No Justice, USA

It's now 33 weeks since Justice Antonin Scalia of the US Supreme Court passed away on 12 Feb, 2016. RIP.

The US Senate needs to hold hearings on a replacement.
They've yet to do anything toward a confirmation.

33 Weeks w/ No Justice !

Shame on the US Senate... 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) & geezer Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA; age 83) are leading obstructionists behind this inactivity. Get to work boys!

Mitch is Rich thanks to huge gifts from father-in-law, Chinese-born Si-Cheng Chao (second wife's dad).

Chief Executive Hot Seat

The US President is angry: both the US House & Senate overturned Obama's veto of the Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism (JASTA) law.

"The single most embarrassing thing the United States Senate has done" in decades, according to the White House spokesman (link).

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with poor marketing considering its power (they'd do better to ignore JASTA this week) stated the act: "is of great concern to the community of nations that object to the erosion of the principle of sovereign immunity, which has governed international relations for hundreds of years. ... erosion of sovereign immunity will have a negative impact on all nations, including the United States." (link). Understatement -- JASTA could especially lead to highlighting the USA's doubtful & often poorly executed imperialist operations around the world. 

CIA Director Brennan also lashed-out at the new law... Fearing personal liability?   Any accountability sucks when a lawbreaker.

But the Executive Branch of the US Government deserves the hot seat: key parts of the official 9/11 findings are still designated Top Secret.

They claim we too dum for the TRUTH

Fakum

Japanese Money Politics

A new initiative will offer a clearer view of big money flows in Japanese politics.

Data is scheduled to come online from 21 October 2016 at:
http://openpolitics.or.jp

政治資金センター
Japan Center For Money and Politics Foundation
 (一般財団法人)


Here's a description of what's to come (link to Japan Times article)

Let's Hope for transparency... But of course much political funds flow in Japan is unreported cash, "gifts" such as valuable art & swords, etc. which are unlikely ever to be traceable.

Hawai'i Steps Toward Freedom

Yesterday (23 Sept 2016) the US Government formally accepted existence of a Native Hawaiian Government - a cause for celebration. 

It was reaffirmed (link) that Native Hawaiians are "a political community that represents the continuous existence of an inherent indigenous sovereign." 

It's not treason or sedition for Hawaiians to create our governing entity. Our Native Hawaiian government might "reestablish a formal government-to-government relationship" with the USA... OR CHOOSE OTHERWISE  (and the US Federal Govt. ruling explicitly affirms such possible scenario). 

With a Native Hawaiian government, we can gradually correct local community problems... and also address other alliance possibilities. 

First step is Native Hawaiian self-government pushing forward, imua.

Media Toying with Police Killings

All Lives Matter.

When following media outrages, we're led like a beast with a ring through its nose...

I read yesterday of unarmed black man Terence Crutcher, zapped with a stun gun by Tulsa police then fatally shot with his hands up.

Today we're told in bold headlines Keith Scott was warned to drop a gun he carried. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Kerr Putney says: "It's time to change the narrative, because I can tell you from the facts that the story's a little bit different as to how it's been portrayed so far, especially through social media."

Headlines trumpet about Scott, or Tulsa, but seeing these stories together, you perhaps notice they ain't really related. Except it seems one killing of a citizen by police is deliberately used to distort another in many people's minds.

Common points: 
• Media makes money from the stories.
• It's minority people getting snuffed.
• We're told snippets of what happened.
NO ACCOUNTABILITY

People are being killed every day without trial.
These murders in America are tip of the iceberg.
Our snuffing of furrn gooks & wogs don't rate a story...

Killing Native people during colonization of America
NO ACCOUNTABILITY

Killing from Vietnam to Afghanistan to Iraq -- to hometown USA
NO ACCOUNTABILITY

Flush Away TPP

Trans Pacific Partnership, TPP, sounds almost palatable -- but it is not. The TPP was created & composed by corporate interests in secret, who now attempt to shove it down our throats.

Perhaps the worst dimension of TPP is the ceding of national sovereignty to corporate lawyers acting as arbitrators in investor-state dispute settlement, the ISDS mechanism. A detailed analysis can be referenced here (link).

TPP is a corporate-led boondoggle aimed at virtual enslavement. The process thus far has been conducted in smoke-filled rooms and behind closed doors. We of course know the revolving door between industry and government promises soon to personally reward the corrupt politicos selling-out their people.

Tell your Government: Stop TPP Now.

Two Survival Options?

Americans are led to believe we've two governmental options.

Both are controlled by entrenched corporate interests.

Both candidates proclaim enduring loyalty ... to Israel !?
(Link-R, Link-D)

Each supports growth of the secret Security State.

Each brown-noses the mega-banks.

Have we really only two survival options?
Is refreshment limited within Big Business?
WHY?  Can Americans ever take better control of our lives?

Americans will either fight for freedom, or this corruption will eventually collapse -- painfully and at a huge cost.
Two options, for careless people.

COKE vs. Pepsi
CHOOSE!       ...             dumfux.

Government Apologists

How much should we believe the paid apologists for the secretive U.S. Government?

We understand (link) that the continuing U.S. "War of Terror" since late 2001 has cost nearly $5 trillion -- US$4,790,000,000,000.

We also know that the citizenry has been continuously misled & lied to by government officials. We know very little about how these huge monies are being spent, or truly why. We were triumphantly informed "MISSION ACCOMPLISHED" many trillions of dollars ago.

Billions of lives have been affected, millions have been killed.

In such an environment, U.S. National Security Agency Contractor Edward Snowden illegally released documents to journalists describing spying & espionage by the US government and its allies.

The U.S. House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), under Chairman U.S. Rep. Devin Nunes (R: CA) & Ranking Member Adam Schiff (D: CA) commissioned their staff to write a 36-page review of Edward Snowden's disclosures.

Unfortunately, the review has been determined too sensitive for release to the American people. But a three-page Executive Summary was released 15 Sept. 2016, almost sardonically in tandem with the Oliver Stone motion picture "Snowden"...

In the 3-pg summary (prominently labeled UNCLASSIFIED, link) we are informed that Ed Snowden was not a whistleblower; that he is "a serial exaggerator and fabricator" with a "pattern of intentional lying."

The end of final page three states the committee supports [huge spending on] intelligence community (IC) activities:
"The Committee has taken actions to improve IC information security in the Intelligence Authorization Acts for Fiscal Years 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017, and looks forward to working with the IC to continue to improve security."

Government's lied to us systematically. No doubt lies continue. According to U.S. Director of National Intelligence Clapper (under oath) "the story that we have millions or hundreds of millions of dossiers on people, is absolutely false… absolute nonsense." Clapper was later threatened with prison time for perjury by US Congress for his "errors" & blatant lies. All thanks to Ed Snowden,

The Committee report weaves the story of a robust system for U.S. Government oversight, which Snowden reportedly ignored. We're then told Snowden himself is basically a bum, who "washed out" of his Army training, grossly exaggerated his CIA duties, failed a component of NSA annual basic training, and instigated a workplace spat with his NSA managers. But as they assert in fact Snowden never finished high school, we're left wondering what kind of idiots hired & promoted him, how many of these nitwits have been fired, and how we might recover our $5 trillion of badly misspent funds. 

Our money, essential for other domestic programs, is certainly gone. No big money has gone to Snowden, but it continues to flow to his critics and the shadowy security colossus we blindly & dumbly fund.

I believe Snowden -- above General Clapper.

The Congressional boys from California, and their stooge staff, make themselves seem ridiculous. And I've not yet seen the movie... Clapper could be a nice guy, and Ed Snowden may fart. The real truth is that the American people are systematically and deliberately misled by our elected government as it operates secretly and often illegally. It's our multi-trillion dollar le$$on.

Lt.Gen.Jimmy Clapper, Director of National Intelligence

Doping Exemptions?

Athletes may secure a TUE (Therapeutic Use Exemption) which when properly filed, allows use of banned performance-enhancing substances on medical grounds.

Key question: should medical exemptions allowing drug use be kept secret? Is it fair allowing chronically ill or disabled elite athletes to compete in world-class events (such as the Olympics) when taking banned drugs that others can't use? Perhaps the place for such impaired competitors is the Paralympics ...?

Allowances become complicated by the fact that cases are considered by Medical Advisory Committees within each nation. NATION-level allowances & standards may actually differ practically.

Another problem is that even elite athletes may file a TUE request retroactively, after they've been tested for doping.

Combining these complexities (and potential for corruption) with confidentiality, the secret process allowing drug use does not inspire trust or assure fairness...

Voting: The Slave's Suggestion Box

Triclosan: the New Lead Poisoning

Triclosan is a potent chemical now found in the bodies of most people in the USA. Since the 1980s it's become an ingredient in toothpastes, pesticides, shampoos, etc., for supposed antibacterial mechanisms.

Now the US Food & Drug Administration has banned soap products using triclosan & 18 other antibacterial additives -- the chemicals are ineffective as typically used. Worse, they may cause substantial injury and much environmental damage. Warnings have been circulating for years; the FDA's belated final ruling allows one more transition year to 6 Sept. 2017...

Here's an excerpt of one report(link): 
"The FDA has sided with scientists who claim that the use of antibiotic components on a consistent and widespread basis may actually be contributing to the rise of new antibiotic-resistant strains of various infections... exposure to such elements may also play havoc with hormones, especially those of young people. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council maintains that one of the most popular antibiotic chemicals, TRICLOSAN, can affect both testosterone and estrogen production, and can affect the thyroid. The NRDC argues that infants and children, in particular, are especially susceptible, and that it can lead to permanent damage. The scale of the usage is also daunting. One study suggested that triclosan could be detected in approximately 75 percent of people living in the United States. Its prevalence is perhaps only matched by its tenacity: the chemical passes through our systems and into the environment, where it enters the ground water and passes into animals and back into us."

We're guinea pigs. Big Business simply moves on, as with lead poisoning from our petrol & housepaint in past decades, and the terrible impact of cigarettes & asbestos.  Industry sucks away profits, then when all goes bad the limited-liability corporation runs away or begs public assistance -- the 2008 bailouts were one example, the TEPCO nuclear tragedy at Fukushima and Japan's "off-limits zone" pollution another. Do you trust Big Business & their paid politicos got your back? They'll not protect you. Why Dream yourself to Death?

Triclosan: the New Lead Poisoning

Triclosan is a potent chemical now found in the bodies of most people in the USA. Since the 1980s it's become an ingredient in toothpastes, pesticides, shampoos, etc., for supposed antibacterial mechanisms.

Now the US Food & Drug Administration has banned soap products using triclosan & 18 other antibacterial additives -- the chemicals are ineffective as typically used. Worse, they may cause substantial injury and much environmental damage. (Warnings have been circulating for years; the FDA final ruling is late, and allows one more year of transition until 6 Sept. 2017). 

Here's an excerpt of one report(link): 
"The FDA has sided with scientists who claim that the use of antibiotic components on a consistent and widespread basis may actually be contributing to the rise of new antibiotic-resistant strains of various infections.But those concerns only scratch the surface of worries associated with antibiotic cleansers. Some studies have indicated that exposure to such elements may also play havoc with hormones, especially those of young people. In fact, the Natural Resources Defense Council maintains that one of the most popular antibiotic chemicals, triclosan, can affect both testosterone and estrogen production, and can affect the thyroid. The NRDC argues that infants and children, in particular, are especially susceptible to this chemical, and that it can lead to permanent damage. The scale of the usage is also daunting. One study suggested that triclosan could be detected in approximately 75 percent of people living in the United States. In fact, its prevalence is perhaps only matched by its tenacity: the chemical passes through our systems and into the environment, where it enters the ground water and passes into animals and back into us."

We're guinea pigs, and as with lead poisoning from our paint and petrol in past decades, and the terrible impact of cigarettes, big business simply moves on.  Industry does what it can for profits, then when things go bad they run away or beg public assistance -- the 2008 bailouts were one example, the TEPCO nuclear tragedy at Fukushima and Japan's dead "off-limits zone" pollution is another. Trust Big Business & their paid politicos got your back? They'll protect you? Why Dream yourself to Death?

Rotten Apple

Yes, BAD Apple.

Apple has been criticized for monitoring customer location with hidden software processes (see links here & here). Now we know governments also routinely monitor millions of mobile phones through cell tower access and cell emulators, sometimes with intimate industrial involvement (link). How regularly is Apple® technology harnessed for repression, or used by the secret security services to protect us? This giant business skirts the issue; robust user privacy remains elusive.

Apple (the sweet megacorporation) is also elusive. Founded in 1976, they're a "squat brand" -- taking a common dictionary word from our general history, hijacking & trademarking a shortcut regular word -- telling us, in essence "Fuck you - now move around me!"

Pretty baubles of Apple technology are sold around the world. They're a big employer. Of course as part of society, Apple must operate legally. The Irish Apple has been in the news recently: where the megacorporation has a small relatively clean footprint. But huge worldwide profits reportedly siphon to Ireland, where Apple® somehow pays very little tax.

They kidnap / steal their name from the commons, and worm their way from contributing fair tax payments. We peons pay the funding Apple somehow avoids. Golden apple? One bad apple spoils ALL.


ROTTEN  APPLE®

Makaꞌala Hawaiians

Native Hawaiian people have been marginalized in their own nation since 1893 -- backed by the U.S. military, intruders stole Hawaiian lands and systematically forced local people to believe our lāhui is dead.

Peaceful coexistence is achievable; but violence and war are also possible. Forces repressing Hawaiians grow more strident & incautious. They've drunk their own Hawaiian Punch, and believe Hawaiian disagreements and our wonderful sense of "chill" & shaka typify a disorganized, passive and disinterested people.

Now we've new tools for peaceful organization, and new abilities to identify dangerous parasites.

Building Native Hawaiian self-government is a tough process: most of us openly operate in occupied territory, maintaining our globally-famous ALOHA.

Newcomers to Hawai'i often come to feel a gap -- where they don't belong. Sadly, that's a place of pain where Hawaiians have been beaten-down, uprooted & supplanted; when inclusiveness is abused as weakness. There is great untouched beauty throughout Hawai'i, and space to share: but you've taken & occupied our living room. Visitors becoming neighbors is welcome -- just do not trample your Babylon shoes on the toes and bones of my Tutu & family.  Please migrate elsewhere if you will not respect our elders and predecessors with courtesy! 

We must be alert & watchful (maka'ala) for imported weasels & destructive rats. Being watchful is easier with internet communication tools, but we must develop expertise to counteract professional agitators such as Andrew Walden - Hawaii Free Press, a troublemaker actively seeking to erase indigenous rights and edit-out Hawaiians from our islands. He pushes into our Hawaiian kitchen and invites the world to our table as if it were his own. Cheeky con artist!

Native Hawaiian people do not celebrate the violence, treachery and illegality that introduced American occupation and theft of our native lands. Many people came to Hawai'i under protection of the occupying power. Most are peaceful and (in my private opinion) most are welcome. Outspoken opponents of local culture and our Native Hawaiian inheritance threaten peaceful life - and put everybody at risk.

It is hard work to maintain PEACE

Fools are playing at the volcano's edge.

Pity Korea?

In some ways the energy and dynamism of Korea is refreshing, especially when compared to the rigidities of Japan. Surely we see more emotionalism in Korea ... though often not positive.

But Korea's deep-seated chauvinism consistently cripples the nation; it's hung-up on a pattern of one step forward, one step back.

The political world, major businesses, and universities are slow-moving, inward looking, and overly protective of privilege. Extreme competitiveness of Korean society focused on 스펙 (paper achievements) generates an entrenched corruption. Youth is stifled.

Cookie-cutter production has led to a frustrated people: each wanting to distinguish themselves, but without strong speciality, feeling lost in the herd. Frankly, I believe it is great that Koreans are discussing these problems: although (we are) slaves & beasts-of-burden, Awareness is Strength.

Remember the Korean Air assault by "nut rage" heiress Cho Hyun-ah? (조현아, link) -- Korea's oligarchy on both sides of the DMZ struts around with impunity, privileged & untouchable. Few top-level non-Koreans understand the nation, and such people are best rewarded for keeping quiet.

Korea, a divided land with great unrealized potential, will waste further decades due to uninspired leadership & bad management imposing hell on the citizenry --헬조선.  The stifling "Hell Joseon" reaches downward through the military, the rigid & corrupt domestically-entrenched universities, the oligarch-controlled business world, and deeply into family life. Sad...  especially because the Korean people have such great energy & potential.
The positive dimension: PRESSURE MAKES DIAMONDS.

Stealing Brazil

Recent legal maneuvers in Brazil deposed President Dilma Rousseff. Her valiant efforts to battle corruption and develop social inclusion have been cast aside by corrupt Brazilian legislators & judges, whose stated reason to impeach the President, (budget manipulation, pedaladas fiscais), was very distant from personal theft or corruption. More background is available here, and here (link).

US President Obama's government has not supported democracy in Brazil; but Yanqui's done plenty of high-level spying. Did the USA take opportunity to strongly back Rousseff's progressive government? No Way. Just the opposite -- as in Honduras, it's likely the imperialist hijacking of resources will now intensify, ignoring environmental concerns. Worse, we may see the growth of death squads as in Honduras and Egypt, with support that stretches back to Washington DC for extrajudicial violence. Tragic.

Predatory Press People

The most effective predators can hide in open sight, their kill methodology undetected, so they can successfully hunt again & again.

Such are the top American news people. Over the past five years Matt Lauer reportedly earned over US$100 million. Lauer's on-air persona is "just a friendly bloke" (his recent scoop eviscerating bad-boy swimmer Ryan Lochte was depicted in a sitting room, Lauer without socks). But Matt's $28m annual salary surely shows he's not your simple 'Bro ...

Anderson Cooper is a pretty face earning over $10 million every year from his reporting. Disarming and debonair, Anderson is steely strong & deceptive -- or he wouldn't be where he is.

News is deliberately entwined with entertainment. We're deceived by daily reporting and duped into overseas wars. Breathless intrigue drives our democracies, cynically steered by the powers of media. We've already endured a professional actor as U.S. President -- Worse is on the way...

Of course, behind the scenes are the real media barons: Rupert Murdoch has huge powers -- and a fortune of over US$10,000,000,000. ($10 billion)

If you're fortunate enough ever to have a microphone thrust to your face, remember behind the interviewer are businessmen who profit from scandal.
Best Shut Up.

My Experience of Counterfeit Capitalism

For most of my life, I've felt dog-eat-dog capitalism was unreasonable. Many people are born to difficulty, or temporarily weak. Others have huge advantages.

I've felt our communities should assist neighbors in need.

America's system of so-called free enterprise & market capitalism nonetheless provided some foundations for my life. Agree or disagree, it was a mechanism allowing calculated prediction and an underpinning for action. Somewhat understanding risks, everyday I made speculative choices based on a somewhat stable world view.

The bailout of 2008 changed my view of the world. Simply, the leadership elite bailed-out their friends, giving huge public funds to glaring, unmistakable losers (who were personally already wealthy), and absolutely undermined our system.

Bad managers should have lost their jobs: they were retained -- and rewarded.

Failed firms should have fertilized those enterprises more cautious & agile. Instead, the defeated status-quo were pushed forward, assisted by public money. It was a major & fundamental breach of global trade rules: American politicos gave state subsidies to prop-up chosen private enterprises. The dimension of accountability was shredded, torn-down, and subsequently ignored.
We had been forced to buy into the game of the Capitalist Pigs (where most of us are born disadvantaged); then, they suspended rules for their players, and assisted the recovery of our masters and overseers.

The toxic 1% helps itself.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Corporate Stooge

Needing to resign in disgrace just before the 2016 Democratic Party Convention could not further dull Debbie Wasserman Schultz. An establishment insider from south Florida, the former DemParty Chair was immediately named (an) Honorary Chairperson of the Hillary Clinton Presidential Campaign.

Is this person a public servant?   ... a corporatist hack for our 1%?
Is the U.S. Congresswoman innocent & pure? Just slightly nasty?
Or a parasitic octopus sucking life & wealth to benefit her masters?

Was Mrs. Clinton forced to sacrifice her loyal lackey as coverup? ... Was Dirty Debbie ousted as Party Chair simply for doing as ordered -- to bring Clinton to the White House? Do I sniff a SCAPEGOAT?

Debbie's sure to return (link)... like Clinton, she's a zombie rogue

Note: Just after this posting, mindwatch.com suddenly received many thousands of new hits from Israel -- Debbie fans or extended family? ...her south Florida constituency took no notice of this blog.