Baccalaureate Address: Lynn Sharp

Something optimistic that I found about the notion of change.

Baccalaureate Address: Lynn Sharp

Do you ever get the feeling.....

The Mission to capture or kill Osama and destroy his organisation was never supposed to be Accomplished!

Bin Laden was within U.S. reach in 2001 says Senate report.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/29/osama-bin-laden-senate-report

Sure, these good ol' boys knew where he was all the time. Makes you wonder don't it? I feel sick. Donald Rumsfeld - a real patriot.

Another perspective

http://emptywheel.firedoglake.com/2009/11/29/the-irony-of-tora-bora/

The World Wide Story of our age - Bankers Win

The Times Online headline reads "Britain's bankers win double victory on bonuses and charges"

While this news is local to the U.K. this phenomena is veritably international in scope. Where I hail from, Australia, banks are effectively an unelected, unaccountable branch of government. Our feckless elected leaders, as we all are in substantial debt to these lending institutions, are at the mercy of the federal reserve and four major banks. Even better than interest debt they especially like how fees earn tonnes of money for them and they almost always get what they want when they want it. After all the laws were made for these guys. Some really reckless banks could crash but as we have learnt taxpayers can be forced to pick up the tab and then $ome when these captains of capitalism make, how does one say it delicately, errors of judgement. We bow to Wall Street - lest we offend them! Don't take my house away!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/consumer_affairs/article6932637.ece

Britain's bankers received a double boost yesterday as they celebrated a landmark victory over unauthorised overdraft fees and saw off the threat of a crackdown on pay. (more...)

National interest and policy making vs. the banking sector

The idea that banks can be regulated is ludicrous. Does anyone seriously believe our politicians and governments will stand up to them? If there is any doubt about this think how much our Australian government, for example, bends knee to the fossil energy lobbyists. We are in so much debt to banks that it scares me, and to be honest we do not have a strong track record when it comes to making bold decisions for the long term. Let's face it. We really don't like change at all, and that's because on the whole we tend to be a reluctant, apathetic and procrastinatory lot. Change will come whether we like it or not. I'd like to think we could be smart and make the hard choices that inevitably have to be made, preferably sooner than later.

http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2712070.htm

Professor Ross Garnaut: "I think that Obama and the people closest to him know that that the influence has to be unwound, but Wall Street is taking nothing for granted, it's vesting more heavily in the political process now than ever before, and so you'd be an optimist to think that first best regulatory arrangements will be introduced."

about my negativity

I know that my comments appear cynical. It concerns me somewhat because I do not want to see myself being so negative, but I can not deny feeling this way. I feel despair, utterly.

The more I learn about this world the less I feel. A numbness consumes me. Something stinks in Denmark, I fear. Yes, I'm angry about what I see around me. It has gotten to the stage I need to express my emotions and not keep them repressed.

This blog is my release valve, my therapy, my means of surviving. Getting it out from my system is crucial.

I do not expect anyone to read this. I just want to feel free just one in my life, to say what I really feel before I wither into dust.

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman

Joe Lieberman is a dubious character in U.S. politics. Purportedly, he sides as a Democrat. However, much of his allegiance appears to allied with the Republican party. Without going into specifics the man is arguably a spoiler and plays for both teams. How the Democrat party puts up with his antics is a mystery.

In my opinion his stance on Health Care Reform is duly obstructionist and he is in opposition to well... who really knows? He seems actively determined to scuttle (filibuster) the reform legislation currently being debated in the U.S. Senate. I am convinced he is in the pockets of the health insurance companies. When pressed to explain his reasoning he answers in ambiguities. This man is master of foil, an agent of distraction.

Find below some links which highlight some of my concerns.

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/09/01/hadassah_lieberman/index.html

Joe Conason: Hadassah Lieberman worked for a powerhouse lobbying firm. Were her clients' special interests being served by her husband?

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2009/10/29/joe_lieberman/index.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/08/lieberman-pledges-to-fili_n_349981.html

Joe Lieberman: "If the public option plan is there, as a matter of conscience, I will not allow this bill to come to a final vote."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29kristof.html

Nicholas D. Kristof: "for those members of Congress who are wavering on health reform, listen to John's story." (more...)

New Label - Foilists

Enter the foilist, the proverbial spanner thrown into works whose foremost intent is to subvert, obfuscate, derail, scupper, thwart, baffle, and basically defeat and outwit an opponent. My particular frustration with foilists lies with those who zealously work for crooks.

They are usually lobbyists or representatives of lobbyists such as the self promoting politician whose prime objective is to ensure that dark secretive commercial interests succeeds at the expense of what's best for society as a whole. Unfortunately, immoral actions procured for lucre have many takers.

We often hear words used to foster these lickspittles as being individuals of 'principle' and 'probity.' Indeed much public relations goes into manufacturing them and securing their positions in which they can effectively maintain influence.

Throughout the course of my life I have witnessed many such mercenaries. To me they are traitors to humanity, the vilest among us who have sold out to greed. Their selfish actions are reprehensible. They are the deceiver puppets.

Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform - Part 2

Sen. Al Franken's Remarks on Health Care Reform - Part 1

If you want to get a handle on U.S. health care listen to this speech from the new senator from Minnesota.

Al Franken: "from 2000 to 2007... insurance premiums doubled... 6 million more uninsured... insurance companies profit rose 428%... that's all you need to know, that's all you need to know why we have to pass this bill"

Isn't it obvious why insurance companies are lobbying hard to destroy health reform legislation? I admire this guy. He has fortitude.

This little piggy gets roast beef

In these tough economic times U.S. Health Insurance Companies justify a 9% rise in prices for no-name pharmaceutical medicines. Despite their denials it seems they want to send a strong message to Health Reformists who are proposing at least some semblance of coverage for millions of its people. As we know about 30+ million of the poorest U.S. citizens do not have access to quality affordable health care. It certainly makes one wonder about the priorities corporations and some politicians hold when they appear to defend a view that health care should not be extended to those trapped in poverty. The thing that bothers me is the indifferent attitude these pharmaceuticals have taken to those who are struggling financially. They seem to be more concerned about their bottom line than the health of those who need help most.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/business/16drugprices.htm

Ron Rogers: “Price adjustments for our products have no connection to health care reform,” said Ron Rogers, a spokesman for Merck, which raised its prices about 8.9 percent in the last year, according to a stock analyst’s report.... (more)

Piggies

Everywhere there's lots of piggies
Living piggy lives

- lyrics taken from "The Beatles" song, Piggies

It is a sad indictment of human beings, generally speaking, that pigs suffer the reputation of being referred to as a greedy species. From what I have read they are remarkably social and smart animals far undeserving of the acrimony we sometimes impute to them. The humble pig trumps just about any other animal I know when it comes to getting bad press. For example, drippings of gluttony comes to my mind when I hear the word, "swine," and depending on the context, being called a "pig" is similarly unctuous. In my opinion calling even a corrupt police officer a pig is crass and wrong. Indeed, it is most unfavourable to be accused of living in a pigsty rather than a sharksty, spidersty, or snakesty. However one refers to human beings pinning them to a pig is not kosher.

[Forgive me for a tangent] Funnily enough though, this takes me back to a Goodies sketch called Lips, Or Almighty Cod where Tim Brooke-Taylor tried to rile a fish by word-baiting it, "You stupid fish. You are nothing but a fish, you fish!" The extent to which Tim failed to impress Cod with human superiority says more about neurosis as it also does about the fact fish know us to be bores (pun intended). Let's face it one scrapes the bottom of the barrel where pork is concerned. Cannily, even fish know how to cast a deprecating remark.

In some human circles to be addressed as a fat pig or even a simple pig for that matter is tantamount to a call to arms. Greed, covetousness, avarice, rapaciousness, gluttonous, and pleonexia, whatever. When I learn of humans whose noses are well in the trough the rage inside me crackles. I can not, can not stand it, even though I know I will be a hypocrite in pointing fingers. And here, my reader, lies the rub. I know full well my squeals will be flawed. It is just that an itch is one of those things, you know.. Of the scratching part - well, what can I say? Except. I am nothing but a stupid human being, a very stupid human being!