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Newest Blog Entries:
FROST/NIXON
“Frost Nixon” is the film you should see. If you are interested in history you will see the dramatization of an incredible interview. It is important as it will set the stage for your further exploration. Those who study the past have a great insight as to the present and a window to the future. If the present Bush/Cheney administration had paid attention to past they could have avoided many tragic errors of judgement. The neocon cabal who influenced them so much obviously had neither studied nor understood the lessons of history. Those who had any knowledge were so obsessed with hubris as to make imperialism their mantra. The Time of Troubles for America started with the assassinations of Jack Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy. Hope was replaced with a fear that we were left without leadership we could trust. The Vietnam War was tearing the country apart. The Radical Left in the form of the Yippies conspired to disrupt the Democratic Convention. Thru public fear of those riots in Chicago we got the Nixon Presidency. It has been downhill ever since. I have also included two recent articles from which will expand on the treachery of our leaders. They are “Parry on LBJ’s ‘Traitor’ Tapes” [Video] and Parry’s “Henry Kissinger: Eminence Noire”. As you read these articles you will perceive the continuation of our betrayal as shown in “Frost Nixon”. In pursuing this film and these articles I am sure you feel, as have I, rage, sickness, concern that we have been part of such activities by our leaders whom, after all, we elected and put in office. Since 1968 it has been downhill. Our politicians have so co-opted the media that we rarely get the straight or full story on the items of real concern to us. Without the internet we would truly be in the dark. We have allowed entertainment to dominate the news. In the transparency of full disclosure as to my credentials: I was friendly with the Shah of Iran and still with his sister Achraf. Worked with King Hussein of Jordan as the re-construction of the Hejaz RR while advising Sen. John F. Kennedy. Unsuccessfully pleaded with Mayor Richard Daley to give the Yippies the parade permits and the park sleeping privileges during the Democratic Convention to avoid their confrontation with the police. Was interviewed by David Frost in May of 1971 on HAIR'S 3rd Anniversary. Awhile back saw him again at 'Highgrove' house party of Prince Charles. After the Kent State Massacre was asked to the White House to explain the youth attitude toward the administration. I explained that the kids felt Nixon was part of the Mafia. As heroin was more available in the playgrounds than grass. Was listed twice in the Nixon enemies list at Los Angeles and Oak Brook.Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, December 28, 2008
Alexander Hamilton’s Advice To The Obama Administration
The last posting of Dr. Khalsa before he retired his excellent blog was this article by Thom Hartmann. There is much to learn from these words. Hartmann refreshes our memories of those great words of Alexander Hamilton. What made this country so great was the continuation of Agriculture while we built an Industrial powerhouse. The great strength of America came from its manufacturing, not its financial world. Capital knows no loyalty so it needs enticement. Government assistance is needed in the beginning. It is also needed continuously to see that the markets do not become so degraded in greed that we would find ourselves in the current situation. Make things not money. Money should be the reward of a good job well done.The father of HenryVIII created the philosophy which Hamiltion espouses. That approach was what made Britain the great colossus of the world. We used duties/tariffs to protect emerging industries. Later they were protecting the labor class from being despoiled by foreign wages. Use of market forces to encourage a constant increase of quality has not been proven very good in the case of the automotive industry. That should not mean that government can guarantee quality but should do all possible to negate arrogance from management. Innovation or invention from other countries should not be prohibited but promoted. A prime example compare the transportation situation in most parts of the world against America where government first assisted railroads and later built the highway system. One might opin that was overkill but compare our situation with Africa. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, December 21, 2008
Capitalistic Fools by Joseph E. Stiglitz
Recently I posted this article in MB CIVIC. It originated in Vanity Fair. That publication is blessed with a great Editor, Grayson Carter. While it is noted as a celebrity publication some of the best social commentary available often appears within its covers. I repeat posting the Stiglitz article because it answers some questions which are asked very often. It is so important that we recognize what actions brought our economic world to such terrible straits. This article does not directly propose solutions to our current dilemmas however it does gives us a historical record. Unfortunately too many of our politicians tend to ignore that the future is often mirrored in the past. I doubt if many of our recent politicians have majored or even studied history. That discrepancy is costing us dear. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, December 14, 2008
The Consortiumnews.com | The Significance of Nixon’s ‘Treason’
This article appeared recently in MB CIVIC. I repeat because of it's importance in its face words. More important is its prime example of a tragic malfeasance which has permeated much of our government from Nixon on. The beginnings of the Dark Age in America starts in this period beginning with 1968. Unless we can correct this problem we will never know again the trust we used to have in our governments. Since Eisenhower's warning of the emerging Military Industrial Complex, Jack Kennedy's, King's and Bobbie's assassinations and the emergence of Nixon as President, America has been in a downward spiral. Communication both transparent and truthful is the only cure for this problem. Americans deserve the straight story. Americans are strong enough for anything as long as they can believe it. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Five Minutes of Pure Bliss
Ian sent this and it made my day a lot happier. The news was so bad about unemployment we needed an uptick. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, December 6, 2008
AlterNet: Finding the Best, Local Food Near You Just Got Easier
This has been around for awhile. I lost it. I just found it again. I think it is an article giving information very appropriate to the emerging lifestyle we are experiencing. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, November 29, 2008
The Non-Profit Crunch | ACTIVartIST | Benjamin Quinto
You may recall I was very active with the UN when they were trying to put together the UN Youth Assembly. See http://www.michaelbutler.com/orlok/michael/uthant.html for the full story. Due to this involvement as their principle fund raiser I appeared on the screen when Benjamin Quinto was seeking out those involved. He tracked me down as he was starting on his quest to found the Global Youth Action Network (GYAN). Since then I have had the pleasure and honor of getting to know Benjamin and serve on the GYAN Board of Directors. He has recently started a new pursuit of doing great work in activism. He is someone worthwhile to follow as he departs on this new path. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Sunday, November 23, 2008
How the US can learn to survive and thrive, by Hubert Védrine
This is a great review of a very interesting book. It outlines aa positive approach to our climbing out of the abyss into which the last two terms have plunged us. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Monday, November 17, 2008
Change *We* Can Believe In
Perhaps a bit of history however let us recall where we were at not so long ago. Let us hope he does not forget where we came from. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, November 13, 2008
Obama’s Little Red Book: Is redistribution really all that bad? – ICH
I will not apologize for my current barrage of economic news. It is simply too important to ignore. We are in a perilous situation which will not respond to the system we following since Nixon. I tell all my rich friends, In HAIR I wanted to create a dialogue between generations. I wanted to explain to the elite (the theatre audience) what the young felt and sensed. I felt matters were so polarized that we were near a revolution. Remember the Civil War was the most terrible war in our history. I feel that nowadays the current probability of great disruption is more dangerous than the end of the 60's. You must recognize, my rich friends, that we are outnumbered 1000's to 1. The only solution is to raise all boats. Otherwise we sink with all. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Monday, November 3, 2008
Reversal of Fortune: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com
In the heavy duty publications which we read nowadays economics are usually covered by pronouncements so obtuse that they bring to mind the unlamented former head of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan. Vanity Fair is a publication which has a reputation of being a glossy celebrity rag. This tag comes from those who have not really studied the magazine. It always has some very serious political and social articles. In addition it has an Editor, Graydon Carter whose editorials are worth the publication. Now Joseph E. Stiglitz, a noted economist from Columbia University, has weighed in with a profound article about our current financial predicament. 'Current' may be a misnomer. One wonders whether we should not consider this crisis permanent or at least extended. In this article not only is there the obligatory litany of who made this happen but simple explanations of what happened. Most important Stiglitz has laid out some programs which deserve serious consideration. Thus we are not only left with gloom and doom but we are presented with some ideas well worth our time of study. Being an optimist this article impresses me. It is a great example of what we need to read more often. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Saturday, November 1, 2008
Virtual JFK: The 44th President’s Foreign Policy Challenge
This is one of the most levelheaded, in depth articles one can read about Peace and War. It emphasizes the importance of the most critical decisions which we will be called upon to make in the coming election. It sure bring backs some memories. It posits a simulated situation which we are actually facing. I urge you to read this. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, October 30, 2008
American Fascists by Chris Hedges (The Christian Right and the War on America)
George Milman, consigliare and one of our astute Editors kept insisting that I read "American Fascists" When I finely succumbed it almost created nightmares. A tome for serious thought, one thinks it cannot happen here but it can. This movement has a long lead time of preparation. To counter its siren sounds is going to take serious work. It will notgive in easily nor shortly. It is frightening when he deals with the number of politicians who are committed to support this movement. I include an excellent review: By Preston C. Enright (Denver, CO United States) Hedges does a great job of exposing how the Christian Right serves fascism - fascism defined as the marriage of corporate power and the government, along with beligerent nationalism and the utilization of state violence. There's no better example of that marriage than our massive military industrial complex and the growing prison industrial complex. It can be difficult to get normal, healthy human beings to support invasions, overthrows, economic injustice and global class war; but when people like Pat Robertson and James Dobson are there to put a smiley, pious face on it, then "good" Americans will rally behind the cause of Christo-fascism.. Not surprisingly, the high priests of Christo-fascism, people like Michael Medved, Hugh Hewitt, Dennis Prager and others spend countless hours on this nation's airwaves to rally the troops. Oftentimes accusing our victims of the sort of terror and plans for world domination that our masters of war have been implementing for generations. That's one aspect of this pseudo-Christian movement Hedges should've spent more time on, the role of right-wing talk radio to misinform an intellectually vulnerable segment of the US population. Then again, there are those who simply want to be deceived, since they are the ones who have been pulling the triggers on the Apache attack helicopters and the .50 caliber machine guns. As Sinclair Lewis said, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross."Posted by Michael Butler, Monday, October 20, 2008
Op-Chart – Bulls, Bears, Donkeys and Elephants – NYTimes.com
This is an incredibly interesting graph which shows the comparison between the Democratic and Republican administrations in delivering good economic results to our country. Recall that the Republican administrations have claimed to be better stewards of our economy. Judge for yourself. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Friday, October 17, 2008
The Delusion Revolution: We’re on the Road to Extinction and in Denial
This is an incredibly important article on the more extreme aspects of our world situation. It covers the consumption of the worlds resources while we ignore the clear road signs of where we are headed. In many way it posits that democracy, as we profess it, is not workable in such large national units. Predatory structures political, capitalistic, ecological, cultural and spiritual are predominate. As the poor so outnumber the wealthy terrorism becomes an easy way to try to equalize the frustrations of being impotent. Why not? to the majority there is a feeling of no future. Cancerous growth in so many forms of nations, corporations and systems ignore the basic tribal structures which bring cohesion to clans and families. First step is peace not war. We have too many conflicts with our human problems to be fighting amongst ourselves. Make the current time of our lives worthwhile. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Monday, October 6, 2008
Op-Ed Columnist – McCain’s Suspension Bridge to Nowhere – Op-Ed – NYTimes.com
This article was posted in MB CIVIC. In deserves a second look. Reading this is really alarming in showing a very weird side of John MCain. I can think with a possibility of players such as John McCain and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in command we are in for a wild ride which could not be more perilous. And there some other wild people around. None as frightening as the aforementioned pair. MBPosted by Michael Butler, Thursday, October 2, 2008
