Nostalgia 092715

People appear to love the game of " what if-if only,."  Academics entertain students with what if: what if the south had won the American Civil war; what if the colonial powers had broken up China instead of trying to own it all: what if Al Smith had been a Protestant rather than a Catholic; what if the Indians had beaten back the white man's land grab or Santa Anna had defeated the Texans.  Give it up prof it didn't happen, it's not going to happen and the outcomes would have been totally different than expectations.

If only is a more egalitarian game, everyone plays at some point in life.  If only you married your high school sweetheart or if only you hadn't.  If only you knew then what you know now.  If only you had invested in APPLE when it first opened.  If only and what if are exercises in futility generated by "publish or perish" and deep disappointment of paths taken.  The games look backward at choices as if they were a "Y" in the road, but you can't go back to that "Y" it no longer exist.  Life travels from where you are not where you were. Different choices equal different outcomes, change one, change future options; the past is not reversible.

Nostalgia also looks back but for pleasant memories of what was rather than with disappointment.  Nostalgia is a game of the elderly, remember when!

A gallon of gas, a pack of cigarettes, a working man's lunch and all day movies were all ten cents.  Even panhandlers welcomed a dime.  Phone calls were a nickel, at phone booths everywhere and MA BELL's helpful operators were romantic visions of beauty to lonely GIs.

Kids walked to school in safety, the boys carrying girls' books, by high school they would be holding hands.  Local cops knew everyone on the street stopping to chat while keeping neighborhood kids in line.  He earned his flat feet and took great pride that he had never shot anyone.  After 20 or so years they might get a three wheel Harley for their beat but they would get off to still talk with their old friends along the street.

The Dodgers actually played in Brooklyn and farm teams reach out to kids playing pickup games on vacant sandlots where kids actually played for fun.  Almost everyone paid cash and debt was low.  Radio ruled the airways sending imaginations soaring while selling beer and soap.  Shade tree mechanics could fix anything and taught generations to repair cars and invent the future.  Boarding a plane was pleasant experience; the stews were young and beautiful.  The meals were good and flying at 8,000 feet gave window seats a real view.  Ethics and integrity were honored traits in business and politics.

A nostalgic view doesn't generate a desire to return to a distant past.  What ifs and if only and a return to some mythical past are the new conservative political game.  Their political game interpretations ignores the realities of the past.  The past had nostalgic high points but its reality incorporated more deep dark points.  The future begins from where we are, not from were we were.  Politics should look to the future not to a mythical past that never really existed.

Focus 022815

The Greeks welsh on their debts. Africa is disease ridden. Palestinians are terrorist. Israel practices ethnic cleaning.  North Korea is insanity with a BOMB.  The Russians are coming.  Muslims are taking over the world.  Christians demand renew crusades. The United States is on the verge _____. (Fill in the blank)

It's all sound bite foreign relations.  Sound bites built around grains of truths but foreign policy is a very big sandbox.  Objective news reporting is a causality of the electronic age, there are some objective scholarly journals around but they are to esoterically objective for politicians to understand.  So they turn to their favorite polarized think tanks that support radicalized political agendas for grant money.  As a result foreign policy leaps from one crisis to another, resolving nothing and creating a chaotic bubbling stew that satisfies no hungers while leaving an offensive taste in billions of mouths.

Sound bite diplomacy, chasing polls and jumping from frying pan to frying pan is indicative of a lack of strategic vision in foreign affairs.  Can any national leader negotiate coherent foreign policies in the sound bite world?  According to some sources a print reporter coined the phrase, "all politics is local," back in 1932, meaning that politicians must bring home the bacon.  Politics were local back then while still true today it's also true that "All Politics is Global."  What a politician in a small remote village says in a campaign for dog catcher is instantly flashed around the world and picked up by foreign politicians as reflections of national policy.   It really doesn't matter what the official positions of governments are, minds hear the isolated sound bites of obscure politicians and holy men and react with a fear of uncertainty.

Uncertainty is fed by foreign policies that flounder from election to election.  Governments no longer speak with one voice but with competing political gibberish that fills media space while passing as authoritarian confusing reality with constant electioneering.  With all the foreign policy chattering it is little wonder that people hear what they want to hear and take offense at pseudo reality.

Until nations step back for a moment to see world reality, a coherent foreign policy can not be crafted.  The first step for a nation is to identify its core values and interests, consider its present and future capabilities and devise a long-term strategy for sandbox games.  Nations must get past sound bite diplomacy and selfies as world visions. 

Great Britain began to lose its greatness during World War One but after a 100 years it still struggles with its past power player self image even as the much diminished Britain itself faces internal fractures.  Failure to adjust to rapid changing foreign affairs dynamics may result in the New World Order increasingly becoming World Disorder as global sound bite politician battle for power. 

It is imperative that national focus shifts from sound bites to negotiations for a coordinated and comprehensive world vision of the 22nd century. Failure  is not an option.

Sitcom 021415

Electioneering for next political festival has all the makings of a good situation comedy but for the people who must endure, it also has the aspects of the Greek Tragedy.  The 16 comedy of errors began before election 14 was even decided. 

Potential candidates began to stake out their claims of being more conservative or liberal than thou.  For campaign watchers it was more fun than Saturday Night Live at its satirical best.  The tragedy is that many of the wild-eyed promises will end up in party platforms.  It's well accepted that most candidates will renege on campaign promises, but there might be one or two who honestly attempt to keep their promises to either the radical left or right. Honest attempts to deliver however may box the country into a similar position as the recently elected Greek government where unrealistic campaign promises now threaten to destroy the economy, government and country.

America's revolution freed the county from a tyrannical royal monarchy over 200 years ago. However, during those two centuries America began to develop its own, above the law, royalty and noble families.  Senators and Congressmen virtually serve for life as few are ever voted out office with their descendants dynastically carrying on.  It appears that next year's voters must choose between two competing dynasties as the leading candidates are Bush the third and Clinton the second. 

The Bush family is already putting forward a Bush the fourth as the next generation to carry on the family's royalty business.  Looking back at American history it seems the Clinton name has popped up in national politics at least four times, admittedly one was a British general during the revolution.  Does that mean that Hillary is really Clinton the fifth?  Maybe we need a fifth for this coming election, make that a hogshead of Jack Black Whisky (Scotch or Vodka may be preferred but are probably considered un-American and subject to denunciation by the conservative House.) Supermarket rags should forget about who is going to inherit the British throne for gossip about the Lord and Ladies of Washington and who will inherit the kingdom of Potomac.  There is enough clay in the running feet to build a ten-foot brick wall around the country.  That's an idea for House consideration for immigration reform.

Cost estimates for the next election runs into billions.  For that kind of money it would seem that the country could afford a whole new slate of candidates rather than having to recycling the old entrenched Lords and Ladies.  That is really carrying environmental recycling to an extreme.

Maybe the best candidates should be those that run poor campaigns by only promising too honestly do their best to govern in the interest of all the people.  An impossible dream, the country doesn't want honest politicians who considers the interests of all those people who disagree with ME.

With two years to go maybe the country really needs a tanker fleet of Jack Black just to survive the rhetoric.  We might not survive but at least we can go out happy.

Russian way 021015

When the Berlin Wall fell and the Soviet Union began to implode there was dancing in western streets.  Western politicians gleefully proclaimed the "Bear" was dead and rushed into Soviet Republics.  The truth is the Bear wasn't dead, just hibernating. 

Wearing Cold War blinders the politician failed to appreciate that while the Soviets overthrew the imperial regime it built on its Russian culture.  Keeping many of the imperial institutions under new management the Soviets adjusted and modernized the Old Russian Empire.  People went into imperial labor camps in even greater numbers, called Soviet Gulags, returning them to a virtual serfdom that powered modernization.

In the mid-1800 the Russian Empire stretched from California across northern Asia deep into Eastern Europe. In 1867 the United States purchased the Californian settlements and all of Alaska for 7.2 million dollars.  The Tsars (Czars) built their empire in the traditional way: by sword, political threats and bribery. Imperialism settled ethnic Russian in newly acquired territories, displacing natives, insuring their control the regions.  This provided justification for any future incursions as protection of Russian minorities.  The ebb and flow of Eastern Europe politics during the imperial period is complicated.  Basically during the 18th and 19th centuries Russia seized much of Ottoman Europe, the splintered parts of the Ukraine, Poland, and Baltic States to complete its modern empire.  When the Soviets seized power in Russia some of the states drifted toward independence but the Soviets quickly brought them back into the Empire as Soviet Republics with tactics  reminiscence of Czarist Cossacks.

Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin's recent seizure of the Crimea is not a return to Soviet cold war strategy but rather a page out of the imperial Czarist playbook.  Crimea was been taken from the Ottoman Turks in the mid-19th century and infused with Russians now considered to be historic Russian Territory.  Putin's moves in the Ukraine (the largest country in Europe) also follows Czarist precedents, protecting Russians abused by the Ukrainian Slavs with patriotic  "volunteers" defending the oppressed.

The West has a 100 percent record in understanding Russians, always wrong.  The western model of foreign policy is a game for rational actors. The Russians have never been rational in the western sense but always act in a uniquely Russian manner as an imperialist amalgam of its Asian and European heritage.

It is probable that after nearly 20 years in the Russian power position Putin sees himself as the new Tsar.  As "Putin the Great" he may feel driven to return the empire to its former glory.  The world is focused on the Ukraine, which is classic imperial strategy of distraction, deception and attrition. Distraction from pressures placed on Eastern Europe, its southern border and deception in Greece and Egypt. Nothing is as it seems, historically Russia accepts cost that outweigh rewards.   While the west contemplates giving away half of the Ukraine or destroying Europe in a scorched earth game of dominos Russia plays three-dimensional chess for an empire.   It's the Russian Way. 

American way 013015

America invaded Afghanistan and Iraq over a decade ago to overthrow regimes that resisted or embarrassed the United States. A pure military operation yet to play out.  The military was successful in disposing the governments of both countries but failed in its objective to install the American Way. The expected six-month campaigns are now in their second decade and spreading from the Middle East throughout Asia and across the globe. So far the military is a clear winner in only one area, becoming a unilateral foreign policy actor bypassing civilian oversight.  While denying any responsibility for the blood bath America is attempting to build support for new American Way campaigns in other foreign lands. Just what is this American Way?

Back in the 20th century when Israel was established and conflict raged the American ambassador to the UN gave a speech asking why the two sides couldn't resolve their dispute like Christian gentlemen.  The Jews and Muslims asked each other how Christians handled their disputes.  Neither knew so after some research they have been killing each other ever since.  It's the American Way.

Speech is free only as long as no government official raises objections to the words.  Pass laws so police can arrest citizens for things they say and think.  Expand prosecutorial powers to enforce partisan political agendas.  Auto-track the population through requirements that every citizen must carry government issued identification.  The American Way.

Pass legislation authorizing the military to invade friendly countries and seize the World Court to preempt rulings deemed against national interest.  Write laws authorizing the military to seize any domestic citizen and hold them incognito indefinitely.   Allow a military disinformation department that targets domestic audiences with black propaganda. Secretly record conversations and e-mails of the entire population. Protect foreign oil fields for American use under an "Energy Security Initiative."  That's the American Way.

America developed the advertising industry; television talk shows' spin, Internet blogs and partisan social networks.  These innovations have enable continuous political campaigns and dirty tricks that deceives, desensitizes and distracts the population from real political corruption.  Political candidates don't change their agendas; they just rhetorically chase the polls.  It's the American way.

There are calls to police morals and thoughts by monitoring all communication; supplant free press with state run news outlets and even establish state approved religious correctness.  Some officials are creatively reinterpreting the Constitution and in particular the "Bill of Rights." Sound like a secret police state?  It's the 21st century's American Way, it may also be the beginning of the end of the America myth it is attempting to export.

Who is that pounding on my door?
Notes:

The Bush administration's oil troika (Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld) pushed a plan to occupy foreign oil fields under the Strategic Energy Security Initiative.  Rumsfeld even boasted that the plan would turn a profit from the seized oil. The paper leaked and friendly oil producers strenuously objected to its broad provisions.  Nigeria even deployed troops to defend against an off shore American Marine force preparing to land in the country, the invasion was called off and the force hastily moved out of Nigerian waters. While widely opposed in oil countries the plan went virtually unnoticed in America.  The plan's title has been recycled a number of times giving it more benign meanings.  Deception, Denial and Censorship that's the American Way. 

Although legislation on the domestic employment of the military has passed the current President refuses to order out the troops.  The laws and plans remain on shelf until some future administration feels sufficiently threatened to again open concentration camps. 

Antiques 012315

Recently a model 1873 Winchester carbine was discovered in a national park. It was manufactured in 1882 but it's unknown when it was left in the park since many of those weapons are still in use after a century.  The rifle had been there long enough for the stock to weather like and old fence rail and the metal to collect a patina of rust.  The point is that quality material and workmanship created a mechanical device in the 19th century that possibly survived the elements for 130 years.

The rifle's survival is not so unique since museums are filled with the relics of past centuries.  In the early 20th century: children played with cast iron toys, porcelain dolls and real wood blocks; important documents were written on parchment and books printed on high quality rag paper.  Buildings were constructed of bricks and stone.  Things were made to last and often served generations.  A time capsule from 1795 containing relics from America's revolutionary era was opened this year in Boston.  The rifle and Paul Reverie's silver attest to the fact that quality survives.

World War Two left much of the world  in ruins and for the most part the survivors were more interested in building new than saving the old.  A lot of heritage was burned and buried to make room for the new.  A mystique built up around a throwaway society. Building new fed economies with a constant demand for replacements.

 Don't repair; buy new toasters, automobiles even buildings creating more jobs and more wealth.  Creating quality with parchment, iron, stone and steel gave way to disposable composites.  Why worry, things only had to last a generation before being torn down, melted or buried to make room for taller buildings, bigger coliseums, fancier cars, flashy toys and the latest kitchen gadgets.  Sometimes the latest didn't even last a generation before ending up on a trash pile, broken victims of new fads of the throwaway culture.  Even grandma's heirloom jewelry sank into the melting pot to for a more modern rebirth.

A few poor examples of the era, discovered in long forgotten warehouses, now bring high prices at antique auctions.  Its probable that dealers will soon flock to once closed societies like Cuba where heritage rests in a post war time warp. They had better move fast for the throwaway culture will soon export plastic replacements.  

Archeologist of the future may only have a few bits of biodegraded plastic to judge the 21st century's throwaway culture.  They will still have the pottery, gold and glass of prehistory to attest to the decline of civilizations. 

The 1873 Winchester will probably still be around, but what from this century will be in time capsules and cornerstones of buildings torn down each generation? What relics will the archeologist discover when they open our landfill mounds? What quality relics will be saved to mark the passing of this century?  It is possible that the only antiques of the 21st century to reach the 22nd will be old people maintained by new life support.

Conflict 011115

It has been generally accepted that babies are born as blank slates where everything is yet to be written.   Science has proven newborns are more like blackboards covered with fine chalk dust left by prenatal experiences. Acknowledging Genes, DNA, mothers who listen to classical music or abuse drugs, all babies are open to environmental input and delivered into a human world at war with itself.

From the days of the cavemen type "A" personalities have risen to leadership by blaming "Those" other people.  The first marks on babies' slates are about fear, anger and hate.  Those ancient leaders conditioned their followers to the ideas that it was Those other people who are responsible for all the troubles.  Over time and despite "civilized enlightenment" demonization continues to seize whole populations.  Conflicts raged to exhaustion only to rise again on new generations repeating old allegations.

By age 12 children have developed most of their core values and beliefs.  The scribbling on the slates come from parents, schoolmates, politicians and doom merchants. Few ever question the truth of various claims because they are constantly reinforced within a given culture.  The other guys are evil; they are responsible for all your woes.  Similar to Stone Age leaders, modern opinion mavens amplify, broadcast and focus attention on Those people and away from their own failures.  The demonization spans generations and it is difficult to break the convenience of suspicion and blame of Those people.

Early Christians found it convenient to blame the Jews for all their troubles.  Hundreds of years later these spurious charges directly led to the Holocaust.  For a while after the end of WWII anti Semitic rhetoric died down but the old claims are again being widely circulated.  The Cold War began decades before there ever was a Soviet Union.  Marx published his manifesto as the world began to industrialized and emerging capitalist sized on its rumored contents to attribute all labor disputes as foreign Communist inspired.  When the Soviets overthrew a corrupt regime in Russia the capitalist found communist revolutionaries behind every rock to justify violent suppression of workers.  Decades of demonizing Communism prevented any peace as the Soviets gave in to their own fears and demonic rhetoric. The Soviet Union has been gone for almost three decades but old cold warriors on all sides are again stirring the same old rhetorical pot.

Everyone has had a shot at bringing peace between Israel and Palestine over the decades but that conflict lingers.  While the antagonist have grown old and seek a settlement the babies born during the conflict were conditioned by mutual demonization and now keep the culture of conflict spinning across the region.

All efforts to break the free of racism, xenophobia and the quest for political advantages are doomed to fail by the constant regeneration of ancient fears.  Resolution intentions are at the mercy of politicians, clerics, business interest and media characters that see it is in their own interest to socialize new generations into the culture of conflict.