The Stink Ain't Only Texas

Official comments on the Sandra Bland death in police custody must be doubted.

Why after three days was this woman still jailed? The problem's much deeper than one aggressive & inexperienced cop, or a suddenly depressive woman.

We've all seen smirking cops in the dramas: "Yo' ass is Ours!" they grin, while the spectre of Guantanamo's never-ending-torture-without-charges colors each interaction.

How many days before anyone would feel abandoned, alone, and abused? The police squad seeks now to portray themselves as reasonable. Their first dashcam video, amateurishly edited, shows the cop declaring her under arrest while she's still in her car, with no arrest charge stated. She didn't kick him through a closed door. But shameless police jailed her 3+ days...

Why didn't one of the army of reasonable cops watch that dashcam video and release Sandy Bland? They forced her to stew, and "guilt" was inconsequential.

From one arbitrary "lawful order" to another -- Sandy Bland was maltreated & strung-up by the American police state. One of many many abused people.

84-yr old 'jaywalker' Kang Wong beaten in NYC  [more]

Understand Sandra Bland?

A lively young woman, rousted & jailed in Texas for not signalling a turn, is now dead.

Sandy Bland was a newly-hired administrator for the Prairie View A&M University alumni association. The 2009 graduate was to be an ambassador & liaison to students. But her return to town became a nightmare when she failed to quickly & wholly obey a demanding cop at a traffic stop. Brand was ultimately arrested, forced from her car, and locked up for "assaulting a law officer" -- though subsequent dashcam footage showed her arrest stemmed from police brutality (link)

Grovel to the badge & accept American police state bullying!?
Sandy expected justice & proper legal procedure.

Sandra Bland was soon mysteriously dead in a grubby Texas jail. RIP

Toxic Toshiba

Corporate governance took two major hits this week, as Samsung agreed an insider-friendly merger within Korea over substantial opposition, and Toshiba in Japan admitted six years of "overstating profits" (deliberate accounting fraud of at least 1500億円 = more than US$1.2 billion).

When convenient, both Japan & Korea still play as "weak little brother" -- unseemly & absurd if evaluating multinational public corporations with global ownership. Samsung group generated at least US$325 billion in 2013 sales. Japanese blue chip Toshiba now mirrors Olympus as incapable of basic arithmetic, sneaky & corrupt. 

A few Toshiba executives agreeing to resign is ridiculous; this should attract severe criminal punishment. The deception was systematic and long term, damaging Japan's credibility.

Go to any accounting department in Japan and watch them calculate every yen, multiple times, in a horrendous bureaucracy. Dozens of dirty Toshiba employees & corporate auditors should be liable for criminal charges. They should serve time in prison alongside TEPCO executives and government regulators responsible for Fukushima's nuclear pollution.

But Japan's corruption, like the US and it's dirty financial system, will likely ignore these crimes. Thousands of people are locked-up for minor crimes, but big criminals remain free. Major US war criminals continue to travel & talk shit. It's a fucked-up world.

Brazil again in 2020

Nobody yet officially says the 2020 Olympics scheduled for Tokyo are impossible.

But plans for the main stadium have been shredded -- to start again early next year as a "blank canvas"

Japan's antinuclear contingent is mostly marginalized & ignored, but the heavily damaged nuclear storage at Fukushima Daiichi remains unstable. Terrible reality could surely eclipse the dirtiest of nightmares in the next five years -- with another earthquake or tsunami inescapably poisoning a huge region of the world.

What's Hillary Done?

Hillary Rodham Clinton has been near the center of American power since 1992, that's twenty-three years. She talks fancy, but the bottom line = she ain't done much good.

She's been in the White House for eight years, a U.S. Senator, and America's Secretary of State. She gives a lot of speeches and she's worked hard to get rich. Hillary's been at the forefront of power throughout dozens of blunders and more than a generation of reform efforts. She's entrenched power elite -- uninterested in change.

Hillary whores for Israel.

As President, she'll soon commence open war on Syria & Iran.

Hillary Clinton is typical of many politicians: highly ambitious, but unmotivated to actually work in public service. In the early 1990s she tried laudable health care reforms but failed (though both House & Senate were controlled by Democrats). Since then, she's done damn little noteworthy. Don't expect if  President she'll do anything for you ...
Hillary Clinton's interests are elsewhere.

Bureaucracy, Spying & Data Security

Data breach (link) at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management releases detailed financial & personal information about 21.5 million American federal employees, their families, etc.

This should come as no surprise.

The key 'takeaway' on US federal spying from Ed Snowden's whistleblowing was that American bureaucracy has run amok - and cannot properly protect the vast information gathered.

Bureaucrats sadly once again do more harm than good.

Analysts failed to properly process numerous warnings and indicators leading up to the devastation of 9/11. Our ineffective National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice kept her job -- whining "nobody could've predicted...?" -- when she should've been fired in disgrace (along with Bush & Cheney).

Now its clear senseless bureaucrats have weakened the American nation, perhaps even critically crippling our staffing for decades. In the wrong hands, federal employee career information and private data is a time bomb.

Wherever possible, resist supplying more info about anything.
Assume all private data is now available to anyone who'll pay.
   TRAGIC + STUPID !

Thousandth Post: 1000 musings

Celebrating 1000 posts published!

Uncomplicated premise to these publications: simple reflections

But what motivates composition?

Typically, sensing something wrong draws me to compose.

And though writing of petty personal troubles might offer catharsis, and may be easier to read, I continue writing about bigger problems. Macro problems.

Global problems such as war, peace & prosperity deserve & demand analysis - but most citizens of our democratic societies are too busy or otherwise unable to scrutinize what's going on.

People have assorted dispositions. I contentedly watch daft entertainment, but viscerally & quickly feel unhappy watching TV shows "Friends" or "Seinfeld" -- I sense presumption and some premise I reject. Yet those shows attract many viewers; I wish each and every one of them great good luck.

Boredom is a powerfully active force, however unruly.  
There's too much waste in our societies.
Each of us with many energies must find or develop a suitable platform, a life milieu.

But what of the seemingly endless wars being waged from the USA? How can we characterize the US war in Vietnam, with involuntary servitude of military draft: Oops? Something better forgotten?

The very many war casualties are Very Real. Dead. Maimed. Deeply disturbed. And it continues: ragged holes in many families; great potential smothered; escalating costs. Some people who set us on that military path profited greatly. Are they criminals? Was each leader well-meaning? Were their selfish goals justifiable in combination with the sacrifice they demanded from others? Should such militarists have been allowed influence over teenagers? Were our dirty efforts in Vietnam all a mistake?

I don't know the answers.

Welcome AIIB (update)

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, AIIB, (亚洲基础设施投资银行 or 亚投行) had their official signing ceremony today.

Read here (link) about bitter bickering behind the launch.

We wish them well. Generally, more capital investments are highly welcome, especially in the poorest parts of the world.

The USA and Japan have thus far refused to participate - believing the new AIIB rivals their own entrenched leverage over the World Bank / IBRD and Asian Development Bank. But although the US urged its allies to spurn & boycott the new bank, most signed-up. Perhaps most notably, even Israel ignored Uncle Sam's guidance and turned its back on America.

Other nations perhaps realize that the USA has greatly overextended its resources & talent. American towns and cities are beggared by endless foreign wars. Over-reliance on the US defense industry to drive the economy has resulted in entrenched corruption and underinvestment in education and domestic infrastructure. Key human capital has been sidelined by incestuous linkages between US politicians, military, and heavy industry.

It's a momentous day - (sad too!) - a shift in Great Power relationships.

Bugging & Spying by USA

How are smiles by America's leaders reconciled with news of US targeted infiltration & spying on the German Chancellor, the French President, and many other national leaders?

America must be treated as a poisonous lizard.

Now stating "We do not and will not spy on you" is beyond belief. Two months later, or three years from now, when policies diverge, the bugs & dirty tricks are again activated.

This spying is corrosive, foolhardy, and not in America's best interest. Defense and high-tech security firms benefit; the rest of us flounder in distrust and cynicism.

Obama encourages key ally Merkel. Unknown others snooped on  her phones.

MegaMedia: Behind the Screen

Giant corporate media or MegaMedia

® Media

Know what it is - - Know your enemy!

Last January 11 (2015) huge anti-racist rallies took place around the world. More than three million marched in France triggered by terrorist murders at Charie Hebdo publishing. The largest rally was a memorial service condemning intolerance, racism and fascism in Paris. People were out in the streets for "la grande marche républicaine organisée à Paris en hommage aux 17 victimes des trois jours de terreur qu’a connue la France."

Look for the photos of politicians supposedly "leading" the 11 January march -- maybe you saw such images earlier. Published photos show a line of politicians in Paris with many behind them. Other Paris photos show huge crowds. But these are very different venues. The "leaders" only posed for a photo-op on a controlled street, for carefully staged camera angles.

Angle control
See Full-scale scam photo here !  (link source: Michel Euler, AP)

Here's more on the press scandal:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lb9q-E8_VBs

Each reporter who sold the bogus camera angle promoted fraud.

Corporate media managed to keep most attention away from itself (never admitting collusion or deceit), writing instead of how US leaders were sorely missed. We learn Israeli PM Netanyahu invited himself to the gathering, forced his way to the front, and waved grandly at fictional fans (link), to arrogate personal attention. But of course the day was not about politicians, or US leadership, or fatty Netanyahu, or the dirty press corps - but rather for democracy and toleration of different peoples. Any true message was effectively lost -- hijacked by media discussing personalities and power politics. Mega-media serves its owners: mega-conglomerates. Militaristic corporations push TPP, TPA, endless wars, and nuclear power down our throats because they're positioned to profit. End of story.

® Media

Corporate restaurants McDonalds, Jack in the Box, and KFC fast food outlets shouldn't supply all your nourishment - it's unhealthy.

It's the same for corporate media - do not rely on huge megabusiness to supply proper unadulterated mind food.  To get only that shit is worse than insufficient and dizzying - corporate media has purposeful design: it's corruptive poison!

® Media = Corporate DDT = deadly to humans

Fast Track Steamroller

There is no Fast Track -- the whole effort's by definition already a sell-out to industry.

Why should global-level multinational corporations be allowed to negotiate where we citizens are kept in the dark? Industry pays-off politicians and bureaucrats with a "revolving door" of new jobs and sweet corruption.

Obama and his cronies are dirty rotten scoundrels spitting on democracy.

Don't vote for politicos supporting fast-track. They're clearly working for another team, and actively working against you!

Many Clinton, Bush & Obama stooges work now for your enemy...

X-Project Money for Your idea

Korea has launched the X-Project (X-프로젝트), offering ₩5 million plus the Science Minister's Prize for the question judged most capable of spurring future development.

A total of 30 million Korean won will be awarded, with the subsequent goal to launch 100 government-funded research projects to progress in the suggested directions.

A good example is the question posed by 3-year old Jennifer Land in 1943, vacationing with her family. Photos then required a photography lab for developing. "Why can't I see the pictures now?" Jenny demanded. The question pushed her Dad, Edwin Land, to work toward instant film that became the Polaroid camera.

Anyhow, Korea believes itself serious about gathering ideas.
Something bothering you?  One quick suggestion can Win Money !

Korean X-Project

http://xproject.kr

https://www.nextx.kr

"본인인증글로 등록하시려면 로그인 하여 주십시오."

Further steps?
Korea's Science & Technology Policy Institute  STEPI
Public Relations:  suna84@stepi.re.kr
President Jong-Guk Song    jksong@stepi.re.kr

"Why can't Korea open the X-Project to all ideas?" 
Korea's X-Project won't allow Jenny Land to ask a question...

Extrajudicial Killing

The United States of America illegally kills many people overseas in undeclared wars. American politicians and technocrats rain death upon unsuspecting civilians with the flimsiest of reasoning. Sometimes they kill activists and combatants, but when murdering others they generate the seeds for hatred and certain future problems. Only the arms & munition dealers are happy...

But all the murders are not far away. Many are within the USA, when Mr. Policeman beats a sassy colored man to death, shoots a fleeing suspect in the back, or chokes the life from someone dismayed to be confronted.

Look at the spaces depicted on the link below. All are places where our public servants summarily terminated a fellow citizen.

Extrajudicial killing -- a growing Amerikkkan tragedy !

Officer involved ... (link)

Absolute Authority

Have you ever questioned authority?  Maybe didn't follow directions fully? Perhaps you colored outside the lines?

Obey - or suffer consequences !

At a recent high school graduation in the state of Mississippi, USA, Superintendent of Schools Jay Foster requested the crowd hold its cheers and clapping till the ceremony concluded (link). Graduates were introduced and crossed the stage one-by-one.

Then one girl's family spontaneously cheered for her -- Big mistake.

Superintendent Foster had the auditorium security guards forcibly evict the disobedient quartet. Police were contacted, and the four were arrested for disorderly conduct -- they now face up to six months jail time and possible fines of US$500.

Joy turned to woe -- 'cause they didn't OBEY.

Authoritarianistic Amerika:  Free the "Festive Four"

Remember:  "Mississippi" has four i


Of course, it's easier to command, control & administer when everyone acts identically. But America ain't never been a nation aimed at uniform consistency. Bravo Diversity!  Much of America's greatness grew from variety -- not accepting life as mindless clones. America's become tyrannized; corralled chickens...

Boss expects full Obedience - see news report here (link)

MERS & KOMERS

Pandemic disease is a very real threat to modern societies. Yes, a large proportion of mankind may suddenly die. But initial survivors will struggle with poor social foundations, little faith and poorly developed purpose.

Disruption and doubt are poisons. Yet increased authoritarianism brings more suspicion of government.  As I've noted before (link), our communities are increasingly fragmented - people silo themselves in fortified homes, scared of their neighbors and distrustful of authority.

It's essential to build good community foundations now - in times of relative prosperity and freedom.

--------------------------------

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a growing public health threat around the world. There's now a persistent outbreak in South Korea, where 30 have contracted the illness and two have died (as of today). More than 1300 people are just now forcibly isolated or quarantined by the South Korean government.

More information is unavailable.

What Korean cities, and what neighborhoods, are affected? (link) It's secret.

Korea is concerned about their reputation & global image. Everywhere hopes to avoid bad publicity and a drop in tourism. But surely there comes a point where openness & transparency is essential - where lack of information increases danger.

There's conjecture (link) the Korean outbreak is a new strain or mutation of the deadly MERS coronavirus which is much more easily transmitted. Secrecy stemming from concerns over economic impact hampers research.

Is the growing epidemic in Korea a new pathogen? If so, it could be labeled
  Komers  =  KOrean Middle East Respiratory Syndrome

Those who remember the Swine Flu (H1N1 influenza A) epidemic of 2009 may recall Israel and Korea labeling the illness "Mexican Flu" ... an unwelcome slur on Mexico! Will Korea now suffer similar mistrust?

=============
Some reported problems (link) with identification and control of this MERS-CoV pathogen stem from biological piracy accusations. Early Saudi samples shared with a Dutch university lab lacked a comprehensive "Materials Transfer Agreement" -- the Dutchies patented the genetic sequence and promptly contracted further work to antiviral and vaccine corporations.

American Shame

The USA Patriot Act is used for mass surveillance and heavy-handed repression; the law gave secret weapons to unelected shadowy operatives beyond oversight. This poisons the patriotic process - it's anti-democratic and unconstitutional.

The USA Freedom Act still allows spying; the owner class (domestic & foreign) is given freedom to shit on the other 99% of us.

Scummy names insult us. The New York Times even comments (link), publicly recording for posterity that they recognize colorful legal titles dupe & make fun of us.

American lawmakers are shameless, Orwellian scum.

Sweden Shame

Julian Assange has been under grave threat since founding Wikileaks in late 2006.

Wikileaks promised to open a window onto high-level corruption and war crimes, and they hugely succeeded. The internet suddenly became a true & real threat to elite & powerful "leaders" around the globe. Wikileaks turned a spotlight on dirty people beyond law who previously could commit high crimes, even genocide, but simply growl "Fuck You" and retreat to their palaces and ill-gotten wealth.

But after taking on Swiss banking corruption, collateral murder by the "Coalition of the Willing" in Afghanistan, and US diplomatic indiscretions, for the past five years Wikileaks has been very quiet.

Why?

Because Julian Assange has been run to ground and effectively silenced by the Swedish Prosecution Authority, Åklagarmyndigheten. Assange is officially sought for suspected rape, three cases of sexual molestation and illegal coercion.

There's no way we can judge here if Assange is guilty of these terrible crimes. In parallel to pissing-off the globally powerful, did Assange suddenly become a despicable sexual predator? His reputation has been tarred and he's effectively been quieted... surely convenient for many far-worse scum. Is Assange guilty or innocent - who knows?

What we can know is Sweden has responded poorly.

The Assange case is shameful to Sweden for many reasons. Perhaps the easiest and clearest criticism is in a simple timeline:

2010 Aug 11
Assange arrives in Sweden amidst huge political notoriety.
Assange stays with "Miss A" at her apartment.

2010 Aug 14
Assange gives a public lecture in tumultuous international limelight. Afterward he returns to the apartment of "Miss A" - that night there's sexual activity between the two parties.

Assange continues to stay at the apartment over subsequent days.

2010 Aug 17
Assange reportedly has sex with ''Miss W'' - a woman he met at the August 14 seminar.

2010 Aug 18-19-20
Sometime over these days, the two women meet and discuss their sexual encounters with Assange.

2010 Aug 20
The Swedish Prosecutor's Office issues an arrest warrant against Assange for two separate allegations- one of rape and one for molestation. Assange is in Sweden but he is not arrested.

2010 Aug 21
The arrest warrant is withdrawn; the molestation charge remains. 

2010 Aug 31
Assange is questioned by police in Stockholm and formally told of the allegation(s) against him; Assange denies wrongdoing (link) and submits these were consensual sexual encounters. Is this a smear campaign against Assange?

2010 Aug 31 to Sept 27
Assange stays in Sweden. Public opinion is polarized: did the 39-year old became a sudden sexual predator? Wikileaks is considered under attack.

2010 Sept 27
Assange departs Sweden for the UK.
Åklagarmyndigheten later issues an arrest warrant for Assange.

The sordid tale still continues... 

One key question for Swedish justice officials:
In 40 days between 18 Aug and 27 Sept 2010, when Assange was in Sweden, he could have been arrested for any crimes. The Swedish Prosecution Authority chronology (link) manages to evade the fact that 40+ days passed when Sweden failed to provide justice for anyone -- but they did manage to shut-up Assange. Dictators, murderers and the ultra-corrupt are surely grateful!

Nonproliferation?

Many years ago I learned in school that most states holding nuclear weapons have agreed in theory to cut back; in exchange, the many states without nuclear weapons promised not to build them. The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) entered into force in 1970.

But the nuclear states have failed to reduce their arsenals, and instead use their nuclear status to aggressively dictate their vision of a New World Order.

Certain states claim "Permanent" world-ruler status at the United Nations Security Council, though unelected. Many smaller states and leaders recognize they've been hoodwinked and marginalized.

The situation is unsustainable. The 2015 NPT Review Conference collapsed without progress, and Israel, India, Pakistan have still not signed the NPT (North Korea signed but later withdrew). Nuclear weapons must be eliminated; the big bad nuclear states must do more for disarmament -- as promised.

Let's expand the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones. Why can't Japan pledge to be nuclear-weapon-free? Where is the often progressive Swedish government? 

Widen the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones !   (link)

Korean Walk for Peace

Last weekend a women's group of prominent activists walked to the Korean border, drawing attention to more than 60 years of hostilities.

Gloria Steinem, Nobel Peace Prize laureates Mairead Maguire & Leymah Gbowee, Code Pink co-founder Medea Benjamin, and dozens of others beg us to reconsider Korea's long & tragic militarization.

https://www.womencrossdmz.org

The women planned to walk across the border. But the South Korean government (and American controllers) wanted to manipulate the news images, so only allowed them across in a bus. South Korea's government bullshit claim (quote) was their forces "could not guarantee the activists’ safety" unless they arrived by bus -- but these activists had traveled via North Korea, where surely there's no security guarantee.

South Korea's military & US Military Command
Don't want peace. 

Peacetime militarists lose budget, power, and perhaps their jobs.

Europe Values Peace

Dark & selfish interests would like Europe to fall apart.

There'd be much more defense spending, and many more huge weapons sales if neighbor fights neighbor!

The USA, Russia and major Asian countries would each individually prefer free reign over world affairs. But  they're now counterbalanced by the EU, and semi-secretly see the European Union as their enemy.

Big voracious corporations can more easily rape & pillage the small individual nations of Europe - but the EU in combination challenges crony capitalism.

Regressive forces not only want to, but work to highlight our differences and frictions. They blossom on decay, propagandizing the belligerence business.

In a Europe with low borders we now enjoy huge economies-of-scale and lower transaction costs.

But I was sitting recently with a group of bourgeois friends who'd throw away our huge gains. "Get Sweden out of the EU" they say, with flashing eyes!

Why?

Because everyday now they must confront beggars: pitiful and aggressive people who've recently come to Sweden from elsewhere in Europe.

Our leadership must address this problem. There's no automatic right to do business on the street without a license. We're typically prohibited from camping in public parks and shitting among the bushes. The beggars' streetside piles of pitiful possessions could easily mask bombs planted by a terrorist.

We've no knowledge of beggar numbers.

Our society must set & enforce rules for sidewalk entrepreneurs. Citizens are registered, and visitor-entrepreneurs should be registered as well, especially those most in need. The future of Europe is endangered.

Fucked Fast Track

We live in a world where our representatives are powerless.

Democracy is kept in the dark.

Fast Track gives corporate insiders the right and opportunity to (pardon me) fuck us up the ass. And they do.

We know nothing of TPP - because it's secret.

Wake up dunderheads - you're being reamed.

"We Are Many"

I've not yet seen the Amirani film "We Are Many" opening today.

But look at the trailer (here) and recognize:
 we're still being shat upon.

Who created the "Coalition of the Willing" Weasels?
We no longer must watch war leaders Bush, Cheney, Rice, Blair, on corporate media everyday. But they remain wealthy and at large.

Worse, their hidden friends & allies continue to manipulate a new generation of delinquent leaders.

Be Sure: We're still jerked by the same puppet-masters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOpa8y2TIy8

Don't Buy Shit

Major meatpackers join sweatshops & convict labor operations to celebrate a WTO finding: labels mean restraint of trade.

Because consumers don't buy as much shithole products -- corporate interests demand we stop labeling details of origin.

But consumers can fight back:
Where's this food from?

Don't Know?   Say No.

Leave that shit on the shelf.

Fast Track NO: Inside Track

Fast Track legislation on secret trade deals guts protective laws. Corporate giants and big capital, free to do much as they wish, can claim predictive damages via investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS). They'll operate beyond law.

Corporate powers were already granted Inside Track with plush seats at the top secret bargaining table -- why? -- while we're largely kept in the dark?

Swindler-leaders, Republican & Democrat, offer slavers a perpetual inside track to dominate and control. President Obama's not stupid, he's not naive; Obama's comfortably in bed with swindlers!

Megacorps® are offered our future.
Banksters and lawyers are given our heart.
Our economy & nation cannot bow to these fuckers.

The scum of Enron, the Deepwater Horizon polluters Halliburton & BP, the corrupting riches of the mafia, yakuza and triads, can't be awarded permanent world control.

R U Dinji / Dingy?

Yankee & Co. imprison, torture, and kill without trial or remorse.

Such acts are unjust and criminal. But the world does little or nothing to stop the blatant outrage and carnage.

Guantanamo prison was condemned as outrageous by US Sen. Barack Obama, but since the dude achieved the Presidency it ain't been fixed.

The "evil" of Guantanamo? It's bad PR - a snapshot of fascist power.

US drone missiles kill thousands of people. Most drone strikes are far from any battlefield - we now create battlefields anywhere & wherever convenient to us. Our enemy does likewise.

The killed and maimed are depicted as dinji. We don't see fresh & shiny children, bright eyed kids enjoying play or fun or discovery. We're shown dingy dusty angles at the end-of-the-world, as if pre-modern massacres.

The dinji / dingy people are unfortunate pitiful victims.
Who are the dinji?  You, me & all but a chosen few ...

Killing Peasants

There's no back-story available for people we kill with drones. Many hundreds, perhaps thousands of people enjoying innocent quiet lives are rudely violated when we rain death & destruction upon them (perhaps someone we hate may be passing nearby).

America's drone killings are criminal... such crime threatens us all.

Just dusty peasants, whose blood soaks into arid empty lands?

TPP - Tainted Privately Putrid

The top-secret TPP was given a sharp stick up its arse by the US Senate, which refused to allow the Executive Branch ability to "fast track" its secret trade negotiations.

We'll soon hear how Senators are deeply concerned about their essential need to debate key concessions, and how public transparency should be required.

Actually, it's likely more Senate members want access to the corrupt money underlying the treaty process. Many of these individuals will shut up & climb onboard if given a chunk of the wealth.

Just now, however, it's considered an important defeat against the
Tainted Privately Putrid - - - TPP treaty
Hurrah!

There's NO good reason trade deliberations should be kept secretly hidden from public review!

stopsecretcontracts.org

Mob Mentality

Exclusionism is an abiding part of life in Korea & Japan. If somewhat or somehow different, you're sure to be attacked. Anyone not born in those places is a perpetual outsider. Those with uncommon heritage (for example, a multicultural homelife) are regularly treated shabbily, regardless of linguistic or cultural abilities. You sin if different.

"The nail that sticks up gets pounded down" is a Japanese saying applying as often in Korea.


Many peoples share group mentality, and gang-up on anyone different. But competition for jobs and resources will surely hurt nations and regions smothering creativity. To train everyone simply to follow orders, and mimic others, is surely a path to disaster.

Does stifling diversity hold back Japan & Korea very much?  It's massively costly! ... Homogeneity may allow some pitiful common folk to feel better about themselves, but we need creative & entrepreneurial communities to supply jobs and fuel well-being.

Read here on Jasmine Lee, "One Of The Most Hated Women In Korea"
(article above and Wikipeda link)

UK Rejects Weasels

The UK election results are still not wholly reported, but one clear result: the Liberal Democrats were crushed.

This is the party whose weasel leadership joined in coalition with the Conservatives to rule the UK since 2010. The Liberal Democrats broke their promises to voters, to youth and the future, and have been justly routed & reamed.

People expect little from the Conservative Party. But the Lib Dems were a voice of reason before their sellout. Nick Clegg became Deputy Prime Minister for five years, and got to hobnob with fancy folk, but he sold-out his people. Clegg promised repeatedly to abolish university fees - but instead jacked-up fees horrifically (after he & his generation paid little or nothing). Lib Dems vows of "Fairness" were hypocrisy & deceit.

Clegg, his opportunist colleagues, and The Right Honourable Lord Ashdown now bear finery and flattery as rejected losers - wannabe lackeys outmaneuvered by the English ruling class.