Sunday, April 29, 2012
A contrarian view
Dagan supports Diskin’s Iran comm... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics
when the most experienced people in the intelligence community speak one should listen. Check it out for yourself. The leadership in Israel is determined to link the actions of Israel to the United States and not for the better interests of our country.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
My Take-a daily dose of opinion: How Long, Oh, Lord?
Fact of the matter is that prosperity is created by a middle class that creates demand. Present policies encourage inequality that depresses the middle class.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
OK. We're leaving now.
Firm Leaves Mississippi After Its Prison Is Called 'Cesspool' : NPR
this is what happens when governments farm out responsibility to private enterprise. Private enterprise is motivated by profit and this one showed a handsome profit but did not perform the task of readying inmates to return to the general population. It is guaranteed to cost the state money down the road. We should be shamed by this action.
Friday, April 20, 2012
Millions against Monsanto: The food fight of our lives
The giant food conglomerate, Monsanto,
is once again in the news for various alleged misdeeds and is using
its trademark heavy handed tactics to obscure and obviate the actions
for which it is being charged. Monsanto has for some time
aggressively pursued suits against innocent farmers whose crops have
been inadvertently pollinated by neighboring crops of Monsanto's
genetically modified corn. The immense wealth of this company and
the legal advantages that wealth brings usually lead to a favorable
judgment for Monsanto. Now some states are moving to require that
any produce that is genetically modified carry a label that makes
that clear leaving the choice in the hands of the consumers.
Monsanto has promised to sue any state that passes such legislation
assuring a lengthy and expensive legal process.
In an effort to close off another
avenue of inquiry Monsanto has bought a leading company that had been
investigating the cause of the mysterious die off of bees, the most
prolific pollinator in nature. This company had determined that
Bayer, the manufacturer of the pesticide, and Monsanto, the producer
of the seed and a special adhesive coating, were largely responsible
for the extermination of the bee population. It seems that the
pesticide that was supposed to stay on the seed to combat the root
worm was becoming aerosolized and finding its way into the bee diet.
So, Monsanto exercised the tried and true method of killing the
messenger in an effort to quite the criticism.
Another recent revelation is that
Monsanto's genetically modified corn that is designed to survive the
application of Monsanto's prime herbicide, Roundup, when it is used
to suppress weeds in a field of corn has resulted in the evolution of
weeds resistant to Roundup. The scientists at Monsanto have
expressed surprise at the rapid evolution since it took them a long
time to do it in the lab. The USDA originally said any genetically
modified crop had to be interspersed with at least 50% of a
non-modified crop in order to thwart evolution. Monsanto argued it
could be done with 10% and managed to lobby Congress and the USDA
until they agreed. Guess what?
There is nothing new about genetic
modification. It has been done for as long as we have had
agriculture by saving the seed from plants with desirable
characteristics. The difference now is that the modification is
being done in labs but more unnerving is the practice of recombinant
gene splicing that can splice in genes from another species to
achieve a desired characteristic.
How does Monsanto get away with it you
might ask. Well, it is true that Monsanto's products will initially
increase crop yields but many experts argue that the benefit wears
off when pests and weeds become resistant. Monsanto recently
announced it was giving up on its efforts to market genetically
modified maize in France due to high resistance. Last year Monsanto
spent about $6.5 Million to lobby congress and only a few years ago
reached a high of almost $10 Million. What does Monsanto get for
that investment? Well, one of the duties of our state department is
to promote U.S. Interests and commerce abroad and the state
department is very insistent at promoting Monsanto's products. In
addition, Michael Taylor, a former lobbyist for Monsanto and an
officer in that company was appointed to the number 2 position in the
FDA in charge of ensuring food safety and implementing policy. In
that position Taylor has conducted raids with armed agents on
unpasteurized milk producers and others. Why? Monsanto provides a
genetically modified growth hormone that will increase the yield of
the milk cow.
What is the payoff for Monsanto? Well,
Monsanto now provides up to 90 % of the world supply of genetically
modified seed. It has been buying up seed companies in order to
squelch their sales and aggressively pursues in court cases of patent
infringement which it can claim as a result of its recombinant gene
splicing techniques.
The efforts by Monsanto are so
pervasive that the products produced by Monsanto are now showing up
in non-treated crops as a result of natural cross-pollination and are
competing with those crops for space in the natural environment.
What is at stake, other than the integrity of our food supply and
protection system, is the loss of genetic diversity. What this means
is that you may one day decide that a tomato produced for its
shipping characteristics is as tasty and one that is an heirloom
species because there will be no point of reference. But, even more
sinister, is the lack of biodiversity that will make our food crops
subject to a catastrophic die off if a threat develops that is
resistant to the modified species.
Even in our basic necessities such as
food and water we find the tentacles of corporate greed reaching in
and prostituting the political process that should be protecting the
American people and the rest of the world. The revolving door of
industry and regulators and the uninhibited flow of money into our
political system is a cancer that must be excised if our democratic
freedoms are to survive and possibly if the human race is to survive.
Without adequate food and water life cannot exist.
I once heard someone say that there is
no danger of us destroying the planet. The planet will find a way to
survive with or without humans. The choice is ours.
Please, Go
Gently
A few days ago Senators John McCain and
Joe Lieberman showed up in Turkey as if joined at the hip to
castigate the unwillingness of the United States government to
intercede in the uprising in Syria. Senator McCain went on to say
that we ought to land ground forces there to quell the fighting and
make possible a regime change, perhaps like the one we coerced in
Iraq. Everyone knows how well that turned out.
I don't think that anyone would
disagree with his assessment that the peace plan attempt forged by
former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has met with limited success.
There is really no way to bring sufficient pressure on the government
of Bashir Assad who has shown no compunction about shelling his own
people. With a determined defense like this regime change is not
likely to come soon without military intervention and no one in the
world has the appetite for that right now.
Our two wars which we were told would
cost us no more that $60 Billion have now run the tab to something in
excess of $1 trillion and the estimated final costs could go as high
as $4 trillion. All of this on the credit card with no payback plan.
In fact, we cut revenues just as we were adding these expenditures.
Senator McCain himself has gone on about the multiple tours of duty
that our service personnel have had to pull. Our reserve corps and
National Guard have also had to pull active duty in combat zones to
fill the requirement for ground forces in two wars.
In previous wars we conscripted men to
serve whether they wanted to or not. We established a surtax to pay
for the wars and as a result the entire population had some skin in
the game. Everyone had to sacrifice something. Now we just tell our
military personnel how much we appreciate their sacrifice, tie a
ribbon around a tree and go about our business. WAR IS SERIOUS
BUSINESS, FOLKS. The entire country should have to think hard as to
whether or not we consider it worth the price. Right now something
approaching 80% of our population has serious doubts about that. It
was all right as long as it was “shock and awe”, be home in six
weeks but now we have been at it for ten years.
Somehow Senators McCain and Lieberman
seem to have missed that point. I sort of understand Lieberman since
he is for anything that may create an advantage for Israel but McCain
spent several years as a guest of the North Vietnamese. I would have
thought he would be a bit more reticent. Problem is that what a lot
of people took away from the war in Vietnam was the way the soldiers
were treated when they came home. There is no doubt that many were
underappreciated but the takeaway for the Generals was the lack of
need for the war and the ineffectiveness of how it was prosecuted.
General Powell asserted what became known as the Powell Doctrine
which stated that the country should go to war only with the
agreement of the American people and with overwhelming force. Makes
sense, I wonder how that got lost?
The point is that our country, Congress
and our President would be down the rabbit hole crazy to initiate
another war now. Syria, Iran or anywhere that we can avoid. If they
don't strike us then let's not send the Marines in. Let's just take
care of business at home.
The United States is a powerful nation
and I am going to assert that we are at our most powerful when we are
exerting moral and ethical leadership within a coalition of other
countries with whom we may share interests. That is what we are
doing in Syria and Iran. Civil wars and uprisings are messy and
deadly. Just look at our own, still the record holder for deaths of
United States citizens. We can support the desire for freedom in
many ways but that fight must come from the citizens of those
countries and they must shed the blood for their own freedom.
Senator Lieberman couldn't win the
nomination from his own party and ran as as independent. He has
already said this will be his last term and that it will because he
could not be elected again. Senator McCain's time would be better
spent tending to his heritage and preparing for retirement. He has
given his country a full measure of his service but seems to have
become embittered by his rejection by the American people in favor of
President Obama.
My take is that we should thank both of
these men and send them back to their homes before they cause some
real damage.
The Big Short: Redux
Morgan Stanley is betting against Europe's weakest - The Term Sheet: Fortune's deals blog Term Sheet
I can barely get a glimpse of understanding of the derivatives market but it just seems unethical to hold a position that profits from the failure of a state or institution.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Strange, this.
India tests missile that can reach China - CSMonitor.com
strange how this is considered a deterrent move by India and a threatening move by North Korea or Iran.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Just say, "Auld Lang Syne"
5 Horrifying Facts You Didn't Know About the Space Shuttle - Forbes
this is a follow up to the previous post about Space X preparing a docking mission with the space station. While we loved the shuttle it had some serious drawbacks and to hold on to obsolete technology is to not embrace new technology. We can miss and old friend, even though it was not extremely successful, but it's time to move on. As long as we move on to something new we will be OK.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Big Whoop
Gannett names Courier-Journal publisher - BusinessWeek
when I was a kid the Courier-Journal was the paper I learned to read on. It was in our house every day we could afford it and on Sunday whether we could or not. The paper was consistently ranked in the top 5 nationally and won awards as a matter of course. Times are difficult for the newspaper industry but the feel of the printed word in my hand is worth the price I pay.
Having said this, does anyone miss the Binghams?
when I was a kid the Courier-Journal was the paper I learned to read on. It was in our house every day we could afford it and on Sunday whether we could or not. The paper was consistently ranked in the top 5 nationally and won awards as a matter of course. Times are difficult for the newspaper industry but the feel of the printed word in my hand is worth the price I pay.
Having said this, does anyone miss the Binghams?
You Have a Go
SpaceX Given Green Light for First Launch to Space Station | Autopia | Wired.com
This is a huge development in the search for the next mode of delivering materiel to the Space Station and it goes a long way toward demonstrating the intent of the United States to continue the Space Program, whatever that is. While some remain skeptical, including me, of the operational viability and well as the economic viability, this could go a long way toward validating the decision to retire the shuttle fleet which had already flown far past its design projections.
Say What?
Santorum mailer: Romney as GOP nominee 'frightens me' - latimes.com
Now here comes this mailer from the Santorum camp about Romney. Can they just not help themselves?
Monday, April 16, 2012
Say What?
‘Buffett Rule’ Debate Blocked by Republicans - NYTimes.com
It is phenomenal that the GOP leadership can thwart the will of up to 70% of the American people without it costing them something. True, this alone will not make a lot of difference but the symbolism inherent in this measure is priceless. Read my previous reference to the Washington Post column about this.
It is phenomenal that the GOP leadership can thwart the will of up to 70% of the American people without it costing them something. True, this alone will not make a lot of difference but the symbolism inherent in this measure is priceless. Read my previous reference to the Washington Post column about this.
Saturday, April 14, 2012
The Warrior Mentality
By all accounts Sgt. Bales was an exemplary soldier having served 3 previous combat tours prior to his current deployment. His family expresses disbelief that the person they know could have committed this atrocity. If, indeed, it is revealed that Sgt. Bales did do these acts it will most assuredly be revealed it was not the son, husband or father that they knew.
It has already been posited that Sgt. Bales suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, PTSD, as a result of his previous tours and from trauma encountered on his current tour. Thing is, he has not been diagnosed with such behavior. Regardless of whether or not Sgt. Bales is diagnosed or convicted it should be recognized that the people of the United States bear some responsibility for his actions. Sgt. Bales did not act in a vacuum. The violence associated with his actions is cultivated in the warrior mentality that pervades or society and our military. We speak of our warriors in a way hardly distinguishable from Nordic societies of the past in that we revere them as warriors, trained to carry out actions deadly to themselves and others in order to protect our desire to live in a society free from just those things.
Philosophers often turn to the thoughts of our founding fathers when we speak of the nature of their intention for our society at the moment of its creation. One thing that is clear is that they did not envision possessing a standing army capable of deploying any place in the world in a matter of hours. They did provide for a Navy but mainly for the protection of commerce. They were all too familiar with standing armies in Europe and the propensity of kings to use them to subjugate their peoples and they wanted no such temptation to affect the actions of our leaders. As an aside, I recently saw a facebook post that stated, “bring our soldiers home, we need them to protect us from our government.” All I can say is that in this statement is an ignorance of our laws (posse commitatus),the structure of our government in which the military is subject to civilian authority and the direct invitation for a military coup to overthrow the government. I don't take these things seriously but maybe I should because they reflect a mentality that the military is unflinching and unfailing which are attributes not present in any military.
In the years since Vietnam, which was the last time we used conscripted personnel, the view of the military services has changed dramatically. Not so much the Generals and Admirals but the dogs of war have been influential in their desire to use military force to establish global hegemony for the United States. They have been largely successful in indoctrinating the public that it is our right and duty to do so. In order to further this end the all-volunteer army has been trained to a degree that we never thought possible only a few decades ago. Up until then we fought wars with civilians that were called into service or volunteered after which they returned to their former lives. Now we train these professional soldiers to be the fighting, killing machines that current conditions require in order that the great majority of the American people have only a passing acquaintance with the despair and bloodshed in far off parts of the world. When those who have fallen in battle return home we honor them with prayer and promises that their sacrifice will not be forgotten. It is strange that the Nordic societies did much the same thing promising that the memories of the fallen would be preserved in story and song then they would be set afloat on a burning boat to drift off to Valhalla.
The dirty fact is that many more come home maimed in body and in spirit, the latter being harder to see and treat. Sgt. Bales very likely has been a victim of that system even though he continued to volunteer for more combat assignments. But PTSD changes the neural structure of the brain. The very people are changed and are no longer who they were. You cannot train a man or woman to be an efficient killer as a matter of instinct and then expect them to be a housewife or soccer mom or little league coach or any other humdrum existence. The instinct remains and the propensity to use it will rise to the surface when required. It is assuredly true that most of those who serve return to live normal appearing lives but that is a testament to their resiliency rather than a trait that we have any right to expect.
Our foundational philosophy did not include a warrior class for good reason. Our country was envisioned to function on the basis of rational thought and the welfare of the whole. The world we live in today is a dangerous one but it is made dangerous through the actions of self-interested organizations and nations. While it may be pie in the sky to think we can exist without conflict it is surely possible to exist with less. And surely we can do this without turning our citizens into killers who find it difficult to erase the training when they walk through the front door.
If the charges against Sgt. Bales are substantiated then he is most certainly guilty and should bear the responsibility for his actions. But be sure, he alone does not bear responsibility. All of us who require that such soldiers exist bear responsibility also just as assuredly as if we had been there. It is time to rethink the warrior mentality.
At work in Pyongyang
Do they not do it in the woods anymore? Part deux.
Vermont Governor Has Bear Encounter : The Two-Way : NPR
further news in the "don't they do it in the woods any more" vein.
further news in the "don't they do it in the woods any more" vein.
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Hey!! Wait, I'm with you.
GOP-On-GOP Attacks Leave Orrin Hatch Fighting Mad : It's All Politics : NPR
the vitriol is ok until the worm turns. First Gingrich accuses FoxNews of not being Fair and Balanced (really?) and now Orrin Hatch says the right wing of his party are radical libertarians. Do tell?
Fireworks!!!!
The Associated Press: North Korea fires long-range rocket
nothing like a good fireworks show to start a birthday party.
nothing like a good fireworks show to start a birthday party.
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Friday, April 6, 2012
Do they not do it in the woods anymore?
Bears Stuffing Themselves Near Massachusetts Homes : NPR
for my friends in Massachusetts some interesting news. Moral of this story is to keep a vigilant eye out if you are doing yard work with you ipod playing. These furry creatures are becoming the norm in these parts, which is on the Cumberland Plateau and Lake Cumberland.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
UK this year, IU next year
This ESPN article has Indiana University as its late season pick for the number 1 spot to start next year. I agree totally. IU played Kentucky tough 2 games and won the first meeting. UK handled everything the Hoosiers could throw at them this year but it was painfully obvious that IU was the second best team in the tourney. Louisville is picked second and I have no argument with that.
I don't know if we will ever see another team able to dominate the way Kentucky did with Freshmen players this year. I did not think it possible even this year and I am surprised to see teams with upperclassmen unable to meet UK's challenge. It just points up the incredible talent on the team and the coaching job of Coach Cal, who was robbed of the coaching award. Not that Bill Self did not deserve it but that Cal took a bunch of Freshmen and molded them into a championship team in the space of one season. Winning an NCAA championship requires much more than just having good players, although that certainly helps. It requires a team that will give up individuality for a team goal.
The Saga Continues
Pakistanis Criticize U.S. Reward for Militant - NYTimes.com
further development in the continuing saga of "with friends like these, who needs enemies."
Gather up the supplies and come home and leave that hellhole for the people who want it.
further development in the continuing saga of "with friends like these, who needs enemies."
You Decide
Robert Reich: The Fable of the Century
you won't find too many people warning of the impending demise of the middle class but Reich is one of them
you won't find too many people warning of the impending demise of the middle class but Reich is one of them
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
The Associated Press: CA attack suspect upset about expulsion, teasing
The Associated Press: CA attack suspect upset about expulsion, teasing
I am certain that the NRA will argue that if more Christians had been packing heat that this guy would not have killed as many people. One can only imagine the gun battle with a half dozen or so guns firing in a school building. Would responsible registration have helped. With the ready availability of firearms we can never know.
I am certain that the NRA will argue that if more Christians had been packing heat that this guy would not have killed as many people. One can only imagine the gun battle with a half dozen or so guns firing in a school building. Would responsible registration have helped. With the ready availability of firearms we can never know.
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