Towards a Green Future

Great article in the Christian Science Monitor about Australia's proposed military buildup.

Looks like its two greatest rivals are the worlds largest democracy, India, and the worlds largest communist capitalist dictatorship, China. Perhaps the old theories are right about balance of power relations being independent of ideology and styles of government?

Of course, the opposition in Australia makes a valid point of pondering how to pay for a large military buildup.  But, when have finances ever been an issue? Just follow the U.S. model and cut taxes while rapidly increasing spending. Sure, your deficit will explode, but who cares anyways?

No, it's not my new porn-star name.

It's rainy here in Virginia. April is the rainiest month they have, according to my wife. However, I've noticed something strange about the rain here. Whether it is a light right, or a driving downpour, there is always a mist that is coming down too.

Weird.

Perhaps Cthulhu related?

Sadly, Michael Scheuer, author of this article in the Washington Post, does not seem to understand this. What is even more tragic is that his biographic info attached to the article reads:

"Michael Scheuer, the chief of the CIA's Osama bin Laden unit from 1996 to 1999, is the author of "Marching Toward Hell: America and Islam After Iraq."

A summary of the article is this: we have to torture people because there might be a ticking time-bomb scenario and torture is not only the sole way of getting life saving, actionable intelligence, that is 100% accurate.

This article is full of illogical statements, massive leaps of faith, assumptions, and self delusion. A cursory reading by anyone with an IQ over "potted plant " level will realize this. But, let me point out a few of the juicier ones:

1. Note that the scenario is fictional. As in not real. Also, note that the author was in charge of catching Osama Bin Laden. Mr. Scheuer, it would be nice if this scenario was real, and Bin Laden was actually in custody. Perhaps you could spend less time writing fiction, and perhaps volunteer at the CIA to help capture him?

2. The author clearly demonstrates that he has no idea how terrorist groups based on cell structures work. In the scenario, Bin Laden, as the more-or-less head of Al Queda has operational and tactical intelligence about the exact timing and make up of a terror attack. Al Queda, in reality, works nothing like this. The principles of cell-based terror organizations are that: Cell A has no idea who is in Cell B, Cell A has no idea what Cell B is planning, Cell A does not even know Cell B exists. This insures that when you are captured (and tortured like Jack Bauer does in this weeks fully-erect episode of 24!), you have no information to give them, because you do not actually know anything about what goes on outside your cell. Cliff's notes: Bin Laden tells his terror-pals to "go out and do bad things to hurt the great satan that is America" via audio tapes, video messages, and notes that go through layers of cut outs and dead-drops.

3. Mr. Scheuer labels Obama's change in interrogation tactics as the President imposing his moral view on the rest of us. Completely wrong, Mr. Scheuer. Obama was elected by the majority of the voters in a democracy. He campaigned on changing the way we execute the War on "Terror." He also campaigned on closing Gitmo and ending torture. Therefore, he is not "imposing his own personal morality" on defense policy. He is imposing the morality of the nation, or at least the majority of the voters who bothered to show up on election day. This is how democracy works, Mr. Scheuer, the government does what the people say. If you do not support this view of government, you are welcome to move to more enlightened nations such as North Korea, or Cuba, where Dear Leader knows best.

At the risk of sounding redundant, it bears mentioning that in the real world, reality matters. Mr. Scheuers fanciful editorial might get him noticed by the producers of "24" who might offer him a consulting contract to help write episodes, but it will not help apprehend Bin Laden, nor will it help disrupt terror attacks that are being planned, or in the stages of execution.

 

http://blogs.ajc.com/jay-bookman-blog/2009/04/16/georgia-senate-threatens-dismantling-of-usa/?cxntfid=blogs_jay_bookman_blog

http://crooksandliars.com/john-amato/gov-perry-talks-succession-texas-tea-pa

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Well well, aren't the rednecks feeling their oats with all this "We lost the election because our ideas suck and so we're going to leave the union" jibber jabber?

On the one hand, it would be tempting to let you treasonous slouches go.

On the other hand, my great great grandfather proudly served in the Union Army the last time Redneckistan decided to throw a hissy fit and leave the United States.

http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/04/07/americans-slash-credit-card-borrowing/

Good news on the economic front - consumers are reducing credit card debt.

Bad news is that the Federal Reserve is still focused far too closely on artificially inflating demand by keeping interest rates too low for too long. This is what started the housing bubble that got us into this mess in the first place!

There was a time when the Federal Reserve focused almost exclusively on keeping inflation down. I believe it was Reagan that labeled inflation "the unfairest tax of all." I do not often agree with the gipper, but in this case, I do.

Inflation is why a family of four cannot live on one parent's salary.
Inflation undermines the purchasing power of the middle class.
Inflation undermines the ability of people to work their way out of poverty.

I think we should let supply and demand find an equilibrium without the Federal Reserve manipulating interest rates solely with an eye on generating demand.

My $.0.02 worth.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040602732_pf.html

From the picture of Ms Applebaum, I would put her in the 35-50 year old age catagory. This implies that she might recall living during the cold war, when the US, Britain, USSR, China, and France all had nuclear weapons on hair-trigger launch mode. On several occasions, we came perilously close to nuclear war due to errors in launch-detection systems on both sides. Reducing our nuclear weapons inventories in a multi-lateral, verifiable manner is in everyone's best interest. A single missile, launched in error, could kill millions.

Obama realizes this threat to international peace and safety. Strange that she does not chastise arms reduction accomplishments from the Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, and Bush 2 administrations.

As far as her assertion "Yet there is no evidence that U.S. nuclear arms reductions have ever inspired others to do the same. All of the world's more recent nuclear powers -- Israel, India, Pakistan -- acquired their weapons well after such talks began, more than 40 years ago. " goes, she is woefully ignorant of the fact that South Africa, Brazil, and Libya have been deterred from pursuing nuclear technology. Also, she seems to have forgotten the Non-Proliferation treaty that, with the exception of a few rogue states (Pakistan, North Korea), has worked to successfully limit the spread of nuclear weapons technology. Also, she seems to forget that many nations with advanced technology have chosen not to develop nuclear weapons: Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, etc.

A world without nuclear weapons is a fantasy right now, but we have moved forward in reducing nuclear arsenals, and we must continue to move away from vast numbers of strategic warheads poised to obliterate hundreds of millions of people in less than 45 minutes.

If Ms Applebaum prefers to live in a world where nations are armed to the teeth with nuclear weapons, she is entitled to that fantasy. But for the rest of us, it sounds like a nightmare we would all rather wake up from.

Fun on a bun!

"While the nation debates the cost of climate change -- whether the price of electricity and gasoline should increase because of their greenhouse gas emissions -- the problem already has a price tag on the Chesapeake Bay.

Sea levels are rising almost twice as fast in the Chesapeake region as in most of the world, and waterside communities are spending millions to keep the water from eroding yards, marshes and sandy beaches."

*******

And our politicians fiddle while Rome burns....

The Obama administration proposes a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, which is a good start. This type of system worked well for reducing acid-rain causing emissions for much less cost than was expected. However, given the threat this poses to the fossil fuel lobby, the opposition to any legislation (no matter how watered down) will be enormous.

I am in serious doubt about the President's ability to pass significant legislation in this arena - even if the economy was prosperous, this would be a task that requires a level of political capital that neither party has ever possessed, or been willing to spend without regard to servicing their corporate donors.
 

really?

Indiana Jones, the American film icon. Nerdy archaeology professor and swashbuckling adventurer tough-guy, all rolled into one, and played by Harrison Ford.




The question is: Are you Indiana Jones? If you are Harrison Ford, or some other buff guy, the answer is yes, you could be Indiana Jones. However, if you are a middle aged, doughy office worker taking the bus to the metro, the answer is NO, YOU ARE NOT INDIANA JONES.

Dear Readers - I have noticed a disturbing trend over the past few years. Indiana Jones signature hat, being worn by doughy, plump, nerdy, pimply, and other forms of non-Harrison Ford-esque men.  Simply put, these guys look ridiculous. Sadly, they do not have a clue how silly they look. Do they believe at any moment they will be rescuing a shrieking damsel? ("INNNNNDDYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!") Or perhaps pummeling some nazi's trying to seize holy relics?

Perhaps these are the thoughts going through their minds.

In truth, they are overweight, middle-aged men, riding the bus to get to the metro to take them to their desk job at Bureaucrat, Inc. There are no damsel's to rescue, no nazi's to pummel, and no holy relics to recover and put into a government warehouse to be studied by who? "Top men."

Who?

"Top men."

Ditch the hat, office toad, it's pathetic.

Economic Investment ideas from the Green Party:

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From: http://www.gp.org/press/pr-national.php?ID=152

Greens offer six big steps for economic recovery

GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES
http://www.gp.org

For Immediate Release:
Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Contacts:
Scott McLarty, Media Coordinator, 202-518-5624, cell 202-904-7614, mclarty@greens.org
Starlene Rankin, Media Coordinator, 916-995-3805, starlene@gp.org

Greens support workers occupying a factory in Chicago after layoff: bailout money isn't being used to help working Americans


WASHINGTON, DC -- Green Party leaders said today that the incoming Obama Administration and Congress should take six major steps to reverse the financial meltdown and restore financial security for Americans.

The steps include a Green public works program, aid for state and muncipal governments, expansion of mass transit, Single-Payer health care, a peace dividend gained by ending the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan, and an end to the wasteful war on drugs.

Green Party candidates running for local, state, and national office in 2008 promoted many of these ideas even before the crisis precipitated. In September, Cynthia McKinney published a ten-point list of solutions and reforms in response to the Wall Street meltdown, titled "Seize the Time" (http://votetruth08.com/index.php/learn/mckinney-messages).

Greens expressed support for United Electrical Workers union members occupying a Republic Windows and Doors plant in Chicago after the plant was shut down and they were laid off with three days' notice and told they had no assurance of receiving severance and unused vacation pay. The company's creditor, Bank of America, received $25 billion from the government's financial bailout package. Greens said that the bank's actions, including refusal to allow Republic to give workers 60 days notice (as required by law), demonstrates how bailout money isn't being used to assist working Americans facing financial hardship.

Six Green steps for economic recovery:

(1) Enact a massive Green public works program, creating new living-wage jobs in conservation (including weatherization and energy retro-fitting); clean and safe energy technologies to replace fossil fuel and nuclear sources and create a carbon-free economy; repair and improvement of America's deteriorating infrastructure (especially water and sewer systems); and improvement of public schools and Green job training programs.

"The collapse of the I-35 bridge in Minneapolis in 2007 was a result of the neglect and starvation of funds for maintaining infrastructure that was built decades ago. The ideology of privatization and hostility to 'big government' is no longer tenable during the financial crisis -- the current White House and Congress conceded as much when they began pushing for bailouts. Public works programs built America, and public works, with hundreds of thousands of new Green jobs, is what America needs now for economic recovery," said Rosa Clemente, the Green Party's 2008 candidate for Vice President (http://www.rosaclemente.com).

"We're encouraged that President-elect Obama intends to launch a public works program along these basic lines, but we hope Congress and his own administration don't undermine and dilute such a program out of traditional Democratic and Republican loyalty to corporate interests and fear of being labeled liberal or socialist. It's time to follow the lead of the Green Jobs For All movement," Ms. Clemente added.

(2) Bail out financially ailing towns, cities, and states before bailing out private corporations: millions of public sector and contractor jobs depend on the fiscal security of municipal and state governments.

Greens noted that municipalities and states are businesses that drive state and local economies throughout the US. They also provide the social safety net that millions of working people need during the current crisis.

(3) Jumpstart our country's mass transit system, giving people an alternative to cars while saving them money and providing jobs.

"Making autos more efficient will only get us part way toward solving our energy and climate challenges. We need to get people out of their cars altogether. Communities need the ability to provide local solutions for mass transprotation: new trains, subways, light rail wherever they fit," said Wes Rolley, co-chair of the Green Party's EcoAction Committee.

(4) Enact a Single-Payer/Medicare For All national health plan, providing every American with coverage and removing the burden of health care from small and large private businesses.

"The skyrocketing cost of health care under our private health care system has created much of the economic instability as businesses struggle to provide workers health benefits. If President Obama and Congress have the political will to resist the power of the insurance, HMO, and pharmaceutical industries that siphon their profits off America's need for health care, the relief that Single-Payer will be a huge economic boost," said Sanda Everette, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Single-Payer would cover all Americans regardless of income, employment, residence, age, or prior medical condition, allowing choice of health care provider, and costing working people far less than they now pay for private coverage. In 2003, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article estimating that Single-Payer could cut health care costs by $350 billion annually (http://www.pnhp.org/publications/nejmadmin.pdf). Greens sharply criticized Barack Obama during the election season for rejecting Single-Payer out of concern for health insurance companies.

(5) End the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.

"The staggering expense of the Iraq and Afghanistan invasions and occupations haven't only cost American, Iraqi, and Afghan lives. It also ate up trillions of dollars away that could have been spent on human and environmental needs. If we call home our troops right now, we can divert the money needed for military occupations to Green public works and other programs to jumpstart the economy -- a new peace dividend," said Starlene Rankin, co-chair of the Lavender Green Caucus.

The Green Party opposed both wars from the beginning and has criticized Mr. Obama's plans for delayed and partial troop withdrawal from Iraq and for sending more troops to Afghanistan.

(6) End the war on drugs, which wastes billions annually, hasn't curbed drug use, and ruins lives by incarcerating nonviolent offenders (mostly young, African American, Latino, and poor white) at further government expense.

"The war on drugs is America's longest and costliest war. With Afghanistan providing the world's world's biggest poppy crop, it's one of the main reasons the US is fighting a war there," said Cliff Thornton, co-chair of the Green Party and co-founder of Efficacy, Inc. (http://www.efficacy-online.org), which promotes major reforms in drug policy.

Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron has estimated that legalizing cannabis would save federal, state, and local governments $44 billion a year in enforcement costs (http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/mironreport.html). Governments could collect another $33 billion in revenues by taxing cannabis as heavily as alcohol and tobacco.

Introducing a new blog - Politics with Bex and Rizzo!  

Hello readers (all 4 of you!). You may have noticed a new blog in my list o' links. If not, please take some time to read Politics with Bex and Rizzo, which is a collaborative effort between Rebecca "Bex" Young and John Rizzo, two of my fellow students in the Graduate School of Political Management here at GWU.

I love talking politics with them, as they both bring very interesting observations and perspectives to bear on important issues, and I look forward to reading their blog.

Check Them Out!

Just for the record, I have no problem with Obama smoking the occasional cigarette.

And now, on with our regularly scheduled day.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/13/business/13auto.html?hp=&pagewanted=print

Well, the "leaders" in the Senate decided not to bailout the Big Three. It is interesting to note that the White House and the Democratic leadership supported the bailout, but Republicans did not.  We seem to be experiencing some weird ideological reverse-polarity here.

While in the article, Republicans voiced skepticism over whether the bailout proposal would work, they may have slit their own throats in relation to the 2010 mid-terms. If one or more of the big 3 fail, and the resulting mass layoffs occur, Democrats could stand to benefit by advancing a narrative that they tried to stop this from happening, but the Republicans abandoned the Big 3, and their employees, when they needed help the most. We will see how this all plays out.

As speculation, they may be opposing the bailout as a last-ditch effort to destroy the UAW as a viable labor force. Whatever your views on the UAW, if this is the course of action the Republicans are taking, it may be the political equivalent of a kamikaze attack. You may cause enormous damage to your target, while destroying yourself in the process.

As my first semester in grad school draws to a close, it is time for a bit of reflection.

This first semester has been a real eye-opener, and a test. It has been an eye-opener in that so far, grad school seems a lot like my undergraduate experience, at least as far as schoolwork and level of instruction are concerned. While I remain cautiously optimistic about the caliber of future courses, I am a bit disappointed with the academics involved in my first semester. Without going into arduous specifics - one class was basically a rehashing of American history from 1930 to the present, and the other class was stuffed with material I will never use unless I go into a very specific sector of political management. In essence, the second class should be split in two, with the general/theory knowledge being one mandatory class, and the specific/detailed knowledge being an elective in one of the study-tracks that students can choose. A disappointment was that one of my professors was politically bigoted not only against conservatives, but against Ralph Nader for having the gall to exercise his right as an American to run for elected office. Sadly, the professor seems to have forgotten that this nation is a Republic, and as such, political power flows voluntarily from individuals, to our elected representatives. We do not owe fealty to them or their political parties. They are beholden to us.

My mission to advance multiparty majoritarian democracy in the United States will not be deterred.

The real surprise and joy of my first semester was getting to know my fellow students. It is positively thrilling to be around a group of smart, friendly, ambitious, and diverse group of people. They range from all different backgrounds, areas of the country and the world, political orientations, and ambitions. I have found them all to be open to engagement, and incredibly fun to be with, both in a university setting, and in social settings.

My wife and I have loved getting to know northern Virginia, and the district. Exploring, striking out on our own, and getting recommendations from students and co-workers, has been great fun. We look forward to more of it, as there is so much to see and do. Our next big challenge.....the conversion to DTV - do we try to get an antenna to get us enough signal? Or, do we get basic cable? The dilemma.......I am rather ambivalent, as since I work full time and go to school part time, I do not have that much time to watch TV. Netflix is a  different weakness altogether though....

I will try to keep the blog updated more regularly with my political musings.....still waiting for Obama's transition team to call me!

Now that the election is over, I can review the truth about the upcoming Obama administration.

Ok....not really, but the video is really funny!!!!

http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_new_world_orde_10121.php

You have now been elected to the toughest job on the planet. You have an uphill battle ahead of you, but the people have given you a chance. It is my sincere hope that you, and be extension, we, succeed.



 

 http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-10-28-0160.html

Ah, the BS is starting here locally. The area in question is heavily african-american.......but I'm sure that is just a coincidence.

Hello fellow voters! If you are voting on a touch-screen type machine, there were concerns in 2004, 2006, and now in 2008 about vote-flipping. What is vote-flipping? It is where you touch the portion of the screen for candidate X, but your vote flips over and it appears that you touched the screen to indicate candidate Y.

Poor screen calibration, or malicious tampering can be the culprit.

Your recourse may be as close as your cell-phone. If it takes video clips, you may want to film yourself voting for.....oh, I don't know.....Obama, just to make sure you have documentation to show poll-workers if your vote ends up flipping to.....oh, I don't know......McCain.

Film those votes! if yours flips, you now have proof to share with the poll workers, election monitors, your Secretary of State, and the Federal Elections Commission.

Protect your vote. Document your vote.

Poor McCain. I really feel sorry for him.

In 2000, he ran contrary to his own party on some issues, and his own party eviscerated him for it. Karl Rove, via the Bush 2000 republican primary, pulled out one attack after another, destroying McCain's chances to be the Republican nominee that year.

McCain then steadily moves closer and closer to Bush and his right-wing power base, just in time to be tied to one of the most unpopular president's of all time.

McCain then manages to get nominated in 2008, and has to go head to head with Barack Obama - a candidate arguably even more formidable than Bill Clinton.

Now, after a poorly run campaign, 3 lackluster debate performances, and being outspent  4 to 1 in advertising, McCain is going back to the trusty Republican toolbox from the 1940's and 50's.

Red-baiting. This, for those that do not know, is a classic tactic of politics. When your opponent suggests any sort of government program to address any kind of problem, or when your opponent is in favor of rolling back tax cuts for the wealthy (that helped explode the deficit), accuse them of being "socialist."  To clarify: raising defense spending is never socialist, even though the size of the government invariably increases, and private companies become completely dependent on government contracts (welfare). Spending government money to provide healthcare for people is, by conservative definition, socialist.

Why? Who knows. Probably because it was labeled "socialized medicine" in the late 1940's by the American Medical Association.

So, when a campaign resorts to redbaiting, it usually means they are extremely desperate, and on the verge of a major defeat. It also means they have no idea what "socialism" or "capitalism" are either. Definitions, anyone?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism

Socialism: 

So, come election day, I will get to vote here in Alexandria, VA - my new home. I was checking out the Alexandria voter registration site (because I'm a political dork, and that how I roll), and found out the following.

1. Alexandria has an electronic voting system (new to me - I was always an opti-scan voter in Iowa).
2. Virginia law requires you to produce a valid ID or sign an affidavit testifying to your identity prior to voting (new to me)
3. The company that makes the voting machines that Alexandria uses is Hart InterCivic.   A comparison of their officers to the OpenSecrets.org donor database shows no contributions to any candidates in the 2008 cycle.

On election day, I will bring every form if ID with me from Drivers license to my student ID, to my Green Party and ACLU membership cards (ok - maybe not those last two, in case or Republican poll thugs watchers).

In other news:

Not so surprisingly, the Washington Post has endorsed Obama.  The cliff notes version of the article: Obama is pretty cool, and could be a great president. McCain is pretty cool too, but has run a crappy campaign and his economic plan of yet more tax cuts for the rich is monumentally bad.