What is the reason for and purpose of trade agreements?The latest proposed is the TPPand it is enveloped in secrecy.The proponents are big corporations and the countries involved,including Obama, who criticized and spoke against NAFTA and trade agreements in general before and early in his presidency.Why the change and why the secrecy?
World economic leaders,whether we want to admit it or not,want world wide economic stability.There are periodic unpublicized meetings during the year where this is discussed.The Bilderberg Group's meeting is one of these.This meeting is influential enough to be attended by most world leaders,including Obama.Secrecy prevails,so we don't know exactly what is said or decided,but rumor has it that what is decided,happens.I happen to think that there is a world plan by these leaders and every part is not revealed.Trade agreements like TPP may be part of this plan and that may explain the secrecy.It may simply be more corporate control,which is pretty much the same thing.
Anyway,the end purpose of trade agreements is to equalize countries in production and trade areas.The problem is that equalization will always be at our expense.We should want to pospone that as long as possible.
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Friday, December 13, 2013
Conservative Dream
The conservative dream is to get federal government out of our lives.What do they mean?It seems to me that they want everything to be privatized or transferred to the states.Get rid of all federal government jobs and programs. They want most of them farmed out to private industry;still payed for with tax money,but the work done by the private sector(mostly big corporations like Haliburton).Conservatives want to keep their legislative government jobs,but eliminate all others.Why?Because we the people have some control over government,none over the private sector.Government jobs pay a living wage with benefits.They don't want that.The private sector will eliminate all employee benefits,pay as little- well,operate like Walmart,or worse, if they can.Imagine a Walmart controlling everything.That's the conservative dream If successful,that's the new American dream!
Friday, October 4, 2013
Shutdown
If the federal government is shut down,what is left?State government?Great!There are myriads of programs,laws,regulations,etc.that are implemented only by or contingent with the federal government.What happens to those?States rights advocates are only concerned with limited areas and issues,blind to the big picture.
The fact is that state government should be limited.Laws that apply or can apply to the majority of the people should be uniform,state to state;the same with policies.We would have much less government if states were uniform wherever possible.
We should not be advocating smaller federal government.We are 50 states,not 50 countries.We duplicate to the extreme with minor unnecessary differences from state to state.Individual states can hold us all hostage.If one state goes bankrupt we all suffer.It shouldn't be.How can one state have law different from the rest of the country?That is ridiculous.The whole system is ridiculous.
Federal government should be primary.State government should be minimal. We are one country.Let's act like it.Let's be a country of United states.That was the original and right intent.
We will eventually have universal health care;it's inevitable and necessary and right.Someday we will also equalize opportunity.A bigger central government can make it easier to achieve.Someday we will quit bolstering the self-appointed privileged and practice what we preach.Why can't we learn that strength in numbers supercedes strength in dollars unless we allow it to be otherwise.
And congress allows the federal government to shut down.What a disaster.We can't survive very long without.Perhaps the anti-government advocates will be able to see that. I hope so.
The fact is that state government should be limited.Laws that apply or can apply to the majority of the people should be uniform,state to state;the same with policies.We would have much less government if states were uniform wherever possible.
We should not be advocating smaller federal government.We are 50 states,not 50 countries.We duplicate to the extreme with minor unnecessary differences from state to state.Individual states can hold us all hostage.If one state goes bankrupt we all suffer.It shouldn't be.How can one state have law different from the rest of the country?That is ridiculous.The whole system is ridiculous.
Federal government should be primary.State government should be minimal. We are one country.Let's act like it.Let's be a country of United states.That was the original and right intent.
We will eventually have universal health care;it's inevitable and necessary and right.Someday we will also equalize opportunity.A bigger central government can make it easier to achieve.Someday we will quit bolstering the self-appointed privileged and practice what we preach.Why can't we learn that strength in numbers supercedes strength in dollars unless we allow it to be otherwise.
And congress allows the federal government to shut down.What a disaster.We can't survive very long without.Perhaps the anti-government advocates will be able to see that. I hope so.
Monday, September 2, 2013
What?
The consoling phrase:'and this too shall pass',also applies to pleasant things that don't require consolation.
State Fair
Syria-Red Line
Syria:How did we get to where we are?What happens now?What should we do?We should let their civil war play out(as we have in most,other than places that have a material interest,it seems).
Obama,obviously,made a mistake with his red line;but everyone has done that at some time or another.If it's a mistake,it must be retracted.Most of us have done that also.Obama's was a mistake,but what are the ramifications.The evidence that Al Assad crossed that line is either irrefutable or they're afraid that it could be;because it's not logical that Al Assad would purposely challenge the US..What would he have to gain?To show that we are not serious?Why that gamble?No,it's much more logical that the rebels or Al Quaida made it look like Al Assad had crossed the line.It would be beneficial to them;so the evidence must appear to be irrefutable.
But either way,the red line means nothing.As I said,,we have all experienced the line and retraction.If you feel that you must draw a line,do it in pencil.
We can't act on it.There are a few pertinent asides that should be mentioned.As displayed in Iraq ,etc.,the fact collecting agencies are less than effective and the news media are notoriously inaccurate in reports.Reporters have trouble with the basics,even locations.I've worked with chemical agents,including nerve agents.Disseminated reports about these weapons have been filled with inaccuracies.I'm not convinced that we ,the public,have been given anywhere near a factual account,in any area.I do know that what we have been given does not justify a military attack,not even close;even if the legality can be determined.
We've been labelled imperialists;why must we keep substantiating that label.
Obama,obviously,made a mistake with his red line;but everyone has done that at some time or another.If it's a mistake,it must be retracted.Most of us have done that also.Obama's was a mistake,but what are the ramifications.The evidence that Al Assad crossed that line is either irrefutable or they're afraid that it could be;because it's not logical that Al Assad would purposely challenge the US..What would he have to gain?To show that we are not serious?Why that gamble?No,it's much more logical that the rebels or Al Quaida made it look like Al Assad had crossed the line.It would be beneficial to them;so the evidence must appear to be irrefutable.
But either way,the red line means nothing.As I said,,we have all experienced the line and retraction.If you feel that you must draw a line,do it in pencil.
We can't act on it.There are a few pertinent asides that should be mentioned.As displayed in Iraq ,etc.,the fact collecting agencies are less than effective and the news media are notoriously inaccurate in reports.Reporters have trouble with the basics,even locations.I've worked with chemical agents,including nerve agents.Disseminated reports about these weapons have been filled with inaccuracies.I'm not convinced that we ,the public,have been given anywhere near a factual account,in any area.I do know that what we have been given does not justify a military attack,not even close;even if the legality can be determined.
We've been labelled imperialists;why must we keep substantiating that label.
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Euphemisms
Egypt's military regime is justifying it's aggression against Morsi supporters by labeling them terroristss;sound familiar? I think that most intelligent people have accepted the take-over as a coup;it's pretty hard find acceptable euphemisms for coup.But terrorists is an even bigger stretch.That's a US tactic.War on terrorism-label anyone that you want to get rid of ,a terrorist.Euphemisms come in handy.Manning &Snowden are treasonists;whistleblower or leaker of any kind,just isn't strong enough.Find an extreme enough euphemism and anything can be justified!
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