The increase in child/teen violence and murder should command as much attention
as the Afghanistan or Iraq situations. The degree of savagery that has occurred in the rash of country wide assaults, maiming, murder is a symptom of a decay of our
social morality over ever wider segments of our population. That it has progressed to a point where 20 bystanders could look on a brutal gang rape of a teen age girl
after a school dance, and not intervene, but instead cheer and laugh, and even film the event is mind boggling. And no one called 911 for help!
Too many young people are growing up in homes where the parents practice violence, where they never impart to their children any sense of ethics or morality, and where
empathy for fellow humans is an unknown concept. If the schools would teach those that might compensate for the parental neglect. Teaching those mores in an environment of their peers could have greater impact and acceptance than in the home.
Imprisoning youths for such crimes, without psychological treatment, without teaching
them anger management, will assure repeat behavior if and when they return to the streets. Part of the treatment must virtually put them in the victim's place so they feel the damage they inflict.
Society must tackle this problem now, before the rot spreads into even upscale communities. More youth centered facilities with skilled counselors and planned
activities are needed. We must redirect the macho, violent tendencies into a socially acceptable direction. It can, and must be done with the same priorities
we assign to health care reform, stimulating the economy, and cleaning up the
large financial institutions. Delay poses the danger that we could lose an entire
generation to violence as a way of life.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Uncle Sam--The Don Quixote of the 21st Century
Cervantes, in his brilliant novel, treats his gentle, if addled, hero Don Quixote, as a dreamer with the noble aim of rectifying injustice wherever it was found. His world
was small, limited to a horizon he could reach on horseback. And in his fantasies he performed great deeds of valor, whether jousting with an evil knight who masqueraded as a windmill, or rescuing a virgin princess--in reality a slutty barmaid, from the gypsys, the bar flys. Readers come away inspired to reach for the
stars, as did the Don, for such effort enobles the soul.
The history of our nation for the last half century has been created by a series of Presidents who have been reincarnations of the Don, imbued with missionary zeal
to play the roles of Saviours of Democracy and Capitalism everywhere--in a world
of total accessibility given jet planes and the internet.
Like the Don they were captives of fantasy, enraptured by the might and power of
our country, our wealth, and the "obvious" superiority of our system. So, unaware that the foes we chose were in masquerade, because of our lack of knowledge of their
cultures, political structures and beliefs, we galloped off to remake their world
in our image. In the process we almost lost our world.
We are trying to build a nation in Afghanistan. The characteristics of nationhood are some form of Central authority, with many semi autonomous jurisdictions providing control and services to the people. In our nation we have the central
National government and countless jurisdictions: states, counties, cities, towns, school boards, public safety, health services, public utilities, elections, taxing,
sanitation, roads and streets, and more. All of those form a matrix for providing
for a safe and fuctioning society. Now consider Afghanistan. None of that structure exists now and hasn't in the past. On what will we construct a nation with any chance of survival without our military presence?
Yes chaos will probably ensue if we withdraw, and Afghanistan will revert to tribal
enclaves run by warlords, whose control will extend only as far as their armed forces. The Taliban will return and exercise overall power. It is unlikely that the Taliban will permit Al Queda to return as that would invite retaliation from the West. And we will need to gear up our intelligence services to anticipate and prevent terrorist attacks. But most important, we need to educate our diplomats, congress, and the American people about other folks in other lands,
with other cultures and aspirations. If we don't learn from our errors we will be
nursemaids to failed states in the middle East forever.
was small, limited to a horizon he could reach on horseback. And in his fantasies he performed great deeds of valor, whether jousting with an evil knight who masqueraded as a windmill, or rescuing a virgin princess--in reality a slutty barmaid, from the gypsys, the bar flys. Readers come away inspired to reach for the
stars, as did the Don, for such effort enobles the soul.
The history of our nation for the last half century has been created by a series of Presidents who have been reincarnations of the Don, imbued with missionary zeal
to play the roles of Saviours of Democracy and Capitalism everywhere--in a world
of total accessibility given jet planes and the internet.
Like the Don they were captives of fantasy, enraptured by the might and power of
our country, our wealth, and the "obvious" superiority of our system. So, unaware that the foes we chose were in masquerade, because of our lack of knowledge of their
cultures, political structures and beliefs, we galloped off to remake their world
in our image. In the process we almost lost our world.
We are trying to build a nation in Afghanistan. The characteristics of nationhood are some form of Central authority, with many semi autonomous jurisdictions providing control and services to the people. In our nation we have the central
National government and countless jurisdictions: states, counties, cities, towns, school boards, public safety, health services, public utilities, elections, taxing,
sanitation, roads and streets, and more. All of those form a matrix for providing
for a safe and fuctioning society. Now consider Afghanistan. None of that structure exists now and hasn't in the past. On what will we construct a nation with any chance of survival without our military presence?
Yes chaos will probably ensue if we withdraw, and Afghanistan will revert to tribal
enclaves run by warlords, whose control will extend only as far as their armed forces. The Taliban will return and exercise overall power. It is unlikely that the Taliban will permit Al Queda to return as that would invite retaliation from the West. And we will need to gear up our intelligence services to anticipate and prevent terrorist attacks. But most important, we need to educate our diplomats, congress, and the American people about other folks in other lands,
with other cultures and aspirations. If we don't learn from our errors we will be
nursemaids to failed states in the middle East forever.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Congress, Pay for Results
The nation is faced with a multitude of critical problems, every one of which is leading to serious consequences for the nation and for our citizens if not resolved.
And Congress is effectively paralyzed by petty partisanship, or by obligations to masters who have payed them to vote their way. If their way was the people's way the problems would get solved, but such is not the case.
If government were a private enterprise, our congressmen, who are after all employees of the people, would be fired, and replaced with fresh talent not yet polluted by the money in politics. But we don't have an open enrollement season for
politicians. We get to elect (hire or fire) them only every two or four years, time enough for them to do irreparable harm. And they earn their salary and perks whether or not they produce useful legislation. That offers a possible avenue for forcing
improved performance in the peoples interests.
Let us amend the constitution to eliminate salaries for lawmakers. PUT THEM ON COMMISSION, related to the quantity and quality of legislation they produce, with bonuses for solving problems. The bonuses and rates of commission would be set by
public referendum at the end of each session, with the right of appeal if the pols
can make a case to justify a higher rate. In sum, we pay for PERFORMANCE in the public interest, as determined by the public.
Of course this is an impossible dream. But imagine the jolt that just raising such a radical idea would administer to the politicos who now treat the public with contempt!
And Congress is effectively paralyzed by petty partisanship, or by obligations to masters who have payed them to vote their way. If their way was the people's way the problems would get solved, but such is not the case.
If government were a private enterprise, our congressmen, who are after all employees of the people, would be fired, and replaced with fresh talent not yet polluted by the money in politics. But we don't have an open enrollement season for
politicians. We get to elect (hire or fire) them only every two or four years, time enough for them to do irreparable harm. And they earn their salary and perks whether or not they produce useful legislation. That offers a possible avenue for forcing
improved performance in the peoples interests.
Let us amend the constitution to eliminate salaries for lawmakers. PUT THEM ON COMMISSION, related to the quantity and quality of legislation they produce, with bonuses for solving problems. The bonuses and rates of commission would be set by
public referendum at the end of each session, with the right of appeal if the pols
can make a case to justify a higher rate. In sum, we pay for PERFORMANCE in the public interest, as determined by the public.
Of course this is an impossible dream. But imagine the jolt that just raising such a radical idea would administer to the politicos who now treat the public with contempt!
Friday, October 9, 2009
The Nobel---the Mirror has two faces
The nation is shocked, SHOCKED, that our president Obama has been granted the
Nobel prize for peace. The right wing pundits and zealots will need life support
to retain their limited version of sanity in order to survive this international recognition of a president thay consider illegitimate and who they are determined to destroy without regard to the damage to our nation.
Our mirror has two faces: the image we have of ourselves, and the one the rest
of the world has of us. Our's is clouded by a fog of racism and partisanship, conceit about our "dominant" position in the world, and an illusion that every aspect of our existence is superior. The world sees us as a giant that was a light onto the nations, but which lost its way and can no longer serve as an example to emulate. They see Obama as an explorer who is seeking a new and more effective way to solve world problems by respecting and joining the rest of the world in the task.
The Nobel prize represents an acknowledgement of the direction he is taking and encouragement that he will continue in the face of the Luddites who cannot accept
change.
Whether Obama succeeds in setting America on a new course is very much in doubt, particularly because the status quo interests are powerful and control a substantial
portion of the media. They have used scare words and false scenarios to bamboozle a
gullible public to resist change, even though their present state of affairs is a failure in many respects.
Nobel prize for peace. The right wing pundits and zealots will need life support
to retain their limited version of sanity in order to survive this international recognition of a president thay consider illegitimate and who they are determined to destroy without regard to the damage to our nation.
Our mirror has two faces: the image we have of ourselves, and the one the rest
of the world has of us. Our's is clouded by a fog of racism and partisanship, conceit about our "dominant" position in the world, and an illusion that every aspect of our existence is superior. The world sees us as a giant that was a light onto the nations, but which lost its way and can no longer serve as an example to emulate. They see Obama as an explorer who is seeking a new and more effective way to solve world problems by respecting and joining the rest of the world in the task.
The Nobel prize represents an acknowledgement of the direction he is taking and encouragement that he will continue in the face of the Luddites who cannot accept
change.
Whether Obama succeeds in setting America on a new course is very much in doubt, particularly because the status quo interests are powerful and control a substantial
portion of the media. They have used scare words and false scenarios to bamboozle a
gullible public to resist change, even though their present state of affairs is a failure in many respects.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Gulliver's Travels
Two days ago I returned from a trip to the Dominican Republic. I visited with dear friends, a prominent family who are involved in almost every facet of the commercial and financial life of the country. Members of the family haved served in their diplomatic corps, as ambassadors to the United States, the U.N., and several other
nations throughout the world. Their family foundation makes great contributions to
the people of their nation, as well as Haiti, to improve the economies, the health of the people, and in cultural affairs.
A good part of the time of my visit was spent discussing the conditions in the D. R.
and the other countries in which they are active, and how the United States is
perceived there.
With few exceptions in Latin America the political status is unstable, some in turmoil. The economies are fragile, with significant unemployment. The current recession in the United States has had dealt a serious blow to their
exports for which they are unable to compensate. None of that was a surprise.
They see the U.S. as a mixed bag. We are the world's largest single economy, but our
unregulated financial sector appears to them as disfunctional and based on wild,
greed based speculation. We are as Gulliver, held captive by the Lilliputs of
a disfunctional partisan congress which has demonstrated that it is incapable of governing, yet won't allow a strong executive to make necessary decisions in its stead. In foreign affairs we are seen as a hubristic bully, ignorant of the cultures
and political realities in far off places, and determined that all should be governed
by what we consider our superior system. They also see us as the most generous of people in times of disaster or tragedy, giving freely of our treasure and expecting nothing in return. Yes, a mixed bag.
They are schooled in English and send their children to our colleges but the graduates choose to live and work in a family centered society back home and give to their people of their wealth and knowledge. We could learn a lot about gracious living from them.
nations throughout the world. Their family foundation makes great contributions to
the people of their nation, as well as Haiti, to improve the economies, the health of the people, and in cultural affairs.
A good part of the time of my visit was spent discussing the conditions in the D. R.
and the other countries in which they are active, and how the United States is
perceived there.
With few exceptions in Latin America the political status is unstable, some in turmoil. The economies are fragile, with significant unemployment. The current recession in the United States has had dealt a serious blow to their
exports for which they are unable to compensate. None of that was a surprise.
They see the U.S. as a mixed bag. We are the world's largest single economy, but our
unregulated financial sector appears to them as disfunctional and based on wild,
greed based speculation. We are as Gulliver, held captive by the Lilliputs of
a disfunctional partisan congress which has demonstrated that it is incapable of governing, yet won't allow a strong executive to make necessary decisions in its stead. In foreign affairs we are seen as a hubristic bully, ignorant of the cultures
and political realities in far off places, and determined that all should be governed
by what we consider our superior system. They also see us as the most generous of people in times of disaster or tragedy, giving freely of our treasure and expecting nothing in return. Yes, a mixed bag.
They are schooled in English and send their children to our colleges but the graduates choose to live and work in a family centered society back home and give to their people of their wealth and knowledge. We could learn a lot about gracious living from them.
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