Truthdig – The Real Legacy of the ‘Reagan Revolution’

Robert Scheer covers a lot of ground in this article. I always liked the Reagan's socially and I continue to admire her. His politics were deplorable. Anyone who followed his governorship of California could attest to that. We were horrified when he was elected. More so when he gained the White House. Now comes along Gramm who riding on Reagan's coats and Clinton's acquiescence emasculated the major act of protection from what my grandfather used to call, "those damn eastern bankers". Killing the Glass Act just allowed a return to the perils felt by the Great Depression. Look where we are today due to that protection ebing removed. Further Scheer points to the Gramm/Enron connection. He goes beyond to point out the teaming of McCain and Gramm for economic consul. This is a setup which could make the Keating scandals of McCain a minor act. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, August 31, 2008

AlterNet: How Do We Go from Empire to Earth Community?

This is a rather extreme dissertation. However it is very hard to find fault with what he says. For sure the corporate dominion of world politics is a fact. It is a tragedy when current capitalism theory is paramount for short term, current results. Most sound business structures do better in the long term while the short term is counter to nature. Education is the only answer to help raise all boats. Media has done a horrible job of truly educating the public to issues of importance. To service the short term demands for profit entertainment helps the bottom line. Media takes the dumb down method of reporting. The middle class, the bed rock of sound policies, has been decimated and is under such pressure help will not come from them. If we don't slow this growth of empire in favor of saving the nature of our planet we will see our lifestyle truly endangered. Not matter what - forever changes. Get ready and don't give into fear, It could be, it will be exciting. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Russian Empire Strikes Back — Printout — TIME

This is one of the most realistic articles I have read about the Georgian conflict. Marylouise Sillman (who sent this piece from TIME) and I share a fascination for the Central Asian theatre. And theatre it is, with every possible point of view spanning centuries of struggle by outsiders to conquer, control or at least dominate the area. Alexander the Great, Ghengis Khan, Tamerlane, British, Russians, Germans have all had a crack at it. Some lesser characters have flitted in and out of the scene. Pakistan has been very active trying to control Afghanistan and has made a real mess of it, possibly to its own security. One has always wondered when the Chinese would really start making some major plays besides Tibet. So into this incredible stew of conflicting histories and present interests comes the Bush Administration. Compared to the mess in Iraq the long range dangers in Central Asia are frightening. Bush, Cheney and Rice have proven more incompetent than one could imagine. They have assumed they could outsmart all the others who have preceded them. Pursuing short term results has been a serious mistake. To have armed the Afghans against the Russians was followed by the present administration ignoring the long term responsibilities we had incurred. We just walked away and left that part of the world in chaos. Then to really mess things up we have not done a good job of removing the Taliban. The priority should have been not Iraq but Afghanistan conquered and then properly helped to overcome decades of war. Not only good polcy for America but for the world against terrorism. We certainly had the sympathy and support of most of the world, including Russia. It would have been a great opportunity to work together with Russia. To have common cause with Russia would have great benefits to both countries. Not so much the governments but the people of both countries would have great success working together. This world has too many serious challenges for us to ignore a chance to have a partner as substantial as Russia. MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, August 15, 2008

Putting the “Federal” Back in the Federal Reserve

Like many of us I have been besieged for years about the Federal Reserve. Always as a conspiracy and usually coupled with other conspiracy theories. Finally in this short article I have been clearly educated as the what is the background of the Federal Reserve. Knowing how important the 'Fed' is to our economic situation in today's tough times this article has clarified a lot. Make your own judgments. I will, now knowing a bit more in the clarity of this writing, recall my beloved grandfather saying, "those damn eastern bankers". MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Sunday, August 10, 2008

AlterNet: The Heart of the Economic Mess

Robert Reich is always a delight to read or listen to on NPR. He cuts to the chase. He simplifies issues of great importance. He has followed true to form in this article. You know in my home town, Chicago, Marshall Field built an empire on the words, "give the customers what they want" Well he was assuming the customers were there. Where are they now? Disappearing fast as the middle and upper lower class of clients are under great pressure. Reaganomics are not trickling down. They are trickling up. In their greed for the fast buck the capitalists in this country are "killing the goose that lays the golden egg". The system promoted by the financial world and supported by our politicians is not "lifting all boats". The current, growing gulf between the rich and poor is 'lifting all yachts'. Rescues are floated for the banks and financial houses which with the concurrence of their bought politicians have saved their situations. They are forgetting that without the public sharing in the loot people to buy their goods and services will not be around. Stupid, by any standard is not "giving the lady what she wants". MB
Posted by Michael Butler, Monday, August 4, 2008

YouTube – Space Based Solar Power – Alternative Energy Solution

Howard Bloom Howardbloom.net The Goal--To Save The World By Changing Its Perceptions. www.scientificblogging.com/howard_bloom/ Author of: The Lucifer Principle: A Scientific Expedition Into the Forces of History ("mesmerizing"-The Washington Post), Global Brain: The Evolution of Mass Mind From The Big Bang to the 21st Century ("reassuring and sobering"-The New Yorker), and How I Accidentally Started The Sixties ("a monumental, epic, glorious literary achievement." Timothy Leary). Former Core Faculty Member, The Graduate Institute; Former Visiting Scholar-Graduate Psychology Department, New York University Founder: International Paleopsychology Project; founder, Space Development Steering Committee; Founding Board Member: Epic of Evolution Society; Founding Board Member, The Darwin Project; Member Of Board Of Governors, National Space Society; Founder: The Big Bang Tango Media Lab; Chairman of the Advisory Board, Asian Global Summit; member: New York Academy of Sciences, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Psychological Society, Academy of Political Science, Human Behavior and Evolution Society, International Society for Human Ethology, Scientific Advisory Board Member, Lifeboat Foundation.
Posted by Michael Butler, Friday, August 1, 2008