I've travelled the country over and have stayed occasionally at Shelters and/or eaten at Soup-kitchens in this city or that. I remember the most memorable I visited.
Soup-kitchens and Shelters I stayed at or ate at that to my mind are model exemplars to meet the needs of the indigent and poor
1. The shelter and soup-kitchen in Santa Barbara near the ocean and the row of hotels at the beach.
You can stay awhile if there's beds available. The mid-day meal is open to the community while breakfast and dinner are for the overnighters. Outstanding food and conviviality among the guests. You can't beat that place--if you can get in! They help you re-locate there, too. The ambience of the area is really untold, save that Michael Jackson had his fairy-tale home amid the area's woods and fields.
2. LA can boast of the dedication of such groups as the Catholic Worker and an outstanding drug addiction program and rehabilitation center that helps just about anybody in hell's kitchen in need (like I was years back). Downtown is inundated with the homeless but they're not out in the Hollywood Hills yet.
3. Honolulu's IHS system of shelters and soup-kitchens, though somewhat barebone are memorable. Occasionally, food from the fashionable part of town come down to the IHS property line. Notable--the people as guests you meet from around the world. What a joyful experience and not to be forgotten--or, at least most of your encounters with whom you meet. Social services helps to locate on the Islands, incidentally.
4. The senior center in downtown Raleigh, NC stands out, too. Its portions for a lunch were ok, but it's the vegetables and fruits you got to take home that is memorable. Nice people, too, despite class differences among the diners.
5. But for me, Miriam's Kitchen, exemplified in the leadership of the administrator Meg, is the epitome of what a soup-kitchen should be. It must exude hope and cheer (as should any shelter establishment dealing with the same clientele); and Meg makes sure her retinue of volunteers and interns from mostly George Washington University across the street are smiling with the message while attuned to the guests' requests. Even the servers are laughing and conversing, smiling with the crowd! The latter seem so innocent as to never experienced any hurt or poverty!
No, this crew could never be assembled without a watchful diligence by a woman (or, a man) imbued with a passion to ameliorate the conditions of urban life that have fostered a loneliness associated with homelessness and indigency.
All hail to the person at Miriam's Kitchen who inspires and encourages her followers to treat those in desperate need as one of the crew she directs--MEG!!!
And, of course the two full meals a day--M-F--are tasty treats, too! But that goes without my saying!
Tuesday, December 5, 2017
Monday, December 4, 2017
Why write poetry?
At Miriam's kitchen in DC (an eatery for the homeless and poor), I've dropped in upon occasion (when I have time or have nothing to do at that moment) on an on-going writing group that meets at one or two tables, about 5 people, in the morning after breakfast and continues on in the afternoon an hour before dinnertime. Most poetry these folks write seems really prose structured on paper to look like a poem. I've copied their "free-verse!"
Anyway, I'm developing a fascination for this type of poetry (such as it is). The class reads a poem selected by someone designated the class teacher, and everybody responds to the reading, as stimulation is wont upon them, by extending into their own mental worlds, pen in hand for a recording.
What flows hence is astounding: only by stretch of the imagination related to what they heard, but somehow found relevant by juxtaposition to a poetic rendition of something or other on a printed page.
Here are samples from my scribblings as responses to what I had heard just before I took
pen-in-hand.
1, Why Did It Happen?
There has to be a reason.
Events just don't occur.
You bake a cake the way you did because you followed a recipe.
The light flickers in a candle because the wind blew it.
The car bashed another because the latter was in the way of the former.
So, why do I love you?
For no reason; making up a reason would be silly. It's my hormones' at work in unpredictable fashion!
2. What Makes Me Interesting
I'm an interesting person. Yes, I am. I know you'll agree
--once you learn of my exploits in steering planets to a different course;
--hear of the ludicrous methods I've deployed to significantly increase my net worth;
--prove to women that I'm the real 'Casanova'; not some cheap snake-charmer! biting my victims with my own brand of love potion.
So, why do you find 'interesting?' Darling, remember: Be kind!
P.S. There's a class in creative painting at the same times morning and afternoon, that I could have joined.
3. An addition 3/12/2018. Just in recent sessions, we've come to discern that making poetry has a social effect: namely, it can be designed and offered to a non-discerning public as an uplifting, expressive art form. The readers of poetry, that is to say, can derive a spurt of uplift-shock that makes life more interesting and worthwhile. Nobody wants to read a poem that is depressing and un-inspiring but just about everybody welcomes the chance to absorb the nuances of a poem that makes us feel good about ourselves and our environment.
Anyway, I'm developing a fascination for this type of poetry (such as it is). The class reads a poem selected by someone designated the class teacher, and everybody responds to the reading, as stimulation is wont upon them, by extending into their own mental worlds, pen in hand for a recording.
What flows hence is astounding: only by stretch of the imagination related to what they heard, but somehow found relevant by juxtaposition to a poetic rendition of something or other on a printed page.
Here are samples from my scribblings as responses to what I had heard just before I took
pen-in-hand.
1, Why Did It Happen?
There has to be a reason.
Events just don't occur.
You bake a cake the way you did because you followed a recipe.
The light flickers in a candle because the wind blew it.
The car bashed another because the latter was in the way of the former.
So, why do I love you?
For no reason; making up a reason would be silly. It's my hormones' at work in unpredictable fashion!
2. What Makes Me Interesting
I'm an interesting person. Yes, I am. I know you'll agree
--once you learn of my exploits in steering planets to a different course;
--hear of the ludicrous methods I've deployed to significantly increase my net worth;
--prove to women that I'm the real 'Casanova'; not some cheap snake-charmer! biting my victims with my own brand of love potion.
So, why do you find 'interesting?' Darling, remember: Be kind!
P.S. There's a class in creative painting at the same times morning and afternoon, that I could have joined.
3. An addition 3/12/2018. Just in recent sessions, we've come to discern that making poetry has a social effect: namely, it can be designed and offered to a non-discerning public as an uplifting, expressive art form. The readers of poetry, that is to say, can derive a spurt of uplift-shock that makes life more interesting and worthwhile. Nobody wants to read a poem that is depressing and un-inspiring but just about everybody welcomes the chance to absorb the nuances of a poem that makes us feel good about ourselves and our environment.
Monday, October 16, 2017
Barcelona: lessons in becoming independent
In Russia, it was different: we had a bankrupt country to re-vitalize.
It's apparent that the country wishing independent status must rely on external help. I advocate the United Nations team that oversees elections.
The dominating nations and groups within the country will balk vigorously at a region seeking independence, e.g., the need for help from the outside. Even in the founding of the US outside help was influential: FRANCE.
There's no point for independence attempts to be tried, if there's little opportunity for success. Each nation that has membership status to UN should enable a region within its domain to go independent---perhaps to join some federation as the EU. Russia won't allow the Muslims independence in C, nor will Spain allow Barcelona to part company. Someone has to step in for the independent seeker!
It's apparent that the country wishing independent status must rely on external help. I advocate the United Nations team that oversees elections.
The dominating nations and groups within the country will balk vigorously at a region seeking independence, e.g., the need for help from the outside. Even in the founding of the US outside help was influential: FRANCE.
There's no point for independence attempts to be tried, if there's little opportunity for success. Each nation that has membership status to UN should enable a region within its domain to go independent---perhaps to join some federation as the EU. Russia won't allow the Muslims independence in C, nor will Spain allow Barcelona to part company. Someone has to step in for the independent seeker!
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
The Beat Goes on to Europe; Near East: Scotland, Kurdistan and Barcelona
I was involved in the crumbling of the Russian Empire and the establishment of the Russian Confederation in the late '80s. At the time, I could imagine that the movement to regional governments would take-off, because the several regions could free themselves from Russian domination to re-institute cultural individuality across what was once the Empire.
But I did not think it would take so long! I even dreamed of a movement toward regional governmental control sweeping the United States, causing new independence of the several 50 states; and reaching into China, freeing the many provinces to go their own ways, yet continuing cultural bridges throughout that great nation. Well, there has been no rush toward an independence of the several cultural and regional diversities as has happened in the former Soviet Union. Interestingly, the many former parts of that Empire have been approached recently by Putin, desirous of returning to the Empire structure, but he has not been able to find them enthusiastic to go back to the days of their Russian subjugation and domination. As the Chinese spread throughout Africa, we may see the local regions, e.g., in Kenya, break away to form their own version of Chinese culture in an African setting!
I applaud all the recent attempts toward an independence and freedom of regions seeking cultural identity for themselves. For, I have witnessed these past years the successful diversions that have occurred throughout the former Russian Empire, permitting each region to assert their own uniqueness amid the binding force nonetheless that keeps them together in a Federation of independent states.
And, I believe Scotland will make its way into a cultural inheritance of a people united and will ultimately join the EU as its own being. Could not the same thing happen, smoothly, in Spain--freeing the Catalans from Spanish rule since Philip V? And do not the Kurds who have so distinguished themselves in battle to unite an Iraqi government guarantee themselves the right to become independent and free as a Kurdish people?
For, reasons to join some national entity, not bearing the heritage of its subjects is simply outmoded, when independence of a people is socially and linearly bound.
In the same vein, I would applaud the southern states of the United States find their own heritage and historical identity independently of how the people in the New England States conduct their affairs, howbeit a lingering unity of mutual respect.
But I did not think it would take so long! I even dreamed of a movement toward regional governmental control sweeping the United States, causing new independence of the several 50 states; and reaching into China, freeing the many provinces to go their own ways, yet continuing cultural bridges throughout that great nation. Well, there has been no rush toward an independence of the several cultural and regional diversities as has happened in the former Soviet Union. Interestingly, the many former parts of that Empire have been approached recently by Putin, desirous of returning to the Empire structure, but he has not been able to find them enthusiastic to go back to the days of their Russian subjugation and domination. As the Chinese spread throughout Africa, we may see the local regions, e.g., in Kenya, break away to form their own version of Chinese culture in an African setting!
I applaud all the recent attempts toward an independence and freedom of regions seeking cultural identity for themselves. For, I have witnessed these past years the successful diversions that have occurred throughout the former Russian Empire, permitting each region to assert their own uniqueness amid the binding force nonetheless that keeps them together in a Federation of independent states.
And, I believe Scotland will make its way into a cultural inheritance of a people united and will ultimately join the EU as its own being. Could not the same thing happen, smoothly, in Spain--freeing the Catalans from Spanish rule since Philip V? And do not the Kurds who have so distinguished themselves in battle to unite an Iraqi government guarantee themselves the right to become independent and free as a Kurdish people?
For, reasons to join some national entity, not bearing the heritage of its subjects is simply outmoded, when independence of a people is socially and linearly bound.
In the same vein, I would applaud the southern states of the United States find their own heritage and historical identity independently of how the people in the New England States conduct their affairs, howbeit a lingering unity of mutual respect.
Wednesday, September 6, 2017
There's 'The Rule of Law' and there's 'Compassion!'
Republicans are wont to emphasize 'The Rule of Law' when discussing topics pertaining to what the law is. On the other hand, Democrats obviate the written law by appealing to how the law should be applied and understood. This is a very great rift between these two parties and pertains to how each party interprets the very Constitution of the country!
Indeed, I contend that both are principles equally to be relevant to matters of litigation. We all would agree that compassion should be applied to instances of motor vehicle accidents: determine whether the driver of a motor vehicle could be expected to anticipate the consequences of his driving when an accident occurred. The question of bringing in compassion when a murder has been committed is far less clear; and the judge may be expected to look for signs of being sorry in the demeanor of the murderer in determining sentence.
Even far less obvious is appeal to compassion when the law clearly states the sentence. For a time, recently, judges were required to pronounce sentence by the letter of the law admitting to no circumstantial extenuating circumstance, but I think that this harsh dictum has been changed back to enabling the judge in a case to decide on the basis of mitigating circumstances where relevant.
Now, in the instances of the many immigrants who entered the US with their parents, the do-called DACA cases, it would seem that the circumstances under which these immigrant children entered the country should be considered in determining the guilt of these children! But there are many Republicans who are swayed simply by what the law says not how a considerate judge would apply it under these particular circumstances. It is precisely that a judge, restricted to the letter of the law, is shown to be uncaring and impervious to how times change that makes the position of the 'letter of the law' Republicans absurd and inhumane.
Indeed, I contend that both are principles equally to be relevant to matters of litigation. We all would agree that compassion should be applied to instances of motor vehicle accidents: determine whether the driver of a motor vehicle could be expected to anticipate the consequences of his driving when an accident occurred. The question of bringing in compassion when a murder has been committed is far less clear; and the judge may be expected to look for signs of being sorry in the demeanor of the murderer in determining sentence.
Even far less obvious is appeal to compassion when the law clearly states the sentence. For a time, recently, judges were required to pronounce sentence by the letter of the law admitting to no circumstantial extenuating circumstance, but I think that this harsh dictum has been changed back to enabling the judge in a case to decide on the basis of mitigating circumstances where relevant.
Now, in the instances of the many immigrants who entered the US with their parents, the do-called DACA cases, it would seem that the circumstances under which these immigrant children entered the country should be considered in determining the guilt of these children! But there are many Republicans who are swayed simply by what the law says not how a considerate judge would apply it under these particular circumstances. It is precisely that a judge, restricted to the letter of the law, is shown to be uncaring and impervious to how times change that makes the position of the 'letter of the law' Republicans absurd and inhumane.
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
A Way to Back Out from the North Vietnam Confrontation
The US and most other nations in the United Nations are confronted with a dilemma: either they simply protest to North Vietnam about its armament program in current effect or issue further sanctions against it or WHAT?
Answer: GET CHINA'S GOAT!
China discerns that with the US backout from TPP, itts runaway from the South China Sea dispute over the Philippine claims for control, its obsession with Russia's persistence in Syria, and its disgust with NAFTA, the time is ripe for further conquest of land from Western dominated nations. Particularly, India.
India and China are arch-enemies. Currently, India is stealing American companies away from producing their products in China, since the latter not only produces the American goods but plagiarizes their design and methodologies. India promises never to do that!
But if in some way the US and its cohorts were to favor India in trade over and above China, they could cause consternation in Beijing, possibly even bolstering Hong Kong's claim to independence from China's domination. That is to say, the way to get China's cooperation at the expense of the Chinese-North Vietnamese coziness is to thwart the best-laid plans of the Chinese conquest of Asia!
Answer: GET CHINA'S GOAT!
China discerns that with the US backout from TPP, itts runaway from the South China Sea dispute over the Philippine claims for control, its obsession with Russia's persistence in Syria, and its disgust with NAFTA, the time is ripe for further conquest of land from Western dominated nations. Particularly, India.
India and China are arch-enemies. Currently, India is stealing American companies away from producing their products in China, since the latter not only produces the American goods but plagiarizes their design and methodologies. India promises never to do that!
But if in some way the US and its cohorts were to favor India in trade over and above China, they could cause consternation in Beijing, possibly even bolstering Hong Kong's claim to independence from China's domination. That is to say, the way to get China's cooperation at the expense of the Chinese-North Vietnamese coziness is to thwart the best-laid plans of the Chinese conquest of Asia!
Major Social Revolution: Personal Responsiblity
Here in the US we are just coming to grips with the major social revolution of our time: a re-assessment of personal/social responsibility. It hit Europe sometime ago, but in the US the wealthy's denial of this change affecting our understanding of personal responsibility made it seem the world is just the same as it was, e.g., say, in the 10th Century AD!
The revolution is in assigning a degree of personal responsibility for what happens in a cultural setting or milieu. You just can't say, "It's not my business!" The Rush Limbaugh claim: "You decide what to do with your money. If you value your health, then take out a 1 Million Dollar Insurance Policy. If you don't think your health is that important, then don't complain when you get sick and no one cares!" Take responsibility for what you decide to do and what you do! All else is not your business!
The issue is, what is it reasonable for an intelligent adult to have known prior to his acting in good faith to achieve some objective of his. Suppose he pursues his aims and at the same time comes down with a disease such as cancer. He did not expect the disease: it simply happens to him. What is he responsible for? Did he cause the cancer? Certainly not in any obvious sense. True, he ought to have taken out insurance, so he not become a public charge--the latter would not be an option to an individual acting in a cautious manner, but laying all costs upon the prudent individual is asking too much of anyone who assumes the role of adulthood in his society.
And so, we of his greater community must bear shared responsibility for the unintended consequences of him and others, who, through thoughtlessness or simply sheer happenstance in the course of living an ordinary life have encountered circumstances they are unable to cope without social help from the community at large to the extent we are able.
The issue is thereupon shifted to a question of social values: is someone's life more meaningful to the community at large than my buying an expensive car I want? Setting forth our placement of value--a human's life in our community compared with my buying perhaps the most expensive car I can afford is one way of stating the ethical implications of shared responsibility: we have personal responsibility to others to the degree we would want them to provide help to us in some similar situation wherein we are not at fault for whatever catastrophic event occurs.
The revolution is in assigning a degree of personal responsibility for what happens in a cultural setting or milieu. You just can't say, "It's not my business!" The Rush Limbaugh claim: "You decide what to do with your money. If you value your health, then take out a 1 Million Dollar Insurance Policy. If you don't think your health is that important, then don't complain when you get sick and no one cares!" Take responsibility for what you decide to do and what you do! All else is not your business!
The issue is, what is it reasonable for an intelligent adult to have known prior to his acting in good faith to achieve some objective of his. Suppose he pursues his aims and at the same time comes down with a disease such as cancer. He did not expect the disease: it simply happens to him. What is he responsible for? Did he cause the cancer? Certainly not in any obvious sense. True, he ought to have taken out insurance, so he not become a public charge--the latter would not be an option to an individual acting in a cautious manner, but laying all costs upon the prudent individual is asking too much of anyone who assumes the role of adulthood in his society.
And so, we of his greater community must bear shared responsibility for the unintended consequences of him and others, who, through thoughtlessness or simply sheer happenstance in the course of living an ordinary life have encountered circumstances they are unable to cope without social help from the community at large to the extent we are able.
The issue is thereupon shifted to a question of social values: is someone's life more meaningful to the community at large than my buying an expensive car I want? Setting forth our placement of value--a human's life in our community compared with my buying perhaps the most expensive car I can afford is one way of stating the ethical implications of shared responsibility: we have personal responsibility to others to the degree we would want them to provide help to us in some similar situation wherein we are not at fault for whatever catastrophic event occurs.
Sunday, July 30, 2017
Second Stage of the Computer Rev: AI Implementation
Step 1 of the Computer Revolution is known as computer assisted task performance. This is where the computer software and hardware assists the worker to achieve tasks assigned to him or her. By using computer-driven software the worker's job performance standards are achieved at speeds incomprehensible prior to the advent of the computer. Relying on the computer makes the worker look really great!
It took decades of software reiteration to bring about this state of affairs in both industry and finance. From say the 1950s with dependence of the large mainframes to the development of the PCs and its present off-shoots, the computer has demonstrated that workers and enthusiasts alike can depend on the computer to provide software that make their tasks more quickly achieved.
Step 2 of the Computer Revolution is now in gear. Under its rubric, computers will undertake to design and implement a series of computer-created tasks to achieve a human enterprise, such as driving a car or truck or plane, administering some medical procedure, such as performing eye surgery, or increasing significantly a rate-of-return on a computer-managed financial portfolio. Typically, it is a cyber controlled set of tasks that answers the human question, "I want to do x," where x is a socially defined activity or profession.
That is to say, at some point or other, the computer becomes a social agent--a truck driver; a lawyer; a doctor.
Step 2 involves the computer in learning from its mistakes. It will come to find out that doing a task is better performed one way rather than some other; and it will take heed to the situation or environment that causes the computer to achieve its purpose or objective one way rather than another.
It took decades of software reiteration to bring about this state of affairs in both industry and finance. From say the 1950s with dependence of the large mainframes to the development of the PCs and its present off-shoots, the computer has demonstrated that workers and enthusiasts alike can depend on the computer to provide software that make their tasks more quickly achieved.
Step 2 of the Computer Revolution is now in gear. Under its rubric, computers will undertake to design and implement a series of computer-created tasks to achieve a human enterprise, such as driving a car or truck or plane, administering some medical procedure, such as performing eye surgery, or increasing significantly a rate-of-return on a computer-managed financial portfolio. Typically, it is a cyber controlled set of tasks that answers the human question, "I want to do x," where x is a socially defined activity or profession.
That is to say, at some point or other, the computer becomes a social agent--a truck driver; a lawyer; a doctor.
Step 2 involves the computer in learning from its mistakes. It will come to find out that doing a task is better performed one way rather than some other; and it will take heed to the situation or environment that causes the computer to achieve its purpose or objective one way rather than another.
Significant Rift Between Congress and US Administration
Heralded just this past week is a significant rift between Congress and the Administration. At the moment, the rift does not appear irreparable, but I believe that it really is--as long as President Trump and his henchmen are in control.
The issue is control of the legislature. Legislative leaders of Congress have their own notion of the direction the country should take; and Trump and his administration has a stated agenda of US goals and aims that require legislative enactment. The two are far apart: Congress wants to accede to the wishes of the people as enunciated by them during the election--a workable viable healthcare system that meets citizenry needs; and jobs, jobs, jobs! However, claiming that a truly workable healthcare system would bankrupt the country, the Trump Administration is in favor through legislative action (1) of building up the military for future possible campaigns--a goal that's readily achievable--and (2) of amassing huge corporate and personal fortunes by governmental support of business entrepreneurship--a cause the administration already is implementing. The Administration assumes that both objectives (1) and (2) will cause job increment nationwide--no need of especial programmatic design.
Demonstrating its displeasure with Congress, the Administration is currently seeking to "punish" Republican legislators who adhere to the healthcare objective by embarrassing them over, e.g., intended steps to fortify Obamacare together with the Democrats.
Specifically, for the Administration to proceed to implement its agenda, Obmacare, or any of its variants, that would lead to large-scale membership in some healthcare system must IMPLODE! And that is the reason the Administration has put the healthcare issue up for vote first: the savings of an "unworkable" healthcare system would mean success for its own agenda.
The issue is control of the legislature. Legislative leaders of Congress have their own notion of the direction the country should take; and Trump and his administration has a stated agenda of US goals and aims that require legislative enactment. The two are far apart: Congress wants to accede to the wishes of the people as enunciated by them during the election--a workable viable healthcare system that meets citizenry needs; and jobs, jobs, jobs! However, claiming that a truly workable healthcare system would bankrupt the country, the Trump Administration is in favor through legislative action (1) of building up the military for future possible campaigns--a goal that's readily achievable--and (2) of amassing huge corporate and personal fortunes by governmental support of business entrepreneurship--a cause the administration already is implementing. The Administration assumes that both objectives (1) and (2) will cause job increment nationwide--no need of especial programmatic design.
Demonstrating its displeasure with Congress, the Administration is currently seeking to "punish" Republican legislators who adhere to the healthcare objective by embarrassing them over, e.g., intended steps to fortify Obamacare together with the Democrats.
Specifically, for the Administration to proceed to implement its agenda, Obmacare, or any of its variants, that would lead to large-scale membership in some healthcare system must IMPLODE! And that is the reason the Administration has put the healthcare issue up for vote first: the savings of an "unworkable" healthcare system would mean success for its own agenda.
Thursday, July 27, 2017
Skinny Healthcare Republican Intended Project
The Republicans are considering an interim period in which to put together a healthcare governmental plan.
I think they have learned from the Democratic experience of the last 8 years that delving into healthcare can be a political disaster, costing many elections and disastrous loss of citizenry support.
But that is just the reason for the Republicans to seek out Democratic conjoining with them in a bipartisan legislative effort that will bring unity so as to prevent signalling out the Republican politicians for "blame" that will result in signing up nearly 30 million memberships in any government plan. After all, the wealthy don't want any healthcare government program that takes money away from their pockets! That's socialism! But it's very necessary to save American lives.
The real issue is the need for government to mandate the citizenry to join and participate in its program.
I think they have learned from the Democratic experience of the last 8 years that delving into healthcare can be a political disaster, costing many elections and disastrous loss of citizenry support.
But that is just the reason for the Republicans to seek out Democratic conjoining with them in a bipartisan legislative effort that will bring unity so as to prevent signalling out the Republican politicians for "blame" that will result in signing up nearly 30 million memberships in any government plan. After all, the wealthy don't want any healthcare government program that takes money away from their pockets! That's socialism! But it's very necessary to save American lives.
The real issue is the need for government to mandate the citizenry to join and participate in its program.
Friday, July 7, 2017
US military advisory project to the nations of the world a resounding success
Its been in existence for a long time now but only in the past ten years has it acquired a notable reputation. I'm referring to the US military's program of offering tangible, physical support to military units around the world through its military installations--now over 800 worldwide--but also providing technical assistance and help to military and administrative personnel in the countries where it is so active, its presence supplying succor and advice in situ.
I have long been a supporter of this program and have done what I can to encourage its worldwide usage. I recall the years of dispute and argument over whether the US military should engage in conflicts and disputations which are not directly related to American interests. But I am also reminded that "To make the world safe for democracy" implies sowing the seeds where democracy must grow if it is to henceforth flourish anywhere on our planet!
(Remarkably, I find Trump's policy speeches lacking in an enthusiastic endorsement of democratic principles. He's too much caught up in admiring the great dictator phenomenon that can cause historical events.)
Be that as it may, I remain hopeful that the US military will continue in its worldwide mission of helping other nations struggle with common problems.
I have long been a supporter of this program and have done what I can to encourage its worldwide usage. I recall the years of dispute and argument over whether the US military should engage in conflicts and disputations which are not directly related to American interests. But I am also reminded that "To make the world safe for democracy" implies sowing the seeds where democracy must grow if it is to henceforth flourish anywhere on our planet!
(Remarkably, I find Trump's policy speeches lacking in an enthusiastic endorsement of democratic principles. He's too much caught up in admiring the great dictator phenomenon that can cause historical events.)
Be that as it may, I remain hopeful that the US military will continue in its worldwide mission of helping other nations struggle with common problems.
China leading the Asian Continent in its own direction
Well, the USA under President Trump is giving up its world leadership position, preferring to follow a "king-of-the-mountain" competition along with the rest. It's adherence to a "survival of the fittest" philosophy, whereby it is out to prove it's the best of all the rest and so deserve to dominate the international scene. That is to say, should there be a rogue nation who dares to refrain from doing as the US dictates, it shall warrant punishment and isolation by all others who comprise a fake 'league of nation-states' on the planet.
From China's point of view, that the US is no longer interested in leading the world towards democratic governance on a global scale has provided the opportunity for it to assert continental and regional dominance free of competition from its neighbors. It is moving ahead in financial and trade matters through the TPP, even as the US forsakes this emerging trade organization for the whole of Asia. It has also taken up an aggressive posture in the South China Seas, and though confronting harsh criticism from nations in the West, boldly supports the North Korean regime in its quest for ascendancy to world-acclamation as a threatening nuclear power. Now, today, China and its ally North Korea, hold supremacy among all other nations in Asia giving cause for Japan and South Korea to live in fear.
Ah yes, the words of President Trump ought to allay such fears. "What is going on in Asia?" he wonders. "Don't you worry, I have my own agenda," he tells anyone who would pay attention to his twittering!
Listen, this individual President is in deep political mire with the Washington establishment he gladly angers.
From China's point of view, that the US is no longer interested in leading the world towards democratic governance on a global scale has provided the opportunity for it to assert continental and regional dominance free of competition from its neighbors. It is moving ahead in financial and trade matters through the TPP, even as the US forsakes this emerging trade organization for the whole of Asia. It has also taken up an aggressive posture in the South China Seas, and though confronting harsh criticism from nations in the West, boldly supports the North Korean regime in its quest for ascendancy to world-acclamation as a threatening nuclear power. Now, today, China and its ally North Korea, hold supremacy among all other nations in Asia giving cause for Japan and South Korea to live in fear.
Ah yes, the words of President Trump ought to allay such fears. "What is going on in Asia?" he wonders. "Don't you worry, I have my own agenda," he tells anyone who would pay attention to his twittering!
Listen, this individual President is in deep political mire with the Washington establishment he gladly angers.
Monday, June 19, 2017
I think the Republicans stole the US Presidency!
It isn't the first time in recent times. They stole it from Al Gore through the Florida chad confusion! I even now recall Jeb Bush, the then Governor of Florida pronouncing that if he's needed, he will provide assurance to his brother of Florida's enduring loyalty to the Party! Florida is in the Republican pocket, he proclaimed! And, he was right!
But in 2016, another electoral gimmick was used: the electoral college. It could override the majority vote, as in this case was needed if Trump would win. Now, no democratic country except the US has an electoral college to overcome the will of the majority voting citizenry. The decision of the voters is final--in favor of majority rule across the world, except for the US. That is to say, the majority opinion is final; not subject to any possible tyranny of a minority voting electorate.
Importantly, in these other democratic countries, there seems to be no problem in abiding by the voting majority, a prospect that our founding fathers seriously imagined. Clearly, the founders of the United States were elite snobs, wary of its citizenry.
I further believe that the Republicans, having now latched onto the untoward principle of voting irregularities as a means to overturn adherence to abiding by majority rule will deploy it again and again as might suit them! Indeed, as Trump has indicated again and again during his campaign for the Office, the American public are gullible and naive!
What Democrats should do as an appropriate response
So, how to reply to Republican corruption?
There's only one response path available when corruption in high places has occurred: don't go along with it. At each turn, make sure the DOJ and the FBI at the federal level and the citizenry from far and yonder hold the Republican leadership in each federal branch--administration, congress, and the judiciary--responsible for abandoning the majority rule at the ballot box. The Republican leadership must come to know that the will of the people as demonstrated through its election plurality is the final say in a democracy. And let us call into question a docile acquiescence to a Republican subversion of the democratic principles that are adhered to in democratic countries everywhere else.
But in 2016, another electoral gimmick was used: the electoral college. It could override the majority vote, as in this case was needed if Trump would win. Now, no democratic country except the US has an electoral college to overcome the will of the majority voting citizenry. The decision of the voters is final--in favor of majority rule across the world, except for the US. That is to say, the majority opinion is final; not subject to any possible tyranny of a minority voting electorate.
Importantly, in these other democratic countries, there seems to be no problem in abiding by the voting majority, a prospect that our founding fathers seriously imagined. Clearly, the founders of the United States were elite snobs, wary of its citizenry.
I further believe that the Republicans, having now latched onto the untoward principle of voting irregularities as a means to overturn adherence to abiding by majority rule will deploy it again and again as might suit them! Indeed, as Trump has indicated again and again during his campaign for the Office, the American public are gullible and naive!
What Democrats should do as an appropriate response
So, how to reply to Republican corruption?
There's only one response path available when corruption in high places has occurred: don't go along with it. At each turn, make sure the DOJ and the FBI at the federal level and the citizenry from far and yonder hold the Republican leadership in each federal branch--administration, congress, and the judiciary--responsible for abandoning the majority rule at the ballot box. The Republican leadership must come to know that the will of the people as demonstrated through its election plurality is the final say in a democracy. And let us call into question a docile acquiescence to a Republican subversion of the democratic principles that are adhered to in democratic countries everywhere else.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
A Way-Out of the Middle-Class' Financial Malaise
It comes from the history of the Ford Motor Company...
The Ford Monetary Infusion
As I understand it, Ford, the founder of the Motor Company, wanted his workers to afford buying a Model T Ford off his assembly line. To make that possible, he dramatically increased their take-home pay!
Lest that sound too bizarre an answer to today's flat wage scale, certain European countries are toying with plans to pay their "unemployable" citizens (so-deemed by applying relevant social criteria) a living stipend, e.g, through the social security system. Their point being automation and AI decision-making have made "hard-work" no longer a highly-prized human value.
Now, it is already apparent that workers who have remained behind in geographical areas where there's just no jobs today--though at one time there were--are just the right candidates to receive the living stipend.
And lest the reader think that the concept violates a well-known adage that implies a worker's hands must be busily employed or society would be harmed, the "employable" could help out by doing good--cleaning up city streets and parks, working at day-care centers and soup-kitchens, and creating works of art for display around town.
Back to the Main Ford Idea!
What if corporate associations were to create a fund to supplement their workers' salary? Obviously, the workers would come to rely on the added amount and come to spend it, thereby increasing each nation's GNP.
The Ford Monetary Infusion
As I understand it, Ford, the founder of the Motor Company, wanted his workers to afford buying a Model T Ford off his assembly line. To make that possible, he dramatically increased their take-home pay!
Lest that sound too bizarre an answer to today's flat wage scale, certain European countries are toying with plans to pay their "unemployable" citizens (so-deemed by applying relevant social criteria) a living stipend, e.g, through the social security system. Their point being automation and AI decision-making have made "hard-work" no longer a highly-prized human value.
Now, it is already apparent that workers who have remained behind in geographical areas where there's just no jobs today--though at one time there were--are just the right candidates to receive the living stipend.
And lest the reader think that the concept violates a well-known adage that implies a worker's hands must be busily employed or society would be harmed, the "employable" could help out by doing good--cleaning up city streets and parks, working at day-care centers and soup-kitchens, and creating works of art for display around town.
Back to the Main Ford Idea!
What if corporate associations were to create a fund to supplement their workers' salary? Obviously, the workers would come to rely on the added amount and come to spend it, thereby increasing each nation's GNP.
Wednesday, February 22, 2017
Ms. Yellen of the Fed Reserve points to climate change as added reason for spike in US-GDP
In reviewing the current tone of meetings of the Fed Reserve, Ms. Yellen, its chairwoman, added yet another reason for the lack-lustre performance of the US-GDP: the costs to the economy of climate change.
She mused, the crumbling of the US infrastructure, particularly, bridges and roads, due to a marked increase in floods and the need for repairs of many river levees are just indicators of the effects in our climate, as floral carbons collect above the earth's surface at alarming speeds. This, addition to, automation and worker homogenization.
Of course, in years ahead, Europe will suffer even more as the ice caps melt, sending a spectacular rise in the seas.
And, we are depending on the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our shores. Can they do it alone?
She mused, the crumbling of the US infrastructure, particularly, bridges and roads, due to a marked increase in floods and the need for repairs of many river levees are just indicators of the effects in our climate, as floral carbons collect above the earth's surface at alarming speeds. This, addition to, automation and worker homogenization.
Of course, in years ahead, Europe will suffer even more as the ice caps melt, sending a spectacular rise in the seas.
And, we are depending on the Army Corps of Engineers to protect our shores. Can they do it alone?
Ukrainians speak up on behalf of their fight for independence!
C-Span carried an evaluative report by Ukrainian leaders about the up-turn in fighting in their country. They are truly battling the Russians who represent a return to subservience under Russian domination. May God bless them!
Nevertheless, Putin has a valid point: until 1956(?), Crimea was Russian. Then, suddenly, Ukraine was ceded the province. Putin, on behalf of Russia, is calling for it back. Since, it's composed unanimously of Russians, his reasoning makes a lot of sense.
Had Putin only presented his case to the United Nations, I don't think there would have been a war; but he didn't.
What is more important, no former Russian state wants to return to a condition of servitude to Russian rule. A pox on Russia and Putin on its behalf, for thinking otherwise! NATO's strengthening its strategic place in Europe by shoring up its Polish defense is something courageous and bold. Hooray for them!
Nevertheless, Putin has a valid point: until 1956(?), Crimea was Russian. Then, suddenly, Ukraine was ceded the province. Putin, on behalf of Russia, is calling for it back. Since, it's composed unanimously of Russians, his reasoning makes a lot of sense.
Had Putin only presented his case to the United Nations, I don't think there would have been a war; but he didn't.
What is more important, no former Russian state wants to return to a condition of servitude to Russian rule. A pox on Russia and Putin on its behalf, for thinking otherwise! NATO's strengthening its strategic place in Europe by shoring up its Polish defense is something courageous and bold. Hooray for them!
US public brought up-to-date re: Afghanistan
Through a series of recent broadcasts on C-Span. the US military command in Afghanistan and members of an evaluative committee to report on the current status of the war between the Taliban and the US-backed government in Kabul have provided a pretty consistent picture that the war is at a stalemate after nearly 16 years of US troops fighting there!
Meantime, I think the Chinese are still mining minerals on the eastern edges of the country, quite independent of being drawn into the stalemated conflict.
But to my mind, the draw declaration by those familiar with the country only bespeaks the real reality: viz., the country is abundant with poppy seeds; and there's plenty of distributors--including former US military--who supply the drugs upon which those addicted to heroin, etc. survive. These distributors are the real determinants of the local affairs conducted by independent kingpins and regional war lords. In short, the money of the Kabul government isn't enough to control any one province let alone the whole country; and so the Afghans are left in limbo to make whatever deals they can with those representing poppy-seed processing and drug distribution worldwide.
Meantime, I think the Chinese are still mining minerals on the eastern edges of the country, quite independent of being drawn into the stalemated conflict.
But to my mind, the draw declaration by those familiar with the country only bespeaks the real reality: viz., the country is abundant with poppy seeds; and there's plenty of distributors--including former US military--who supply the drugs upon which those addicted to heroin, etc. survive. These distributors are the real determinants of the local affairs conducted by independent kingpins and regional war lords. In short, the money of the Kabul government isn't enough to control any one province let alone the whole country; and so the Afghans are left in limbo to make whatever deals they can with those representing poppy-seed processing and drug distribution worldwide.
Friday, January 27, 2017
President Trump wows the PM of Great Britain this past weekend
Apparently, making a trade deal with Great Britain was easy for Trump, while he was also scoring big over the beleaguered President of Mexico. He is showing his skills at making deals on the job!
His major problems are financial. The US debt quagmire and a looming inflation balloon are in the offing; and should reach crisis proportion before the next election of 2018. The looming signs of going protectionist are causing the large international corporations to be weary of bringing large amounts of cash back onto US shores. Plus, they're aware of a surplus capacity of industrial productivity available in the States without much monetary infusion on their part,
Trump's insistence to follow Reagan in an economic time far more complicated than what his mentor had lived through simply bespeaks a mistake in embracing protectionism in a fluid financial market. He's simply philosophically naïve and outmoded; and the US will become a relic, if Congress embraces his charming enchantment. Did Reagan ever conceive of the effects of AI intelligence upon governmental and private transactions? Did Reagan know of the Internet and of cybernetic systems? Come on, times are significantly different from the 1980s, But Trump and Putin, too, are apparently unaware that in today's marketplace there's no "Again" only a creative "Newness and Wonder" over what is evolving into an uncharted tomorrow.
His major problems are financial. The US debt quagmire and a looming inflation balloon are in the offing; and should reach crisis proportion before the next election of 2018. The looming signs of going protectionist are causing the large international corporations to be weary of bringing large amounts of cash back onto US shores. Plus, they're aware of a surplus capacity of industrial productivity available in the States without much monetary infusion on their part,
Trump's insistence to follow Reagan in an economic time far more complicated than what his mentor had lived through simply bespeaks a mistake in embracing protectionism in a fluid financial market. He's simply philosophically naïve and outmoded; and the US will become a relic, if Congress embraces his charming enchantment. Did Reagan ever conceive of the effects of AI intelligence upon governmental and private transactions? Did Reagan know of the Internet and of cybernetic systems? Come on, times are significantly different from the 1980s, But Trump and Putin, too, are apparently unaware that in today's marketplace there's no "Again" only a creative "Newness and Wonder" over what is evolving into an uncharted tomorrow.
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
The Role of the US in today's march-on toward Globalization
Since the world's commitment to the Globalization project dating from the 17th Century Europe, when the Netherlands took up the cudgel, at least two other nations have provided leadership to the project: England in the 18th and 19th Centuries and the United States--currently--but dating back to the American naval efforts to retain open sea lanes for trade in the 19th Century.
The US has always supported the mercantile and commercial interests, even before the country was declared a sovereign nation, e.g., during the Tea Party fiasco in the New England colonies. But that is precisely the heart of Globalization: promoting trade and commerce internationally.
What does embracing the goals of Globalization and assuming the major leadership role commit the United States to? That is to say, what are its responsibilities qua major player for today?
US Leadership Responsibilities
1. Assure a steady and free-flow of goods and services among all nations to the extent possible.
Indeed, the US military must be stronger than any other on earth and its presence felt the world over.
2. Promote trade agreements such that each nation is to seek meaningful participation in some trade association where rules and regulations are enunciated and adhered to by each member. Then too, there must be an agency or arm of the association to insist upon their enforcement. Each member must lower its trade tariffs among the association's members. Specifically, rhe US has been running around the globe establishing and encouraging the trade associations--currently, the TPP for Asian countries.
Now, to get nations to join a trading group is not easy, primarily because the larger and more prestigious nations tend to dominate by cajoling the others to accept rules they dictate. So it looks like the associations are favoring the strong, though the US has done much to support the weaker and less prestigious.
3. Back commercial interests and big-business militarily and diplomatically for the sake of international trade. The US must enable commerce and trade worldwide forcibly, if necessary. One could argue that the wars in the Middle East and the changing of the guard during the Muslim Spring was to accomplish this aim.
The Qualities of a nation that the US has had to underplay as Statesman-Leader:
Primarily, the US has foregone the right to pursue a ME-FIRST and let all others take what they can get for themselves! attitude. That is to say, the US, as the leader in the free trade movement, must be magnanimous for the sake of bringing others along to join and participate in the project.
But along comes President Trump!!!
He claims that the US is losing jobs--which is a claim clearly in dispute (it depends on what jobs he's talking about). He claims the US must maintain a ME-FIRST national posture among the nations of the world--get what you can take and let the other nations fall in line. Well, that line of thinking will result in simply passing the baton of big business and commerce to some other nation. And, China is standing in the theater's wings, waiting. Note: the Chinese moguls of today have been educated in the US colleges.
The US has always supported the mercantile and commercial interests, even before the country was declared a sovereign nation, e.g., during the Tea Party fiasco in the New England colonies. But that is precisely the heart of Globalization: promoting trade and commerce internationally.
What does embracing the goals of Globalization and assuming the major leadership role commit the United States to? That is to say, what are its responsibilities qua major player for today?
US Leadership Responsibilities
1. Assure a steady and free-flow of goods and services among all nations to the extent possible.
Indeed, the US military must be stronger than any other on earth and its presence felt the world over.
2. Promote trade agreements such that each nation is to seek meaningful participation in some trade association where rules and regulations are enunciated and adhered to by each member. Then too, there must be an agency or arm of the association to insist upon their enforcement. Each member must lower its trade tariffs among the association's members. Specifically, rhe US has been running around the globe establishing and encouraging the trade associations--currently, the TPP for Asian countries.
Now, to get nations to join a trading group is not easy, primarily because the larger and more prestigious nations tend to dominate by cajoling the others to accept rules they dictate. So it looks like the associations are favoring the strong, though the US has done much to support the weaker and less prestigious.
3. Back commercial interests and big-business militarily and diplomatically for the sake of international trade. The US must enable commerce and trade worldwide forcibly, if necessary. One could argue that the wars in the Middle East and the changing of the guard during the Muslim Spring was to accomplish this aim.
The Qualities of a nation that the US has had to underplay as Statesman-Leader:
Primarily, the US has foregone the right to pursue a ME-FIRST and let all others take what they can get for themselves! attitude. That is to say, the US, as the leader in the free trade movement, must be magnanimous for the sake of bringing others along to join and participate in the project.
But along comes President Trump!!!
He claims that the US is losing jobs--which is a claim clearly in dispute (it depends on what jobs he's talking about). He claims the US must maintain a ME-FIRST national posture among the nations of the world--get what you can take and let the other nations fall in line. Well, that line of thinking will result in simply passing the baton of big business and commerce to some other nation. And, China is standing in the theater's wings, waiting. Note: the Chinese moguls of today have been educated in the US colleges.
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