Marty's Blog

Second Thoughts

2011-04-27T11:01:00.002-07:00

Nothing turns an aggressive driver into a cautious one more than being a participant or immediate observer in a serious auto crash. The result is an instantaneous, if temporary, behavior modification.
A similar phenomenon exists in the political sphere. The public opinion pendulum swings between pessimism and optimism and we vote for candidates who reflect the current mood. None of them can change conditions enough in the short term and second thoughts, buyers remorse, takes over. We want to
throw out the rascals we just elected. So it is with the current congress. Under
the pressure of the tea party radicals a large group of freshmen, inexperiened and poorly informed, were elected. They immediately took control of the budgeting process, with complete stalemate as result. Now polls show the peeople who elected them have buyers remorse---a post accident behavior
change. We must hope the change is long lasting---enough to get our financial house in order; Get a managable budget passed, one that does not obliterate
the entire social program of the nation.

From treasure to trash!

2011-04-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

The title aptly describes the journey of the American political process during the past several decades. When it began is itself a matter of
opinion; whether with the unregulated derivatives/real estate boom, the exodus of our industrial base to low wage venues, the invasion of Iraq. And for the bible thumping moralists, perhaps with the founding of Planned Parenthood?
It has been characterized by a climate of anti-intellectual sentiment, with contempt for science where it interferes with the biases of the uninformed.
The politicians have been quick to latch on to, and exploit, the public's fear and economic stress. Instead of addressing the underlying decay in our financial
system, and three senseless wars, the political prostitutes in Washington
have sold out to the giant banks and corporations and the know-nothings
of the Tea Party. They are determined to solve our financial problems on the backs of the remnants of our middle class, and eliminate the one program, Planned Parenthood, with the best opportunty to eliminate abortion, at no cost to tax payers.
Just as a medical evaluation is required of candidates to become officers in our armed forces, we should screen the intelligence of candidates for Congress.
And throw in a "Venality" evaluation if one can be devised!

Is Success an Option?

2011-04-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

So many people, including those at S & P, the leading financial rating agency
have concluded the U.S. is on the brink of financial collapse that it has become conventional wisdom, thus coloring policy decisions, as well as campaign rhetoric. Whether collapse is likely may be subject for debate, but there should be no debate about the need to prepare the American public for the change in
our status to a second tier player on the international stage and financial
structure. Not that the change would be harmful to America. We need and could wisely use a respite from the role and burdens of being policeman to the world. And the European Union has reached the point where it can do that.
If we accept and exploit our new status it will offer resources which we can devote to our financial problems and avoid collapse entirely. That is a desirable option if we can muster the willpower to do it. CAN WE?

Hope Springs Eternal

2011-04-17T02:36:00.000-07:00

For many days I have been searching the news out of Washington, the media news cycles, and on the internet, for a scrap of optimistic news---perhaps that rationality was once again on the national menu. Hallelujah, there is an omen! On both the left and right, the "moderates" have become aware of the critical dangers confronting us if the extremist elements (in both parties) were to control the budgeting process. The moderates are speaking out, at some political risk, to rein in the most rabid budget cutters, to retain some small semblance of the Social Contract which gave us the world's highest middle class standard of living. They are also tackling the cost of the world's mightiest military establishment at a time when our financial resources are exhausted. To solve our financial problems will require a combination of reduced spending, and an increase in government revenue. Spending reductions are the most feasible in the present political climate, but in the long run they also reduce economic activity which reduces government revenue. Increased taxes yield increased revenue but theory claims they dampen economic activity and job creation. Who to tax? The middle class is already financially stressed and added taxes on them is unlikely to produce added revenue. Tax the rich flies in the face of the "trickle down" theory. Ah, there's the rub! We have had more than a decade testing the theory, and it has not worked as intended.The wealthy have become even more wealthy while the middle class has become impoverished. If we increase taxes on the wealthy it would not affect their consumption but the revenue could be applied to the national debt, reducing the annual interest burden and moderating the fall of the middle class. Sparing the wealthy did not turn them into engines of job creation. A combination of government and private capital can do that. So tax the wealthy, but offer tax incentives for private capital, related to the jobs they create. Anyone will chose the carrot over the stick.

The quality of life

2011-04-12T19:51:00.000-07:00

There is an old aphorism about two sons, one a perpetual optimist, the other a pessimist.To explain the different personalities which originated from within the same household, each parent attributed the influence of the other as the causative agent. The children in turn considered the parents as inconsequential in this matter--it was simply their personal preference. It takes a considerable period of maturation before parental wisdom is recognized.
When asked for examples of the personality differences they used a bottle of milk in the refrigerator that contained half the original contents.
The mother and one child described it as a half-empty bottle, the other two as
half full. This is an old story but a good predictor of how children will behave when they become adults--what kind of politics they will practice.
For some the government cannot do anything right that does not conform to their personal biases. And that means their self serving needs and desires. My way or the highway is their anthem. If other's needs differ so that compromise
is the correct modus vivendi, the compromise must always be made to accommodate their wishes. Voila, we have the tea party, which in one form or another has been around for a long time, and never produced a successful
administration. And the major Party which hitches its wagon to it eventually loses because of its unworkable extremism. But the music goes on, the dance continues and the nation suffers further decline. And the middle class, the bulwark of the Tea Party, pays the piper.

A Fable for our Time

2011-04-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

In the year 2147 a tourist visiting the ruins of what in earlier times was known as the Pentagon, discovered a secret vault whose existence was not previously known. A special congressional commission was appointed to supervise the opening of the vault, with the solemnity it merited. When the vault was opened it was found to contain only three documents, master forms of affidavits to be signed by all Presidents, members of Congress and justices of the Supreme Court. The cover page binding the documents contained instructions that the signed affidavits were to be considered as having the status of an amendment to the constitution which the office holder was obliged to support and protect. The texts of the documents were made public at the 2148 Presidential swearing-in ceremony despite the fact that they had never been ratified, or approved by referendum. The texts are as follows: PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

I.( ) President of the United States, solemnly swear and affirm that I will faithfully perform the duties of that office. I will defend and protect the constitution of the United States and in all matters strive to provide for the greatest good for the greatest number of our citizens, without

favor to any station, ethniciy or political persuasion.

I will require of my staff that they treat the public with courtesy and efficiency and accept no outside form of compensation or recompense in performance of the duties required of them. If at anytime I fail to honor this pledge I will inform the people and strive to correct any misbehavior.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

I ( ), (Representive) (Senator) from the State of ( ) do solemnly

swear and affirm that I will faithfully and honestly perform the duties of the office to which I have been elected. I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and devote myself to promoting the welfare of all our citizens

without favor for status, ethnicity or political persuasion, with additional attention to the interests of the constituency which elected me.

If at any time I am tempted to promote the interest of a special group at the

expense of the welfare of the general citizenry, I will resign my office.

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES

I ( ) Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States

do solemnly swear and and affirm that I will faithfully and honestly perform

the duties of the office in which I serve. In judicial matters which come before

me I will render judgement objectively, based on the evidence, arguments and existing laws and decisions, and without consideration of my personal biases,

preferences, and political persuasion. If in any matter I am unable to observe

these ethical guidelines, I will recuse myself.

Shame on us.

2011-04-07T16:53:00.000-07:00

The bizarre and disgusting budget process in which congress and the president are engaged is a shame on the American voters who sent them to Washington. The nation's fiscal health is terminal. The collapse of the dollar as the international medium of exchange is imminent. Serious planning measures must be applied to come up with a budget to keep the government operating, and being a player on the international scene. Instead we have a series of take-it-or-leave it proposals to make totally irresponsible draconian cuts in all social programs, which comprise a very small fraction of the federal budget. The rabid tea party republicans know such proposals cannot pass, but they are more interested in maneuvering to place the blame for a government shut-down, and stalemate, on the Dems. Such gamesmanship at this critical juncture in our nation's history is shameful, criminal. And it will be the rank and file government employees, and the commerce associated with their pay checks who will pay the penalty for this congressional farce, not congressmen.

Balance of Power, part two

2011-04-01T03:32:00.000-07:00

Since 9/11 it has become obvious to everyone (but Americans it seems) that, in today's global world, power stems from a nation's economy, not from its arms.
The Asian giants have hordes of workers, with gradually increasing skills, willing
to work under highly disciplined conditions, for modest wages with few benefits
and scant attention to workers rights. These nations have developed close trade
relations with many third world countries which give them access to raw materials at
favorable prices. By strict control of their currencies they are able to under sell
their products to the highly developed Western nations. In the process, and with our connivance they have approprated our industrial base. They are funding and concentrating their education programs to turn out large numbers of skilled high-tech grads for their expanding technology industy.
The U. S. meanwhile has concentrated on being a military power, embroiled in foreign
adventures of dubious value to us. We have set our feet on a path that can only lead
to a decline in our world status and to a second-class economy. For how long will we pretend otherwise?
For us to recover our competitive edge we need careful, informed planning by
the best economists, not rabble rousing congressmen, and an end to selfish class
warfare and partisanship. There is still, but barely time for the rennaisance.

Balance of Power

2011-03-30T00:02:00.000-07:00

Prior to WW2 power was naval. Great Britain was the leading naval power with the U. S. Great White Fleet coming up fast, carrying our flag to all corners of the globe. Pearl Harbor suddenly abolished that role. Aviation, carrier based and in the form of land based heavy bombers, became the arms by which power was exercised. After the destruction of most of the British navy in WW2 the U.S. reigned supreme. Spurred by Cold War competition with the Soviet Union we began developing ever more sophisticated (and complicated) aircraft, while the Soviets were able to compete in more limited fashion and eventually become non-competitive. We have reached the point where technology has run away with practicality. Our new planes are so technically sophisticated that they no longer have any viable opponents and are no longer suitable for the missions which we face. In fact they have only been flown for experimental and training purposes, at a cost in the multi $billions for just a few. Most of the missions our military must deal with today involve asymmetric warfare. We face hostile militias, rag-tag bands of brigands, highly disciplined terror cells, and thug armies of dictators. What is required for those missions are highly mobile ground strike forces, supported by close-in air and sea forces, and skilled follow up personnel to secure a cleansed area and assure the support and cooperation of the native population. A billion dollar stealth fighter plane is useless for any of that. Overriding all of the above is the stark fact that our nation no longer can muster the resources for such asymmetric warfare in many theatres at once, and pay for show piece military hardware that will likely never see combat.

Inventory of a nation's assets

2011-03-27T15:23:00.000-07:00

In previous blogs I have stated a case for the decline of the American empire, and urged that we set about living within our means and getting our economy once again on the road to prosperity. That process requires will power, intelligence, discipline, and a variety of tools. Are they present in the body politic, or are we so ridden with partisanship, greed and class warfare that we are beyond redemption? I say they are, and we can and will make the changes it will take to again be the world leader. Let us take count of the assets we can bring to bear on the process. We have a huge reservoir of highly skilled entrepreneurs that have demonstrated creativity in technology, manufacturing and marketing. Unfortunately the search for ever lower costs and ever higher profits has allowed our industrial base to migrate abroad. But the brain power still resides here and can be applied to other products for the green world that is coming. Our workforce is as productive as any in the world and if given the opportunity and motivation, will outperform the Asians. The capital for new enterprises exists in abundance within the hoarded corporate profits accumulated during this recession. It needs to be put to work. On the government revenue side, with a dose of patriotism and empathy by many the Income Tax code could be revised to eliminate tax shelters that create great inequity in taxes paid and wealth accumulated. For example the world's largest corporation, General Electric, payed zero taxes on $14 billion net profit last year. Coupled with a gradual reduction in spending, and military funding the increased revenue should permit us to gradually reduce the deficit and reach a pay-as-you-go state All the elements for recovery are there, except for the unselfishness now essential to put them to work. If we will it, it WILL happen.

Account Overdrawn!

2011-03-25T14:45:00.001-07:00

The U.S. has arrived at the end of the road we have travelled since 1945 and
we must take a new direction to survive. For some 65 years we have successfully played the role of world hegemon and chief of police for a tumultuous
world, and played it well most times. But in recent years, with the Iraq and
Afghanistan invasions, areas of which we had little knowledge, we went beyond
our capabilities and are mired in quicksand. In the process we destroyed our
economy and our international stature. The rest of the free world is content to
let us play the role of leader of the gang and bearer of the largest burdens but
as the Libya operation shows, they retain control of their own forces
Being the world leader is heady stuff and made us feel it will be thus forever.
But empires are not permanent and ours is coming to its end. This is not
a development to be lamented. It is time for us to devote our efforts to getting our economic house in order. Our military will for some time remain the
world's most powerful, capable of inflicting immense damage on an enormous scale, but that also will change as we reduce our military funding.
Now we must revert to the traditional "can do" spirit which made us world
leader and apply ourselves to the difficult tasks of living within our means and
paying our debts.

Musings on Libya

2011-03-24T05:27:00.000-07:00

As with all operations of this genre the unexpected development is the expected.
We were fortunate that the first air crash in the Libya operation ended with
the air crew back in U.S hands. Suppose they been captured by Ghadaffi's forces? Would we submit to blackmail? Or send an expeditionary force to attempt a rescue? Or up the severity of our attacks to force their release? What would be the attitude of the public to Americans in Ghadaffi's hands?
The missiles and bombs we are launching against Libya are expensive. Some
missiles cost in the multi-$millions each and we have already expended hundreds of millions in the few days of operations so far. Where will we
find the money to replace them? Will our escalating involvement in another foreign military campaign further erode the public confidence in our government?
Air operations, from carriers use up tremendous amounts of scare and expensive petroleum based fuel. Is this the way to use it in today's world?
I hope these matters were aired before the attack decision was taken!

And so it begins again

2011-03-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

The U.S. has participated in a policing operation attacking Libya along with
armed forces from other members of the international community.
The ostensible purpose is to stop Qaddafi from further attacks on the rebels.

My memory contains the results of other such police actions, which began
modestly and led to entanglements in large scale wars, with thousands of casualties on all sides, and outcomes far from what was intended. Think of Bosnia, Iraq, Somalia. Afghanistan.

The basic problem in such police actions are the unknowns. The attackers know their purpose and intent. They do not know how the attacked party will respond. Usually the response is different than expected, and the operation
leads into unexpected directions, requiring further and escalated attacks, provoking ever more violent responses. And so the waltz of war develops its
own momentum and we are once again embroiled in a foreign adventure
which drains our scarce resources. Let us hope for a different outcome on this one.

The Existencial Challenge

2011-03-17T12:40:00.000-07:00

Nature has thrown down the gauntlet to humankind, and our very survival as a species will depend on whether we have the good sense to accept and overcome
the challenge. We are in a race between unrestrained population growth, and
a planet whose available resources are finite and irreplaceable. At the point of no return, when starvation and disease begin their role as the involuntary
determinants of which and how many people will survive, humanity will be left with no choices. Our fates will be out of our hands.
When we reach that point of no return will depend on actions which we take starting now. Scientists opine that it will arrive within a single century, or even sooner. That doesn't give us much time to change our behavior, to overcome our apathy and complacency.
One of the first, totally logical step which we can take is to discard to the ash
heap of history those science deniers currently serving in Congress. Their
service in the cause of the special interests which profit from the status quo,
particularly big oil, is obscene and criminal. They delay addressing the problem
when delay will have such dire consequences.
Perhaps what is needed are some rabble rousers of the Rush Limbaugh, Glen
Beck power to take up the cause and make it a crusade They would be acclaimed by history as heroes. Good will apparently is not a sufficient motivator for the masses.

Where is America when freedom calls?

2011-03-14T18:38:00.000-07:00

Many people, at home and abroad, are wondering if we have lost our zeal
for political and individual freedom because we have not gone all-out to
provide material support for the hordes fighting in the streets of the middle East to rid themselves of corrupt and brutal dictators. It is not for lack of zeal,
but lack of capacity. Our plate is full with two indigestible wars, sending aid to
nations devastated by natural disasters, and recession in our economy. All financed by borrowing and printing money, not by fair and universal taxes.
We can no longer be the major provider and guarantor of Liberte, Egalite,
Fraternite to the downtrodden of the world.
The countries in the middle East were once colonies of the European powers
and became independent as a result of European wars. The European Union
is closer to them geographically, politically, economically and culturally, and
more dependent on their oil than are we. They must accept the challenge to
bring freedom to their former colonies. We must concentrate on restoring our
economy to a sound foundation, then we may sometime again be the major player on the world stage.

Congress Playing Russian Roulette--

2011-03-09T18:31:00.000-08:00

---with the nation. The new Republican zealots are determined to eliminate any
trace of social service programs that make for the advanced and civilized life
which have made the United States so coveted a place to live. Our advanced
standard of living did not arrive by chance. It was as a result of many years of
deliberate planning and funding of education, the arts, security programs for the average working citizens.
It included National parks and Nature reserves, clean
water and air, libraries and national museums and infra-structure beyond counting. such as hospitals, clinics, veterans care and facilities. You can all come up with more. And for all of those, the dedicated hard working people to man them.
None of those caused our current financial crisis, but they are the areas being attacked by the know-nothings in Congress.The real causes of our difficulties
lie in the elimination of regulations and oversight of the financial markets,
our moth eaten tax laws encouraging evasion of taxes and diversion of capital,
our initiation and conduct of foreign wars, funded off budget, and our role as
world policeman, requiring us to maintain costly bases everywhere.
The demonization of taxes, which starved all levels of government, coupled with
unrestrained borrowing to finance military adventures of no benefit to the nation should be the areas of concern, not the social programs.

Bang, you're dead--part two

2011-03-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

I mentioned that for my survey I would be sending some questions which I earnestly hope some of you will answer. Here goes:

ONE: You are gridlocked on a superhighway after work some Summer day. All around are fatigued, irritated drivers anxious to get home. Would it make you feel safer to know that every driver is, or is permitted to carry a loaded firearm?

TWO: You are looking over some colleges for your son who will attend in the Fall. In one college you find that the young people who are not yet mature
enough to have learned anger management and who are prone to disputes about such things as turf, girls, parking spots, etc. are permitted to carry
loaded firearms in school. Would this encourage you to enroll your child there?

THREE: While attending a church service a deranged man, carrying an expanded magazine automatic pistol, invades the church and starts shooting the congregants. One of them is armed and shoots and kills the intruder. Did the fact that some of the audience were carrying a loaded firearm save lives?

FOUR: Police authorities are reporting that criminals are changing tactics
in person on person crime. Because more people are armed for self defense,
attackers are now shooting the victim first, and stealing his weapon.
Does this sound true, or is it propaganda?

FIVE: Weapons for self defense against burglars or home invaders must be kept
in an accessible place to be of use in an emergency. If a child finds the weapon, which is fascinating to children, and someone ends up shot or dead, should the
parent be in an way sanctioned?

You may reply by comment on this blog, or in more detail to:
martinbest@bellsouth.net

Bang, you're dead

2011-02-28T19:07:00.000-08:00

Those of my readers who are among my personal friends may be aware
that for several months I have had health problems which put in question my survival on any given day. Nevertheless things are too dull
for me so I want to introduce a blog topic which is guaranteed to bring plenty of excitement for you and me. For doing so, among the plagues which are likely to descend on me are Bile, Calumny and Ostracism.
The subject is a clause in a document written 300 years ago, when the nation was tiny and no one could even imagine the size, population government structure and state of development as we know it today--
the Second Amendment to the constitution.
Except for the emotional
and commercial content involved in the manufacture and sale of firearms
there is no sensible reason for any one other than those who need them
in the line of duty to possess a deadly handgun.
I am aware of the powerful passions aroused at the mere mention of guns
in the context of control of their possession and display. It is not my desire
or intent to enter that minefield. What I want to do is survey my diverse
readership on their opinions. I will then try, in a non-judgemental
fashion, to present some options for my readers to consider and debate, hopefully in the interest of reducing the number of gun caused deaths.
In the near future I will post a few questions to which I hope a significant number of you will reply.

Era of the Eastern Giants

2011-02-27T02:43:00.000-08:00

The era that is beginning now will be known as the Eastern Giants, China, So. Korea and Taiwan. The United States is in eclipse on
the world stage. We still retain a powerful military (for which we are unable to pay) and can use it to punish or influence countries or regions which displease us. That also will be gone in a relatively brief time. But the loss of our hegemonic position may be good for us. It will remove from us any temptation to again act as world policeman, get us out of
our disastrous foreign adventures and impose restraint on our self
appointed role to impose our democratic system upon others who are not
yet ready for such a societal change. The events of the day in the middle East show that when a people are ready and willing to die for freedom
they bring it about at their time.
Free from our immense military and world wide bases we will be able to exploit our vast natural resources, our highly productive manpower and
enormous technological capability to build a new industrial base devoted
to a green economy , and once again creating the brain power that
made us the largest economy in the world.
But for that to happen our
people, ALL our people must accept that there are no more free rides
for a privileged few. All will be required to sacrifice in the form of higher
taxes to pay off our debts, and to finance our rebirth.
What kind of world policy can we expect from the Eastern Giants?
For certain they will not take on the roles of world policeman. They
will keep their noses out of the internal affairs of other nations except to
assure access to raw materials under favorable terms. They will deal
with the elements in control to create markets for the enormous productive capacity which their vast manpower (many highly educated and trained at state expense) delivers. Ideology will take second place to commerce.
So let us Americans accept the new facts of economic and and political
life as they are, abandon illusions about what our financial capabilities
are, get to work, and act responsibly. We were, and can and WILL be
a great nation again.

PIRACY

2011-02-24T04:21:00.000-08:00

For the "mighty naval power" that is the United States to be held as impotent hostages to a band of rag tag thugs in Somalia is the ultimate national embarrassment. A nation that fails to defend its citizens on the
high seas forfeits its status as a great power.
The annals of naval warfare offer many examples of tactics that have
eliminated the problem. All begin with a demand that all hostages be freed at once, unharmed and in good condition. If this demand is ignored, or if the hostages are threatened, a series of punitive measures are begun.
First, the coast of the offending nation is mined and completely blockaded. Vessels may enter or leave only with armed escort, for innocent purposes such as fishing.
Second, any vessel discovered outside the mined area that does not have
proper clearance will be evacuated and sunk. The crew may choose
to go down with the ship.
Third, if there is still no compliance, the systematic destruction of all
vessels in ports and on the coast, will begin, including the fishing fleet.
The disruption to the food supply will exert great pressure on whomever is in charge.
Fourth, a series of small land excursions could be carried out as possible
rescue and punishment.
We shall soon see if the U. S. has lost its will to remain a world power!

PIRACY, an act of war

2011-02-22T09:42:00.000-08:00

World history is replete with Piracy. It has been an act of statecraft from medieval
times, used to extract concessions from an opposing power, or simply to rob weaker nations of booty. At times it was used to capture hostages of strategic value in
inter-nations affairs. From time to time the exercise of piracy got out of hand. The
pirates began to operate as free agents. When that occurred sovereign nations responded by taking armed action to punish those involved, and keep the enterprise
"honest".

Modern piracy, as practiced in the Atantic off the coast of Somalia is simply a
criminal affair involving hostages for ransom. It flourishes in countries with
non-functioning governments which cannot exercise control over populations scattered over large areas, and with ruling authorities who share the loot. The powerful
maritime nations cannot permit it to continue. It disrupts international commerce and increases the cost of products. Inevitably the consequences escalate as happened today when four American citizens were executed in an attempt by the pirates to prevent boarding of the hostage vessel by U. S. Navy troops.
That tragedy compounds what began as an act of war, and demands a forceful response.
Somalia is one place diplomacy won't work.

Where is Nero when you need a fiddler?

2011-02-20T18:08:00.000-08:00

The world is alight with the fires of insurrection against the entrenched oligarchs
in the middle East. But the movement seems to be fragmented among many disparate groups. It could benefit from some form of central direction, to move the forces of public opinion and outrage in the most strategic direction where the oppressors are most vulnerable at each moment. Divide and conquer is the defense of the entrenched regimes. The reform movement needs to recognize their common purpose and join in a
mutual assistance pact. It will be very dangerous to the leaders of such a joint effort--assassination is the common tactic used against one's opponents in mid-east politics. But the end is worth some deaths; liberty doesn't come cheap.
The United States and the European Union can provide the leadership, training, political support and legitimacy, and financial resources to assure success of a united movement. What is needed is the recognition by the West of the benefits a successful reform movement will yield to the entire world. Do we have the vision?

We have met the enemy.......

2011-02-19T09:22:00.000-08:00

.....and he is us. The current budget process going on between the Republicans and Democrats is a charade and a fraud. The good ship America is sinking and the leaders of both parties are dithering about the placement of the deck chairs. Our debt problem is so enormous that slashing 61, or even 100 Billion from the current deficit budget will do no more than slow the rate of growth of the accumulated debt. What it will do is devastate many lives and futures and destroy any likely remedy. The way to reduce debt is to PAY IT OFF. That would require not only intelligent budget cuts, but also increased government revenue, which can only come from increased economic activity, and increased taxes from those with means to pay. The prevailing mood among the Tea Party members and right wingers is that taxes are the root of all evil, and that it is preferable to demolish all government programs than to pay for a civilized society. That way lies third world status for most Americans, and an oligarchical society. How ironic that the system which enabled so many to become affluent is now viewed by them as the enemy.
We are rapidly approaching default and bankruptcy. Without a will to sacrifice to
save the American Dream for the next generation we will have accomplished our destruction, which no combination of military powers or terrorists could have done.

Judy, Judy, Judy!

2011-02-18T12:11:00.000-08:00

Since I have become physically less able, from time to time I am the recipient
of acts of kindness by strangers, which make my daily tasks less daunting. Some
do things that require little time and effort and it passes as simple good manners. Others take an extra moment to bring confidence and comfort to their act. This afternoon at Bloomingdales I wanted to exit through two sets of heavy swinging doors.
A lovely Canadian woman, Judy Chapdelaine noticed my intent and stopped to assist
me, including ushering aside others approaching the doors. Once outside she asked if she could assist me on my way, the entire action done with grace and charm. Thank you Judy. You made me feel valued.

Requiem for a Great Nation

2011-02-17T04:09:00.000-08:00

The United States is approaching financial and social chaos aided and abetted by a
band of vandals who have invaded our walls. They are intent on bludgeoning the middle class into servitude by eliminating collective bargaining, voiding the contracts previously negotiated, and eviscerating the labor laws which gave us the middle class with the highest standard of living in the world.
If this statement seems exaggerated take a look at the proposals in Wisconsin for one. The financial elite is convinced that the solution to our deficit budgets is to convert the middle class
into some third world peons controlled by the elite. They are too ideologically blind to recognize that the prosperous middle class is the foundation of the economy
which made us the dominant nation and which enabled them to accumulate their wealth.

Our deficit problems began when we abandoned fiscal responsibility and began spending beyond our national income. This trend was further accelerated when congress was corrupted into manipulating the Income Tax laws to provide generous tax shelters for corporate and wealthy taxpayers, thus starving the federal government of income. With the strength of the American economy, and the strong dollar the international credit markets invested huge sums in our debt. We were awash with money for social programs, a costly defense establishment, and building an empire, with foreign wars and bases everywhere.
The American economic system is built like a Lego structure. It comprises numerous
agencies and programs, all, fitting into an interlocking and interdependent mosaic.
Some are essential for economic recovery, some support the social benefit structure
amd some run all the Government operations. To slash the budgets in an across-the- board fashion, without regard to the disruptions in essential programs could lead to
calamities of untold dimensions.Yet this is what the vandals intend, all with the aim
of reaching some preset figure of deficit reduction. That is not governing, it is
demolition.

EGYPT, Inventory

2011-02-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

The freedom movement won the first, major battle for democracy, but the war has just begun. To consolidate the initial victory, parties must be organized, with platforms informing the public what they stand for. Candidates must be chosen to wage
campaigns convincing the voters. There must be a formal, protected honest election for a constitutional convention and provisional parliament. After
the elections the new government must create the entire infra-structure of a functioning state at all levels. During this period various factions will be trying
to undermine the process, among them the radical Islamists. Tactics will include terror bombings, political assassinations, and economic sabotage. Egypt is too valuable a prize for the other Arab dictatorships to allow to slip into freedom.
And the cronies of the Mubarak Mafia will not go quietly into exile.
The key to success is the army. If it devotes itself to bringing democracy to the nation it has the power to maintain an orderly transition process. It knows who and where all the principal players are, and can remove them from the scene if necessary. The European Union can and should play a vital role in helping implement the development of the government infra-structure, organizing parties and elections, and above all supporting the Army. It is very much in their self interest to do so. If they neglect to help the bad guys in the neighborhood will be glad to get involved.
Is the Egyptian freedom contagion likely to spread to the neighboring Arab dictatorships? Not likely, because in those states all the armed forces are thugs
on government payrolls, and their interests lie with maintaining the status quo.

Update, Gerontology Project

2011-02-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

From the number, quality and enthusiasm of the volunteers, the project bodes well.
Keep in mind the purpose: To change the role and perception that the increasing
aged population represents a burden to society and they must be allowed to languish away, adapting to the status quo as best they can. We are going to
change their role so their accumulated experience and wisdom is seen as an asset.
In the process their lives will become richer and more fulfilled. That will require
changes in societal attitudes and infra-structure, all favorable to progress.
Thank you all for joining this crusade.

EGYPT REBORN!

2011-02-11T12:13:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah, Huzzah and Hooray, the iron boot has been removed from the necks of the
Egyptian masses. The army finally recognized that its future is irrevocably bound with the Egyptian masses and pushed Mubarak into oblivion. I hope all will now
concentrate on building a government of the people, by the people and for the people
and not indulge in an orgy of vengeance or theocratic strife.
The youth of Egypt deserve the opportunities that now lie before it. Western
political and economic leaders must extend every possible aid and support to
bring into being a progressive modern Arab state that has for so long been missing in the Middle East. The energy and desire is in the population. Give them the tools and inspiration! Bring them to our universities and research centers. Send our best to theirs. This is the moment for joint efforts between East and West. Both will benefit.

Wither Florida?

2011-02-10T12:15:00.000-08:00

Gov. Rick Scott has released the new state budget, in a ceremony in of all places a Tea Party gathering in a church. The insensitivity to the character of a state
and the importance to citizens of all political persuasions, is breathtaking.

Recently the state borrowed a huge sum of money with which to lure high tech
research centers such as Scripss, Max Planck, Torrey Pines and others to our state.
The purpose was to establish a growth center for cutting edge research which would attract satellite industries offering thousands of well paid jobs to highly trained employees and make a significant dent in Florida's unemployment. But from whence will those highly skilled employees come--from abroad, other states? Why not from Florida? For that to happen the administration must include in the budget a substantial investment in higher education facilities, faculties and student recruitment. None of those priorities appear in the budget. The high hopes purchased
at such high cost are being neglected in a budget process designed to demonstrate how tough the new governor can be, not how smart. The high tech center is an asset to be exploited, not left to blossom on its own.

Playing with fire, while firing the fire dept.

2011-02-08T11:30:00.000-08:00

Within some three weeks The House will be dealing with the new federal budget.
Many of the newly elected right wingers are seriously planning massive cuts in all
programs without regard to their merits, or their contribution to our recovery from
the deep recession which bedevils the nation. They are prepared to shut down the federal government if that's what it takes to get their way. Apparently they haven't a vague notion of the disastrous consequences on our credit markets of such a cavalier action. We as a nation may soon see the consequences of electing members of
Congress based on emotions rather than wisdom and judgment.
The nation has operated on a deficit budget for decades. We finance even basic operations such as defense using borrowed money. Because we are such a huge market, the nations which sell to us are willing to
lend us the money to buy from them. We have
become addicted to this system and now use it to finance almost all government operations and programs. The wealthy want a free ride and fight against all taxes. The middle class is now impoverished and cannot pay more taxes.Our consumption is financed by credit, increasing the national deficit. As a result of these structural defects we are unable and unwilling to take the painful measures which could gradually eliminate the deficits: increased savings and taxes devoted to actually paying down the debt.
To try to change the deficit financing system now, without taking the steps to pay off the debt will fail. So we must continue on the same path and hope our creditors
will continue to finance our profligacy. When they stop we will enter bankruptcy
and the great American Legend will end.

Joining the informed

2011-02-06T00:05:00.000-08:00

The Feb 6th edition of the New York Times carries a series of opinion pieces by the
most esteemed and best informed columnists on the American scene, dealing with the events in Egypt. Also dealt with are the impacts the turmoil is having on Jordan.
Most of the writers are on the scene, in Egypt, and Jordan and have been present at many demonstrations, at danger to their own life and limb.
Included in the group are such informed and keen observers as Frank Rich, Tom Friedman, Nicholas Kristof, David Brooks and Roger Cohen. Reading their articles
will yield a broad understanding of events in that region, and America's neglect
and lack of awareness of the powerful forces for change that are arrayed as well as our vital stakes in events there.
I am gratified to find my writings, which preceded theirs have been in essential agreement with their opinions and observations. If that makes me a N. Y. Times
liberal, I glory in the designation.

Surrounding the Vortex

2011-02-03T18:58:00.000-08:00

The cauldron bubbling in Egypt could spill over and burn a number of its neighbors. Not the McDonalds coffee type of superficial skin scald. The burn will be third degree, deep into the muscle which supports their fragile governments and desperate populations. From No. Africa to the rim of Asia there is not one Arab
state that can be considered stable, and offering a decent standard of living to their inhabitants. The oil sheikdoms, Dubai, Oman, Quatar are the exceptions because they have an artificial prosperity supported by oil. Without the oil their magnificent buildings would revert to sand dunes.

Egypt has been the anchor and foundation of what could be the revival of a great
civilization rivalling the Byzantine. Using modern technology in place of a grazing
economy, the deserts could be made to bloom once more, as the Israelis have demonstrated. With adequate grains, fruits, vegetables and animal husbandry the populace could supply its own needs with a surplus for export to get foreign
currency for capital development. Using that capital to develope infrastructure that
would support high tech manufacturing, their large populations could grow into
a light industry economy. But if Egypt falls the example would be disastrous. The
mullah led Jihadists would control everywhere. Anger, hate and envy would be the
behavioral norm. There is a surplus of that allready. America, do all that you must
to assure this revolution succeeds!

THE GREAT SPHINX......

2011-02-02T14:53:00.000-08:00

.....has awakened from decades of slumber and is roaring in rage because of the
decline which the autocratic Mubarak reign has imposed on the nation. Egypt's population is among the youngest in the world, and it is also the nation with the highest youth unemployment. The young men and women of Egypt are bright and ambitious, not yet contaminated with Islamic zeal for Jihad. They want opportunity to
participate freely and openly in national debate regarding access to the world of
technology. They hold no fear that relaxation of the iron fist will bring in its wake a radical Islamic regime. They feel the numbers and momentum are with them, enough to crush the Brotherhood if it tries to preempt the revolution.
The American administration and media are paralyzed with fear that the largest Islamic state will somehow disintegrate into another rogue such as Iran. That drives the Israelis, the Saudis and the Americans bananas. But this time the odds are overwhelmingly on the side of democracy and modernity.
Obama, cast off the grip of caution. Reach out to the future, which can be ours.
Hanging on to remnants of power through Mubarak is the path of cowardice, not caution. The youth of Arabia will curse us, and justly so, if we deprive them of this
first good hope of democracy.

Now the smoke has cleared........

2011-01-31T13:21:00.000-08:00

.....we can see the trees that compose the forest. They come in huge variety. Some hug the ground stealing the sun from seedlings which are challenged to grow tall
and develop a canopy to get their share. That canopy provides habitat for beautiful
birds whose color and songs bring us joy. The ground huggers provide habitat for
numerous creatures which clean the forest floor and in turn are food for felines, predatory birds, snakes and small mammals.
This symbiotic arrangement enables the animal kingdom to be free of constant conflict. There is no species with a goal to acquire power over others or get control
of all the assets.
In every human society the government of whatever form, whether democratic republic,
or oligarchy , the drive by the rulers are to accumulate power and control of resources for the benefit of some particular class or group, usually called "party".
The greatest good for the greatest number makes a good slogan to divert voters but
it doesn't influence policy.
Perhaps we should follow that old adage "leave it to the birds!"

State of the Person

2011-01-27T08:25:00.000-08:00

To mimic the federal government it might be useful for each of us to analyse and
sum up our own state of affairs after passage of another year.
We all long for the past days when we could each be masters of our own fates. We
could work where, and at what we pleased. We were free souls in control of our
family destinies. The overall economy was capable of supplying jobs to a growing population and America was the economic colossus and model of free enterprise.
But the rest of the world took advantage of the continuing technological revolution
by educating its children for the new global economy, in the process attracting
American capital and manufacturing operations. With the disappearance of our
industrial base the plenitude of jobs was replaced by chronic unemployment.
There are among us people who are entrepreneurs and self employed. Their job
security lies in special skills and talents for which demand will always exceed supply. This group represented the elite of the middle class, now a remnant of
what was the main support of our consumption based economy.
To bring back the past by recalling our industrial base or limiting wages, benefits
and labor laws to the standards in the low labor cost venues is no option. We must
strike out into another direction--joining the new world of green life style. In
that new world, our productive workforce and technological brains inventory
can make us a world leader once more. Subservience to the special interests that
have locked our policies into the past, must end. We are blessed with a large territory on which sunlight falls, huge borders on seas whose tides can generate energy, with broad expanses of prairie for wind generators, and enormous arable
land surface to grow bio-fuels. Why don't we exploit these wondrous gifts from
nature to improve our economy, while benefitting the entire human population?

The State of the Union

2011-01-26T10:42:00.000-08:00

The address has come and gone, and I have been reviewing it to judge if it changed any minds. The event is always big and historic for its substance and
symbolism. I scanned the audience carefully to see how many I recognized, and if there were any big, historic persons. All I saw were mediocrities, most clad in
the armor of their biases.

The speech was reasoned, intelligent, conciliatory to the Republicans. It certainly was inspiring, especially to America's youth... It didn't change any minds. The bias
armored idealogs didn't open their minds and let the sun shine in. We can expect
two years of trench warfare in Congress. The know-nothings are in the saddle
and they are determined to continue impoverishing the middle class to wipe out big government programs and deficits. How else justify retaining costly tax cuts that benefit mainly the wealthiest 2% of our populace while slashing the basic support for the unemployed or barely subsisting?
The Right is clamoring for deficit reduction. We need that vitally. To get an amount
that is meaningful will demand of us austerity for all, plus increased revenue
from those who can. Bombast and phony measures won't cut it in the real world.

Update

2011-01-23T06:28:00.000-08:00

The project to develop a new course of instruction on the adjustment to an aging
population has not died aborning. Unfortunately my precarious state of health has
made it impossible to proceed at this moment. I had prepared a preliminary plan of
attack to get it going. If any of my gracious volunteers has time to take it on, I
will help as much as my limited capacity permits.
The head knows what to do, the heart knows it is worth doing, but the body says sorry
buddy, I can't carry you there. As I wrote, there is a season for everything and
everyone. I am in the Winter of mine.

For everything, and everyone there is a season.

2011-01-20T17:59:00.000-08:00

And as we are all actors on the stage of life, the more skilled know when their role has been played out and it is time to leave the stage. Good ole Joe Lieberman
has seen the other players lurking in the wings, has heard the fading applause and
has finally decided his role has nothing left to add to the drama in Washington. He
will not run for reelection. As this thunderbolt echoed through the halls of Washington it appeared that the establishment would somehow survive. Have we seen
the last of Joe? Not likely if there is still room on a Federal payroll somewhere,
or a spot for a lobbyist with his connections.
One measure of a pol's success is the number of years he was able to hang on to his
office. I would suggest that a more suitable measure would be the meaningful content of those years. What did he contribute to the general welfare of the citizenry? In what measure are we a better nation, a society with greater comity,
because of his service? There are few men of greatness in congress. Who is there to set a worthwhile goal for newcomers? A political hack cannot inspire stars to rise.

It seems we have fallen into a malaise of low expectations for candidates and are
willing to settle for corrupt mediocrities. Thats what we are getting.

Marty's Blog Golden Globe awards

2011-01-19T14:13:00.000-08:00

Tis the season for self congratulations in the movie business, and the multitude of
designer fashion shows to promote the various merchants of illusion that ordinary
housewives are just $5000 away from stardom.
In keeping with the season Marty's Blog has assembled its own list of awards:

1. Outstanding comedy spoof of the year: The house of Representatives vote to
repeal the Affordable Care Act. As an act of sheer spite to deprive Obama of a
legislative achievement, and despite the obvious benefits to the economy, the public,
and the budget process, the Republicans can't resist sticking their thumb in the
President's eye.

2. War movie of the year: Iraq Journal. The world has seen the Hundred Years War, the Thirty Years War, the two-part WWI-WWII serial covering 30 years. And now the Iraq War coming up to a decade. The staying power of War as a theme for entertainment is astonishing.

3. The mystifying, magical performance of Speaker Boehner pandering the illusion that cutting taxes will eliminate budget deficits as long as we decimate the
safety net that allows some in the middle class to survive. And the bloated defense budget for fighting WW2 must not be touched.

The list of buffoonery in Congress is too long to relate here. Enough to say that
we have the most inept Representatives that corrupt money can buy and that is
how corporate America prefers it.

All gall is in Florida

2011-01-17T09:40:00.000-08:00

From my Latin Primer in high school the first sentence we learned was "omnia
Gallia in tres partes divisa est"--all Gaul (France) is divided in three parts. The
latest action in the Florida legislature makes a wondrous play on words. The amount of sheer, senseless gall, and the bizarre timing of the event defies belief.
An act has been introduced permitting the open carry by anyone of firearms, everywhere
but inside schoolrooms.
I defy anyone to produce valid statistics, not anecdotes, showing that the incidence of crime has been reduced in any state allowing open carry. There is no such evidence.
There will be however a marked increase in gun violence because too many people are
not capable of anger management. When two armed individuals face off in some real or
imagined offense the temptation will be to draw and fire first. Second place means little when you are dead. I can visualize on I95 a daily event---someone inadvertently cuts in front of another driver in another lane. It has happened that
the driver so cut off shoots the other in anger and frustration. A life lost, families devastated for an insignificant incident. Now when everyone is armed
perhaps we will get a shoot out between both drivers, each fearful the other will get off the first shot. Whoop-dee-do, what entertainment for the by-standers! This is
what the NRA and their intimidated legislators envisage as a blessing for Florida.

There is a valid aphorism that repeating the same action and expecting a different result is a sign of insanity. Has the U. S. society actually become safer and less
afflicted with crime as more states allow everyone to openly carry guns? Where are the facts indicating that? No Florida, don't surrender one of our few signs of a civilized society. Say NO to open carry, and no to guns for all.

Fascinating dialogue

2011-01-16T00:37:00.000-08:00

The Tuscon massacre has invigorated the tweeter world argument on guns pro and con.
I never acquired the skill to tweet. Perhaps it is because I still revere the
English language as an exalted means of communicating ideas and emotions and not
as a medium for practicing the cryptographers art. If the creator, or evolution had meant for us to talk with our thumbs I am certain that by now they would contain lips
and teeth, to say nothing about tongue and voice box. And above all A CONNECTION TO A BRAIN.

In an effort to find out what the tweeter world feels about the de facto unregulated world of gun use and ownership I have taken to reading a variety of blogs, columns, and conversations among tweeters, second amendment zealots, the Brady Bunch control
advocates and a garden variety of blood-and guts hunters. What strikes me most forcefully in the material I have seen is the lack of logical reasoning on the part of the gun loving fanatics. Their rhetoric is about fear. Someone is out to subvert
my nation, and their first step will be to take my guns away from me---over my
dead body, or theirs! "The government is no longer willing or able to protect my
liberty and property," so I must be prepared to change it, by bullets if necessary.
And one more tactic is to demean and abuse those who think otherwise--calling them
vile names, and ordering them back to someplace from which they never came.

If there is no longer any room for reason, that way lies chaos!

The Tuscon Massacre

2011-01-12T18:27:00.000-08:00

As usual in these horrific public executions the media, and opportunists in the
political universe are quick to claim the killers were motivated by hateful and
violent speech and propaganda levelled against the victims by political opponents, right wing zealots, tea party types and similar. Thus moved to exact revenge, or prevent all sorts of plots to subvert our government,
liberties and culture, the killers deliver divine punishment on the evil doers. No doubt there is enough hate speech and
violent rhetoric to stimulate the eagerly awaiting, gun clutching, self anointed
avengers among us, as happens in attacks on abortion providers. But not all such massacres are so motivated.
Yes, ours is a horribly violence infiltrated culture. Even our national sports such
as pro football are violent on a grand scale, produced with all the showmanship
of major Hollywood musical extravaganzas. Hockey games are only exciting if some player has his skull fractured in a personal confrontation with an opponent. Try to
find a movie representing real, normal, adjusted people. Instead we have a world of Super heroes and super monsters wreaking unimaginable horror and destruction, or pathological killers dismembering their victims on screen.

Too many massacres are initiated by demented people with no understanding of the
consequence of their acts, and often no memory of having committed them. Here, dear Brutus, the fault is with ourselves that we make it possible for them to posses
weapons of extreme lethality. Thus the insane have taken over the asylum and the sane must cower in fear that their paths may cross. If you can call murder an act
of sanity, some murder in anger, or for material gain, and may be aware of their
actions and risks. To the insane, there is no moral dimension to the event.
The NRA says an armed society is a safer society. How would this "shoot out at the OK Corral" policy help the six already dead?

Guns, Gore and the NRA

2011-01-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the nation was treated to an educational message exposing the minds
of many NRA members, whose lives are dominated by the philosophy of "my way or the
grave way". In Arizona a mentally deranged man used an expanded clip 9mm hand gun
to kill six prominent citizens including a federal judge and wounded 13, some of whom are not likely to survive.
In another venue gunmen killed two and wounded one. In the process many families
were devastated. How a deranged man acquired such a powerful weapon is not difficult to
guess. Caving to NRA pressure so many states allow unlimited rights to acquire and carry guns that they can be purchased everywhere. It appears the only restriction would be if the purchaser was wearing a straight-jacket when entering the gun shop.

Once having the weapon he may openly carry it in saloons, theatres, markets, churches, and even high risk sites for interpersonal conflict. With the gun he can
fulfill his dream of being more powerful than the high and mighty around him. He is
now ready to put to use certain cardinal behaviors typical of NRA zealots:
1. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, as long as it agrees with mine.
2. Disagreement on policy should be discussed in reasonable and rational fashion, and compromise, as long as the compromises are not required of me.
3. If someone gets into a confrontation with me, cool heads should prevail, or I will
blow him away.
4. With a gun I am GOD. I hold the power of life or death over anyone.

I recognize that by publishing these remarks I will ruffle a few feathers and one
of those zealots, in devotion to sacred NRA principles will find a few minutes to "blow me away!"

Let the INEPTNESS begin!

2011-01-07T17:48:00.000-08:00

In the first day of their control of the House the Republicans demonstrated clearly,
and to the embarrassment of their leaders, what are their priorities. Two GOP
Congressmen conducted a fund raiser and forgot to attend the formal swearing-in
ceremony which is required by the Constitution before any legislative business can be done. The omission made all actions of the house invalid, including the selection
as Speaker of Mr. Boehner. The frantic efforts to remedy the situation by in effect back-dating all actions and declaring the missing Congressmen "sworn in" by TV
because they appeared on camera from their fund raiser was more ridiculous than any
farce on The Early Show. The fund raiser was conducted using government property,
which is a crime. If this continues we are in for some ludicrous actions in the grubbing for money and protecting the monied. And guess at whose expense.
They are following this up with the attempt to repeal "Obamacare", an act which will
live in infamy, unmatched for political stupidity, and the damage it will inflict
on generations of the vanishing middle class. If they succeed they will have pulled off the biggest "snow job" in history!
We have met the enemy and HE IS US!

Back with my treasured friends

2011-01-05T17:25:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled to be back communicating with my colleagues and fellow correspondents
after surviving a near terminal emergency illness resulting from a reaction to
a prescribed medication. Nine days in the Boca Raton Hospital plus further days of
convalescence have given me plenty of time to observe Obamacare in action and decide what about it I like or dislike.
My illness had a critical immediacy which made every decision about it a matter of TRIAGE (choices). An incorrect choice could have had fatal consequences. Because I had adequate health insurance the choices were all made objectively and I was made to survive!
I am now considering what the treatment and outcome would have been if I was uninsured with the same illness and there was no Obamacare.
Lets go through the triage in that situation:
1.The patient shows up at the E.R.--no insurance. The E.R. discovers he is critically ill and will require lengthy hospitalization, blood transfusions, expensive medications. Triage decision????
2. The patient requires immediate consult with a Cardiololgist, Renal specialist,
Gastroenterologist.They are called in, but ask if there is insurance. Told no,
they will "get around to it" when they "finish with their patients". When????
3. The hospital, under financial pressure begins to look for a place to dump the
patient!
4. The blood bank suddenly runs out of the blood type.
5. Do I need to go on?
By making health insurance mandatory none of that would happen, and the insured
population would not pay for the non-insured through higher insurance premiums.

More essays on the subject will be coming.

HELP!

2010-12-23T10:57:00.001-08:00

This month marks two full years of my blogging. My greatest satisfactions are the many with whom I have become friends and from whom I learned much.
I have watched myself become older, and society age as well, and have been struck by how little we have prepared for the changes that will result from a substantial growth in the elder population, and their increasing life span.
Those will affect every aspect of our society: What we eat, how we dress, how we travel or are transported. The places we shop will require modification, as will medical care, where and how we take our recreation, our politics, our libraries--
--everything about how and where we live our changed lives.
I have been asked to devote some of my time to designing a course that would train people in preparing for, and making the changes society will increasingly confront. I will do it pro bono to avoid tackling such a project in a period of government and
private charity austerity.
Are there any among my friends and readers who would find such a project of interest and would volunteer to participate? It will be a creative and learning experience.

Marty's Almanac Vol 1 #4

2010-12-20T09:39:00.000-08:00

At the season of good will toward all, a gift we can give ourselves is a resolve
to restore that communal spirit which characterized the early years of our nation. Years during which immigrants looked to us as a beacon among nations, a light unto
a world in which there was much darkness.
Now, in a time of trial let us open our hearts to any who are troubled. Let us share
what we have that they need. Doing so will return to us what we need--a generous and loving nature, gratitude that we have enough to share, and opportunity to restore this nation to the glory that once was ours.

Bulls--t from a Pundit!

2010-12-19T18:32:00.000-08:00

I am as close to tears of frustration as I can get and still remain non-violent.
Charles Krauthammer published a column "The New Comeback Kid" in the Sunday Palm
Beach Post. In it he discusses the Great Tax Cut Deal of 2010, an important piece of legislation which was enacted last week. The column is a classic, revealing example of the corruption of bias that has infected the journalism profession. He concerns
himself with the POLITICAL MANEUVERING by Obama and the Republicans, by which he outwitted them and gained a political victory which enables him to recover his
support among liberals. He holds that by the political ineptness of the Republicans
they have allowed Obama to regain political credibility and he is again a viable and likely re-electable president.
Nowhere does he devote any meaningful expression to the merits or failings of the
legislation, or its effects on our rapidly approaching bankruptcy. He does drop a
few words of complaint that the benefits to the unemployed and the beleaguered
middle class are another $300B stimulus adding to the deficit.
Krauthammer and his ilk are so poisoned against Obama that the possibility he may
be an effective president during the remainder of his first term, thus helping the nation in a critical time, petrifies them. How about some good old fashioned PATRIOTISM Charlie???

Have you no shame?

2010-12-18T21:40:00.000-08:00

That was the question the exasperated counsel to the Senate asked
Senator McCarthy after the Senator had slandered a number of his innocent targets.
Now Rush Limbaugh should be asked the same question after he called Nancy Pelosi
and Senator Harry Reid the real terrorists against America.

Perhaps his drug addiction rotted his teeth so that only foul words and foul odors emanate from his mouth. Even in the poisonous partisan atmosphere which prevails in Congress there must be some respect for truth. Limbaugh, the mouthpiece for the
Republican party, exercises no prudence in the propaganda he spouts. For the multitude who follow his lead, the inevitable result is a loss of respect for truth, for congress, for the individual members.
I ask: "what positive contribution to our national welfare can be traced
to Limbaugh and his ilk"?

Marty's Almanac, Vol. 1,#3

2010-12-17T11:17:00.000-08:00

As we drive the highway of life to our final destination, the best navigational aid
is a loving and generous heart.
And, if in the dark hours we use the light that heart emits to illuminate the path for others who share the road with us, our journey will be safer and more enjoyable.

A spoonful of sugar.....

2010-12-15T18:35:00.000-08:00

.....makes the medicine go down. So we solve our threatening problems by sweetening
them with sugar, lots of sugar. This addicts and diverts us, and even turns us into
sugar junkies, some reaching diabetic levels.

The Tax bill which Obama and the Republican leadership have agreed to has sugar, lots
of sugar, for everyone. Some people didn't need the sweetener, some will suffer
declining ambition as a side effect. Although some need the boost the sugar will
bring, it may have a side effect of making our state of financial health more precarious when the present high wears off. Only a permanent return to a sensible diet of living within our means will cure us without killing us first. Unfortunately
the doctor (Congress) is out and won't return until November 2012. Until then Bert
and Mary Poppins are in charge.

Destruction by Rescue

2010-12-10T15:49:00.000-08:00

What a fix we have gotten ourselves into! The severe recession/depression we
borrowed ourselves into requires mammoth stimulus to turn it around. That requires
mammoth borrowing which increases the deficit which thus gives us no spare resources
to invest in growing the economy, which prolongs unemployment, etc., etc. Maintaining a military establishment larger than the rest of the world's combined
in what is now a worthless symbol of power on the world stage, compounds the descent
into bankruptcy. A militantly reactionary Republican contingent in Congress and
a cowardly Democratic counter force refuse to make the hard choices needed to
deal with our fiscal problems. So we continue to bribe the voters with benefits and
goodies, and free lunch for the wealthy. We lull them into the belief that we can stimulate ourselves out of each crisis that arises. Instead we are stimulating ourselves into insolvency. The consequences of the Irish, Spanish, Greek financial collapses are small in comparison to what will happen when our economy collapses, and were within the capacity of the European Union to handle.
Nowhere will there be resources able to deal with our collapse.
Fasten your seat belts Americans, you are in for a bumpy ride!

Marty's Almanac Vol. 1, Number 2

2010-12-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

It is said that faith can move mountains. I have begun to detect the spirit of
Christmas/Hanukah moving some small hillocks away from the economic gloom that
has weighed upon us. Let us make it so, and grow.

Marty's Almanac

2010-12-07T16:28:00.000-08:00

WITH APOLOGIES TO BEN FRANKLIN:

How blessed are they who have received much from this country, when they give back
some that won't be missed so that those who have little will not end up with nothing.

Conservatives will call that socialist redistribution of wealth. What would Jesus
call it?

Between a rock and a hard place.....

2010-12-06T23:38:00.000-08:00

....either way the nation suffers further economic damage, which hastens our already
oncoming default. President Obama has accepted a deal with the Republicans to extend
the Bush tax cuts for the affluent, and in exchange get what the Republicans could not have refused----an extension of unemployment benefits that are expiring for millions of Americans, and a reduction in FICA taxes which will further increase the deficit. No Republican would have dared to allow millions of Americans to completely run out of income, before the holidays. Obama didn't need to surrender, and didn't buy any good will for doing so. But, sad to note, the deal ignored the immediate
deficit budget crisis we face which will more than obliterate the benefit of the short term stimulus of more debt. The Republican leadership in Congress knows where
the nation is headed, and is working to have the coming bankruptcy shelter the
wealthy, at the expense of the middle class. But our country will not survive as a democracy on a class system with a tiny minority of very wealthy sitting atop a pyramid of an impoverished middle class.

Spartacus in Washington

2010-12-03T10:06:00.000-08:00

The Colosseum of Rome should be moved to Washington to be the suitable venue for
the gladiatorial contest which is now under way. As in the ancient games there, gladiators battled to the death, not for noble purposes, but to entertain the masses and divert them from their problems. The ruler of the day (read Mitch McConnell) had the ultimate power of life or death for the losing fighter (read the hapless American citizens). With a thumbs-up, or down, the winner would administer the final fatal stroke to the loser or allow him to survive.

The middle class Americans, in a struggle for economic survival, is battling the
rich elite to determine on whose back the cost of approaching national bankruptcy will land. The hired hit men for the privileged are the Republican leadership in Congress. If there is to be a morsel of bread for the beleaguered there must first
be cake and caviar for the wealthy. That is only fair!
In the bleachers the Tea Party know-nothings are urging thumbs-down for everything
and everyone. Bring on the apocalypse so we can take back our country. From whom? We'll figure that out later.

Like the old time movie serials the U. S. economy is tied to the rail road track, and
a train is approaching. Even if Obama had the solution, the Republicans are determined to make him fail, at whatever cost to the nation.
Who else will play the hero and release us from the track?

What's Wrong With WikiLeaks?

2010-12-01T19:00:00.000-08:00

The great to-do about the release of the purloined 250,000 State Dept. Emails,
cables and memos is a tempest in a tea pot. The authors of the documents know the
contents and purposes. Their opposite numbers who dealt with each other are pretty
much aware of the opinions about each other, whether or not couched in diplomatic language. So the release is a case of "bad manners", a breach of diplomatic form.

There is however a real danger posed by WikiLeaks, which is not so obvious. Machiavellian minds can use it to plant mischievous and untrue material designed to
be discovered and released. The damage that could result could vary from nuisance to calamity. Because of its success in gaining access to classified material, WikiLeaks
enjoys great credibility. That lends itself to material which it releases. So let us
consider a hypothetical scenario: WikiLeaks uncovers a top secret memo from the
Israel government to the U.S. President, planted by the Saudis, advising him that Israel has decided that for its survival it must eliminate nuclear weapons that would become available to Iran. Further, that if international pressure does not succeed in halting Iran's development of such weapons,
Israel will launch an all out attack to destroy Iran's nuclear manufacturing facilities. The deadline is the approaching Ramadan Muslim holy period.
When the memo falls into the hands of Iran imagine the consequences.

Such scenario is not far fetched. Recall the case of the "man who never was" in
WWII. The British planted a corpse on a Normandy beach, who had been disguised as
a high ranking officer, apparently lost from a sunken British vessel. Chained to his wrist was a diplomatic pouch containing the plans for the site of the D Day invasion.
That was not the site to be. Believing the very credible hoax, the Germans diverted their powerful back-up forces and assured the success of the actual invasion.

Could the "man who never was" be the Email that never was?

Hysterical Blindness

2010-11-27T19:54:00.000-08:00

Early in my practice I was consulted in the case of a 40 year old woman who was "blind" and no physician had been able to discover an organic cause. She was brought into my office, on the second floor of a no-elevator building in a small town in upstate N.Y., assisted by her mother. They came to me in some desperation
because they had heard of a young doctor who had recently started practice and was
reputed to be up on the latest developments.
I used every test I knew, plus some improvising, including psychological tests
using other sensory stimulation, testing for malingering. Throughout a long day the patient rarely spoke, answering only specific questions. The mother did all the talking, in a tone suitable for addressing a naughty child. I learned the patient was unmarried, had only one brief relationship with a man, of whom the mother disapproved. None of that was solicited by me.
In the end I told them I could find no physical reason for the blindness and recommended a psychiatrist as well as a therapist.
When they left I discreetly observed their movements. The daughter handled a stairway, exit to the street, crossing a busy main thoroughfare, with no hesitation.
I concluded the daughter had withdrawn from a very unpleasant and negative situation.

This morning I encountered another case of such blindness. I read Cal Thomas' column,
in which he blames the state of the nation on excessive liberalism and compassionate
government. He longs to return to the days of the 13 colonies, when everyone was
self sufficient and independant and government had to deal only with foreign affairs.
He takes no account that we were a huge country with a tiny population, largely
seperated in the countryside, with little that a big, central government could,
or needed, to do. The policies which brought us to our present precarious state
were fashioned as much by conservatives as liberals---lessaiz faire on the
financial institutions, rewards for exporting jobs, reckless real estate speculation
and generally hands off big business, and senseless wars financed by tax cuts.
He wants the bad old days of George Bush back! What makes him think repeating the
same policies will lead to a different result?

Post Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T00:27:00.000-08:00

The festivities are over, but the left-overs will go on---for days.
One of the required exercises of the Thanksgiving celebration is to review the events since the last one, and give huzzahs for our good fortune, friends, and survival. In many homes, yesterday evoked few huzzahs--more likely gratitude for that survival, mixed with apprehension about the days to come.
In my ripeness I can recall other difficult times--depressions, recessions,
wars, disease epidemics. Each such period made it difficult for the nation to find
much for which to be thankful. But America survived, and grew better and stronger
to cope with the next setback. And so it will be again, if we can return to the
altruism and unselfish ideals which made us "that shining city on the hill" to
the world.
For that to return we will need to abandon identity as Republican, or Democrat, and become just people sharing a common destiny, with shared ideals and aspirations. That will require an understanding that bettering ones lot does not have to result
in beggaring our neighbor.

Time to burn a Witch!

2010-11-21T17:38:00.000-08:00

Today one of the most amazing achievements in human history was introduced on the
CBS TV program "60 Minutes". A brilliant, famous scientist has synthetically created
a living bacteria, using only man-made chemical compounds. The bacterium exhibits
all of the functions of life, including growth, mitosis and replication, which are
triggered by man made compounds. The implications for the God/Religion industry are
enormous. The threat this development represents to the fundamentalist minds is so
grave they will be unable and unwilling to accept it as fact, and the scientist needs
to fear for his life. After all, in the span of human history it is not so long ago we in America burned witches. The creation of the bacterium was based on knowledge acquired during the decoding of the human genome double helix and the analyses of
the complex proteins making up the genes.
The doors opened by this breakthrough lead to miraculous possibilities in medicine,
surgery and human development; assuming the Luddites among us don't stifle them.

It is crunch time!

2010-11-19T12:24:00.000-08:00

The time for some hard decisions in the financial life of our nation has arrived.
We will choose between bankruptcy at worst, or second tier international status at
best. Ireland faces a similar problem but the scale of the two nations makes the problem in Ireland more manageable and within the capacity of the European Union.
For a graphic illustration of what ails us, examine some paper money
in your wallet. It is
named "Federal Reserve Note" and carries the assurance that it is Legal Tender for
all debts, private and public. It does not say it can be redeemed for gold, silver, wheat, corn, petroleum or anything else than another Federal Reserve Note. What stands behind its value is the full faith and confidence that it will be accepted
in exchange for goods or services provided by someone else.
If our budget is in increasing deficit our credit becomes questionable, countries and people who invest in our debt paper become unwilling to do so unless we pay
exorbitant interest rates, which exacerbates the deficits. At some point they will
refuse to buy our paper, or worse ask us to redeem it. We would have to give them
the hard assets which underlie our power and standard of living, thus becoming a colony of our creditors. Would that be better than taking the difficult measures to
keep us free, powerful and with our high quality of life--a significant player on the world stage? Ask our children!!

Joyful tidings!

2010-11-17T17:58:00.000-08:00

A just posted news flash reports that Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski became the first write-in senator since 1954, recapturing the senate seat that Sara Palin had
attempted to donate to lightweight Joe Miller. This triumph of good sense over nonsense indicates that there is still a survival instinct among some voters, and that even Sara couldn't sell an empty suit as Alaska's savior. A little humble pie is now in order for Sara and might salvage some credibilty for her.

Doom the Gloom--Let the sun shine in.

2010-11-17T10:10:00.000-08:00

A week or so ago I was the beneficiary of a random act of kindness, and I have waited for a gloomy moment to counteract by posting it. When the Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell states boldly that the prime goal of the Republicans for the next two years is to assure that Obama will not have a second term I knew it was time
to give out some cheery news to cover the stench of that cynical statement.

I was in Bloomingdales to purchase a gift for my new born niece. I selected a silver cup and looked for one of the several clerks standing around to come and complete my purchase. None bothered to stir themselves despite my obvious signals, so I left the item, to return later. After a 45 minute stroll I returned to find the same situation, so I collected the sample from the shelf and went looking for a cashier.
I found one, with a trainee at her elbow leisurely checking out one purchase return. Neither bothered to speak to me. Two young ladies wearing Bloomies badges were nearby and I asked if they could accept my money. No such luck, they were temporary assistants for shoppers and not authorized to use the register. I blew my top, whereupon the lovely lady who was at the moment dealing with the confused cashier asked her to stop her transaction and attend to me. She got everyone scurrying around completing the purchase, getting it gift wrapped so I could be on my way. That lovely lady, Meryl Deutsch, by her act of kindness made
my day, and spread sunshine all over the place. She also made a lifetime friend and admirer. Meryl, I salute you.

Will the American public grow up?

2010-11-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

The initial revelations about the recommendations of the Deficit Reduction Commission
drew the expected response from all sides and revealed that the public is unwilling to accept any solution to the ballooning deficits if they require any present discomfort. The need to raise taxes drew howls of rage from the right. The need to rein in welfare type benefits, Social Security, Medicare caused the Left to go
ballistic. Each constituency was saying "tax him,not me", and "cut his benefits, not mine". It is highly unlikely that the bunch of "Cowardly Lions, Congress", led
by "compromiser in chief, President Obama" will summon the courage to move the public
toward the unpleasant choices that must be made. But the choice will be made, by events, the bankruptcy of the nation.
For example The Social Security deficit could be eliminated for many decades if
eligibility for benefits were to be means tested. Does anyone see this as likely?

In coming days, as the arguments surface, I will have more to say on the subject.
This should start the dialogue.

Musings Redux

2010-11-14T04:14:00.000-08:00

Shakespeare said so aptly "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players". That set me to wondering who were the playwrights, the librettists, the
composers and directors? In my long, inquiring life I have witnessed, and participated in countless performances, the vast majority innocuous and forgotten.
But at times there was a HIT, that changed lives, even the path of history. Each of
us bit players can remember some on both a personal scale, and as well as societal.

If we all had labeled a bean for each such HIT, and put it in a lifetime jar, how
informative it would be, from time to time, to compare the contents of our jars.
Would they agree in the majority, or disclose differences in importance, values and
circumstances? What a fascinating exercise to relate the relationships of our varied life experiences to the differences between the contents of the jars.
How much we would learn of the human condition. This could be a subject for a book,
which I have too little time left to write. Perhaps one of you among my readers would give it a thought?

Exports: Our jobs or our products?

2010-11-11T08:20:00.000-08:00

Americans love the good life, and for good reasons. Up until the 1970's our
productive machines of goods, foods, services, were the world's best and
highest qualities. We had an efficient and prosperous middle class matched nowhere
in the world. That also made us the largest market---for our own, and imported,
goods. But we became a fat, comfortable and complacent consumer society. We didn't notice that others were catching up and passing us in education, and modernized production capacity, and government subsidies to manufacturers. With vast reserves of workers they were also able to keep wages and benefits under tight control and at very low levels. Suddenly the disparity between the cost to produce
our products at home vs. in low wage venues grew too great to ignore. Our industrial
base looked abroad as the place to produce at lower cost and still continue to sell
in the American market. That is an unsustainable strategy. The outsourced jobs have
eroded our middle class consumer economy. Trying to work our way out of this deep recession solely within the American economy is a recipe for a steep decline in our
standard of living. We must again become a leading exporter. To do so, will require a number of actions:
All subsidies to job exporters must end.
Tariffs must be imposed on imports which enjoy government subsidies abroad.
Labor must accept restraints in work rules, benefits, wage increases to reduce
domestic production costs, until exports reach relative equilibrium with imports.
That certainly is preferable to permanent unemployment.
The federal government should be willing to offer incentives to firms which recall
jobs from abroad.
American entrepreneurs should be incentivized to go into manufacturing for the
coming green energy explosion, creating new jobs instead of abandoning this enormous emerging market to Asia.
We are a resourceful and courageous people when called to action. Now is the time for
the new congress to sound the clarion call. The nation will respond!

Where now brown cow?

2010-11-07T18:38:00.000-08:00

I used a nursery rhyme title because we are entering a political never-never land
post election, in which little of real worth will occur in congress. All will likely
be maneuvering with nothing solved. The Republicans have not put forth any agenda
that will lead to solutions to the deficit, the Democrats are demoralized and frightened and will play defense. What is required to make significant change for the better would ask sacrifices by all segments of society. The very wealthy have clearly
indicated in this election that sacrifice is not an option. They will not permit the
Bush income tax cuts to expire despite the fact that they were designed to end after a decade because they were not payed for and added to the horrendous deficit.
The original purpose for the cuts was to stimulate private investment to create jobs. Can anyone prove they accomplished their purpose? If not, why expect them to do so now?
The Obamacare law will not be substantially repealed or changed because the public
will realize that despite the barrage of negative propaganda, there are significant benefits that they will not surrender when the light of reason turns on.
Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Veterans benefits, all of which are and will be drivers of annually increasing deficits, are sacred cows. Any politico who
attempts real cost controls will end up working for lobbies instead of Congress. But these are the areas where the largest deficit reductions would be found. That would require courage, and hard work to educate the voters. Does anyone see that happening?

Most amazing in the campaign was the total absence of attention to our two wars! Those are the major consumers of revenue, growing exponentially while the prospects of successful outcomes for us grow increasingly unlikely. And as our defeat becomes more apparent our international prestige and influence shrinks. America is becoming irrelevant on the international stage. The Republican glee of victory may soon tarnish as they assume the greater responsibility that comes with greater power.

The morning after

2010-11-04T12:50:00.000-07:00

After the dust has settled, and the window to the future is again clear, permit your
humble servant a few observations about the election just completed.

It was first and foremost an admonishment to the sizable majority who had the temerity to administer a defeat to the ultimate establishment candidate, John McCain
and elect a totally non-establishment figure as President.

The Republicans vowed from the moment the election results were official that they
would destroy the Obama presidency. That such a goal might also inflict almost
irremediable damage on the nation was considered an acceptable risk in the drive to
regain power. "We will fix it once we are back in control" was the mantra. So began their "just say no" agenda, and sure enough the damage occurred. That then gave them
the perfect second ploy. Everyone should know that economic catastrophes can occur
in the blink of an eye, but to repair a broken economy, particularly one damaged in
such massive areas as the financial and real estate segments, will take years. After
about 18 months into the new administration, the laboriously slow recovery
gives the obstructive opposition the opportunity to blame the catastrophe on the administration.

The anger and fear that accompanies unemployment, loss of homes and security can then be exploited to oust the party in control at the next mid-term election. The victors are usually demagogues who were elected on a tide of anger and
extremism and usually have no viable governing philosophy or agenda. The nation becomes starkly polarized and the parties incapable of the necessary compromises.
The nation loses more of its economic vitality and continues its decline.

Only statesmanship at the top of both parties can avert that decline. I have
not observed such statesmanlike conduct in the past two years. I don't expect to see it in our present perilous state. I would be delighted to be proven wrong.

Over at last.

2010-10-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

We have come to the formal end of the mid-term campaign process, and a disappointing process it has been! Enormous sums of money were spent on behalf of candidates who
were, in their own rhetoric, unworthy of the offices they sought. Very little was revealed about how the candidates would approach solving the serious problems facing the nation. A great deal was exposed about their personal characters.
For me, I found a few pearls among the garbage. I encountered and exchanged with
some bright, thoughtful and articulate people. Our orbits now intersect, and our
lives have been enriched because of that.

Whatever the outcome when the votes are tallied, let us now proceed to "bind the nation's wounds" and to restore the international luster to America's image.
We can hope that the winners will see the need for cooperation for the benefit of
all. Anything less will be unworthy of a great nation.

Fork in the road

2010-10-26T19:54:00.000-07:00

A dispassionate observer of the American scene today could be led to conclude that
events are going one way, and our response is going in the opposite direction.
Our economic and international problems are becoming larger while the vision and minds of the people we hired to face them are growing smaller.
Many segments of the economy are stagnant. Unemployment stays stubbornly high. The
national debt is growing on steroids, devoted to unproductive activities. The sums of money to fund nine years of senseless, and perhaps unending wars would have been enough to provide middle class jobs to everyone willing to work. Even if those jobs were in the public sector, such as restoring and building infra-structure, the long term effects would be enormously beneficial. They would more than compensate for any slow down in the military-industrial complex.
A simple cost-benefit analysis would disclose that there are no benefits justifying our wars. The costs include the damages to the American economy and psyche, all of which delight our enemies and benefit our competitors. If our competitors could vote in our election, they would make the Republicans and blue-dog Dems the overwhelming
controlling force in our government, a fifth column. This mid-term election could very well turn out to be a coup d'etat in which reason and intellect
could be banished from the national and local governments.

Mid-term Madness

2010-10-25T13:24:00.000-07:00

One of my readers reminded me about the old aphorism "a new broom sweeps clean",
expressing hope that the Obama administration would suffer a "necessary" defeat
on Nov. 2. There is another adage "marry in haste, repent at leisure". If the people,
in their wisdom, decide to divorce the Democratic party and remarry the Republicans,
will that be a repeat of a relationship which brought on the worst recession in history, involvement in two senseless wars, and a state of economic disparity in which 1% of the population became obscenely wealthy while the entire middle class approached poverty?
According to the radical Tea Party zealots, government is the enemy, the bigger
it gets, the more evil it becomes. But so much of our existence is now dependent
on what government does, that treating it as the enemy threatens the most basic
foundations of our way of life. Imagine life without Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Medicare; No regulations governing safety of medications, food and
water; No consumer protections in the functioning of Stock markets, banks, credit cards; No minimum standards for construction of roads, tunnels, bridges, homes
schools, hospitals; No educational requirements for practicing professions---physicians, attorneys; No environmental controls; No police, firemen, para medics, sanitation workers, armed forces; No courts of law. Without all of those, what would we have--AFGHANISTAN.
Ours is a huge country, with complex economic and social relationships which took a long time to develop and will take a long time to alter.
Throwing out the "Bums" now in charge and replacing them will not produce rapid, productive change. Expecting that will mean that each mid-term election will resemble the previous one.
The dilemma in which we find ourselves grew over many years. To blame it all on Obama is juvenile. Repeating the policies which put us here, in the hope they will change our condition, meets the definition of insanity.

A matter of style?

2010-10-21T21:49:00.000-07:00

My most recent blog, "The Year of the Women" was my second foray into satire. It brought down on me a torrent of criticism. That is OK with me. It is more rewarding to a writer to be read and criticised, than to be ignored. I may try it again if a suitable topic presents itself.
For now I'll try some pathos.
This midterm election will determine if America is to reverse its economic and political decline, or continue its slide into second world status. If we are to make a sensible vote, and have it count, I suggest voters ask themselves some questions:

At what point in time did we begin to change from a creditor to a debtor nation?

What policies led to the change?

Who were the politicians in control of the government when those policies were implemented?

Are any supporters of those policies running for election or reelection? Should they
be rewarded for their failures?

Which issues are more vital to our national survival: Abortion, Gays in the military,
immigration reform, jobs and economic revitalization? Which candidates are likely to
competently address the most vital?

How many of us will consider those questions instead of appeals to emotion, when we
cast our ballot?

Year of the Women

2010-10-18T18:19:00.000-07:00

This mid term election marks a milestone in American political life that is as
significant as the extension of the right to vote to women. The crop of leading
candidates now includes many more women than any election I can remember.
A significant percentage of the crop consists of kooks who would never have made
it to the ballot if Obama had not been elected to shatter the President stereotype.
If a "black, non citizen Muslim" can be president, why not a witch who believes that
masturbation makes hair grow on the palm of the hand--the hand that once could
aspire to little more than rocking the cradle.
It has been a cherished truism that if women ran the governments of the world,
war as an instrument of policy would disappear. But seeing this field of distaff
candidates I am led to believe they would see war as a means of eliminating pesky male opponents, thus casting mankind into unremmiting conflict until men completely
surrender and accept an inferior standing in human hierarchy. The lady candidate who kicked a male referee in the groin is running for office on a platform that balls are misplaced on males. She is very testy about testes. Next the ladies will work on
conception without male representation. I wouldn't be surprised if they pull it off.

Hitting bottom.

2010-10-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Having reached a ripe age I assumed I had seen all the forms of politicking
that money can buy, and couldn't be surprised. How wrong I was. It is to be expected that in a two party system campaigns will be spirited, even heated, and some excesses may occur. It was equally expected that after an election the
parties will come together for common purpose---to provide for the welfare of the citizens of all persuasions, and the efficient use of public resources. The past decade has witnessed a breakdown in the comity among our national legislators,
particularly in the Senate. Politics there has become a blood sport. The divide
between "liberals" and "conservatives" has become an unbridgeable chasm. Compromise
has disappeared from the lexicon of political process. As a result the nation's problems can no longer be dealt with, as the lingering recession clearly demonstrates.
This failure at the national level has created real economic pain and insecurity
in the vast middle class and turned them from their usual middle of the road conservatism, to angry and unreasoned radicalism.
The anger has manifested itself in the support of nut cases as candidates.
Many of these nut cases have no concepts of the economic and political interrelationships among nations, or even sectors within our country. They have narrow,
often bigoted views of persons different from themselves. They tend to blame
unknown "others" for their troubles and look for scapegoats, not solutions based
on knowledge and experience which they may lack. They are very good at rabble rousing. They may also win election. There is the danger. When resentment and anger
take control of the engine of government it can lead to conflict among nations
as has often occurred. Germany's resentment after the consequences of its defeat in WWI led to WWII.
Our founders created a superb government structure. The quality of the politicians
that must function within that structure has declined. They have sold out. Therein lies the difficulty. The current crop of candidates appear to me to be the worst in my memory. That the public is buying their nihilism and ignorance is sad, and dangerous.

Triumph of the human spirit

2010-10-14T06:58:00.000-07:00

Only hours ago the last of the trapped Chilean miners emerged into the sunlight to
cap a survival and rescue epic of historic proportions. The event was a triumph of the human spirit on several fronts:

The miners were able to stay emotionally stable and united under unimaginable
confinment in a tomb-like environment.
Their families and loved ones remained on the site non-stop, praying and joined
in common fear, concern and hope.
The technological resources of Chile were brought to bear, joined by assistance from
other nations, in a feat of engineering of a scale never before attempted.
The attention of the entire civilized world was held captive in real time by
what was happening in Chile.
A depressed world had something exalting to cheer. We needed that.

Our species has capabilities which no other can approach. We have just witnessed how to apply them for noble purposes. Rejoice, there is hope.

Fiscal obesity

2010-10-08T09:52:00.000-07:00

During the Clinton presidency we were fiscally trim, consuming revenue at a rate lower than it was created. We were able to store a surplus, to be used to reduce the national debt. The 8 years that followed Clinton were years of national economic
disaster. We undertook a two front war in distant theatres, financed off-budget,
while at the same time cutting taxes. That converted our budget process from "pay
as you go" to "pass the bills to the next generation". We embarked on a borrowing binge of incalculable dimension at a time when our outlays were increasing at a geometric rate. The military build-up to sustain the wars, plus the cost of caring for the veterans, plus the costs of nation building and rebuilding of the countries we were breaking, plus the fraud and waste that are endemic in wars, were
not offset by the growth of the military-industrial complex. Military expenditures are not investments in long term economic expansion. They are the least
productive use of national resources.
Now, in recession, the costs for Medicare and Medicaid are growing at an unsustainable rate. Yet the congress is unwilling to deal with one of the major cost centers---the built-in expense in the private insurance market.
With multiple vendors, each
with expense loads of 30% or more on top of the benefits payed out, it is almost
impossible to get control of those costs.
Changing the players in the election game of musical chairs will not solve our
problems. Changing the mind set of the politicians to put the interests of the nation before the interests of party, should be the priority. They can then change the public attitudes. That is the essential effort we need to make in this election.

"Change of Ownership" Sale

2010-10-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

The ongoing mid-term political campaigns are shaping up to be the most expensive in history--obscenely so. Some candidates are spending 50, 100 million dollars or more
to buy the office. WHY?
The motive is POWER. With power come the keys to the public treasury. But most of all, with power comes a big eraser with which the power holder can erase laws and regulations of infinite variety which tend to limit the ability to profit by whatever means; requirements that products and services sold be safe and benign, made under fair labor standards; that financial products and services be fraud free and offer fair treatment to customers. And significantly the eraser can be used in
changing tax and inheritance laws to favor the wealthy power brokers, at the expense of everyone else.
Only a few can run for office. But multitudes of power seekers can purchase politicians to achieve the same results. If I outbid the competition and get a proxy
who will do my bidding, it isn't necessary for me to have the inconvenience of pretending to serve the public.
The road to power is paved with deceptions. Voters are manipulated by media campaigns characterized by blatant lies and distortions about the opponents and
concealment or exaggerations of the candidates actual record. As IBM preaches,
GARBAGE IN, GARBAGE OUT. The public often buys it, and gets what it doesn't deserve.
The Florida Governor's race is an example. One candidate headed a company which stole $1.7 billion from the taxpayers, was rewarded with a reported $300 million severance bonus, and used millions of that to buy the Republican nomination for Governor. Point made!

Hey diddle diddle, who's in the middle?

2010-10-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

As a metaphor:
Imagine the American political scene as a playground teeter-totter. On each end of
the board sits a political party. And the board rests on a fulcrum, which represents
the middle ground---independents and moderates whose support usually determines which end of the board carries the most weight. If the party numbers would be exactly equal the board would be in equilibrium, exactly horizontal. Moving the fulcrum closer to one end would make the other end heavier. That is the principal of levers and underscores the importance of the center, the fulcrum. On the end that is nearest the ground it is easier for new voters to mount. It is harder for people to join the party up in the air. When the numbers are essentially equal, money can be
the grease for moving the fulcrum and can also be a step ladder to either end.
The elemental question is why is the teeter-totter there? Is it for the enjoyment of the entire voter community, or for a favored few? If for the few it is possible to
mount the board in a permanent location on the fulcrum so there is a built-in
favored end. The wealthiest neighbors have put the playground managers on payroll to assure their end will always be favored. So cooperation among neighbors that would lead to common enjoyment has been replaced by gridlock in the playground. This will lead to neglect of maintainance, and decline in the communal spirit that sustains
a society. The playground deterioration mirrors the deterioration of the society.
Eventually the neighborhood will turn into a slum.
Such an outcome is not inevitable. There is time to restore American vigor, entreprenour spirit and vision for the future. To make that happen our politicians
must return to their true mission---working for the general welfare instead of their's alone. We voters must make that happen by our activism and determination.
We can do it, starting now. This is a fork in the road election. Do not fear embarking on a new direction. The old has led us astray.

Peace in the Holy Land

2010-09-28T07:00:00.000-07:00

The peace conference between Israel and the Fatah faction of the Palestine Authority
now going on in Washington is on its death bed. The Palestinian President Abbas
represents only a minority of the Arabs who call themselves Palestinians. He does
not speak for the irredentist factions--Hamas, Hezbollah, Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and other splinter groups. Any "peace" made with him would
be an illusion, and would likely bring on him the same violence which is daily visited on Israel. Netanyahu is also unable to speak for all Israelis. The religious
settlement zealots could bring down his government if he compromises their agendas.
But he has more gravitas to make an agreement than any other Israeli politician, and
could make one stick if the advantages to Israel, in terms of security, were sufficient.
If the Palestinians could be given the hope of a better, more prosperous, healthier life while dwelling on this earthly realm, perhaps the zeal of the terrorists to get to Paradise by killing Israelis, Westerners and Arabs from other religious factions, might cool. Israel is in a position to help make that a reality for the
Palestinians, but only if they abandon their dream of wiping Israel off the map
and give up terrorism as an instrument of policy.
As with many Arab states, the controlling oligarchy has failed to improve the lives
of their subjects. Many motives---desire to maintain control, rejection of modernity, suppression of women, corruption, greed and zealotry can be cited for those failures. Israel is a roaring success, politically, economically and socially.
That alone is enough to feed the Arab hatred of a successful non-Muslim state in their midst. If such attitudes were changed, Israel would play a significant role
in improving the lot of their Palestinian neighbors.

The economy of the Palestinian territories is based on agriculture, of a relatively
primitive form. It competes with the highly advanced Israeli agriculture. However, that is not the reason for their poverty. Lack of access to the Israeli market and ports, because of border closings for security concerns, is the main cause.
If the Arabs would accept the reality of Israel, and coexistence as the future, Israel could become the engine of a powerful revival of the Palestinian people, in
a thriving state, as part of a natural regional economic entity. Israel would have to open its market to Palestinian agricultural products. They would need to provide technical assistance to modernize farming methods, improve roads and water supply to bring the Palestinian farmers up to Israeli standards. To compensate for the impact of food imports Israel would concentrate on the export market, where it already has a major presence.
For some period certain, perhaps twenty years, Israel would pledge to extend to the Palestinian state any improvements it makes to Israel's infrastructure so the viability of that state would be bolstered. In the absence of terror Israel could open its borders and its impressive medical facilities to Palestinians. During those twenty years Israel, together with the international community, could assist in building infrastructure, clinics, hospitals, and schools in the Palestinian state
so that it will be able to offer to its citizens the quality of life found in its neighbor.
The cost to Israel for the assistance it provides will be offset by the savings from reduced security requirements and from the increased trade and tourism which peace will permit. For the Arabs, Paradise would be available in the here and now.

Once upon a time in America

2010-09-22T16:38:00.000-07:00

In the year 1690 a sailing vessel bearing immigrants from Spain, attempted
to land its human cargo on the shores of what would one future day be Rhode Island.
The native Indian tribe, the Merrymacks, mobilized their militia. Armed with
writs of attainder, and bows and arrows, they apprehended the "illegals" and incarcerated them in a village of animal skins tents, known to the natives as
Guantanamera. Negotiations began for the deportation of the illegals during
which one of them proposed that, in exchange for cancelling the deportations the
illegals would agree to perform any unpleasant work the Indians themselves disdained. They also agreed to receive whatever amount of
Wampum the Indians would pay, and not divert the required tribute to the tribal chief.
The arrangement worked so well, the Indians grew lazy and selective about what
work they would perform. It became necessary to encourage increasing numbers of illegal immigrants to come to Rhode Island from the depressed and war torn areas of Europe. In time the supply of shells for Wampum ran out. The illegals insisted on
procreating causing a need for more animal skins to supply their shelter needs. This in turn increased the costs for the natives. Suddenly the illegals were a problem
not a resource. A rival chief came forward and proposed a ban on future immigrants, and rounding up and deporting those allready here. There arose a heated conflict
between the deportniks and the amnestniks threatening to split the tribe. The
deportniks were victorious and carried out their intent. The resulting collapse of the tribal infrastructure led to overflowing latrines, overgrown paths and collapsing bridges, uncollected garbage, leaking tents and run-a-way live stock.
The Merrymacks learned the hard way that they were part of an interconnected
world and could not survive and thrive in a Fortress Rhode Island.

Don't ask, Don't tell, Do punish!

2010-09-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Hey pastor, does God make mistakes? That is a question which is asked by Gays and
Lesbians--too often silently. A child is born to heterosexual parents, with certain
genitalia identifying the child's body as male or female. But for some children, by the time the child begins to master speech it becomes obvious that the mind and disposition of the child does not match the genitalia. The penis endowed child shows a disposition in action and demeanor to mimic a vagina endowed child. The vagina endowed shows a masculine inclination. In speech, mannerisms, choice of games, toys, and dress the very young child acts as if the genitalia should have been of the opposite sex. The confusion in mind, and the responses of the parents and others create guilt feelings in the child. To the devout it is not possible that God made an error---we are all God's children. So the problem must be the result of sinful choice made by the child (or visited on the parents)--original sin updated. The child must change the evil ways, or hide the shame. And so the punishment begins, and the suffering.
In many animal species hermaphrodism is normal and so are role reversals. Offspring are raised by males and females do the foraging for food. Sexual orientation is
then a variable scale from all male/all female, to blends of both. Is that not
possible in humans, the peak of the pyramid of living creatures?
If we accept that proposition then we can accept that gays and lesbians are different, not by choice, but by nature and deserve to be treated with the respect due all God's creatures. They in turn must respect the sensitivities of others and
not seek exemption from moral and accepted standards of behavior.
Don't ask don't tell is demeaning to God's creation if you believe. It is demeaning to the right of each citizen to equal protection under the law, if you do not believe. Other nations have encountered no problems with gays in their military.
Why is our Puritan ethic so traumatized at the thought?

Economics 101. Which way is up?

2010-09-17T09:30:00.000-07:00

The U.S. economy is between a rock and a hard place. U. S corporations have drastically slashed labor costs in domestic facilities and shipped many jobs overseas to lower wage venues. As a result they have accumulated large hoards of cash
which will increase as the economy gradually improves. If concerns about regulatory and fiscal policies keep them from investing in growth and new employees they will be
inhibiting growth in demand. That is self defeating and a recipe for losing market share to foreign competition.

A certain amount of regulation is necessary to eliminate deceptive practices and dangerous products as well as predatory anti-competitive strategies. The results would be a more stable business environment and greater confidence among consumers.
But regulation must be tempered in amount that will not make our industries non competitive with more permissive societies.

As for tax increases, low taxes which lead to deficit government spending impose the cruelest tax of all by devaluing the dollar. That increases the cost of raw materials, makes our imports more expensive and decreases the purchasing power
for average consumers. In theory it should increase our exports, but our largest trading partner and potential customer, China, manipulates its currency to keep out our products so our massive trade imbalance remains. And we are reluctant to pressure them because we need them to finance our debt.

Instead of hunkering down and hoarding cash business should aggressively invest
in new technology in production and new fields in the coming green revolution.
They could then return to our shores manufacturing operations which were sent offshore earlier. In time the relative wage advantages abroad would narrow anyway as
their economies and public expectations mature. Sitting tight and hoarding money puts us further behind foreign competition every day.

Will our economy turn up significantly in the near future? It is any one's guess.
Mine is "not likely" without a major effort to adjust to the new realities of a less powerful and less affluent nation. We concentrated on being bigger and more powerful, but neglected to become better and smarter.
So, if banks can borrow from the Fed at near 0% and buy bonds yielding 5-8% they will stay out of the business of providing capital to new enterprises. And if the old enterprises find it more profitable to invest in paper rather than humans, economic recovery is a distant dream. Why not tackle the new challenges to work
smarter, to green the planet with new techniques. new products and new visions?

IRAN; Intransigent Republicans Acting Normally

2010-09-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

The congressional conflict over the mandated end of the Bush tax cuts has brought out
the usual "just say no" response from the Republicans. We are in the midst of the
worst recession in the memory of most Americans. Governments at all levels, city,
county, state and federal are facing huge shortfalls in revenues. These could lead
to drastic cuts in vital public services--police, firemen, teachers, sanitation,
maintenance of public facilities, etc. The revenue deficits reflect the collapse of
real estate values, the slowdown of economic activity and the rise in unemployment.

The Bush tax cuts were supposed to lead to increased private investment in economic
activity, creating new jobs and generating government revenues. After ten years
the predicted results have not happened. The tax savings to the wealthy were hoarded. Those for the middle class were too little to have a substantial economic impact. Job growth was anemic during the decade. But they did create the illusion
of wealth by the unreal increase in real estate prices (not values). Federal
Government intervention is now the only life support system with any promise of keeping our many jurisdictions functioning. But that will require revenues if we
are to avoid more dangerous deficit spending. So the tax cuts should be allowed to expire, but not for the endangered middle class. They represent the best hope
for an eventual turn around in the economy. The wealthy, who acquired the greatest
share of the national treasure during the Bush era, should now pick up the greatest share of the tax burden, which in the U. S. is lower than most of the developed nations of the world.
The Republican are refusing this sensible compromise. They are insisting on an all or none extension of the tax cuts. If they get their wish, will they still complain
about the huge deficits? Or will they further devastate the middle class by draconian cuts in programs and services which keep the middle class temporarily afloat?

Coming: deja vue all over again

2010-09-12T08:58:00.000-07:00

All the polling data indicate that in the upcoming mid-term elections the Republicans will win back many seats in the House, with an outside chance to take control. John Boehner, R.Ohio, minority leader is the likely Speaker if that should occur.
This morning on Face the Nation, Rep. Boehner stated with no uncertainty, that it is
the Republican Party intention to reinstate the tax and fiscal policies of the
Bush administration---low taxes, less regulation of business and drastic spending cuts. He included repeal of "Obama Care" the new Health Insurance Reform program and the Banking Reform act as first actions.
I am reminded of the old aphorism "insanity is repeating the same action and expecting a different result". We are in this deep recession as a direct result
of those policies prevailing and compounded by our participation in two off-budget wars, which still continue. None of our wars were financed by cutting taxes, particularly those which impact primarily on the most affluent. To act as if those wars don't exist is recklessly criminal behavior. Are those the hands
into which we should commit our nation's financial survival? Is a reprise of the
failed policies which devastated middle class Americans a responsible approach to
restoring their financial health, their jobs? Trickle down economics trickled down
misery on the middle class while further enriching the allready wealthy and making them insensitive to the plight of the less fortunate. How much is enough?

A little optimism, maestro.

2010-09-07T08:34:00.000-07:00

From all sides, media, commentators, pols, come doom and gloom about the economy and America's future. This writer has been no exception. It doesn't require any perspicacity to see the signs and omens and make such predictions. But could they
be the cause as well as the register of some of that gloom?
Gloomy projections about the future change people's behavior. They become cautious,
reduce expenditures and increase savings. Their perspective becomes short term---
hunker down. Such sentiments are immediately translated into reduced demand, turning the gloom about the economy into a self fulfilling prophecy.
The remedy for recession is to stimulate demand. Private enterprises are constrained by stockholder interests from doing so. The government is left as the only source of such stimulus, but the very cautions that reduced demand act to inhibit such stimulus because of aversion to increasing deficit spending. As a result the recession is prolonged and more damaging.
Capitalism of which this nation is a disciple, is characterized by cyclical expansions and contractions. We can allow these to play themselves out in their
usual time span, or apply counter measures which have been shown by experience, to shorten that span and contain the damage to the security of the majority of our citizens. The task for our politicians is to lead public opinion to accept those measures in spite of their fears or ideology. When will they grow up to that task?

Flight from reality.

2010-08-31T09:35:00.000-07:00

August 31 marks the end of our combat role in Iraq---Hooray? But 50,000 troops remain behind to "assist in training" the Iraq army and constabulary. It will undoubtedly be necessary for them to engage in combat operations because AL QUEDA and the Taliban will be holding our troops hostage to their desire to bleed and humiliate us. We are assisting them by weakening our fighting capability in the Iraqi theatre. Only a complete withdrawal from Iraq will free
us of that cancer. Iraq must stand on its own feet as a sovereign nation at some point. Playing perpetual cop and nursemaid to them will delay that forever
at enormous cost to us.

In Afghanistan we offer the Taliban a perfect assist. We provide a continuing supply of our valiant troops to be killed and maimed, at little cost to the Taliban. Their
fighters value death more than life so our counter attacks do nothing to dissuade them from continuing the fight. When we leave, Karzai the thief, and his Mafia will
also leave to enjoy their loot from our aid packages. The Taliban will take control
as if our interlude had never happened. That has been and will be the way of it in
that part of the world. Outside conquerors end up as the conquered.

Where art thou JFK?

2010-08-24T19:18:00.000-07:00

Throughout history public sentiment about the state of affairs of our nation has
fluctuated between optimism and pessimism---feeling good/feeling bad. These moods
have sometime led the rest of the developed world's demeanor, and at other times followed.
At few periods in our history was our economy in danger because of a deep
decline elsewhere. Usually we were the bell sheep that led the others. When we
went into recession others eventually followed. So it was with recoveries. Our
current recession seems to be different. It is deeper, longer, wider and more
damaging than conditions in the other developed nations.
In trying to understand it certain factors come to mind:

We have taken on the role of policeman to the world. As such we must
maintain a military establishment larger than the rest of the world
combined, at home and in many foreign lands. This diverts resources from
more productive pursuits.

Our citizens have developed a sense of entitlement to government
services without a commensurate obligation to pay for them in the form
of taxes.

We have accepted living beyond our means as a normal life style, both
as individuals and as a society.

Our sense of common purpose and concern for the general welfare has eroded
and been replaced by "anything goes in pursuit of a buck".

The recipe for recovery is, in each of the above factors, to return to the way things were before, to the status quo ante. Perhaps it should begin in Washington
with politicians who place the general welfare above their own self interest.
Who will say "we ask not what our country can do for us, but what we can do for our country". Imagine what would happen if all of us did that!
Lets get to it!

Setting the record straight

2010-08-22T12:49:00.000-07:00

There seems to be some confusion about my stand in the Mosque at Ground Zero
controversy. I accept the blame for not clearly distinguishing between the
Mosque siting, and the Caliphate agenda of militant Islam.

Establishing a Mosque on any site in the U. S. that conforms with zoning laws
is a constitutional right. The public relations impact is a separate matter and
must be considered by the congregation---it is not an acceptable ground for others
to try to bar the edifice. That would be censorship of the right to practice whatever
religion you choose. There are limits, for example human or animal sacrifice.

Islam is a proselyting religion. That is not unique. There is a significant segment within it who believe it is a divine order to convert or conquer non-believers, infidels, by whatever means---force, intimidation, deception, persuasion. There exist wide schisms within militant Islam which play out in murderous Muslim on
Muslim violence. The West becomes an enemy of some sect if it shows support for
another. The friend of my enemy is my enemy.

One of the most militant, regressive sects are the Wahhabi's, centered in Saudi Arabia. Their goal is to reestablish the Caliphate which dominated large parts
ot the world in the 8th to 10th centuries. It is that sect and that country which
are subverting Europe, and want to do the same here. That is what I caution against.
All religions are welcome and protected in our country. None is welcome to alter
our culture for theocratic purposes.

Dupe a dope a day.

2010-08-20T10:35:00.000-07:00

Many people believe that if it appears in the media it must be true. Countless examples have shown that assumption to be false--the Sherrod case and Muslims praying on the streets of N. Y. C. are examples. Most people are too busy or disinterested to take time to check the veracity. Or the item may conform to their prejudices or biases and they accept it at face value.
This "credibility" factor has been carried over to the Internet, which offers fertile ground for demagogues and scam artists. They can enter your home uninvited, without knocking, and plant propaganda disguised as information. Their nefarious purposes are to get your support for their drive for power, to part you from your money, or to create animosity against their opponents.
When the deception involves forgeries or doctored pictures and captions they
are a danger to the social contract among the people, and between the people and their government. That contract depends on trust, and respect for the rights of others to be different.
Please, my friends and colleagues, when you receive inflammatory Emails, ask why.
What is the agenda of the senders? Check it out on "snopes.com". Don't become an
accesory to a fraud by passing it on without filtering it through a truth test.

The persistence of Illusion

2010-08-18T11:20:00.000-07:00

In the 20th century the United States was supreme among nations. We had the greatest
prosperity, the largest economy, the most powerful military and the most
free populace in the world. Now, in the 21st century, that status is gone, but
many of us will not, or cannot accept the new reality;
we are no longer the world's mover and shaker. As a result, when things go amiss here or anywhere it is
Obama's doing, or a failing of the U. S.
The rest of the world has moved on. China is now the number two world economy and is breathing down our neck to reach number one. Our vaunted military is being defeated in the Mid East by rag-tag bands of
rebels who fight unconventionally and are not intimidated by a modern military colossus. The dollar which has been for a century the international medium of exchange is now in danger of losing that status.
To use a metaphor, the U. S. has a head cold, which if not treated could turn into pneumonia. The measures that would cure the cold are unpleasant---they would require all of us to make sacrifices. But the altruism and patriotism required for that seems to have emigrated elsewhere. We are caught in a class war, and the middle class is losing. No country can prosper without a middle class!
The solution is not, as conservatives believe, unbridled capitalism coupled with
low taxation and absence of sensible governmental regulation .We tried that under George and got the worst recession on record. Nor is it a tightly controlled
economy and extreme austerity. The solution will be in a compromise between
lessaiz faire and stifling controls and taxation. There is the rub. Compromise is now
the N word in politics. So the class war continues, and so does our decline!

Money Talks......

2010-08-10T21:17:00.000-07:00

......but does it make sense? The sums of money spent on lobbying for the extension of the income tax reductions for the wealthy, if laid end to end, would still not
justify the lost government revenue for a program with no proven economic value to
the overall economy. The theory that reduced taxes lead to greater investments in
the private sector economy, thus producing higher employment has had ten years in
which to prove itself, and it has FAILED. What did occur was a mass export of jobs, a speculative inflation in property values beyond rational boundaries, and the creation of paper assets which turned out not to be worth the paper they were written on. Along the way some unscrupulous snake oil salespeople in the banking and investment fields
became obscenely wealthy, at the expense of vast numbers of savers, pensioners, home owners and individual investors. The wealthy prospered while the middle class majority was taken to the cleaners.
The irony is that the wealthy are now allowing the impoverishment of the
middle class to become a structural feature of our economy, thus not amenable to government action. This is balm to the anti government, anti welfare state constituency. It will also serve to restrain wage increases, and increase profits.
But who and what will sustain our consumer based economy? Prosperity for the middle
class means prosperity for commerce and industry. Mass unemployment and wage stagnation will result in a falling standard of living and a shrinking economy.
We need a new "Age of Enlightenment" to re-energize our people and banish ideological
devotion to selfish, class driven behavior. And we need it now!

The impossible dream.

2010-08-04T19:37:00.000-07:00

When a nation takes on a project as deadly dangerous as waging a war, that undertaking must be grounded on an objective which is worthy, attainable at acceptable cost, and with the prospect that victory will serve the nation's essential interests. Do our Iraq and Afghanistan wars fit those parameters?

The stated objectives in both were primarily to change the controlling regimes.
Our interests were to be served by replacing autocratic rulers with some
form of democracy in each country. The hope was based on the assumption that democracies practice peaceful foreign relations. Little attention was payed to the qualifying conditions: worthiness, acceptable attainability, and the best interests of the United States.

We have arrived at the denouement of our war efforts as total
failure. The internal political and social structures in both those countries are
tribal, infertile ground in which to plant democracy. No surge, no expenditure of lives and treasure, can change those facts. Only evolution offers a possibility,
and evolution occurs over eons, beyond the life spans of our crusading politicians.
How many more of our heroes must be killed or maimed, how much more of our shrinking
treasure must be wasted, before our legislators recognize the futility of our efforts? There are some objectives which even the mighty United States cannot attain.
Can't we come to grips with that and stop these tragic foreign adventures?

Show me the Money!

2010-07-31T18:54:00.000-07:00

An upcoming election should be an opportunity for candidates to expose their positions and persuade the voters of their merits. I have been waiting, and searching the campaigns for such information, but to no avail. What I have
been subjected to is a contest on money raised, and still to be raised
by each party. Almost breathlessly they inform me that they are within so many
dollars of out raising the opposition and my contribution will bring victory
in the contest by some deadline. The media will then report which party raised the
most, as if that is meaningful in governing the nation.
This afternoon, after some absence from the computer, I found 16 inbox Emails, most
from well known political figures. Those were requests for money, none of which contained useful information that would influence my vote. But money does influence the votes of our legislators---not the $10 or $20 I might send, but the thousands that special interests give. Those contributions come with strings attached which
morph into chains on legislators independence.
Would public financing of elections, honestly and fairly administered eliminate the
corrupting influence of campaign contributions? It is worth exploring.

Declare defeat and go home.

2010-07-28T09:51:00.000-07:00

No matter what spin the administration will put on our Afghanistan affair, we have
lost that war. Pouring more men and resources into that quagmire will compound the
damage to our nation, on many fronts.
The Taliban does not seek to defeat us by military means. It is their strategy to bleed us---to expose our impotence in that theatre of the conflict. As a side affect
the ongoing conflict is sowing division and rancor in our body politic. And they use
our presence in their lands as an effective propaganda tool to preach that America is out to destroy Islam.
Our policy relies on someday having a stable, honest, moderate, effective central government in Afghanistan. To bring that about we are working with Karzai, a brutal, corrupt, thieving scoundrel. His aim is to amass a fortune from American aid funds, and jump ship to the French Riviera or some like. Obama and his team have been so
intimidated by fears that the extreme right will blame them for defeat in Afghanistan that they are continuing to compound the damage of our inevitable retreat by surging troops and pouring in more treasure.
The lessons of Vietnam have been forgotten. We cannot defeat an indigenous insurgency in a far-off primitive theatre unless the native population is with us.
We are seen as foreign invaders who are bringing death and destruction to the civilian population in our wake.

In Defiance of Logic

2010-07-25T17:53:00.001-07:00

The Bush tax cuts will be expiring soon. That is causing panic in the ranks of
the wealthy, and the foes of Big Government. Those are the very same people who
are also in a lather about the enormous national debt, the cosmic sized annual
deficits, and the economic drag resulting from interest payments on the debt which
make up one of the very largest non-discetionary portion of our annual budget.
Strangely, they seem to be blind to the contradictions in their positions.

The tax cuts were intended to stimulate employment and economic activity. There is plenty of evidence they did not serve those purposes. Job growth during the decade the
tax cuts were in effect was anemic at best, and any increased activity was based on bubbles and the creation of phony assets. We are now paying a severe price for
a failed policy. Even if we shrink the government significantly by cutting many
services the citizens have come to value, we can't shrink the interest we must pay.
Nor can we dodge the huge costs of wars on two fronts, and a bloated military.

If the tax cuts for the affluent are extended we will further starve government revenue and be forced to compensate by more deficit spending. That will mean more
heartburn for the deficit hawks. Why can't they see the connection?

Is it idealogical blindness?

Buried treasure

2010-07-19T17:55:00.000-07:00

The latest financial reports of major companies reveal that many have enjoyed robust
earnings and accumulated large hoards of cash. It would seem logical that they would
put that cash to work, in the classic capitalistic fashion, to expand their ventures,
increase their market share, and earn greater returns for their stockholders. Such
reinvestment would create jobs in the private sector, which in turn increase demand--
all good for business. But this has not happened. It would be useful to learn why.

We can assume there exists a substantial lack of confidence in the fiscal policy of
the government, particularly as to taxes and deficit spending. The size of our
trade and budget deficits threaten the value of the dollar as the medium of exchange in international finance.
The continuing crisis in the real estate markets has eroded the asset base which supported our consumption based economy. Our failure as a nation to address our
reliance on imported petroleum bloats our deficit, further devaluing the dollar. Add to the above a dysfunctional Congress which cannot meaningfully address any of
these problems, and they all appear to explain the corporate decisions to hoard cash
and not hire. In the immediate future this might seem logical. In the long term this
policy is a recipe for extinction. Other developed countries will not sit on their
hands, or cash. They will capture our markets, domestic and foreign, and we will stagnate.
Where are the vaunted American enterprise, ingenuity, and boldness of yore when we desperately need them? Where is the leader who can inspire and motivate our business leaders to innovate and accept risk to seek reward? Our greatest danger may come from
playing it safe.

For whom the bell tolls..

2010-07-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

How does one say a permanent farewell to a beloved adult son who
is departing in the prime of life? What hurts the most? What memories rise to comfort
a parent? What can bring understanding, if not acceptance, to an adoring wife?

Confronting these puzzling and troubling questions helps me understand the faith in
the deity which supports those who mourn the death of loved ones, even if I
do not share that faith.
I have always believed that by our behavior and principles we can act divinely. It is within us, by the nobility of will, not in some mysterious godlike power.
So, in grieving the death of my younger son David I will test my faith in my humanity. I will keep him with me, with all the memories, and he will for me
be eternal.

Watch out, here comes an intellectual.

2010-07-10T17:51:00.000-07:00

We have come to the point, in our campaigns, where candidates for elected office believe they have to play dumb to be elected. The campaign commercials running
reflect the most elementary reasons for choosing a candidate, and usually negative
information about the opponents character and positions. Discussion about the nation's problems is kept to simple terms, all black and white, so the voting public can avoid thinking and vote by emotion or party loyalty. Digging deep you will
discover that most candidates are more intelligent than represented by their campaign, but in the prevailing political mood intellect frightens many potential voters. The simplistic, jingoistic Sarah Palin/Tea Party philosophy has so intimidated politicians that they feel compelled to echo it, even if aware of how
empty it is.

I could name several candidates for national office who have achieved brilliant
records in academe, and in public office, who are playing down or concealing their
achievements. I won't because revealing them may impair their election chances.
How sad! If ever we needed the Best and Brightest, now is the time. Let them rise
above ambition and teach while campaigning instead of joining the howling pack!

Playing with fire!

2010-07-05T18:54:00.000-07:00

Each day I encounter propaganda, from left and right, which makes me think common
sense and reason are rapidly disappearing commodities in human behavior. The political temperature has risen to fever level and the
space between left and right in America
has become a chasm which could become unbridgeable. It may lead to violent confrontations between factions who harbor powerful emotional but erroneous opinions which they are convinced are facts. Those convictions are reinforced by
contrary opinions from LIBERALS, or TEA PARTIERS, or CONSERVATIVES, or RACISTS.

The PROTOCALS OF ZION were ancient forgeries created to stir up violent anti-Jewish
attitudes. They were long ago and time and again proven false, but every year they
appear, as truth, in some anti-semetic tract or speech and are believed by millions.
Today forgeries of TV clips, or media articles are becoming common in the anti-Obama crowd. This morning I saw an NBC video purportedly showing President Obama admitting,
in a speech to journalists that he was not born in the U.S. and is not eligible to be President. When the opposition stoops to lies and forgeries where are we headed?
Is some sick political ploy worth surrendering our nation's integrity and credibility? STOP, think, weigh the consequences of dishonest debate to our
vaunted democracy! It is too high a price!

Hold back the tide!

2010-07-01T17:24:00.000-07:00

Immigration reform is now on the national stage, and as ever is the subject of more
rancor and partisan conflict than any of the other big legislative initiatives, including universal health insurance.
With thousands of miles of land border and coastline we can no better control the flow of immigrants than we can order the tides to stop.
The cycle of invasion by illegals parallels the state of the world economy. When ours is booming we are a magnet for the poor in other lands. Our entrepreneurs will
welcome, even assist, migrants to fill mostly laboring jobs. That labor enjoys no
protective labor and minimum wage laws. Most are paid in cash, the bulk of which they remit to families back in their home countries. Many are exploited
by substandard housing and living conditions. But there are some who are well treated. Some have taxes deducted from their wages even though they will never receive Social Security benefits.
Because of their illegal status they drive cars without driver licences or insurance.
If they are injured or ill, they use public hospital emergency services without payment.
If our economy slows, the tide reverses and they flow back to their home country.

The American people must recognize the vital contributions the illegals make to our economy and take measures to rationalize the flow and their status. We also need to take better control of our borders, recognizing that, at best we can only divert some areas of the tide. Let us do that in a rational and merciful manner. Provide
an opportunity for illegals to become legal and eventually citizens. If we manage our borders by temporary work permits, with employer cooperation, they and we can benefit from their labor while treating them humanely and respectfully.
We will be a nobler people for it.