Random news items that elicited comment and reflection.
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Accountability
The 26-year-old United Nations Convention Against Torture requires that all parties to it seek to enforce its provisions, even for acts committed elsewhere. That provision, known as universal jurisdiction, has been cited in the past by international prosecutors to justify investigations of acts by foreign officials. It is probable that the future will see more nations review the actions of others as the measures of power evolve.
Eye of the spy
American officials are overhauling federal statues to allow greater authority to spy on citizens without judicial review. The Bush administration secretly expanded illegal surveillance. Congress retroactively approved those acts by making ex post facto law. Once a government bureaucrat starts there is no stopping. Current proposals include requiring cable and phone providers to create surveillance backdoors to their services. Government agents seek to centralize Internet and phone communications so that it passes through their hands first. Essentially this is the key to censorship and serves as a model for all other totalitarian regimes seeking to suppress descent.
Non candidate
Ron Paul a GOP candidate for president is not doing well in the race to the White House.
Part of his difficulty is that he is rational in an irrational campaign. Paul publicly opposes key GOP legislation for indefinite detention of American citizens without due process of law. The legislation also provides the U.S. military authority to act as a secret police force on American soil. Paul along with his son U.S. Senator Rand Paul also opposes the unrestrained authority of TSA. Subsequently TSA demonstrated that power by harassing the Senator during a screening that forced him to miss his flight. While demonstrating its storm trooper power over all who oppose it, TSA also demonstrated its arrogance and lack of smarts. For a government agency to harass a U.S. Senator, the son of a U.S. Representative and presidential candidate was not the way to change minds and win support.
Only fools rush in
Only a fool would believe a politician’s campaign promises. The fact is however the fools elect candidates based on those promises and showmanship. It has been said that the voters get the government they deserves, so fools elect fools to fool themselves with foolish government. This campaign season the GOP has put on a show, worthy of court jesters, with lots of humor and slapstick. Explicit and implicit promises have included Christianity (Protestant) as state religion, evict all immigrants, women as chattel, ten cent gas, riches to the rich, new wars for the generals, no taxes for political donors and return to ancient values the candidates don’t value. Each candidate attempts to out radical the other at each sound bite for extremist votes while frightening the middle. The GOP has engaged in a bloody and vicious self-destruct campaign to the delight of the Democrats who so far have escaped their own civil war this campaign season.
Monday, March 19, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
War 031112
SHOCKED and AWED, now what?
War began with the dinosaurs and has been evolving ever since. There have been some constants like lots of blood and the military industrial complex (MIC). Cavemen threw stones until their MIC sold clubs for faster blood letting. Dino-battle was about food and survival but evolution produced man, civilization and just war. This higher order saw war as a power game often engaged in for pure entertainment for the powerful the unenlightened victims however selfishly still saw it as a matter of survival.
The goal was loot, territory, ideology or subjugation of neighbors. Measures of glory were based on the “butchers bill” the number of dead left on the battlefield. It was a point of honor for generals to lose more soldiers than the enemy as an indication of greatness of their victory over a superior force. Of course spinning the body count obscured incompetence, besides the generals could grow rich on the back pay of dead heroes. The MICs learned early how to create markets through arms against armor competitions. The merchants of death always had new toys that would guarantee victory in the next game. There was always a next campaign for war was seldom decisive, battles being fought between spring planting and the fall harvest. Although not decisive, war was extremely brutal and costly.
As the social order became more complex kings devised a set of rules for the conduct of warfare. Military theories became formalized and philosophies emerged to justify war. The German Clausewitz coined the phrase “total war” meaning a nation must sacrifice in a total commitment to victory. An American, Phil Sheridan, redefined the term as total destruction of an enemy people by any means. His interpretation led to the world's most destructive century, which left runaway MICs intent on producing even more destructive toys for generals.
Toys are to be played with but the world couldn't survive another great power conflict. The MICs colluded to play with their new toys on a series of surrogate battlefields. With the temporary collapse of the great power paradigm the MICs were in danger of losing their markets. The generals looked at their great pile of rusting toys, envisioned the MICs shinning new creations and devised new strategies. There was a shortage of viable enemies so designate a bad guy, demonize his intent, and stage a preemptive strike with shock and awe. Shock and Awe allowed the generals to dump all their old toys on the demon at once, making room for the shiny new technologies at the same time. The difficulty is that the demon is destroyed the social order devastated and the generals are left with a new toys that quickly rust.
The generals declare victory, leave instability in a failing state and create new demons to shock and awe for continuation of their gory quest for glory. There are no just wars, only justified wars that allow armies to destroy without accountability but leaving a legacy of hostility and distrust. It is the nature of power than when you have it, you will be an arrogant bully but when power declines its legacy returns to haunt.
War began with the dinosaurs and has been evolving ever since. There have been some constants like lots of blood and the military industrial complex (MIC). Cavemen threw stones until their MIC sold clubs for faster blood letting. Dino-battle was about food and survival but evolution produced man, civilization and just war. This higher order saw war as a power game often engaged in for pure entertainment for the powerful the unenlightened victims however selfishly still saw it as a matter of survival.
The goal was loot, territory, ideology or subjugation of neighbors. Measures of glory were based on the “butchers bill” the number of dead left on the battlefield. It was a point of honor for generals to lose more soldiers than the enemy as an indication of greatness of their victory over a superior force. Of course spinning the body count obscured incompetence, besides the generals could grow rich on the back pay of dead heroes. The MICs learned early how to create markets through arms against armor competitions. The merchants of death always had new toys that would guarantee victory in the next game. There was always a next campaign for war was seldom decisive, battles being fought between spring planting and the fall harvest. Although not decisive, war was extremely brutal and costly.
As the social order became more complex kings devised a set of rules for the conduct of warfare. Military theories became formalized and philosophies emerged to justify war. The German Clausewitz coined the phrase “total war” meaning a nation must sacrifice in a total commitment to victory. An American, Phil Sheridan, redefined the term as total destruction of an enemy people by any means. His interpretation led to the world's most destructive century, which left runaway MICs intent on producing even more destructive toys for generals.
Toys are to be played with but the world couldn't survive another great power conflict. The MICs colluded to play with their new toys on a series of surrogate battlefields. With the temporary collapse of the great power paradigm the MICs were in danger of losing their markets. The generals looked at their great pile of rusting toys, envisioned the MICs shinning new creations and devised new strategies. There was a shortage of viable enemies so designate a bad guy, demonize his intent, and stage a preemptive strike with shock and awe. Shock and Awe allowed the generals to dump all their old toys on the demon at once, making room for the shiny new technologies at the same time. The difficulty is that the demon is destroyed the social order devastated and the generals are left with a new toys that quickly rust.
The generals declare victory, leave instability in a failing state and create new demons to shock and awe for continuation of their gory quest for glory. There are no just wars, only justified wars that allow armies to destroy without accountability but leaving a legacy of hostility and distrust. It is the nature of power than when you have it, you will be an arrogant bully but when power declines its legacy returns to haunt.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Boxes & Bags 031012
Can democratic freedoms fly with the weight of excess baggage?
During the early Stone Age after a short head butting two cavemen decide that mutual agreement was considerable easier on the head, and so began democracy but as more troglodytes gathered chaos reigned. Head butting again became the norm until the biggest and baddest emerged as dictator and freedom picked up its first piece of baggage.
For thousands of years the strongest ruled the roost but as the societies grew larger the strongest acquired selected followers. Over time the followers wanted a larger slice of the pie. By the era of the Greeks the people decided that they also wanted some pie. After a time the Greeks decided this wasn't a really great idea as the baggage really piled up. Another thousand or so years the select lords revolted against strongmen Kings. Eventually the people thought revolt was a good idea and overthrew their lords and again took over governing themselves. Self-rule was rocky, in small homogeneous villages the people gathered, discussed and came to decisions by consensus. Town meetings grew more complex and the rich or loudest often-dominated meetings and decisions. Boxcars of baggage now block the right of way. Democracy moves by fits and starts subject to corruption, manipulation and abuse of the people's will.
By the turn of the 19th century heterogeneous societies were again in revolt this time in a progressive movement to recapture and reform democratic principles. The movement brought election reforms, organized workers, women's voices were recognized, laws refined and rights protected. Every step forward however was resisted, opposed even battled by the rich and powerful. A schism emerged between the people and the powerful. This has become the territory of manipulators, criminals and profiteers for in chaos there is opportunity. World War Two veterans came home to battle crooked politicians who had captured democratic freedoms while attention was focused overseas. The veterans took back their governments, focusing on duty honor and country. Respected by the voters they failed to notice that the pile of baggage was growing higher ever faster as society coasted on reputation. Technology advanced at warp speed and so did competition for limited government services. Democracy is becoming a colossal Ponzi scheme of promise everyone everything but deliver little and lie with style.
Not completely deceived, the public no longer votes for; rather it chooses the least objectionable candidates. Legislators now have virtual tenure representing special interest rather than their more diverse constituencies. Constituencies are complicit by failing to be interested enough to pay attention to the erosion of freedoms. Politicians are marketed like soap and are just as slippery. Pundits point to the voices of social media as a guarantee of democracy's future. While it has possibilities Social media is more about entertainment and dis-information than creating an informed electorate. Social media endangers democratic processes by creating an unruly mob driven by emotions and self- interest, easily manipulated by showmen and new lords of the WORD.
The pile of baggage is now so great that freedom is in danger of going the way of the Dodo bird. People form the greatest mismatched set of luggage but democracy doesn't work unless people are involved. Freedom is too important to entrust to the few.
During the early Stone Age after a short head butting two cavemen decide that mutual agreement was considerable easier on the head, and so began democracy but as more troglodytes gathered chaos reigned. Head butting again became the norm until the biggest and baddest emerged as dictator and freedom picked up its first piece of baggage.
For thousands of years the strongest ruled the roost but as the societies grew larger the strongest acquired selected followers. Over time the followers wanted a larger slice of the pie. By the era of the Greeks the people decided that they also wanted some pie. After a time the Greeks decided this wasn't a really great idea as the baggage really piled up. Another thousand or so years the select lords revolted against strongmen Kings. Eventually the people thought revolt was a good idea and overthrew their lords and again took over governing themselves. Self-rule was rocky, in small homogeneous villages the people gathered, discussed and came to decisions by consensus. Town meetings grew more complex and the rich or loudest often-dominated meetings and decisions. Boxcars of baggage now block the right of way. Democracy moves by fits and starts subject to corruption, manipulation and abuse of the people's will.
By the turn of the 19th century heterogeneous societies were again in revolt this time in a progressive movement to recapture and reform democratic principles. The movement brought election reforms, organized workers, women's voices were recognized, laws refined and rights protected. Every step forward however was resisted, opposed even battled by the rich and powerful. A schism emerged between the people and the powerful. This has become the territory of manipulators, criminals and profiteers for in chaos there is opportunity. World War Two veterans came home to battle crooked politicians who had captured democratic freedoms while attention was focused overseas. The veterans took back their governments, focusing on duty honor and country. Respected by the voters they failed to notice that the pile of baggage was growing higher ever faster as society coasted on reputation. Technology advanced at warp speed and so did competition for limited government services. Democracy is becoming a colossal Ponzi scheme of promise everyone everything but deliver little and lie with style.
Not completely deceived, the public no longer votes for; rather it chooses the least objectionable candidates. Legislators now have virtual tenure representing special interest rather than their more diverse constituencies. Constituencies are complicit by failing to be interested enough to pay attention to the erosion of freedoms. Politicians are marketed like soap and are just as slippery. Pundits point to the voices of social media as a guarantee of democracy's future. While it has possibilities Social media is more about entertainment and dis-information than creating an informed electorate. Social media endangers democratic processes by creating an unruly mob driven by emotions and self- interest, easily manipulated by showmen and new lords of the WORD.
The pile of baggage is now so great that freedom is in danger of going the way of the Dodo bird. People form the greatest mismatched set of luggage but democracy doesn't work unless people are involved. Freedom is too important to entrust to the few.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Models 030812
There are two models for democratic government, the British parliamentary and the American constitutional. There wasn’t a true Communist democratic model despite its high ideals, the Soviet’s interpretation could loosely be termed “central planning democracy”, which has lost most of its attraction.
The British elect representative from multiple parties during short campaigns; the party with the most representatives forms a ruling government. It governs until the next general election in five years (prior to the fixed term legislation in 2011, Parliamentary terms were long or short based on confidence in government.) If no party wins a majority in the general election then a coalition government is formed, often contributing to short sessions. Most of the former British colonies adapted its parliamentary system in some form or the other.
In an early demonstration of proclivity to reinvent the wheel, the American colonies rejected the British model forming a constitutional federation dividing government power. The division of power was sold to the voters as a system of checks and balances preventing British government abuses that led to the American Revolution. Initially a number of emerging States ‘adapted’ the American model. In the United States that model evolved into a rigid two party system of corruption, equivocation and constant electioneering. (After long campaigns national elections are held every two years with local elections in off years.)
America forced a fun house mirror constitution on its 19th century colonial conquests attempting to disguise its imperialism. Riding its wave of post War II victory and egotistical exceptionalism Americans continue attempts to impose its form of government and way of life across the globe. In general the American hard sell is resented and opposed. Americans can never accept rejection and to deceive its own electorate will always find local surrogates to govern as long as there are dollars left on the table.
Constitutional idealism suffers from the same flaw as communism idealism; neither can stand against politicians’ ideology of Power. Post war marketing of American government ran into an informational backdoor that allowed viewing of its political clay feet via television and the Internet. The 2012 American political campaigns are mired in very expensive mud, presenting a world frightening vision of increasingly radical American domination. Candidates advocate religious war, economic war, race war, sex war, resource war, remote war and even war against each other. Candidates must look strong, drop a bomb on someone, anyone before the election. They are resorting to tried and true tactics of focus the electorate on an external enemy and it will not notice the poor quality of its candidates. Democracy customers however are watching the greatest show on earth with trepidation and rejection of American big stick democracy.
It is probable that they’ll again find local dictatorships preferable to foreign dictates no matter how well dressed in meaningless idealism.
The British elect representative from multiple parties during short campaigns; the party with the most representatives forms a ruling government. It governs until the next general election in five years (prior to the fixed term legislation in 2011, Parliamentary terms were long or short based on confidence in government.) If no party wins a majority in the general election then a coalition government is formed, often contributing to short sessions. Most of the former British colonies adapted its parliamentary system in some form or the other.
In an early demonstration of proclivity to reinvent the wheel, the American colonies rejected the British model forming a constitutional federation dividing government power. The division of power was sold to the voters as a system of checks and balances preventing British government abuses that led to the American Revolution. Initially a number of emerging States ‘adapted’ the American model. In the United States that model evolved into a rigid two party system of corruption, equivocation and constant electioneering. (After long campaigns national elections are held every two years with local elections in off years.)
America forced a fun house mirror constitution on its 19th century colonial conquests attempting to disguise its imperialism. Riding its wave of post War II victory and egotistical exceptionalism Americans continue attempts to impose its form of government and way of life across the globe. In general the American hard sell is resented and opposed. Americans can never accept rejection and to deceive its own electorate will always find local surrogates to govern as long as there are dollars left on the table.
Constitutional idealism suffers from the same flaw as communism idealism; neither can stand against politicians’ ideology of Power. Post war marketing of American government ran into an informational backdoor that allowed viewing of its political clay feet via television and the Internet. The 2012 American political campaigns are mired in very expensive mud, presenting a world frightening vision of increasingly radical American domination. Candidates advocate religious war, economic war, race war, sex war, resource war, remote war and even war against each other. Candidates must look strong, drop a bomb on someone, anyone before the election. They are resorting to tried and true tactics of focus the electorate on an external enemy and it will not notice the poor quality of its candidates. Democracy customers however are watching the greatest show on earth with trepidation and rejection of American big stick democracy.
It is probable that they’ll again find local dictatorships preferable to foreign dictates no matter how well dressed in meaningless idealism.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
No change 022812
Riots have overtaken Afghanistan with locals and foreigners being caught twixt a clash of cultures. The spark that ignited the latest wave of violence was the burning of copies of the Quran and other religious papers at a major U.S. base. Before American damage control kicked in an official spokesman implied that the Quran burning was purposeful, since prisoners held at the base were reciting passages as some terrorist code.
To Muslims the Quran is held in higher esteem than the Bible by even the most fundamentalist of Christians. Destroying a Quran is an insult to Islam. The military probably understood this but failed to appreciate that it was considered a sin and insulted all Muslims everywhere, not just the prisoners who owned the books. The riots would probably have passed with little notice if American soldiers had not also been killed. Both Christians and Muslims honor those martyred defending their faith but religion is about life not martyrdom.
The American military has shouted that it will continue to ignore reality and follow its conquering army policies as sound strategy. As regrettable as the deaths are, they are understandable, a sense of frustration and hopelessness grips Afghans. For millenniums they have resisted foreign occupying armies and despite self-disillusionment the Americans are an occupying army. The Afghans see assaults on their culture and religion, destroyed villages and wandering refugees, corruption, insults and abuse. The foreign army has attempted to impose an American society, that the Afghans can’t afford, on the country. They hear American political candidates using harsh Afghan rhetoric as a campaign tool. They see American agencies stirring up Muslim unrest in Africa, Near and Mid-east. Christian fundamentalists call to smite the heathens. Afghans see the military supporting attacks on Muslims around the world and the NYPD targeting Muslims across America. The problem with all this is that Muslims can read papers, search the Internet and watch TV as American voices fan flames of hatred. Even before the latest unrest the intelligence community was attempting to warn the American government of the failures of military policies in Afghanistan. The military countered they were on track and the people loved them, much the same as British claims before its 1857 Indian mutiny.
The military is very slow to learn about Islamic culture having only confronted it since 1784 (five years before the Constitution was ratified) and battled them in 1801 (shores of Tripoli). Fought Philippine Muslims since 1898 (took a break during WWII but still continues attempts at suppression.) In the post war era the military supported a number of surrogate wars across Africa and Asia and overthrew the only democratic elected Islamic government. There are still serving soldiers from the first Gulf War and soldiers have been in Afghanistan for eleven years still not understanding the culture. The Afghans do not want and will not accept life as a military colony. The strength of a military is to destroy but make only token attempts at building social structures. The military’s short view on development serves its own strategic need for long wars. Constructing an Afghan state, they can afford, must be done by Afghans, advised by civilians skilled on social processes not strutting soldiers intent on prolonging war for their greater glory.
To Muslims the Quran is held in higher esteem than the Bible by even the most fundamentalist of Christians. Destroying a Quran is an insult to Islam. The military probably understood this but failed to appreciate that it was considered a sin and insulted all Muslims everywhere, not just the prisoners who owned the books. The riots would probably have passed with little notice if American soldiers had not also been killed. Both Christians and Muslims honor those martyred defending their faith but religion is about life not martyrdom.
The American military has shouted that it will continue to ignore reality and follow its conquering army policies as sound strategy. As regrettable as the deaths are, they are understandable, a sense of frustration and hopelessness grips Afghans. For millenniums they have resisted foreign occupying armies and despite self-disillusionment the Americans are an occupying army. The Afghans see assaults on their culture and religion, destroyed villages and wandering refugees, corruption, insults and abuse. The foreign army has attempted to impose an American society, that the Afghans can’t afford, on the country. They hear American political candidates using harsh Afghan rhetoric as a campaign tool. They see American agencies stirring up Muslim unrest in Africa, Near and Mid-east. Christian fundamentalists call to smite the heathens. Afghans see the military supporting attacks on Muslims around the world and the NYPD targeting Muslims across America. The problem with all this is that Muslims can read papers, search the Internet and watch TV as American voices fan flames of hatred. Even before the latest unrest the intelligence community was attempting to warn the American government of the failures of military policies in Afghanistan. The military countered they were on track and the people loved them, much the same as British claims before its 1857 Indian mutiny.
The military is very slow to learn about Islamic culture having only confronted it since 1784 (five years before the Constitution was ratified) and battled them in 1801 (shores of Tripoli). Fought Philippine Muslims since 1898 (took a break during WWII but still continues attempts at suppression.) In the post war era the military supported a number of surrogate wars across Africa and Asia and overthrew the only democratic elected Islamic government. There are still serving soldiers from the first Gulf War and soldiers have been in Afghanistan for eleven years still not understanding the culture. The Afghans do not want and will not accept life as a military colony. The strength of a military is to destroy but make only token attempts at building social structures. The military’s short view on development serves its own strategic need for long wars. Constructing an Afghan state, they can afford, must be done by Afghans, advised by civilians skilled on social processes not strutting soldiers intent on prolonging war for their greater glory.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
shifting culture
Editorial comments on recent Florida news
011212 Chalk
Chalk one up for totalitarian government. Totalitarianism survives on creative interpretations of laws to circumvent constitutional protections. The Government is making much that the “chalker” made no resistance to going to jail for his non-crime. Smart kid, to question would have been termed resistance and probably have led to his severe beating and possibly death which the government would have called justified defense of freedoms. The City need to pass a new law to ban all chalk sales, imprison chalk smugglers along with children, teachers and artists who have ever polluted the environment with chalk dust. How’s that for an ‘ex post facto’ creative interpretation of environmental law. (Ref Orlando mayor’s counter to occupy movement actions. The “crime” was to chalk ‘justice for all’ on the sidewalk. After keeping the young man in jail for several days (18?) he was released without ever seeing a courtroom. Similar actions across the country by authorities seem to indicate a conspiracy by government leaders to silence increasing popular dissent.)
011712 FAMU
In the less than growing debate over hazing one point seem to escaped debate. Hazing has always been around and probably always will be but there has been a cultural change that accepts abuse. In the FAMU case a man died and not a case of child play that got out of hand. His death followed a long period of well-known serious injuries to other adults. The subsequent media focused is on band hazing but it is probable that there are other examples of hazing at the school. The administration signaled that hazing was acceptable by ignoring and covering up hazing. It continues to do so by hiring a PR firm to “improve its image” read that as diverting attention from and covering up administration complicity in murder. Instead of proactive classes in ethics, reforms or even psychological assessments the administration chose to spend its money on PR dis-information. The Band doesn’t need to be suspended instead the Administration should be permanently suspended. Otherwise the problem continues to grow as soon as public focus shifts. A fitting tribute to the victim would be real cultural reform by a Robert Champion moral code of conduct for the school. (Ref the hazing beating death of a young man.)
011912 Tax the internet
Florida merchants term Internet sales as unfair because most do not charge Florida sales tax. The merchants are correct; Internet sources are unfair but not because of no sales tax. Most people would much rather pay sixty-five cents in sales tax on a ten-dollar item rather than a ten-dollar shipping and handling charge and three day wait. The unfairness is that outsiders provide products and services scorned by local merchants. Customers are forced to spend half a day and gallons of gas going from mall to mall before giving up local searches for the simplest product. Customers discovered sales personnel are only marginally qualified to take payments, can provide no product information and are surly if not outright abusive. Customers who turn to the Internet, in a matter of minutes, can find the item they are looking for, information on use and comparison of products. They can order online even talk to a real person who for the most part is civil if not outright nice and knowledgeable of the product line. Legislation instead of imposing taxes on Internet sales should force local merchants and sales personnel to provide products and services customers need. In the era of the customer is always wrong the Internet is our only savior. (Ref a major legislative push by merchants and business oriented governor to suppress Internet sales.)
112012 Internet cafes
To state it clearly, I am opposed to eliminating Internet cafes. I don’t use them but multitudes do staying informed and in touch with friends. The shutdown justifications given by officials are bogus and not supported by any data. Ever since the so-called “Arab Spring” politicians have been petrified that electronic media may focus on them and expose their failures to govern in the democratic interest of the people. Totalitarian states have repeatedly attempted to shut down the Internet and failed. Now politicians are using spurious justifications in attempts to legislate a piecemeal Internet shutdown. Yes Internet commerce does cut into profits of friendly political contributors but more importantly it provides a voice to the powerless, who have no paid access to legislators. The governor’s latest thrust will only benefit his business friends and suppress dissent for only so long before it boils over into an American Spring.” The people need a voice even if the powerful don’t listen. Fight to protect the one few remaining freedoms (wide access to information in order to become the informed public that democratic freedoms require.)
011212 Chalk
Chalk one up for totalitarian government. Totalitarianism survives on creative interpretations of laws to circumvent constitutional protections. The Government is making much that the “chalker” made no resistance to going to jail for his non-crime. Smart kid, to question would have been termed resistance and probably have led to his severe beating and possibly death which the government would have called justified defense of freedoms. The City need to pass a new law to ban all chalk sales, imprison chalk smugglers along with children, teachers and artists who have ever polluted the environment with chalk dust. How’s that for an ‘ex post facto’ creative interpretation of environmental law. (Ref Orlando mayor’s counter to occupy movement actions. The “crime” was to chalk ‘justice for all’ on the sidewalk. After keeping the young man in jail for several days (18?) he was released without ever seeing a courtroom. Similar actions across the country by authorities seem to indicate a conspiracy by government leaders to silence increasing popular dissent.)
011712 FAMU
In the less than growing debate over hazing one point seem to escaped debate. Hazing has always been around and probably always will be but there has been a cultural change that accepts abuse. In the FAMU case a man died and not a case of child play that got out of hand. His death followed a long period of well-known serious injuries to other adults. The subsequent media focused is on band hazing but it is probable that there are other examples of hazing at the school. The administration signaled that hazing was acceptable by ignoring and covering up hazing. It continues to do so by hiring a PR firm to “improve its image” read that as diverting attention from and covering up administration complicity in murder. Instead of proactive classes in ethics, reforms or even psychological assessments the administration chose to spend its money on PR dis-information. The Band doesn’t need to be suspended instead the Administration should be permanently suspended. Otherwise the problem continues to grow as soon as public focus shifts. A fitting tribute to the victim would be real cultural reform by a Robert Champion moral code of conduct for the school. (Ref the hazing beating death of a young man.)
011912 Tax the internet
Florida merchants term Internet sales as unfair because most do not charge Florida sales tax. The merchants are correct; Internet sources are unfair but not because of no sales tax. Most people would much rather pay sixty-five cents in sales tax on a ten-dollar item rather than a ten-dollar shipping and handling charge and three day wait. The unfairness is that outsiders provide products and services scorned by local merchants. Customers are forced to spend half a day and gallons of gas going from mall to mall before giving up local searches for the simplest product. Customers discovered sales personnel are only marginally qualified to take payments, can provide no product information and are surly if not outright abusive. Customers who turn to the Internet, in a matter of minutes, can find the item they are looking for, information on use and comparison of products. They can order online even talk to a real person who for the most part is civil if not outright nice and knowledgeable of the product line. Legislation instead of imposing taxes on Internet sales should force local merchants and sales personnel to provide products and services customers need. In the era of the customer is always wrong the Internet is our only savior. (Ref a major legislative push by merchants and business oriented governor to suppress Internet sales.)
112012 Internet cafes
To state it clearly, I am opposed to eliminating Internet cafes. I don’t use them but multitudes do staying informed and in touch with friends. The shutdown justifications given by officials are bogus and not supported by any data. Ever since the so-called “Arab Spring” politicians have been petrified that electronic media may focus on them and expose their failures to govern in the democratic interest of the people. Totalitarian states have repeatedly attempted to shut down the Internet and failed. Now politicians are using spurious justifications in attempts to legislate a piecemeal Internet shutdown. Yes Internet commerce does cut into profits of friendly political contributors but more importantly it provides a voice to the powerless, who have no paid access to legislators. The governor’s latest thrust will only benefit his business friends and suppress dissent for only so long before it boils over into an American Spring.” The people need a voice even if the powerful don’t listen. Fight to protect the one few remaining freedoms (wide access to information in order to become the informed public that democratic freedoms require.)
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Never learn 120411
At the end of the Vietnam conflict a senior American officer taunted a senior NVA officer that the North had never won a battle during the war. The NVA officer responded that it was irrelevant because they won the war.
An American General recently berated the Afghans for not appreciating all the Americans were doing for the country. It was clear from his interview that despite ten years in Afghanistan the General still did not understand the culture or blunders his Army had made during its occupation. He pointed to the country’s army once it completed American training as a future success.
Wait a minute General haven’t you been training that Army for over ten year? Considering that the training program began with history’s greatest and most experienced warriors your training program seems to have a few problems. Afghans stood off the Persians, fought Alexander to a standstill, absorbed the Great Khan’s forces, captured much of India, and defeated the British three times. The British claim their third occupation attempt is really a victory, but they left despite their use of chemical weapons, aerial annihilation and concentration camps. The country became a Cold War battlefield when the Soviets attempted to prop up a friendly government and Afghan fighters forced a withdrawal. American supplied weapons brought local warlords to power and a bloody civil war ensued until the Taliban brought a degree of peace to the country.
Afghans have long memories and astute judgement of realities over propaganda. Comparing the Soviet and American occupations the Afghans see Soviet built roads, hospitals, schools and housing. Despite American crowing the Afghans see military roads leading to permanent American occupation forts, corruption and blatant attempts at destruction of their culture. America has dumped a great deal of money into the country attempting to establish a little America that the Afghans don’t want and can’t afford once foreign aid ends.
When the Americans invaded, fragile victory could have resulted in good government and lasting peace. Instead under U.S. Army’s flawed assumptions the country was burdened with puppets prohibited from negotiating a settlement. For the Army all “Rag Heads” were the enemy and with a beard they were evil. Now over ten years later the Army wants negotiations with the insurgents but have a missed opportunity that is remembered. Afghans remember indiscriminate bombing, imprisonments and cover-ups.
General, Americans are easy to deceive because they want to believe their own propaganda. Building your new propaganda radio station on Kandahar air base to preach American gospel is counter productive. The Afghans remember that Kandahar base was American built in the fifties as a cold war base, and became an invasion base fifty years later. The American administration wants its army out by 2012 but the military is already pushing the withdrawal years down the road. There are all those new American bases to use and besides it’s the only war it has left. General, keep wondering why the Afghans don’t love you.
An American General recently berated the Afghans for not appreciating all the Americans were doing for the country. It was clear from his interview that despite ten years in Afghanistan the General still did not understand the culture or blunders his Army had made during its occupation. He pointed to the country’s army once it completed American training as a future success.
Wait a minute General haven’t you been training that Army for over ten year? Considering that the training program began with history’s greatest and most experienced warriors your training program seems to have a few problems. Afghans stood off the Persians, fought Alexander to a standstill, absorbed the Great Khan’s forces, captured much of India, and defeated the British three times. The British claim their third occupation attempt is really a victory, but they left despite their use of chemical weapons, aerial annihilation and concentration camps. The country became a Cold War battlefield when the Soviets attempted to prop up a friendly government and Afghan fighters forced a withdrawal. American supplied weapons brought local warlords to power and a bloody civil war ensued until the Taliban brought a degree of peace to the country.
Afghans have long memories and astute judgement of realities over propaganda. Comparing the Soviet and American occupations the Afghans see Soviet built roads, hospitals, schools and housing. Despite American crowing the Afghans see military roads leading to permanent American occupation forts, corruption and blatant attempts at destruction of their culture. America has dumped a great deal of money into the country attempting to establish a little America that the Afghans don’t want and can’t afford once foreign aid ends.
When the Americans invaded, fragile victory could have resulted in good government and lasting peace. Instead under U.S. Army’s flawed assumptions the country was burdened with puppets prohibited from negotiating a settlement. For the Army all “Rag Heads” were the enemy and with a beard they were evil. Now over ten years later the Army wants negotiations with the insurgents but have a missed opportunity that is remembered. Afghans remember indiscriminate bombing, imprisonments and cover-ups.
General, Americans are easy to deceive because they want to believe their own propaganda. Building your new propaganda radio station on Kandahar air base to preach American gospel is counter productive. The Afghans remember that Kandahar base was American built in the fifties as a cold war base, and became an invasion base fifty years later. The American administration wants its army out by 2012 but the military is already pushing the withdrawal years down the road. There are all those new American bases to use and besides it’s the only war it has left. General, keep wondering why the Afghans don’t love you.
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