Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Madoff Isn't the Only One Who Should Go To Jail
Bernie Madoff is going to die in jail. The federal judge just placed him in the same classification of those in prisons convicted of capital murder. Mr. Madoff was wrong in his actions, there is no argument there. But the results of the years of misconduct by Madoff should put federal regulators and those associated with Madoff in the cells next door to him.
Madoff and his victims are a result of a greedy society. People hooked their wagon to Madoff's scam because they wanted the unrealistic gains Madoff offered. The old adage that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
I'm not an apologist for Madoff but the reality is that the system should have been on trial right along side of him. There were plenty of red flags that regulators either ignored or sanctioned.
Unless there is a serious change in the system of financial regulations there will be more Madoff's out there and there will be more financial victims.
The big losers are the rest of us who wind up making up for the losses and the increased costs of legitimate investments.
A wise old neighbor once told me that you should never invest anything in the "Market" that you can't afford to lose....I think it's still good advice today.
Madoff and his victims are a result of a greedy society. People hooked their wagon to Madoff's scam because they wanted the unrealistic gains Madoff offered. The old adage that if it seems to good to be true, it probably is.
I'm not an apologist for Madoff but the reality is that the system should have been on trial right along side of him. There were plenty of red flags that regulators either ignored or sanctioned.
Unless there is a serious change in the system of financial regulations there will be more Madoff's out there and there will be more financial victims.
The big losers are the rest of us who wind up making up for the losses and the increased costs of legitimate investments.
A wise old neighbor once told me that you should never invest anything in the "Market" that you can't afford to lose....I think it's still good advice today.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Carbon Crap
I don't think anyone disagrees that we need to pay attention to the environment but I have a hard time getting my arms wrapped around the proposal passed in the house last week. The whole idea that those who exceed emissions can "buy" them elsewhere. What a joke!
Serious consideration should be given to alternative fuel sources and the high tech solutions that would reverse the damage already done. There are too many special interests with respect to energy and transportation.
It appears that our congresspeople sold out again!
Serious consideration should be given to alternative fuel sources and the high tech solutions that would reverse the damage already done. There are too many special interests with respect to energy and transportation.
It appears that our congresspeople sold out again!
Saturday, June 27, 2009
All About Priorities
The Fourth o f July is fast approaching. For those of us in the U.S., it is the time to celebrate our freedoms and have an extra day off before the long dog days of summer settle in.
It's pretty safe to say that despite the economic downturn, there will be community celebrations. In fact I'm willing to guess that millions of dollars will be expended on fireworks across the country between now and the 4th.
I think it's good to continue to celebrate and come together as communities. Keeping a close tie to each other is important. The more we can identify and work together the more likely it is we can overcome the bickering and partisanship we currently see in Washington and in state houses across the U.S.
While we celebrate, please be mindful of those who are less fortunate. There will be kids going to bed that night hungry and without adequate medical treatment. There will be people who don't have a place to live and many who don't have friends or family to support them.
The biggest strength we have is our compassion toward one another. We need to exercise it daily.
Take time during the 4th to meet a neighbor or help someone. It's what defines us as a nation.
It's pretty safe to say that despite the economic downturn, there will be community celebrations. In fact I'm willing to guess that millions of dollars will be expended on fireworks across the country between now and the 4th.
I think it's good to continue to celebrate and come together as communities. Keeping a close tie to each other is important. The more we can identify and work together the more likely it is we can overcome the bickering and partisanship we currently see in Washington and in state houses across the U.S.
While we celebrate, please be mindful of those who are less fortunate. There will be kids going to bed that night hungry and without adequate medical treatment. There will be people who don't have a place to live and many who don't have friends or family to support them.
The biggest strength we have is our compassion toward one another. We need to exercise it daily.
Take time during the 4th to meet a neighbor or help someone. It's what defines us as a nation.
What Goes Around
Nikita Khrushchev during a 1960's visit to the United States once stated that the Communists would bury us from within.
The common wisdom at the time was that Khrushchev was telling us that if they were patient, we would grow weak, lazy and indifferent. Even worse, we would become disillusioned with our government and willing to allow a coup to silently and gradually happen.
History shows that Khrushchev underestimated the resilience of the American People...at least for that time. It seems Capitalism won out over Communism not over ideology but rather cash. They simply ran out of it before we did. The USSR got bogged down in Afghanistan and ultimately was their "Waterloo."
Are we on our way to a "Waterloo?"
Good question.
Joe McCarthy tried to convince everyone that there was a communist on every corner in the 1950's. His story fell apart because of the courage of a few people to step forward and challenge. Some were media folks but the real heroes were the people who stepped up to the camera and told their stories. McCarthy's house of cards feel because there was no basis of support.
In 2009, we face an enemy that has no face. An enemy that is not content to contain us but rather to conquer us. The extremists who are part of Al-Qaeda, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are established throughout the world including here.
Unfortunately, their best instrument to succeed are the very people here who are supposed to protect us.
It seems that our political system is so bogged down in finger pointing and partisanship that their draconian manner of conduct has infected the people they were elected to serve. Approval ratings for Congress are at the lowest point in history. There is no transparency in our bodies of government.
The federal agencies often have been co-opted by political correctness and political influence.
It is time that true bi-partisan efforts restore faith to the electorate. To hold the military and federal intelligence agencies accountable for their actions: both bad and good.
Congress needs to demonstrate unity. They need to tell the world that although we disagree internally, we are not gridlocked and we still serve the common good, not the common political advantage. It happened after 9/11 but quickly reverted back to back biting and bickering. We need officials with the political will and courage to step out and do the right thing for the right reasons.
There is a real threat out there, it is our complacency, indifference and lack of willingness to invest in our future. The real threat is not missiles or bombs, but the ability of those with the will to destroy our Republic through subtle election to our government and eventual change of our political will to do so from within.
It's not the dark face of fear McCarthy tried to export for political gain. It is the shadow that lurks below the surface. Taking advantage every time we stumble or focus more on our self-serving interests, rather than the interests of all.
The irony is that Khrushchev might have been right. Only this time those intent on our demise won't bang their shoe on a desk to command attention, they will wait and infiltrate and prey on our indifference and unwillingness to work together.
There are those in our intelligence and law enforcement communities who are tracking the threat levels and patterns of the extremists, most of whom are this country legally through visas and travel permits. They have been identified by our own government as having ties to terrorists links and organizations. Some have actually been tried and convicted but not deported.
Ironically they are students of Hitler and Mein Kampf. They believe that Jews and Christians must be eradicated. They believe that until the entire world is controlled by Muslim law, the Jihad must continue. The intent will be to instill the Sharia upon all who live on this planet.
We can only hope that some of the people in our government will be successful in educating and informing policy makers of these very real threats to our national security and the corrective actions will be taken. Acts of terror on our soil is only one prong of attack. The attack on our information systems, news outlets, financial systems and security are also at peril.
It's time Congress paid attention to our experts in the field and provide them with the resources and assistance needed to meet this growing threat. Please watch carefully those in our government who begin to display ambivalence toward Israel or outright hostility. Hamas is a known terrorist group. Watch closely those in our government who would demand that we recognize or allow Hamas a place in government or negotiations with Israel.
The common wisdom at the time was that Khrushchev was telling us that if they were patient, we would grow weak, lazy and indifferent. Even worse, we would become disillusioned with our government and willing to allow a coup to silently and gradually happen.
History shows that Khrushchev underestimated the resilience of the American People...at least for that time. It seems Capitalism won out over Communism not over ideology but rather cash. They simply ran out of it before we did. The USSR got bogged down in Afghanistan and ultimately was their "Waterloo."
Are we on our way to a "Waterloo?"
Good question.
Joe McCarthy tried to convince everyone that there was a communist on every corner in the 1950's. His story fell apart because of the courage of a few people to step forward and challenge. Some were media folks but the real heroes were the people who stepped up to the camera and told their stories. McCarthy's house of cards feel because there was no basis of support.
In 2009, we face an enemy that has no face. An enemy that is not content to contain us but rather to conquer us. The extremists who are part of Al-Qaeda, Hamas and the Muslim Brotherhood are established throughout the world including here.
Unfortunately, their best instrument to succeed are the very people here who are supposed to protect us.
It seems that our political system is so bogged down in finger pointing and partisanship that their draconian manner of conduct has infected the people they were elected to serve. Approval ratings for Congress are at the lowest point in history. There is no transparency in our bodies of government.
The federal agencies often have been co-opted by political correctness and political influence.
It is time that true bi-partisan efforts restore faith to the electorate. To hold the military and federal intelligence agencies accountable for their actions: both bad and good.
Congress needs to demonstrate unity. They need to tell the world that although we disagree internally, we are not gridlocked and we still serve the common good, not the common political advantage. It happened after 9/11 but quickly reverted back to back biting and bickering. We need officials with the political will and courage to step out and do the right thing for the right reasons.
There is a real threat out there, it is our complacency, indifference and lack of willingness to invest in our future. The real threat is not missiles or bombs, but the ability of those with the will to destroy our Republic through subtle election to our government and eventual change of our political will to do so from within.
It's not the dark face of fear McCarthy tried to export for political gain. It is the shadow that lurks below the surface. Taking advantage every time we stumble or focus more on our self-serving interests, rather than the interests of all.
The irony is that Khrushchev might have been right. Only this time those intent on our demise won't bang their shoe on a desk to command attention, they will wait and infiltrate and prey on our indifference and unwillingness to work together.
There are those in our intelligence and law enforcement communities who are tracking the threat levels and patterns of the extremists, most of whom are this country legally through visas and travel permits. They have been identified by our own government as having ties to terrorists links and organizations. Some have actually been tried and convicted but not deported.
Ironically they are students of Hitler and Mein Kampf. They believe that Jews and Christians must be eradicated. They believe that until the entire world is controlled by Muslim law, the Jihad must continue. The intent will be to instill the Sharia upon all who live on this planet.
We can only hope that some of the people in our government will be successful in educating and informing policy makers of these very real threats to our national security and the corrective actions will be taken. Acts of terror on our soil is only one prong of attack. The attack on our information systems, news outlets, financial systems and security are also at peril.
It's time Congress paid attention to our experts in the field and provide them with the resources and assistance needed to meet this growing threat. Please watch carefully those in our government who begin to display ambivalence toward Israel or outright hostility. Hamas is a known terrorist group. Watch closely those in our government who would demand that we recognize or allow Hamas a place in government or negotiations with Israel.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Shaw of Iran warns of Nuclear Incident
This link covers the discussion by the current Shaw of Iran and his warning of a nuclear incident.
Additionally, a Jewish leader says that President Obama is the most hostile president in history. Read that link here.
Our President would do well to remember that in his quest to build relationships, we need to be careful not to destroy old long-standing alliances with our friends, such as Israel.
Additionally, a Jewish leader says that President Obama is the most hostile president in history. Read that link here.
Our President would do well to remember that in his quest to build relationships, we need to be careful not to destroy old long-standing alliances with our friends, such as Israel.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Where Is This Place That No Ones Comes To Our Aid?
The following link is a Youtube link from a woman who says she is in Iran. The haunting statements she makes are painful for me since I am ashamed in the manner in which our President and other world leaders have remained silent...very much like world leaders did during the Holocaust. Where are the church leaders, where are the human rights leaders, where are the voices who purport to protect the lives of others and scream freedom everyplace else.
The world community should be ashamed that at a time when tens of thousands of voices in pain and fear are literally calling out to the world, each and every one of us....that nothing other than feeble words and silence happens. "Where is this place that no one comes to our aid" indeed.
The blood of these individuals, fighting for their right to be free like the rest of us will be on our hands if nothing is done to help them.
Shame!
Get on the computer, phone, or mail demands to our elected officials, to the United Nations, NATO and other world leaders demanding that they at least publicly support the efforts of these freedom fighters. The next voice in the darkness screaming for help may very well be our own if something doesn't change and change quickly.
With nukes in N. Korea and Iran, and Al Queda grabbing up Pakistan for their nukes, it's only a matter of time before we have a terrorist act in the U.S. or in Europe that will make 9-11 look like a very small event.
Get active...do it now!
The world community should be ashamed that at a time when tens of thousands of voices in pain and fear are literally calling out to the world, each and every one of us....that nothing other than feeble words and silence happens. "Where is this place that no one comes to our aid" indeed.
The blood of these individuals, fighting for their right to be free like the rest of us will be on our hands if nothing is done to help them.
Shame!
Get on the computer, phone, or mail demands to our elected officials, to the United Nations, NATO and other world leaders demanding that they at least publicly support the efforts of these freedom fighters. The next voice in the darkness screaming for help may very well be our own if something doesn't change and change quickly.
With nukes in N. Korea and Iran, and Al Queda grabbing up Pakistan for their nukes, it's only a matter of time before we have a terrorist act in the U.S. or in Europe that will make 9-11 look like a very small event.
Get active...do it now!
Missile Lauch On Hawaii
Reports are that North Korea is threatening to launch a missile against Hawaii on July 4th. Our military says it is doubtful that N. Korea has missile technology to make it there. So what is our administration doing about it. Will we intervene to prevent this action or wait until they can strike our territories? I hate to raise panic but the parallels between this threat and the Dec 7th attack against Pearl Harbor where another Democratic administration ignored warnings against Japan cost thousands of American lives and crippled our military. With N. Korea knocking on our door, the Taliban poised to take over Pakistan and their nuclear weapons to hit the "head of the snake" aka the U.S., how long will our current President allow for more threats against us?
I'm very concerned that we are looking at a coordinated effort against our country on several terrorists fronts. Could the events in Iran serve as a distraction from Pakistan and N. Korea?
It's time for leadership from our President. We need more than words. We need action!
I'm very concerned that we are looking at a coordinated effort against our country on several terrorists fronts. Could the events in Iran serve as a distraction from Pakistan and N. Korea?
It's time for leadership from our President. We need more than words. We need action!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Escalation in Iran
New reports are indicating the government in Iran is escalating their assault of protesters by using chemicals and an edict to disband or be assaulted.
It's time for the world governments to convene and address this issue. I've noticed that all through the social networks such as Twitter and Face book from individuals who say they are from Iran asking American people to petition the United Nations for help and asking for public support.
This ability to request the assistance from the very people who are fighting the fight.
Those who enjoy freedom have a responsibility to aid those who do not: even when it puts our safety and security at peril.
It's time for the world governments to convene and address this issue. I've noticed that all through the social networks such as Twitter and Face book from individuals who say they are from Iran asking American people to petition the United Nations for help and asking for public support.
This ability to request the assistance from the very people who are fighting the fight.
Those who enjoy freedom have a responsibility to aid those who do not: even when it puts our safety and security at peril.
State of Affairs In Iran
It appears that change is in the air in Iran. Don't be fooled by the news reports that the recent protests are simply a result of unhappiness over an election.It is clear that the Iranian people have been log frustrated with their leadership. A society that has already experienced secular rule of law and a society that modeled more Western-style democracies will not soon be forgotten.
Our leadership is wise to measure their responses. With that said, however, they would be wise to be ready to assist the protesters as needed and to send a very strong message to the Iranian leaders that it would not be wise to allow another repeat of Tiananmen Square to take place twenty years later. A lot has changed since then.
The technology that allows the people of Iran to send their message to the world through Twitter and websites has changed the way governments control their citizens.
Our leaders need to respect the right of the Iranian people to direct their destiny but our leaders darn well better be ready to protect them after they have taken the courage to stand up to one of the most oppressive regimes since Hitler's Nazi Germany.
Take note of the women who have shed the burkas and have exposed their faces. This is a direct challenge to the ayatollas. Do not underestimate the the will of the Iranian people. They are strong and courageous.
It is time for the nations of the free world to ban together and make a very large and loud collective statement. A meeting of the leaders of the free world needs to be called immediately and they should publicly and loudly proclaim the rights of the Iranian people to protest and decide their destiny. They need to decry the oppressive nature of the Iranian government.
They need to do it now.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Health Care
The current administration wants to federalize health care to the tune of trillions of dollars that we don't have. Why not invest several trillion dollars, seclude the worlds greatest scientists like they did during the Manhattan Project in the 1940's. Let's cure cancer, HIV and diabetes and by that proactive nature, reduce substantially the costs to the medical community.
The nature of the insurance companies and medical community is basically reactive in nature. If we front-end investments in prevention of the major diseases, we'd be much farther ahead and the quality of lives for everyone would be so much better.
The nature of the insurance companies and medical community is basically reactive in nature. If we front-end investments in prevention of the major diseases, we'd be much farther ahead and the quality of lives for everyone would be so much better.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Iran In Turmoil
After Iran had to keep polls open late to accommodate all the voters, finding it necessary to block text messaging and cell phone usage, the incumbent "president" won by a landslide. It harks back to the old Soviet Union days with one party rule.
The uprising by younger folks in Iran gives one hope. By nature of its description, freedom is something that those who don't have it want and those who fear it try to suffocate with soviet-era tactics.
One can only hope that the current government will eventually go the way of their former soviet comrades.
The uprising by younger folks in Iran gives one hope. By nature of its description, freedom is something that those who don't have it want and those who fear it try to suffocate with soviet-era tactics.
One can only hope that the current government will eventually go the way of their former soviet comrades.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Bias In The Classroom or Masking Poor Teaching?
That's the question many are asking about 19 year veteran teacher Tim Latham. Latham, an American History teacher is saying he was let go because of his conservative viewpoints and webpage, according to Fox News
Several of the pundit bloggers are crying foul in a Kansas community that is often known as the Bastian of liberalism, if such a thing exists in Kansas, because of the university housed there.
Regardless, it is unfortunate that politics seems to weave its way into a discussion about the credibility of an education. Based on articles, it appears that a number of his students are quite supportive of his efforts and a Franklin county attorney has agreed to represent Mr. Latham.
I don't know the whole story about whether Mr. Latham should or should not be a member of the faculty in Lawrence, KS USA. What I do know is that if he was truly dismissed because of his political viewpoints and they were in bounds with other requirements and practices of others, then shame on the district. If Mr. Latham had other issues, then shame on him for using the political forum to his advantage and involving his former students.
Either way most likely taxpayers will foot the bill and that means even fewer dollars for education.
Several of the pundit bloggers are crying foul in a Kansas community that is often known as the Bastian of liberalism, if such a thing exists in Kansas, because of the university housed there.
Regardless, it is unfortunate that politics seems to weave its way into a discussion about the credibility of an education. Based on articles, it appears that a number of his students are quite supportive of his efforts and a Franklin county attorney has agreed to represent Mr. Latham.
I don't know the whole story about whether Mr. Latham should or should not be a member of the faculty in Lawrence, KS USA. What I do know is that if he was truly dismissed because of his political viewpoints and they were in bounds with other requirements and practices of others, then shame on the district. If Mr. Latham had other issues, then shame on him for using the political forum to his advantage and involving his former students.
Either way most likely taxpayers will foot the bill and that means even fewer dollars for education.
Don't Judge All Republicans By What You See on TV
The feeding frenzy is on. It seems the mainstream media folk have tasted blood so now they are in for the kill. I refuse to believe the main core of the Republican Party has been hijacked by the so called "religious right" whatever that is.
Perhaps it's time to focus more on the problems at hand rather than predicting the demise of the Republican Party.
Perhaps it's time to focus more on the problems at hand rather than predicting the demise of the Republican Party.
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Starting Now
This is a first post and a test. More to follow.
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