tantrum and people kneel and kiss ass. Why is there no …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Why does all your criticism begin and end with Bush? Why do you accept Tilley or anyone else unquestioningly and then build your theories on them? What difference if all 9/11 guys were all from Saudi Arabia? Think of how many other attacks by Muslims where from assorted countries. This is not a nation against nation fight. Most of all � why not hold these people responsible for their actions? The Pope has no close assocciation with our involvement in Iraq as far as I know.

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

aspendougy, All of what you say I have heard and have no serious doubts about the events. We can add to that the Agent Orange and various food additives we are ingesting However, not is due to nefarious motives. Bad things can happen to good people from the best of intentions. Personally, I have had far more radiation than doctor would administer today. Nearly sixty years ago I received it as treatment for an extreme case of acne. I only knew one other kid who had it and she died of cancer of the thyroid about 15 years ago. I don�t …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, Thanks for the link to the TIME interview with Ahmadinejad. Some of the interesting description reminds me of another person. (see insert) �Ahmadinejad (Bill Clinton) is a skilled, if slippery, debater. In his press conferences, he has shown himself to be a natural politician, gifted in the art of spin and misdirection.� Over the course of the 45-minute interview, he was serious, smiling and cocky--evidence of a self-assurance that borders on arrogance� ----------- I sort of expected him to say, �I never said, �...the Holocaust a "myth," or, � Israel should be "wiped away," but he skipped over that. I …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog & Maria, I've been reading "On the Home Front" (Alistair Cooke � 1941), an editorial by Tony Blankley (Washington Times � now) and a small booklet, "Britain" (1943) picked up at an antique store. Both Cooke and Blankley pointed out how long it took for people to realize to fully accept they were at war. Blankley is English and a naturalized US citizen and compares England during the "Phony War" period with us now. In "Britain" there is an article which mentions the image of Americans was based on movies and novels of the time, so we were thought to …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I am aware of the ownership of the Washington Times. I guess avoiding any source which may present an alternative view would simplify life, but I would have to drop this one if I were to do that. BTW�I thought it those easily insulted Muslims blowing up of harmless citizens at various points around the world which was supposed to scare us. Is there some other purpose?

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, I have to say I�m a bit disappointed in your recent replies. I realize English is not Maria�s first language, so perhaps what she sees as �intellectualizing� and �complicating matters� is due to that. I�m sure I would be completely lost trying to follow a discussion in Spanish even without needing to deal with sarcasm or levity. But it seems you are truly unaware that the very thing you accuse me of is what you are doing. Buying into a single simple scenario. It may just be that instead of all spin or all religious conflict it is some of …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, OK, I read the Avnery piece. Did you read the pope�s actual speech? Regardless of Avnery�s opinion as to the motive for the speech and the reference, the violent reaction (as with the Danish cartoons) is inexcusable and indicative of what you referred to as a �Clash of Civilizations�. What about all those attacks unrelated to the U.S.? Why do you ignore them? They are certainly some sort of clash. What do you see as their cause and purpose?

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Frog, You must be having a bad day. I don�t have to hate someone to see their behavior as inexcuseable. Do you? Possibly this is so, but then if you are simply avoiding any and all information you are predisposed to find distasteful you don�t need to evaluate it. You may not realize it, but this attitude makes for a great Christian fundamentalist � so whatever you do stay away from TV evangelists. Oh, I forgot you gave away the TV to avoid poluting your already made up mind. Kind of ends any further discussions, I guess. Just go back to …

Posted to Sick to Death of Bush

Wrong Title! The author's question: �Why does Israel, fully aware of these tactics, still bomb the sites? The obvious answer is that it believes the deaths of innocents are worth the price of hurting Hezbollah.� Let try a different mental experiment and imagine that, one of the suicide bombers is entering your house and your children are at home. You are armed. Do you shoot even though there are many people near him including his own children? If you are of a different race and you choose to shoot, does that make you a racist? Well, in my case, it makes …