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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. MB
Monday, October 6, 2008
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Friday, September 26, 2008
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It is not hard for me to decide which is more important - the free press or eduction. As the media is the most obvious source of current information I would have vote for the free press. As America keeps being converted from democracy to state capitalism we need information - truthful information - to ward off the ever increasing fascism of corporatism. Which came first, acquisitions, censorship, short term profit. Acquisitions of most sources of media by corporate conglomerates has bee accelerated since the 60's when the establishment became threatened by the movement of peace and love. This attack against media independence was supported by all administrations whether Democrat or Republican. Nowadays you even have Murdoch acquiring MySpace and Microsoft after Yahoo so you have internet under siege. Sam Zell acquires the Tribune Company with its multiple papers and TV to improve its short term profitability. That is not just one outlet going down but several and in very important cities. Censorship, particularly in military matters, is practiced by the Pentagon. Not just in security items. When did you last see a picture of death or violence amongst our troops or even coffins arriving at Dover air base. Major media will not admit it was wrong in selling the war to us. How are we going to get the straight stories as to what is happening. How are we going to be given the truth. The Internet is our major hope. With that in mind remember that Moyers mentions SaveTheInternet.com. MB
Sunday, September 14, 2008
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Ponzi had nothing on these guys - the present benefactors of our current financial system - Only bankers and financiers who concentrate on making money with money - not making things to make money. The acronym FIRE (Finance Insurance Real Estate) overcomes labor, production or consumption. In foreign affairs the promotion of
kleptocracies to expand this US imperial system of dollar dominance in as many countries as possible. The bellwether was the emasculation of the Glass-Steagall Act by Clinton and Rubin. This should have signaled that the financiers buy-off of the politicos. Congress could have cared less as long as the cash kept coming in to their campaigns. Very cheap price for what the financiers got out of it. MB
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
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"Delusions of grandeur, insecurities and greed" are a summation, by Robert Scheer, of the drives behind our imperial hubris. This great book by a serious author of our political scene really emphasis our pornography. Scheer quotes Washington's and Eisenhower's final addresses. Both should have been taken seriously. Those remarks should be required reading. Two of our greatest military chieftains have sounded the same tocsin.The false premises upon which most of our imperial adventures have been based. Greed has been the mantra of our current administration. Wanting it all for us. The rest of the world go hang. A total waste of resources which are not infinite. Actions based on false premises sold to an unsuspecting and ill-informed public. Totally ignoring that peace and prosperity go hand-in-hand. We must get out of the empire business. If we do not I guarantee the sunset of the American dream. MB
Thursday, September 4, 2008
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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
Sunday, August 31, 2008
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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
Thursday, August 21, 2008
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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
Friday, August 15, 2008
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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
Sunday, August 10, 2008
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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
Monday, August 4, 2008
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Charles Kaiser, an observant friend with a good memory, does recall the whistle blowing by the late, un-lamented NY Governor Spitzer. The Governor wrote an OpeEd piece where he advised that he and dozens of states Attorney Generals moved to protect the public from the rapacious programs of the mortgage and banking communities. Their plans were squelched by the Bush administration. Of course, we the people, are paying for this fraud. So did Spitzer who, in a J.Edgar Hoover type sting, was caught in a sexual scandal. Timing could not have been better for the Bush DOJ.
Let us not forget Greenspan's part in this whole inexcusable bubble.
I didn't want to just pillory Bush & Co. This could not have happened if Clinton had not supervised the emasculation of the Glass-Steagall Act. This act had separated the banking and securities industries. It came from the excesses of the Great Depression in keeping the commercial banks out of securities thus protecting depositors and the financial markets.
An interesting side was the culpability of Senator Gramm who is now prime economic adviser to McCain. My, all sides of the money taking, lobby subservient public servants were on the take. MB
Friday, July 25, 2008
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"The Great Game", as it was/is called, pertained to the competition over the control of Central Asia. Primarily this diplomatic and military contest was fought by Britain and Russia. The Germans made a few forays into the fray but never really scored. They did have a very bizarre period during the Nazi Reich when Himmler (head of the SS) pursued the Tibetans and the Afghans to prove that the Aryans from that area were the ancestors of the Germans. The Americans came on the scene very late not until the end of the 1900's. They interposed the CIA into an area where they had little expertise nor historical knowledge. The other players had been at 'the game' for a couple of hundred years. Naturally we really messed up and have continued to do so until the messes we are in today. For those who are interested in this fascinating subject the attached article will give you some insight into the complex scene. Some interesting recent books are mentioned and slightly reviewed. My advice is get a copy of "Tournament of Shadow" reviewed on MB CIVIC some years back. This fascinating volume will give you a base for further exploration.
It is important to understand something of this scene which is the world's most dangerous playground. MB
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
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Now the 'War on Drugs' is moving into new territory. This new plan for Mexico will mirror the Columbian situation which goes from bad to worse. Of course it gives USA more control. It is very profitable for the MIC (Military Industrial Complex). It will help the prison business in both America and Mexico. The DEA will appreciate it's additional support for the narcs. We don't really know how beneficial it will be nowadays for the CIA. In the past that would be a consideration. Of course the drug lords will benefit. Everyone stands to make more money in pursuit of this hopeless objective.
The erstwhile War on Drugs s even more hopeless than the occupation of Iraq.
There is only one solution - decriminalize and spend the money on treatment. How may lives will be ruined through drugs, incarceration, and murder before our politicians wise up. Greed-simply too much money involved. It's not the source. It is the customer. MB
Thursday, July 3, 2008
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This is a serious, in depth, article about a major shift in American politics. This change has been going on for sometime. It is finally beginning to manifest itself. It also shows the dark side of of our civic scene. In this case it portrays that aspect of Richard Nixon and the cadres which followed his lead. It is obvious that the Republicans were/are much disciplined than the Democrats. The neo-cons and fundamentalists took over and emasculated and center or liberal side of the Republican Party.
Needless to say we must remember that Nixon would never have been elected had the Yippies not started those riots at the Democratic Convention in Chicago. I warned Mayor Daley. That is another story. MB
Monday, June 23, 2008
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Chalmers Johnson writes a great, detailed review of "Democracy, Inc." by Sheldon S. Wolin. This review is interesting enough to oblige me to order the book. I remain in hope that it may lay out some solutions to the depth of the serious problems which the American people need to address. This review will give a good view of the landscape. MB
Sunday, June 15, 2008
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Anyone who was around at that time and thereafter will attest to the reality of what happened at that time. A triple whammy JFK, MLK & RFK murdered. We were shattered-so much lost by the horror of those acts. Anger, vengeance existed but far worse was the sickness of heart which came over the nation.
I had abandoned a good chance for the US Senate to produce HAIR. I felt that it would give an ongoing platform to dialog between the generations-the young to the old. The country was in such turmoil those days. Never since the Civil War had America been so polarized. This came sharply home when the FBI warned Michael Gifford that I was targeted for assassination-planned for the HAIR birthday celebration at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Many thought we were going to have a revolution. The riots at Columbia added to the concern over violence.
The final act was the mayhem at the Democratic Convention in Chicago.
I have added a file from my Website Journal which tells that tale. MB
Monday, June 9, 2008
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Hi, well most of those who know me are aware that I have been in and out of the vege world for many years. Now I am beginning to go there again. There are so many reason. It is difficult to enumerate them. This article does a pretty good job. My transition to tofu is via buffalo burgers and salmon. MB
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
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