Winter Options: Heat or Eat

In his quest for the Presidency, Barack Obama offered visions of HOPE. In electing Obama, we were led to believe costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan would end. We were promised Guantanamo's limitless incarceration and abuse would stop. People hoped for government in service to the wider community, not a government serving the wealthiest. For most Americans, however, conditions have gone from bad to worse.

Failed States

Those using violence and intimidation are corrupt.

I Am Spartacus

Saw ten minutes of the classic film Spartacus a few nights ago on TV. Slaves are being asked to betray Spartacus on offer of reward, but instead the many proclaim "I am Spartacus!"

Struggle against Empire continues through the centuries...

Today the secret mechanics of our governments are slightly open to view via Wikileaks, assisted by major media channels throughout the world. At this moment, the authenticity of leaked official cables has not been denied; the process was condemned as "dangerous" but Wikileaks is not yet a banned organization. As we struggle against our rulers, each of us individually quite powerless in the face of behemoth government wielding illegal kidnapping, torture & assassination, please remember:   "I am Spartacus!"
== "I am Wikileaks"

Provocation or Peace

The Republic of Korea (ROK) and USA plan to continue military exercises and naval drills in a disputed area bordering the DPRK (North Korea).

Heavy-handed military operations are a provocation; knuckleheaded "war games" can quickly lead to war.

I've no opinion on where the border is or should be. But the huge South Korea coastlines (east, south & west) offer many alternative venues. Focusing live-fire operations in the northwest border area adjoining the DPRK invites trouble. How important are these military exercises? Why provoke hostility?

We common folk can't know what's up or why. Published maps differ & mislead; we're forced to think them others are evil...

Thanks for Rot?

Thanksgiving is a special time for reflecting on good fortune, family, community, and our wider world. Some helpers volunteer to feed the homeless or disadvantaged. It's likely few Americans consider our untried tortured captives at Guantanamo, or the treacherous autocrats we fund around the world (at the cost of human rights & basic investment in US domestic infrastructure & education).

I know that my blogging and talking about political problems is unlikely to make much positive impact. On the contrary, I lived in Japan long enough to wholly understand "the nail that sticks up gets pounded down" (出る杭は打たれる).

Yet perhaps perversely, I also feel it's important to speak up, not to accept bullying or quietly acquiesce to antisocial chauvinism. Perhaps my persistent interest could be labeled a hobby; more importantly, I hope when the smoke clears to have stood on the side of justice, and have worked for integrity.

After WWII, many emerged from the rubble of defeat wondering how they'd been fooled; blaming their leaders or the military for excess, ignorance, cruelty & genocide. Some falsely claimed to have always been anti-fascist (some weasels claimed active resistance when instead they'd prospered as toadying sycophants). As many ignore horrors, we all suffer escalating indignities. I believe it's important to work for peace, with our God(s) & ourselves.

University: Who Pays?

Many parts of Europe are "reforming" their educational fees systems; seeking to assess higher tuition fees for university. (In Sweden, where I live, university students still pay no tuition fees). Educational access to all who are qualified, regardless of family wealth, is a worthy goal threatened by high tuition fees.

There are assorted good arguments for raising tuition, but good arguments against the practice are often unheard. Many functions of university, most university costs and investments, have little or nothing to do with undergraduate education. Why should prospective students pay?

The people making the decisions, politicians and others throughout society, have already received heavily subsidized education. Many of their arguments for "students paying their way" are also relevant to their own educational backgrounds. Why not consider retroactive cost assessment? Noisy proponents of higher fees can themselves "pay their way" - reducing higher education costs for teenagers.

[When I submitted this letter to The Independent, they cut out the last paragraph - perhaps guiltily unwilling to advocate repaying the educational benefits editors had themselves received.]

Chalmers Johnson, RIP

Chalmers Johnson is dead at 79. The world has lost a great voice. He was a person who thought & fought prolifically, a modern Thomas Paine. This note is not eulogy or panegyric - I didn't know Chal well enough; he was a brilliant policy analyst; he was hard-working, inspired & pugnacious; he was a great mentor; and he regularly irritated the petty powerful. If only our world had hundreds such!

Life as an Outsider

I never liked the Bush Declaration: "You're either with us - or against us."

The 1987 film "Wall Street" (rewatched last night) had one early takeaway line: "If you're not inside, you are outside."

In the USA now, the top 1% hold 34% of the nation’s wealth; the bottom 40% own nothing (and the bottom 50% hold just 2.5%)...

Too many in America fail to recognize: they have become outsiders. A feeding frenzy is going on; they're not invited - they are obedient servants or in danger of being consumed.

Social services insure the rich by maintaining civilization. Hoodlum society has high costs and terrible dangers for the wealthy. Social investments are important!

Validation & Fellowship

It feels good to receive dozens of birthday greetings. Small niceties can be valuable. I've lived thirty years as a foreigner, and appreciate smiles and greetings and hospitality as many others can't. I've been fortunate, cultivating good lifestyle & integrity. The process of achieving many personal goals has developed composure to wholeheartedly delight with others at their joys. My family has been fundamentally healthy. Challenges, pain & perplexities are always near at hand; such is life. Yumbo!

Paying for Corporate Crime

Collusion in the airline industry led today to fines of over US$1 billion. Airlines have already been fined more than US$1.5 billion by the USA for fixing fuel surcharges.

This problem has many dimensions, but a key facet is who should pay. Corporate bonuses and salaries have been "earned" (and paid) based on fraud & illegal activity.

Governments can shake down corporations: fishing for revenues, overcharging for licenses, reinterpreting rules & changing laws to bolster treasuries or aggrandize crusading individuals. Arrogant corporations & government both can gouge consumer-citizens. We little people seem pawns in a bigger game.

Corporate executives & bankers enjoy a system where "white collar crime" brings great personal reward at little personal risk. This stinking system must change.

Savage

"The Muslims are the new Redskin. We Americans occupy, subjugate and take responsibility for their lands & resources. We're working to help them. It's criminal that our brave men & women doing military service are being injured and killed."
        -- Millennium meme of Right America

Just Government

"Just government has nothing to hide."
      -- Dr. Bruce Henry Lambert

Watching Civility Burn

Firefighters from South Fulton (Tennessee, USA) recently watched Gene Cranick's home burn down; they refused to assist since the owner hadn't paid $75 protection money.

The city requires rural residents to pay in advance for protection. Attempts on the spot to pay - after the fire began - were refused. Fire crews only responded to limit the fire's wider spread, the neighbor next door had paid the protection fee.

Is this proper? Many Americans side with the fire services, with comments such as: "Dude should have paid; otherwise it ain't fair for those who did pay." or "Isn't his family worth $6.25 a month." and also "When firemen are busy saving the home of a freeloader, they can't protect those properly contracted for services."

While this case may be otherwise, many libertarians proclaim individualism, fighting against taxation, yet eagerly use social services if they're allowed. Those who turn their backs on society & civility shoulder risk. But Darwin's dog-eat-dog world is harsh; when misfortune appears, it's best to have help.

Rick Sanchez - RIP

CNN anchorman Rick Sanchez was fired today from his network after Pete Dominick's satellite radio interview labeled Jon Stewart a minority:

RS: "C'mon. How is he a minority?"

PD: "He's Jewish."

RS: "Yeah, very powerless people." [laughs]

PD: "Whoa."

RS: "You're such a minority. I mean, you know. Please. What? Are you kidding?"

PD: "You're telling me that -- "

RS: "I'm telling you that everybody who runs CNN is a lot like Stewart. And a lot of people who run all the other networks are a lot like Stewart. And to imply that somehow they, the people in this country who are Jewish are oppressed minorities? Yeah."

---------------
Revolting comment! Bye Rick. Anyhow, your reports ran too right-wing for my taste.

Imperialist Folly

"It matters not whom we elect. The Pentagon and the military contractors call the shots. The title 'Commander in Chief' is ceremonial, like 'Employee of the Month' at your local Burger King..."
    --   Michael Moore    (full text: "Dwight Was Right")


Americans serve corporate masters ... pushing the world to similar slavery.

Take a Haiku

Turn your TV off
Leave those small minded bigots
Yelling to themselves

How much have I missed?
TV commercials unwatched
An uncounted glut

Clever talking head
TV's reasonable voice?
Or corporate shill?

Mainstream media
Profits in monitoring
Our stupid decay

Bring U.S. Troops Home

Summer & Laughing

Funny things are all about
For those who listen
I heard a toddler lecture
His grandma
Super serious!
I could smile
Grannie couldn't

Funny things are all around
For those who'll see
I saw a bird nest
In a Yankee's cap
I ain't no fan
My heart gladdened

Funny things are near at hand
For those with time to feel
Laughter tinkled
Through my open window
I felt happy
...

The Dream of Obama

Take a look at the Election Day victory speech of Barack Obama:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJfGx4G8tjo

Hope expressed by the crowd, and by the President-elect, is gone. It seems so long ago. "The Dream" remained ephemeral. Not much has changed in America's foreign wars. Most Americans remain under the boot of corporate systems, knowing not what keeps them down. Ultra-right extremist activism continues to subvert the Middle East and the USA.

Obama spoke well prior to taking office, his acts since then are feeble. His failure to inspire America is heartbreaking.

Jesse Hagopian was a public elementary school teacher in South East Washington, D.C. who complains (link here) of political mischief:

"...the cynicism of our nation’s ability to bomb children halfway around the world but not able care for them in the shadow of the White House. Soon too, it became apparent in all of the No Child Left Behind rhetoric about accountability that I was being asked, from inside of the classroom, to correct for all of the mistaken priorities of the politicians."

Fat cat politicians, bloated oil executives, rogue bankers and shifty defense contractors share riches... while public school teachers getting minimal resources are blamed for America's decline...

-------------------
Excellent comments here:
When Did Teachers Become Bums?

Insurance Marketing

Allstate Insurance: the Mayhem Campaign is creepy. Total protection -- if it were possible, great... but impossible, and unaffordable. Thanks for the disquiet -- - not.

Wax Poetica

Wax Poetica
by Genki

The joys of living
Too often overlooked
Fun is simple
Underrated

What's the Business of Leisure?
Opportunities abound
Free time increasing
Yet unstructured living
offers challenge

Patterning enthralls
Planning predominates
Yet try hang loose attitude
Makes all weather good weather
Hawaiian climate

Living. or:
Living it up?
Living large?
Each a growth possibility
But best is simple
Concentration
Awareness

Exercize
Stretch
Be.

Local enthusiasm
Move, or don't
...maybe sleep
Yet appreciate:
this chance now
is fleeting
Dig deep
Admire
Living art
An extra breath or two
Here & there
Adds into a Life
Spiritual
b4u no it

Terrorist Agents?

Disguised foreign agents infiltrated USA communities. Pundits joke of meager risk to important intelligence. We uncomfortably recognize the familiar is not as it seems. An extensive admitted conspiracy is declared ended via government negotiation; we’re stung by deceit. How many other such people remain undetected, perhaps trained to kill? Such people can control the émigré community or widely destabilize. Should illegal agents or assassins be so quickly released? Speedy extradition is insufficient deterrence to criminal espionage. The face of terror remains among us, a young family on a shaded street, true mission unknown.

Promises, Promises

Now visiting the USA. I quickly notice consumers should exercise great caution. Many services are scams. Expensive pitfalls are everywhere.

I notice a strong tendency to over-promise. In advertisements and speeches we're promised much, but delivery is often much more feeble.

American people are accustomed to being fleeced. Nobody wishes to be labeled a sucker or schmuck, yet as sheeple bleat of cheating, we allow it to happen again.

Politicians, financial service firms, military recruiters: all adept at the flim flam...

Yankee Stay Home

USA warfare and overseas occupation in Afghanistan and Iraq must stop. The "helpful hand" of the Yankee is not. Our forces are bumbling and deadly; the people of those nations don't want our solutions; our own nation has become improverished by foolish wars and lack of attention to domestic infrastructural gaps.

Thousands have died. Let's not sacrifice more. Bring home the US Armed Forces.

President Obama and other scheming weasel politicians who fail to promote peace should never be reelected.

Those voting against the Obey-McGovern-Jones amendment (that sought to schedule a wind-down in Afghanistan) are wasting American money & lives. Vote them out of office.

Health Insurance is not Health Care

Health insurance is not health care.
We suffer.

False promises add more suffering.

Korean Hostilities Ignored

Received this morning from the Korea Tourism Organization LA Office (Newsletter):
"Please be assured that it is completely safe for foreign visitors to enjoy their tour in South Korea even though there is a bit of tension between South and North Korea over the sinking of a South Korean ship. A daily average of 20,000 foreigners continue to visit Korea without any inconvenience or exposure to any type of harm. If you have any questions about the safety of traveling in Korea, please feel free to contact us, and we will do our best to provide you with the most accurate information. Thank you."

I was in South Korea last week, and the great majority of people are (as typically) unconcerned about the possibilities of sudden hostilities.

This does not mean there's no danger. Most people in Seoul and throughout South Korea live with strong urgency, busy being busy; onward & upward, often to unknown purpose. "Groupthink" is strong. Many cultures systemically ignore or neglect warnings & problems, but the security threat on the Korean peninsula is substantial. If trouble occurs, the foreign tourist is highly exposed, without good survival tools, liable to harm from any direction.

North Korea is unpredictable, and KTO's "bit of tension" could suddenly erupt into shooting or invasion. As mentioned, I was there last week. But make no mistake, there's danger of death or injury; the threat is recently elevated.

Settlers or Squatters?

Settlers or Squatters?
Imposing a New Order.
Grandma is perplexed

New maps, new place names
Refashioned by media
We're redeveloped.

Tribal heritage
Vies with consumer mindspace
I go to the mall.

The Mavi Marmara Massacre

Israeli commandos have stormed a group of ships bringing aid to the people of Gaza. Many people on board the Mavi Marmara were killed; hundreds more are now held in Israeli custody. It seems they tried to resist highly-armed commandos forcibly boarding their ship underway in the Mediterranean Sea. In the USA we're told the ship passengers are activists, radicals, militants and terrorists... as are the people of Gaza. Welcome to the land of spin. Yes, we live in spin.

Squatting in Arizona

Regulate
Human migration?
Is it proper a community restricts access to its resources?

"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."

These words are not part of the International Declaration of Human Rights, or the U.S. Constitution, but are from a sonnet contributed in 1883 by 34-year old Emma Lazarus toward building New York's Statue of Liberty. The poem offers "world-wide welcome" for the homeless. So are communities in the USA now obligated to accept all comers?

I don't think so.

Miss Emma had no authority to open the land to everyone. At that time, many indigenous communities and nations within the Americas were being forcibly subdued, destroyed or purged. Large-scale ethnic cleansing was taking place; settlers were wanted to repopulate native territories. Asian and "colored" prospective settlers were discouraged.

Another dimension is continuing community investment since colonization. Community members invest in roads, bridges and other infrastructure through taxes. Some provide time & sweat, some are killed for defense. When sacrifice is disregarded, people become discouraged from participation and community-building. Big government for big corporate interests has sucked the vitality of local communities. Americans are taxed to support wars in the Middle East and Asia; they are taxed to bailout giant corporations, while their own communities are dismantled, services cut, resources extracted. Expect some people to fight - protecting the little they have.

Snatch

The Poet snatches time
As focus, appreciation, reverie...
Give way to work,
cleaning, grooming,
social camaraderie,
family affairs

The Poet snatches time
To describe, interpret, transcribe
Beauty of Living
Challenge

Perhaps for a time-snatcher
Moments of Appreciation
Become longer or more frequent.
But focus, joy and emotions
Are experienced by all
Natural understanding.