Although I was alive I was much to young to remember the Iran hostage crisis in the 70's. Well all of us that missed it might be watching the second birth with new reports that the newly elcected president of Iran is a former captor.
Four former hostages have come out and said this is him while one former hostage says no. Retired army colonel Chuck Scott told AP news agency, "There's no question about it. You could make him a blond and shave his whiskers, put him in a zoot suit and I'd still spot him."
This is far from confrimed, but if FoxNews can stop covering the missing in Aruba story maybe we could actually find something out.
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Aid to Africa
President Bush announced today that the US would double its aid to Africa by 2010. I think Bush was exactly right when he said that aid alone is not going to do anything. Hopefully countries pooring aid into Africa can find a way to make the leaders accountable for their spending. Aid is not the answer it only amounts to welfare payments, which these states become dependent on. For Africa to thrive they need significant foreign investment, which will not come until there is some stability.
Unfortunately most americans react one of two ways to foreign investment. 1. I don't want to lose MY job to a foreigner. 2. Foreign investment is just a corporate rip off. I wonder if people begrudge foreign companies for investing in America? Africa, the Middle East, parts of South & Central America & Asia will not prosper or be able to get themselves off of international welfare until they attract foreign investment. They will not do that until there is stability and protections for corporations willing to invest there money in these regions.
Unfortunately most americans react one of two ways to foreign investment. 1. I don't want to lose MY job to a foreigner. 2. Foreign investment is just a corporate rip off. I wonder if people begrudge foreign companies for investing in America? Africa, the Middle East, parts of South & Central America & Asia will not prosper or be able to get themselves off of international welfare until they attract foreign investment. They will not do that until there is stability and protections for corporations willing to invest there money in these regions.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Yet one more for China
As I said in a previous blog, states that are more connected with the outside world tend to have more rights for women, minorities, etc...This is because women and minorities are needed in the workforce and people that contribute to the economy are protected because their contributions are needed. Economies cannot fully develop without participation from all groups in society.
China is moving to outlaw sexual harrasment for the first time. Currently China has no such laws on the books even though polls suggest it is a wide spread problem. This reinforces my argument for CAFTA, it is superior to have states connected with the outside world.
I repeat it wont be long until China is free. I am fearful of the Taiwan situation, but I think it is the Taiwaneses country to lose. Both Taiwan and the US should ease pressure on China and let it come down from within.
Even though I believe Taiwan should be independent, now is not the time for them to push the issue. It would be a big mistake for them to give the Chinese government a foreign enemy to focus the countries attention on instead of the oppressive government they currently have. If Taiwan can just sit back and wait for the people to bring it down then their job will be significantly easier. The same goes with the US government we should kill them with kindness and watch the fun!
China is moving to outlaw sexual harrasment for the first time. Currently China has no such laws on the books even though polls suggest it is a wide spread problem. This reinforces my argument for CAFTA, it is superior to have states connected with the outside world.
I repeat it wont be long until China is free. I am fearful of the Taiwan situation, but I think it is the Taiwaneses country to lose. Both Taiwan and the US should ease pressure on China and let it come down from within.
Even though I believe Taiwan should be independent, now is not the time for them to push the issue. It would be a big mistake for them to give the Chinese government a foreign enemy to focus the countries attention on instead of the oppressive government they currently have. If Taiwan can just sit back and wait for the people to bring it down then their job will be significantly easier. The same goes with the US government we should kill them with kindness and watch the fun!
China Connected
Like I just said I believe it is only a matter of time before the last bastion of communism (if it can still be callled that) will fall and here is more proof.
This goes back to my CAFTA arguement. The more connected a society the more chance that they will be peaceful and respectful of individual rights (although my arguement was greatly influenced by Thomas Barnett). China will have to face the music soon. The only way the government could go back is to stop all of this recent economic advancement and that will not happen. It wont be long now!
This goes back to my CAFTA arguement. The more connected a society the more chance that they will be peaceful and respectful of individual rights (although my arguement was greatly influenced by Thomas Barnett). China will have to face the music soon. The only way the government could go back is to stop all of this recent economic advancement and that will not happen. It wont be long now!
The time is coming for China
As I have recently said it wont be long until China is outsourcing their labor to somewhere cheaper. There was another riot in China, the riot was caused by a traffic dispute but it is said that incidents like this are on the rise in China because of the growing gap between rich and poor. It wont be long until the Chinese are rioting for better pay and more self expression. These riots remind me of the riots in the US in the late 19th and early 20th century.
I no longer believe China to be the big threat they are made out to be. The all mighty dollar will bring them around. Can you say the grip is loosening.
I no longer believe China to be the big threat they are made out to be. The all mighty dollar will bring them around. Can you say the grip is loosening.
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
More on CAFTA
Another argument against CAFTA, "The promise(NAFTA): higher exports of consumer durables would lead to an increase in manufacturing jobs in the US. The reality: the US has suffered approximately 800,000 NAFTA-related job losses in the manufacturing sector."
The American manufacturing industry will never be as it once was the sooner people accept that fact the better off we will all be. This has nothing to do with CAFTA OR NAFTA, it does have to do with global free trade. One reason NAFTA has not produced more jobs or higher wages in Mexico is because China is still king of cheap effecient labor.
After decades fighting the spread of communism with both money and lives, it seems many Americans cannot bring themselves to support the idea that developing countries deserve jobs not just international welfare. Capitalism is not perfect and for countries experimenting with free-markets there will be kinks but they can be worked out. US history is proof of that.
The American manufacturing industry will never be as it once was the sooner people accept that fact the better off we will all be. This has nothing to do with CAFTA OR NAFTA, it does have to do with global free trade. One reason NAFTA has not produced more jobs or higher wages in Mexico is because China is still king of cheap effecient labor.
After decades fighting the spread of communism with both money and lives, it seems many Americans cannot bring themselves to support the idea that developing countries deserve jobs not just international welfare. Capitalism is not perfect and for countries experimenting with free-markets there will be kinks but they can be worked out. US history is proof of that.
Iraq
While many Americans are beginning to sour on Iraq, hopefully Bush can get his lazy ass in front of the cameras and help sell the war more often. He should be holding these primetime speeches every two months until this war is over. The only way we lose this war is to lose it at home.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Comment of the day
"You make a lot of assumptions about CAFTA - namely, that it actually is a free trade agreement, and that it will be a boon to the average Central American. I think both assumptions are questionable at best."
I guess you missed my main assumption that CAFTA will make Central America more connected with the rest of the world and that is always a good thing. Regions more connected with the rest of the world tend to have more rights for women, minorites and basic civil liberties. Regions disconnected tend to have no such protections for example, Africa, Middle East, (parts of)Asia.
I guess you missed my main assumption that CAFTA will make Central America more connected with the rest of the world and that is always a good thing. Regions more connected with the rest of the world tend to have more rights for women, minorites and basic civil liberties. Regions disconnected tend to have no such protections for example, Africa, Middle East, (parts of)Asia.
I hate to agree with a democrat but ...
Barrack Obama, the Illnois Senator wrote: "I cannot swallow whole the view of Lincoln as the Great Emancipator," Obama said. "As a law professor and civil rights lawyer and as an African-American, I am fully aware of his limited views on race. Anyone who actually reads the Emancipation Proclamation knows it was more a military document than a clarion call for justice."
I completely agree anyone who reads the document knows that nowhere in the document does it mention freeing all the slaves, just the ones from the states in rebellion.
For honest Abe to be portrayed as the great emancipator is crap. To imply that he is the main reason for the end of slavery is to spit in the face of the thousands of white and black people who dedicated their lives to fighting Slavery.
I completely agree anyone who reads the document knows that nowhere in the document does it mention freeing all the slaves, just the ones from the states in rebellion.
For honest Abe to be portrayed as the great emancipator is crap. To imply that he is the main reason for the end of slavery is to spit in the face of the thousands of white and black people who dedicated their lives to fighting Slavery.
CAFTA PT3
An anonymous blogger wrote, "Among other corporate give-aways granted under CAFTA are "investor" protections which allow corporations to sue local governments over estimates of *future* lost profits." To bolster that claim the anonymous blogger wrote, "For example, waiting eagerly for the passage of CAFTA is Harken Energy, which has a lawsuit pending against the government of Costa Rica. Harken's proposal to drill for oil Costa Rica's rich marine eco-systems spectacularly flunked environmental review by the democratically elected government of Costa Rica. So Harken has a lawsuit against Costa Rica for $57 billion - that's right, *billion* - dollars. This is to cover the $12 million Harken already invested in the venture, as well as what it estimates are its lost future profits."
Although the person makes some good points, I would respectfully disagree. Underdeveloped countries such Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honderus, etc... stand the best chance of becoming economically developed if they allow foreign investment. Significan foreign investment will never happen as long as these countries do not play by the same rules as the rest of the world. For example, many companies were hesistant to invest in Russia when it first became free. The reason is because there were not sufficient rules or laws in place to protect investors.
Here is another part of the comment against CAFTA, "CAFTA is actually highly protectionist - that is, it protects the rights of the transnational corporations who basically wrote it, to the detriment of local democracy. For example, CAFTA seeks to protect the pharmaceutical industry from competition by legal generic brands."
This goes back to what I said about common set of rules. Of course these countries are not going to be able to rip-off the formula for new drugs and create generic drugs much cheaper. They will have to wait just like anyone else. There needs to be protections on intellectual properties and patents.
Sure all of the international laws might not be good or they might be exploited but if the alternative is the world pretending these undeveloped countries do not exist this is a much worse scenario. The comment also complains about a pending lawsuit against California by Canada. Canada feels free to invest here because they know they have some recourse if something bad happens. Just because someone sues does not gaurauntee that they will win the law suit.
The more people play that by the same rules, the more people that play! Transnational corporations will be the people investing money into underdeveloped countries to make them developed, they should have protections.
Although the person makes some good points, I would respectfully disagree. Underdeveloped countries such Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honderus, etc... stand the best chance of becoming economically developed if they allow foreign investment. Significan foreign investment will never happen as long as these countries do not play by the same rules as the rest of the world. For example, many companies were hesistant to invest in Russia when it first became free. The reason is because there were not sufficient rules or laws in place to protect investors.
Here is another part of the comment against CAFTA, "CAFTA is actually highly protectionist - that is, it protects the rights of the transnational corporations who basically wrote it, to the detriment of local democracy. For example, CAFTA seeks to protect the pharmaceutical industry from competition by legal generic brands."
This goes back to what I said about common set of rules. Of course these countries are not going to be able to rip-off the formula for new drugs and create generic drugs much cheaper. They will have to wait just like anyone else. There needs to be protections on intellectual properties and patents.
Sure all of the international laws might not be good or they might be exploited but if the alternative is the world pretending these undeveloped countries do not exist this is a much worse scenario. The comment also complains about a pending lawsuit against California by Canada. Canada feels free to invest here because they know they have some recourse if something bad happens. Just because someone sues does not gaurauntee that they will win the law suit.
The more people play that by the same rules, the more people that play! Transnational corporations will be the people investing money into underdeveloped countries to make them developed, they should have protections.
Friday, June 24, 2005
CAFTA II
When Pat Buchanan and Michael Savage agree with the left-wing of the democrat party you know something is up. Savage has been railing against CAFTA for quite sometime and he has lots of liberal company. Here is Nancy Pelosi's take:
"...most Democrats are opposed to CAFTA on the grounds that its labor provisions are not strong enough. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said on Thursday that 90 percent of party members in the House could vote against the pact." From the Washington Post.
Savage always say when the dems & repubs agree the people are getting screwed, well the same could be said about this. There is no reason to shut out Central America from the rest of the world. Free-trade agreements allow countries to begin implenting international rule sets for trade and start intergrating their economies. This can only be a good thing. Outsourcing is a fact of capitalism, it is not a bad thing.
It must suck to lose a nice paying job to someone in another country but other people need jobs too. Many complain about giving so much in foreign aid every year, well foreign direct investment is private money and is superior to the US giving welfare to the poor nations. Historically companies have tended to invest in North America, Europe and South Asia. The poor regions, Central America, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia have had a much lower investment levels. Now thanks to these free trade agreements Central America can begin to enjoy more investment and hopefully a better future. We should hope that these poor countries can lift themselves out of the global gutter and begin to fully support themselves.To end the welfare payments we need to help bring these other nations into the WTO and begin allowing them to compete in the world market.
The problems these poor nations face is the same as the problems poor people face, that is coming up with money to use in order to create proper infrastructure and proper security to support economic growth. At the end of the 90's foreing direct investments had outpaced official developmental aid by $4-$1. This means the most efficient ways to get poor regions such as Central America is through foreing direct investments.
I am not so naive to believe that CAFTA alone is going to solve the problems of Central America, just as NAFTA did not turn Mexico into a thriving economic power. That being said this the first positive step in the right direction. Undeveloped nations need to become more connected with the rest of the world not less. The WTO is a great place to start the connection.
Once the US was the cheap labor capital of the world, soon China will be outsourcing, if we play are cards right hopefully to a more intergrated Africa and Latin America. Only then will the inequality in the world begin to shrink.
"...most Democrats are opposed to CAFTA on the grounds that its labor provisions are not strong enough. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, said on Thursday that 90 percent of party members in the House could vote against the pact." From the Washington Post.
Savage always say when the dems & repubs agree the people are getting screwed, well the same could be said about this. There is no reason to shut out Central America from the rest of the world. Free-trade agreements allow countries to begin implenting international rule sets for trade and start intergrating their economies. This can only be a good thing. Outsourcing is a fact of capitalism, it is not a bad thing.
It must suck to lose a nice paying job to someone in another country but other people need jobs too. Many complain about giving so much in foreign aid every year, well foreign direct investment is private money and is superior to the US giving welfare to the poor nations. Historically companies have tended to invest in North America, Europe and South Asia. The poor regions, Central America, Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia have had a much lower investment levels. Now thanks to these free trade agreements Central America can begin to enjoy more investment and hopefully a better future. We should hope that these poor countries can lift themselves out of the global gutter and begin to fully support themselves.To end the welfare payments we need to help bring these other nations into the WTO and begin allowing them to compete in the world market.
The problems these poor nations face is the same as the problems poor people face, that is coming up with money to use in order to create proper infrastructure and proper security to support economic growth. At the end of the 90's foreing direct investments had outpaced official developmental aid by $4-$1. This means the most efficient ways to get poor regions such as Central America is through foreing direct investments.
I am not so naive to believe that CAFTA alone is going to solve the problems of Central America, just as NAFTA did not turn Mexico into a thriving economic power. That being said this the first positive step in the right direction. Undeveloped nations need to become more connected with the rest of the world not less. The WTO is a great place to start the connection.
Once the US was the cheap labor capital of the world, soon China will be outsourcing, if we play are cards right hopefully to a more intergrated Africa and Latin America. Only then will the inequality in the world begin to shrink.
Former Klansman gets 60 years
Former Klansman,Edgar Ray Killen, an 80 year old Mississippi man was sentanced to 60 years in prison for his role in murdering three civil rights workers in 1964.
Good ridance, it is always nice to see scumbags taken off the streets!
Good ridance, it is always nice to see scumbags taken off the streets!
San Francisco Fire Chief is a Husband Beater!
My how times have changed. Who would have thought that the police would receive an emergency call from the spouse of the fire chief for spousal abuse and the spouse is the Husband.
It is rather ironic the cities first female fire chief would be accused of beating her husband. I thought women were going to bring more common sense and less testosterone.
It is rather ironic the cities first female fire chief would be accused of beating her husband. I thought women were going to bring more common sense and less testosterone.
AIDS = Diabetes?????
Andrew Sullivan wrote an excellent piece in the advocate. Here is my favorite line: "But the bottom line is that HIV is fast becoming another diabetes."
He wrote this article in response to a this quote. "People are in such denial about how serious HIV is. Unfortunately, the best prevention is seeing people die.”
—Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Even though I honestly did not know that HIV was so treatable that statement is wrong on so many accounts. It seems that people really want to use revolutionary tactics and rhetoric no matter the cause. It is a shame because it makes the AIDS Healthcare Foundation appear radical. I can say the campaign against HIV has scared the crap out of me and I only have hetrosexual sex. I will not pretend to be an expert but I can say as a product of the Nancy Reagan (I do Love the Gipper) Just Say No! campaign. Most of what I learned about drugs turned out to be half-truths and scare-tactics, so I would not be surprised if the same thing is going on here.
I also did not realize that HIV patients use steroids. Andrew claims the steroids have bulked him up to weigh 190 lbs although he did not say how much he weighed previously.
He wrote this article in response to a this quote. "People are in such denial about how serious HIV is. Unfortunately, the best prevention is seeing people die.”
—Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation
Even though I honestly did not know that HIV was so treatable that statement is wrong on so many accounts. It seems that people really want to use revolutionary tactics and rhetoric no matter the cause. It is a shame because it makes the AIDS Healthcare Foundation appear radical. I can say the campaign against HIV has scared the crap out of me and I only have hetrosexual sex. I will not pretend to be an expert but I can say as a product of the Nancy Reagan (I do Love the Gipper) Just Say No! campaign. Most of what I learned about drugs turned out to be half-truths and scare-tactics, so I would not be surprised if the same thing is going on here.
I also did not realize that HIV patients use steroids. Andrew claims the steroids have bulked him up to weigh 190 lbs although he did not say how much he weighed previously.
Thursday, June 23, 2005
All Hale Supreme Court
The Supreme Court in all of its wisdom ruled today (5-4) that cities may sieze private property from residents in order to sell that property to a business to use for commercial purposes.
What a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!
What a disgrace!!!!!!!!!!
10 Years and Loving It
Congratulations to Al Davis who ten years ago today signed a letter of intent to bring the Raiders back to Oakland.
Woman sues for 100 Grand
Apparently, Norreasha Gill 28, of Kentucky is not only a gullible idiot but she also does not have a shred of dignity. Gill was the tenth caller in a radio station contest for which they said she would receive 100 Grand. When she picked up her prize it was a 100 Grand CandyBar.
Of course she had no choice but to sue for breach of contract. What a loser! How much of a leech do you have to be to sue over a radio statio prank. I can only imagine the type of values this lady is teaching her three children. Welfare here they come.
Of course she had no choice but to sue for breach of contract. What a loser! How much of a leech do you have to be to sue over a radio statio prank. I can only imagine the type of values this lady is teaching her three children. Welfare here they come.
Friday, June 17, 2005
Bull Shit is Full of Shit
"The main problem with the Patriot Act is that it gives law enforcement power to do things that it hasn't been able to do before," Marsha Hoffman said on an episode of Penn & Tellers Bull Shit. Penn then implied that this is a sane and correct position.
Excuse me, wasn't that the whole point of passing the Patriot Act? It is perfectly reasonable for law enforcement to have the ability to tap cell phones, the sneak and peak provision is common sense. If law enforcement were to inform a terror suspect his house had been searched the suspect would get rid of anything incriminating and could alert fellow accomplices of the investigation. This is the dumbest argument I have heard and to Penn & Teller I call Bull Shit!
I do think there should be judicial oversight before law enforcement performs any type of search, such as sneak & peak home searches or tapping of cell phones.
Excuse me, wasn't that the whole point of passing the Patriot Act? It is perfectly reasonable for law enforcement to have the ability to tap cell phones, the sneak and peak provision is common sense. If law enforcement were to inform a terror suspect his house had been searched the suspect would get rid of anything incriminating and could alert fellow accomplices of the investigation. This is the dumbest argument I have heard and to Penn & Teller I call Bull Shit!
I do think there should be judicial oversight before law enforcement performs any type of search, such as sneak & peak home searches or tapping of cell phones.
Hypocrits of the Week
It seems that this has been the year of the hypocrit, there have been several conservative republicans outed as gay and now we have two PETA employees, Andrew Benjamin Cook 24 & Andria Joy Hinkle 27 both of Virginia, charged with 31 felony counts of animal cruelty. Apparently these two PETA employees have been dumping dead cats & dogs in the local dumpster. Police found 18 dead animals in the dumpster and 13 more in the PETA van. FullStory
I hope it is time for PETA to shut up. I love animals and I believe anyone hurting them should go to jail, but these guys take it to far. My favorite is when they claim to be a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons but fail to recognize plants as living things, which can feel pain and be killed.
I hope it is time for PETA to shut up. I love animals and I believe anyone hurting them should go to jail, but these guys take it to far. My favorite is when they claim to be a vegetarian for humanitarian reasons but fail to recognize plants as living things, which can feel pain and be killed.
Iran Elections
Today Iranians went to the polls to choose a new president. I believe it is a shame that there is not the same outcry denouncing these elections the way the Iraq elections were denounced. Turnout will be key to this election. Many students and human rights activists are calling for boycotts of this phony election.
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