Actually, any vote that doesn't result in representation for the voter who casts it is, technically, a "wasted vote." Thus, in US elections, nearly half of all votes have been wasted.
In elections with a particularly viable third party - think Ross Perot or that Anderson guy - more than half of all votes will be wasted.
This provides justification for elections in which representation is allocated by the percentage of people voting for each party. We don't have 21st century systems like that here in the US; our democracy has been frozen in the 18th century by virtue of the closing of the American mind. Representation by geographic districts, winner take all - and the resulting two party system. Add "money = speech" and both of those parties will come to represent the Almighty Dollar.
Perhaps the US should simply take the one-state, "greater" Israel state as a given. In this case, we would advocate for/DEMAND that Israel open up their big open-air prison camps of non-Jewish Israeli citizens and allow these people to have the same economic and political access that all the Jewish Israelis enjoy.
Frankly, if the Jewish Zionist Israelis actually want all that territory, they need to full accept the responsibilities that come with it. If they want/take the land, they've got the people who are living there, too. And any attempt to drive them out or exterminate them would clearly be "ethnic cleansing" - a recognizable war crime.
Just look at the horrifying maps that Dr. Cole printed a few days ago - there is no "Palestine" left in Palestine. All there is is Israel. So - Israel absolutely must start caring for all of its citizens, not just the ultra orthodox and the settlers.
... and have been lying about it ever since. You will never hear an Israeli leader or American admit that the PLO or any Palestinian group has EVER recognized Israel.
I was also depressed by his (admittedly obligatory) pledge of unconditional support for the extremist government of Israel, and his touting the US's close military ties to the Israeli army.
I realize that during an election year, the successful candidate must pander slavishly to the AIPAC lobby. It's much less the money than the attack barrage that WILL be unleashed if the pander is inadequate, or worse.
But I still feel that the President - or someone - really needs to start America's re-education process as to what's been going on in Palestine. The facts should trigger Americans' sense of justice, sympathy for the underdog, and even inspire a backlash against the decades of lies.
... oh, that might explain why no "responsible" pol does it.
Another stunning contrast with the commonly-held US excuses of
* "We aren't the only ones and our contribution isn't 100% anyway, so let's not even start" and
* "It would be risky for the US to get out in front on something new"
Assassinating the suspects is a profoundly un-American act. As the United States was chartered, everyone - not just "American citizens" - deserves the due process of law to determine, openly and fairly, whether or not they are guilty and if so, what the punishment ought to be.
This program, whether run by the US Government or by Israel and condoned by the US Government, is against all of our laws, traditions and principals.
On the other hand, Hostess, the maker of twinkies, has declared bankruptcy. Maybe the media/industrial-military complex will be next? Fewer of us are buying what they sell.
Well, Representative Paul's foreign policy positions are only a small part of the whole back-to-the-gold standard, test your own food and drugs if you expect them to be safe, mandatory pregnancy, KKK-friendly package. Moreover, you can hear similar foreign policy pronouncements at any neighborhood bar - and the half-pissed speakers at said bar would have about as much influence, were they President, as Rep. Paul would.
Seriously - Paul Senior, like Dennis Kucinich on the left, talks a good game, but has managed to come through with action basically never. It's NOT just what they say (on one particular subject at this particular time) - it's what they will be able to achieve.
If you're angry with the current President, for example, just think of what he might have been able to accomplish with a lefty Democratic House and Senate, and strong lib-pro encouragement to do much MORE. (I'm going to forego the opportunity to whap on the Republican Congress, but you probably get the point!)
In short, I suspect that Ron Paul was left out of the discussion because he's not really credible.
Dr. Cole, do you have any comment or enlightenment regarding the recent wave of Persian rescues at sea by the US Navy? There have been 2 in the last week.
While as a librul, I applaud the humanitarian side of it, I can't help but worry that there's a cynical, self-serving motivation that's driving these apparent "rescues."
Well, what else is there to do? I think most people inherently possess a sense of justice, and that a major component of civilization is to try to correct the injustices of life. It's not easy, as the poet reports, and is unlikely to ever be completely successful, either.
Yet we keep making the attempt, and with every little success, some persons may endure a little less of the needless suffering that the world likes to impose. I can't write this off as "futile."
Am I totally out of it? I thought Islam forbade the drinking of alcohol. ... I just checked out Wikipedia, and it says that the Q'uran singles out alcohol consumption of one of five punishable crimes: "unlawful intercourse, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, consumption of alcohol, theft, and highway robbery."
You think so? I'd guess, if we do get a viable third party candidate, it would be on the right: they've got all the money and their base has all the enthusiasm.
What about the Libertarians? Do you think they might get a significant number of votes - or just remain cranks? We haven't seen anything like the Ross Perot phenomenon in a long time; on the other hand, just a few percent could make all the difference; see "Ralph Nader."
Like I was saying, if a third party emerges on the right, it looks better for the President.
You would sit out the ENTIRE ELECTION for one issue?! If this represents the "Democratic base", it's no wonder Dem politicians are pandering to the "undecideds" and Republicans instead.
Robert: "27 million people of Hispanic origon call themselves white"
This really speaks to the diversity of the peoples included under the blanket of "Hispanic", doesn't it? Speaking locally, in northern New Mexico, folks labelled "Hispanic" think of themselves - and are - "Spanish." They will tell you how their family goes back 400+ years in the state.
That was basically my thought, too. I'm assuming the whole Israeli issue is considered unresolvable - at least DURING AN ELECTION YEAR.
What I would like to see would be a re-elected Barack Obama who is freed of the requirement to pander to the AIPACkers and who will use his considerable political skill, courage, and strength to rein in the out-of-control Israeli right. If he does anything now short of a full genuflecting pander, the wingnut right will paint him as the proverbial Hitler-loving Jew killer, and news-starved Americans will believe it.
A new year is coming up, and it's an Election year in the US. That means politicians like Barack Obama are more sensitive to what people are saying and demanding. That also means you have the chance to work to get better, more "progressive" elected representatives.
If the Democratic wing of the Democratic party can win back the House, for example, and get better control of the Senate, it can push the President (if Democratic) more to the left. Then prosecuting the banksters, torturers, and war criminals will become increasingly likely - particularly if you get involved in the political side and actively work for these things.
JTMcPhee remarks on "mean-spirited, hierarchical, patriarchical androcracies". Good phrase! For decades now, I've been saying that nothing says "third world" more than a society that oppresses women.
Denying the creativity and judgment of 50% or more of the population is crazy, particularly as that form of creativity has generally led to ideas and solutions that are out of step with the hyper-"masculinity" prized in - well, the third world.
It looks as if Israel has made its choice. Too bad for Israel that its liberal, leftist elements and supporters in other countries have decided that tolerance and even financial support of the "mean-spirited, hierarchical, patriarchical androcracy" elements is the only civilized response.
I can see the US notifying Israel that we've accepted that the territory they seized is legitimately theirs. They have their greater Israel.
Now, what about all of those suffering, starving Israeli citizens in the West Bank and Gaza provinces? They're cut off from the rest of their homeland - of Israel. Plus, they haven't been allowed to vote! When will this be remedied?
And wow! Now the Palestinian Israelis have STANDING in Israeli courts. They can start suing individual settlers and settlements for damage to their property, assault, theft...
In short, what does the dog do when he actually catches that car?
That's all that it's about with the US media: performance.
Gingrich spoke with confidence and authority. He was rude to the network 'talking heads.' Did he make sense? Well, he sounded confident. Were his observations factual? Were his opinions based upon reality? Well, that's for the viewers to research for themselves, should they choose to do so. Gingrich won! And it's all about the horse race. Everything else is boring wonkery.
Tariq, I can appreciate your cynicism. Some things can, in fact, never be "fixed" - just outlived or outgrown. The backlog of hatred that Israel is building for itself - and possibly, for Jews in general - will fuel the next century or more of "anti-semitism". Moreover, the hatred will have been earned, rather than just being the result of vague feelings of envy by lower middle class goyim.
The Simpsons did a great episode on this a few years back. Sascha Baron Cohen played the obnoxious Israeli tour guide. I wonder how many Fox viewers were surprised by this portrayal of Israel. Actually, I wonder how many American evangelicals watch the Simpsons...
"Senator Lindsey Graham insisted that the move is necessary so that information can be extracted from just-arrested terrorism suspects without all that rigamarole about reading them their rights, etc."
Isn't Senator Graham a JAG?!? Yes, he is - a member of the Judge Advocate General corps (reserve) and until recently, an INSTRUCTOR.
He knows better - but apparently, politics overrides jurisprudence when you're a Republican.
The trouble is, Gingrich manages to sound well-informed to people who know little about the rest of the world. By layering on detail (albeit wrong), he gives the impression of extensive and comprehensive knowledge. That, with his pompous and didactic delivery, cements the impression that he truly is a well-educated, knowledgeable man, one who understands the way the world works.
It's a classic con strategy. Works every time on the rubes. (sigh)
I hear the sun also rose in the east this morning. But seriously (?), McCain has been deep in an "I hate Obama" snit since losing the election to him in 2008. No stranger to turning 180 degrees whenever it's politically expedient (McCain predates Mitt Romney in that regard by decades), McCain has gone into self-reversal overdrive since 2008 to seize every opportunity to knock Obama.
McCain also still wants to "Bomb, bomb, bomb - bomb bomb Iran". The President could put a quick halt to that by appearing receptive to the idea...
Thanks for pointing out the DOE/nukes connection, Kelly! It seems to be something that very few Americans are aware of - least of all Republicans and the reactionary right.
Guilt? Israelis are educated people; somewhere deep down, most of them probably know that what they've been doing is wrong. And if they ever let up that bootheel on the neck of Palestine ...
Cool! What part of the country are you in? Has this worked well throughout the winter, and at night? Particularly in the winter at night? Do the solar arrays shed show, or do you have to remove it by hand? You don't use television, do you? I'd assume that could be a real power hog. Do you have/need air conditioning? How does the solar handle it?
Roofs ought to be designed as solar photovoltaics. Ditto for windows. It's depressing to think of how much development and manufacturing work that really needs to be done and certainly could be done in the US, but as Dr. Cole observes, today's business elites are detached from reality and useless. Too bad the shareholders don't notice, or mind.
WE could be selling to India, not to mention domestically.
Bless you, Eric! May others follow your example. (Personally, I think all one needs to do is view one of the Republican Presidential debates to get themselves "all fired up and ready to go" Democratic...)
Rep Kucinich has often talked a good talk, but has seemed unable to lead any kind of follow-through. When he announced that he would move to Oregon to run for Congress if he got paired in the Ohio redistricting, I lost all respect for him.
His stance on the Libyan intervention just confirms my bad opinion of him. While Kucinich remains a hero to other lefties, I have cut him loose, and good riddance.
Thanks for reading and summarizing the "Firebagger" blogs, so we don't have to!
You're right; the leftist version of Obama Derangement Syndrome is real, and in my opinion, is much more harmful than the rightwing version in that it's designed to STOP ALL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION and constructive action. We're so disappointed, we'll just stay home and not vote for anybody. Boo hoo hoo. What's the point in trying; Obama always folds. Yada yada yada, ad infinitum.
Rightwing ODS gets people mad. It gets them out of their comfortable chairs, away from the welcoming keyboards, into the streets and voting booths. Leftwing ODS causes people to sit around moping in fashionable and satisfying cynicism.
I could well believe that leftwing ODS is a rightwing plot, the reactionary right being so good at that sort of manipulation. But lefties make it too easy, by eagerly grasping for the most hopeless interpretation of the President's every action - and thus rationalizing taking absolutely NO ACTION themselves.
"Unless, of course, the Israelis prefer that the Americans take naval casualties"
Well, there was the sad case of the U.S.S. Liberty at the opening of the 1967 Israeli war. Israelis took out this US naval vessel themselves, deliberately and with great thoroughness, while it was in international waters.
Nobody in the US government let out a peep or complaint.
Thanks for the reminder of why the UNESCO de-funding happened - I had been wondering, since the articles I'd read didn't mention the law passed by the Republican Congress during the Clinton administration.
Thanks also for the list of consequences. I'm going to write my Congresspeople and Senators about this. Blind obedience to Israel will have immediate and ever-increasing costs; maybe it's time we tightened our belts.
Well, I wasn't thinking about installing yet another strongman or "eliminating" Karzai. My vague thoughts were more on the order of ensuring fair elections, via education and stringent observations.
Perhaps I don't understand why ethnic factions are a barrier to democracy? Making sure that all factions are adequately represented would seem to be a priority, and that representatives are accountable to the people they represent.
I realize that none of this is a "military capability" - the State Department would be better suited.
Okay, I know that this is just ignorant. However, it seems to me as if the United States, before withdrawing from Afghanistan, ought to take steps to see that Karzai is replaced with someone more representative and accountable to the Afghans.
We come in and shoot up their country for a decade plus, then leave them under the heel of a corrupt dictator. Sure, I know it's our tradition - but I'd also welcome a change.
Thanks, Joe! But remember, $1,000,000 to a Republican and $1.00 to a Democrat means "Both the Republican and Democratic candidates receive money..." under the current media style guide.
I listen to BBC podcasts regularly, and am generally struck by the way the business and financial reports tend to select the most right wing US businesspeople and hired economists to interview.
Frankly, it's become so disappointing that I've been sticking to comedy, history, and technology programs lately.
I had heard that US Marines don't guard our embassies anymore - the State Department uses hired (overpriced) mercenaries instead. Does anyone have more information on this?
David, I haven't heard any population loss estimates that were LESS than 90%. And I've gotten my numbers from (right-wing) PBS.
As far as "instantaneous" goes, if the die-off took decades, that would be essentially "instantaneous" as far as the climate and geological processes are involved. And disease spread would not require large-scale European penetration into the "wilderness"; given the large degree of commerce among the Native American tribes, both within the interior and from islands along the coast, diseases would spread horrifically fast.
By the time the Pilgrims settled in North America, they frequently remarked on all the deserted "Indian" villages everywhere. Most of the deaths across the continent seem to have taken place within a century.
Feeding cynicism that undermines the political need to do something...
Perhaps I don't understand - saying that some actions could have an apocalyptic effect causes people to JUST WANT TO KEEP ON doing those things? Makes no sense to me.
That would be like saying that, since detonating many hundreds of nuclear weapons could wipe out all human life (and other life) on the planet, this would be viewed as an incentive to keep building MORE of them, instead of working for arms control.
If my memory serves, nations really did work to control nuclear weapons, and still are.
Thanks for this alternate possibility, Dr. Cole. SoS Clinton was quoted as saying "You can't make this up", as if the very weirdness of the alleged plot was proof that it was true.
We're in real trouble if "you can't make this up" becomes our standard for sorting fact from fiction.
I'm not going to disparage your Thomas Watson & his International Business Machines - there's a story with plenty of evil in it, in addition to the contribution to progress. It's not a contest.
Jobs and Apple made the computer accessible - and all but indispensable - to artists, graphic designers, and other highly skilled but "non-technical" folks. This increased their "productivity" (something you'll buy?) and encouraged greater creativity.
Re: companies didn't "outsource to China" until relatively recently. Apple's computer line was well established by then, and could theoretically be built anywhere, including the US. The i-Things don't require slave labor to exist.
Since when does being "necessary" to "the economy and defense" constitute the entire measure of good?
Thanks for this, Dr. Cole! I knew literally none of this.
I've been a computer geek since the 1970s, and in spite of my techie orientation, always was amazed by the simple USEFULNESS and BEAUTY of Apple's products. You can just sit down and USE them - this was unheard-of in the computing world until relatively recently.
Well, that's the rub, isn't it? A for-profit company will do anything to increase profits, and cutting costs for safety and maintenance are generally the first to go. You can call that "poor management"; the market calls it "genius."
Moreover, in the US, all commercial nuclear reactors are granted immunity for consequences, should anything go wrong. The federal government has pledged to be their insurer and pick up the tab. So - why spend anything on safety? There are no consequences to disaster!
On top of that, all they're doing is BOILING WATER. You can do that with a mirror or two and a reasonably sunny day.
It's too bad, isn't it, that the US can't get part of the Iran market for solar/wind? But, according to Republicans, "the United States can't compete against China" in solar or wind technology. CAN'T compete. CAN'T. Wow.
And Republicans want to make sure the US won't even try to compete, by blocking loans, subsidies, and stimulus spending on green energy.
And let's not even mention that deep-seated antipathy they have against Iran, dating back, I guess to the 1970s.
My recollection was that the student protests (sex, drugs & rocknroll) of the 1960s/70s were important factors in splitting working people off from "the left" and from street protesting in general.
The culture war split labor away from the left, and much of it went to fake populists like Ronald Reagan (gee, isn't he folksy?), who then used their support and votes to serve the monied class.
Are the Wall Street protestors desperate, out of work, working-class people - or are they just lazy students, with a sense of entitlement, cutting class? It's important just who is being represented, and what they want to accomplish.
Thanks for this report! Excellent photos. I appreciate you passing along information - no way the current media will report much on it. It has to be done individually, by blog, tweet and face, I guess - just like they do it in the third world.
I don't personally put any stock in "demonstrations" as a tool for social change anymore. They got media attention in the 1960s, but news coverage is different now. Only gatherings of right wingnuts, no matter how miniscule, get on the teevie. Lefties? You got coverage in 1968. Your time is over.
On the other hand, if the armies of unemployed people, who have little else to do, were to gather daily, say around the local news media offices every day from 11am to 2pm, perhaps there might be a chance that SOMEONE might notice...
Interesting point. Not many people know about the extreme toxicity of beryllium. How much is there, anyway, and what components of the satellite is it in?
"The risk to you as an individual human being of being hit by this satellite debris is one in 20 trillion."
Actually, that's if the satellite fragments are equally likely to hit any place on the earth. In fact, they are projected to come down within a roughly 500 mile long band.
For any folks within that band, the odds of getting hit are many orders of magnitude (that is, factors of 10) higher.
Before getting out your armored umbrella, however, note that NASA is saying that North America will be spared.
As far as I've been able to tell, "the peace process" is actually "the gravy train" as far as Israel is concerned. If Israelis were not at constant war and under "an existential threat", maybe the United States would reconsider the several billion in military and economic aid that we give them every year.
If Israelis were not at constant war and under "an existential threat", maybe the United States would not always support their war crimes and violations of the UN Charter in the Security Council.
Actual peace would clearly mean an end to "the peace process" - and quite possibly the monetary bennies and unconditional support as well. Therefore, nothing can be allowed to advance "the peace process."
I guess I'm also driving the yacht and private jet manufacturies out of business, then? Airlines are forced to fly their first class seats empty because I always go coach?
Come on, Mr. Yo! Price is a concern for many of us, particularly as regards hardbacks. I agree that the playing field should probably be leveled with a more equitable gross receipts tax policy. But I don't buy online to avoid the NMGRT, I tend to go to Amazon because it's mucho dollars less than the local Page One - and has better selection.
Why not an updated bookstore which consists of many "terminals" (for want of a better word) where people could search for books of interest, browse the list and the full contents of each on the screen, and purchase those that interest them? Options would include an e-download or hardcopy.
The store could have literally millions of titles, but most space would be taken up by the terminals, located with carrels and comfortable chairs. You'd still get the too-loud annoying ambient muzak that Dr. Cole seems to enjoy so much, and be able to sip your latte as you read. Extra space would still be taken up with ads and announcements of sales.
The only thing missing would be the blocks of bound paper - at least, until checkout.
Is there any politician currently alive in the United States who would be brave enough to propose moving in a "European" direction? Indeed, of suggesting that the US can learn from any other nation?
Dr. Cole, your essay makes a lot of sense. I'm going to forward it to all three of my Congressmen One is an ultraright Republican wbose district includes White Sands, but I'll slant it to him as "SAVINGS!" The other two are, fortunately, liberal Dems and on their second terms, and ought to be receptive to your arguments.
The fact is, US policies are reducing us to Third World status, in terms of infrastructure, public health, education, and even governance. Yet we never stint on military spending and military action. We're looking more and more like "Oceania", as a matter of fact...
I, for one, would have loved to hear the President state that he did not go to Congress for final approval of this "act of war" because, simply, the Congress is broken. And then detail how bills have been fatally watered down and still blocked (by Republicans), how appointments go to the Senate to die (because of Republicans), and the current status of the budget and inevitable government shutdown (due to Republican insistence that "negotiating" means giving in to all their demands).
I'd like to hear him state that partisan (Republican) strife has rendered the US government non-functional, but that as President, he doesn't have the luxury of sitting around doing nothing. (He doesn't need to make the obvious comparison with the Former Resident, also a Republican, but making the implication clear would be a nice touch.) He could, however, note the light workload of the (Republican-controlled)House - just three part-days per week in session, the rest on the golf course with lobbyists.
He could add, in conclusion, that the American people have gotten a lot less than they expected, and vastly less than we deserve, from our (Tea Bag Republican) choices in the last election. However, as President, he retains considerable power to act, and he's done so.
I know this is self-indulgent of me, and a President's airtime is limited, but I'd appreciate it if he'd throw an occasional bone to the "freedom fighters" in this country, the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.
Greg, I'm with you on the level of reporting. Every story talks about the "radiation" release, and I'm assuming they must mean "radioactive material" - but, if so, what type? Gases that will rapidly dissipate? Elements that will enter the biosphere? What type of radioactive material? And how much? What kind of level of radioactivity?
Of similar concern is the big wave of subsidized nuclear reactor construction that's due to kick off here (pun intended) - the last I heard, rather than using more modern designs and small-scale reactors, the industry wants to revert back to the antiquated 60s style, since it's already "been approved" and they can largely skip the approval process.
What's up on that? I realize that these days, reporters are mostly dumb as dirt as regards anything technical (NERDY!! GEEKY!!! WONKY!!!!!), but there are a significant number of Americans who would understand a well-explained story, and we definitely need to.
On the other hand, removing the "noo-kyu-ler" subsidies from the latest budget bill could be a quick, no-brainer way to reduce the eeee-vil "deficit." Call your congress critters!
There was some discussion of this yesterday on Librul Radio (I think possibly Thom Hartmann). The US is in an unfortunate position. Decades of supporting repressive regimes, overthrowing popularly-elected democratic rulers, and intervening militarily in the Middle East (not to mention everywhere else) has made "the US Seal of Approval" a very bad thing.
You don't want to get tarred with the approval of Washington. And, in this case, Washington wants to make sure not to do anything which would jeopardize the legitimacy of these democracy movements.
If that means just shutting up and waiting on the sidelines, that's what Secretary Clinton and the President have to do.
Beck alleges (I've heard the interview, but can't remember the source) that his schtick is all just "comedy." He says that his audience is aware of the fact.
How would this play out? Would Beck get away with this defense by tarring his critics as humorless blue-stockings who just didn't "get it" and people like the Arizona assassin as flat-out wackos?
I had thought that satire was dead. Now I no longer know what satire is.
However, I think that your bringing in this issue, in this context, at that time, was in poor taste. But go ahead - activists generally have poor taste and no manners. It's the only way to get people's attention for important matters.
The gun lobby is already saying that this unfortunate event just means that MORE Americans need to be armed, that if only one person in the crowd had had a gun, the tragedy could have been stopped sooner.
I personally feel this is unserious; most reasonable people who are decent shots would be afraid to try to hit one specific person in the middle of a crowd of innocents. They might be afraid that if they shot and missed, the gunman would immediately turn on THEM. And if you did have one or more vigilantes returning fire - well, who would YOU shoot at? What if you accidently targeted one of the rescuers, instead of the perpetrator?
Against a gunman who's just out there to kill or maim as many people as possible and if need be, die trying, a regular Joe with a pistol hasn't got much of a chance. Regular Joe doesn't want to hurt the innocent. Regular Joe wants to get back to the spouse and kids. Regular Joe needs to AIM. And that takes too much time.
The gun lobby appeals to would-be Rambos and paranoids. Time for saner citizens to put some work into breaking its power.
Wow! Thanks for this goldie-oldie, Dr. Cole! It really shows that nothing much has changed with basic rightwing philosophy in 50 years:
Anything you can label "socialism" is obviously bad and EEEE-vil. Lots of slippery-slopism, carried to ridiculous extremes. Constantly moving from one incredible argument to the next. Plenty of foolish, unsubstantiated assertions. Moreover, it's all men, men, men. Yeah, those were the days.
Interestingly, I don't see a single one of Reagan's dire predictions as having been fulfilled after half a century's experience with Medicare and Medicaid.
One hopes that Republicans will trot this one out for its 50-year anniversary, and Democrats and liberals will rip it to shreds.
I must say, I'm not terribly amused by the many comments that make this out as some kind of big joke. About 3,000 redwing blackbirds, suddenly dead. Now 100,000 fish have been added to the death toll - and you have to assume these numbers are probably minimums; not all the little bodies have been found, nor will they.
If it was the fireworks that led to the birds' deaths, are the Arkansans planning to cool it next year? (And what happens each July 4th, for that matter?) If it's some kind of chemical warfare munitions leak, what other damage is it doing?
NPR news readers always have a load of fun when they talk about how all the honeybees are mysteriously dying off in this country (see - they have "bee" in their name - isn't that hilarious? The puns never stop!!) Surely Juan Cole's readers can do better.
Right - and how many Republican operatives are closeted gays? A truly astonishing number, just judging by those who have been discovered or come out (David Brock for example.)
And these Republican gay guys apparently all work to produce anti-homosexual hate messages as a key component of their "day jobs." It's bizarre.
This is another strike against Amazon.com, in my book (sorry).
Remember, a few years back, when Amazon actually ERASED purchased copies of "1984" off from people's Kindles, after a copyright dispute? Just reached out across the Internet and deleted books that people thought were their own, on their own local systems. Buyers hadn't thought Amazon retained control over their devices and content thereon. Many have thought twice about buying e-Books, readers, and downloaded content as a result. (Okay, I have.)
Dumping Wikileaks is another bad judgment call by Amazon. Not surprising, however. They're a business; their goal is to make money, not waves.
Me, too. But people hate Arabs and Muslims because of acts of terrorism committed by a few, who were radicalized primarily by Israel's actions against the Palestinians. Americans don't walk it back to ask why these Arab/Muslim individuals were so angry, preferring to accept infantile rationales like "they hate our freedom" and not "they hate the way we prop up the zionist oppressors."
Education is never an easy task, particularly when the American news media is controlled by right wing-dominated owners who make money from the defense industry. But it's the 21st century! It's about time Americans actually got smarter, better informed, and accepted that people in other countries are easily as bright and human as we ourselves (imagine ourselves to be.)
You make an excellent point. However, you can do nearly as much good by reducing your meat intake by 50-90%. Use meat as a condiment.
It makes nutrition simpler, prevents people from feeling deprived, AND will provide massive cut-backs in the requirements for livestock support. Not to mention being a much healthier diet, excellently suited for our obese times.
Absolutism just turns me off, and I suspect that I'm not alone in this. And frankly, I'd like your ideas of reducing animal farming and want you to succeed!
These are the folks who are S O O O CONCERNED about leaving any debt for their grandchildren. Leaving these hypothetical grandchildren a devastated environment, depleted of essential species of plants and animals, not to mention a human infrastructure that's worn out and broken down doesn't bother them at all.
Right you are! And when you get the public to have the same attitude - well, it's Gawd's will; things will work out in the end - then you can do absolutely ANYTHING and they'll shrub their shoulders, tighten their belts, and just take it, without question.
The peasant mentality. A key component of feudalism, which the 21st Century Republican Party seems to be working to restore.
Bingo. "Growth" has become one of those things, like mom, apple pie, and the notorious third rail on the subway, that nobody dare touch.
Maybe it's time to take a leaf from Dr. Cole's "Israeli squatters" nomenclature and say "metastasize" instead of "grow".
"This city must metastacize, and as your new mayor..."
Last year, BigCo metastacized by 50%, after engulfing MediumCo and Britain's LargeCo..."
It's time to recognize that The Body Public is what's important, and work to curb the metastacization of things that are harmful to it, while encouraging things that promote its health. Like, um - health care for everyone.
Maybe Olbermann is trying to challenge the double standard. He's popular enough that there is already some strong audience pushback.
I'm going to watch the next show (sans Keith), note down all the advertisers, and write them little notes about how I am now avoiding their products, and why.
And, lest they think I'm some degenerate washed-up hippie, I'll be mentioning the significant household income which I control.
Funny, isn't it, how "conservatives" believe in "spending money to make money" as far as regards business, and "you get what you pay for" in their private lives - but somehow, never extend those concepts to the activities of their government.
Broder's thesis sounds like the Bush (the lesser) Doctrine, according to Nestor Kirchner, the former President of Argentina who died last week. Part of an interview that Oliver Stone conducted with Pres. Kirchner is posted on Democracy Now at
Kirchner: I said that a solution to the problems right now, I told Bush, is a Marshall Plan. And he got angry. He said the Marshall Plan is a crazy idea of the Democrats. He said the best way to revitalize the economy is war and that the United States has grown stronger with war."
There's a little more elaboration on this thesis at the link. I'm guessing Broder is still hopped up on the neo-lib Kool-aid, and so doesn't even notice that TWO wars, with occupations, is not doing the trick, so why should it help to add another?!
I'd like to add that Mr. Williams' freedom to speak was not denied or abridged; he can still say whatever he wants, but the Constitution doesn't require that NPR pay him for doing so.
I like Dr. Cole's use of the term "squatter." It's more accurate than "settler" and has a negative connotation here, which is also more accurate. In the US, "settler" suggests the Brave Pioneers Who Tamed The West - a perception that isn't yet sufficiently tainted by the American settlers' genocidal assault on the indigenes. "Settler" is still a good "brand" here.
Controlling the language can be a critical factor in controlling how people think. Have you heard many people call themselves "liberal" lately?
I'm switching to "squatter" to describe the Israeli folks who move into the occupied Palestinian territories, and thanks for the improved terminology!
Agnostics/atheists know more than believers? Well, that's why they call it "faith" (rim shot)
I think the best demonstration of American Christian ignorance came when Stephen Colbert interviewed Georgia Representative Lynn Westmoreland about his campaign to post the 10 Commandments in both houses of Congress, and asked him: "What are the Ten Commandments?" It's at 5:00.
But seriously, what are some actions that Americans can take? Write/call our elected representatives? Write letters to the editor, hoping they'll be published? Leave a note on the White House and Department of State websites? March (so sixties!) in the streets?
Hand-wringing over our keyboards and competing for the coveted "most cynical" award are both fun and strangely satisfying, but don't seem to have much impact in the real world.
"Winner take all" and "wasted votes"
Actually, any vote that doesn't result in representation for the voter who casts it is, technically, a "wasted vote." Thus, in US elections, nearly half of all votes have been wasted.
In elections with a particularly viable third party - think Ross Perot or that Anderson guy - more than half of all votes will be wasted.
This provides justification for elections in which representation is allocated by the percentage of people voting for each party. We don't have 21st century systems like that here in the US; our democracy has been frozen in the 18th century by virtue of the closing of the American mind. Representation by geographic districts, winner take all - and the resulting two party system. Add "money = speech" and both of those parties will come to represent the Almighty Dollar.
Frankly, I can read this kind of thing over at Firedog Lake and digby.
Perhaps the US should simply take the one-state, "greater" Israel state as a given. In this case, we would advocate for/DEMAND that Israel open up their big open-air prison camps of non-Jewish Israeli citizens and allow these people to have the same economic and political access that all the Jewish Israelis enjoy.
Frankly, if the Jewish Zionist Israelis actually want all that territory, they need to full accept the responsibilities that come with it. If they want/take the land, they've got the people who are living there, too. And any attempt to drive them out or exterminate them would clearly be "ethnic cleansing" - a recognizable war crime.
Just look at the horrifying maps that Dr. Cole printed a few days ago - there is no "Palestine" left in Palestine. All there is is Israel. So - Israel absolutely must start caring for all of its citizens, not just the ultra orthodox and the settlers.
"The Israelis took the recognition..."
... and have been lying about it ever since. You will never hear an Israeli leader or American admit that the PLO or any Palestinian group has EVER recognized Israel.
I was also depressed by his (admittedly obligatory) pledge of unconditional support for the extremist government of Israel, and his touting the US's close military ties to the Israeli army.
I realize that during an election year, the successful candidate must pander slavishly to the AIPAC lobby. It's much less the money than the attack barrage that WILL be unleashed if the pander is inadequate, or worse.
But I still feel that the President - or someone - really needs to start America's re-education process as to what's been going on in Palestine. The facts should trigger Americans' sense of justice, sympathy for the underdog, and even inspire a backlash against the decades of lies.
... oh, that might explain why no "responsible" pol does it.
Another stunning contrast with the commonly-held US excuses of
* "We aren't the only ones and our contribution isn't 100% anyway, so let's not even start" and
* "It would be risky for the US to get out in front on something new"
Assassinating the suspects is a profoundly un-American act. As the United States was chartered, everyone - not just "American citizens" - deserves the due process of law to determine, openly and fairly, whether or not they are guilty and if so, what the punishment ought to be.
This program, whether run by the US Government or by Israel and condoned by the US Government, is against all of our laws, traditions and principals.
How is it, again, that we consider Israel an "ally"?!? I'm going to send a copy and link of Mr Perry's article to my Congressional delegation.
On the other hand, Hostess, the maker of twinkies, has declared bankruptcy. Maybe the media/industrial-military complex will be next? Fewer of us are buying what they sell.
Well, Representative Paul's foreign policy positions are only a small part of the whole back-to-the-gold standard, test your own food and drugs if you expect them to be safe, mandatory pregnancy, KKK-friendly package. Moreover, you can hear similar foreign policy pronouncements at any neighborhood bar - and the half-pissed speakers at said bar would have about as much influence, were they President, as Rep. Paul would.
Seriously - Paul Senior, like Dennis Kucinich on the left, talks a good game, but has managed to come through with action basically never. It's NOT just what they say (on one particular subject at this particular time) - it's what they will be able to achieve.
If you're angry with the current President, for example, just think of what he might have been able to accomplish with a lefty Democratic House and Senate, and strong lib-pro encouragement to do much MORE. (I'm going to forego the opportunity to whap on the Republican Congress, but you probably get the point!)
In short, I suspect that Ron Paul was left out of the discussion because he's not really credible.
Dr. Cole, do you have any comment or enlightenment regarding the recent wave of Persian rescues at sea by the US Navy? There have been 2 in the last week.
While as a librul, I applaud the humanitarian side of it, I can't help but worry that there's a cynical, self-serving motivation that's driving these apparent "rescues."
"and yet we try to fix the world"
Well, what else is there to do? I think most people inherently possess a sense of justice, and that a major component of civilization is to try to correct the injustices of life. It's not easy, as the poet reports, and is unlikely to ever be completely successful, either.
Yet we keep making the attempt, and with every little success, some persons may endure a little less of the needless suffering that the world likes to impose. I can't write this off as "futile."
Am I totally out of it? I thought Islam forbade the drinking of alcohol. ... I just checked out Wikipedia, and it says that the Q'uran singles out alcohol consumption of one of five punishable crimes: "unlawful intercourse, false accusation of unlawful intercourse, consumption of alcohol, theft, and highway robbery."
You think so? I'd guess, if we do get a viable third party candidate, it would be on the right: they've got all the money and their base has all the enthusiasm.
What about the Libertarians? Do you think they might get a significant number of votes - or just remain cranks? We haven't seen anything like the Ross Perot phenomenon in a long time; on the other hand, just a few percent could make all the difference; see "Ralph Nader."
Like I was saying, if a third party emerges on the right, it looks better for the President.
You would sit out the ENTIRE ELECTION for one issue?! If this represents the "Democratic base", it's no wonder Dem politicians are pandering to the "undecideds" and Republicans instead.
Robert: "27 million people of Hispanic origon call themselves white"
This really speaks to the diversity of the peoples included under the blanket of "Hispanic", doesn't it? Speaking locally, in northern New Mexico, folks labelled "Hispanic" think of themselves - and are - "Spanish." They will tell you how their family goes back 400+ years in the state.
Yeah, but this is a REPUBLICAN primary. So it's about right.
That was basically my thought, too. I'm assuming the whole Israeli issue is considered unresolvable - at least DURING AN ELECTION YEAR.
What I would like to see would be a re-elected Barack Obama who is freed of the requirement to pander to the AIPACkers and who will use his considerable political skill, courage, and strength to rein in the out-of-control Israeli right. If he does anything now short of a full genuflecting pander, the wingnut right will paint him as the proverbial Hitler-loving Jew killer, and news-starved Americans will believe it.
A new year is coming up, and it's an Election year in the US. That means politicians like Barack Obama are more sensitive to what people are saying and demanding. That also means you have the chance to work to get better, more "progressive" elected representatives.
If the Democratic wing of the Democratic party can win back the House, for example, and get better control of the Senate, it can push the President (if Democratic) more to the left. Then prosecuting the banksters, torturers, and war criminals will become increasingly likely - particularly if you get involved in the political side and actively work for these things.
JTMcPhee remarks on "mean-spirited, hierarchical, patriarchical androcracies". Good phrase! For decades now, I've been saying that nothing says "third world" more than a society that oppresses women.
Denying the creativity and judgment of 50% or more of the population is crazy, particularly as that form of creativity has generally led to ideas and solutions that are out of step with the hyper-"masculinity" prized in - well, the third world.
It looks as if Israel has made its choice. Too bad for Israel that its liberal, leftist elements and supporters in other countries have decided that tolerance and even financial support of the "mean-spirited, hierarchical, patriarchical androcracy" elements is the only civilized response.
Man! Think of the savings if the US could close as little as 50% of those bases!
We might even be able to hire teachers again, or provide medical care to the poor, or revitalize the rail system...
Wow. You may be onto something, Steerpike.
I can see the US notifying Israel that we've accepted that the territory they seized is legitimately theirs. They have their greater Israel.
Now, what about all of those suffering, starving Israeli citizens in the West Bank and Gaza provinces? They're cut off from the rest of their homeland - of Israel. Plus, they haven't been allowed to vote! When will this be remedied?
And wow! Now the Palestinian Israelis have STANDING in Israeli courts. They can start suing individual settlers and settlements for damage to their property, assault, theft...
In short, what does the dog do when he actually catches that car?
That's all that it's about with the US media: performance.
Gingrich spoke with confidence and authority. He was rude to the network 'talking heads.' Did he make sense? Well, he sounded confident. Were his observations factual? Were his opinions based upon reality? Well, that's for the viewers to research for themselves, should they choose to do so. Gingrich won! And it's all about the horse race. Everything else is boring wonkery.
Fixing the damage done
Tariq, I can appreciate your cynicism. Some things can, in fact, never be "fixed" - just outlived or outgrown. The backlog of hatred that Israel is building for itself - and possibly, for Jews in general - will fuel the next century or more of "anti-semitism". Moreover, the hatred will have been earned, rather than just being the result of vague feelings of envy by lower middle class goyim.
"Israelis can just be insufferable"
The Simpsons did a great episode on this a few years back. Sascha Baron Cohen played the obnoxious Israeli tour guide. I wonder how many Fox viewers were surprised by this portrayal of Israel. Actually, I wonder how many American evangelicals watch the Simpsons...
"Senator Lindsey Graham insisted that the move is necessary so that information can be extracted from just-arrested terrorism suspects without all that rigamarole about reading them their rights, etc."
Isn't Senator Graham a JAG?!? Yes, he is - a member of the Judge Advocate General corps (reserve) and until recently, an INSTRUCTOR.
He knows better - but apparently, politics overrides jurisprudence when you're a Republican.
The trouble is, Gingrich manages to sound well-informed to people who know little about the rest of the world. By layering on detail (albeit wrong), he gives the impression of extensive and comprehensive knowledge. That, with his pompous and didactic delivery, cements the impression that he truly is a well-educated, knowledgeable man, one who understands the way the world works.
It's a classic con strategy. Works every time on the rubes. (sigh)
"Sen. John McCain played shameless politics..."
I hear the sun also rose in the east this morning. But seriously (?), McCain has been deep in an "I hate Obama" snit since losing the election to him in 2008. No stranger to turning 180 degrees whenever it's politically expedient (McCain predates Mitt Romney in that regard by decades), McCain has gone into self-reversal overdrive since 2008 to seize every opportunity to knock Obama.
McCain also still wants to "Bomb, bomb, bomb - bomb bomb Iran". The President could put a quick halt to that by appearing receptive to the idea...
Thanks for pointing out the DOE/nukes connection, Kelly! It seems to be something that very few Americans are aware of - least of all Republicans and the reactionary right.
"Why are they so paranoid?"
Guilt? Israelis are educated people; somewhere deep down, most of them probably know that what they've been doing is wrong. And if they ever let up that bootheel on the neck of Palestine ...
In the United States, the media self-censors itself heavily. Anything critical of Israel is banned as being anti-semitic.
I find it increasingly disturbing that Mr. Gingrich was once a history professor...
Cool! What part of the country are you in? Has this worked well throughout the winter, and at night? Particularly in the winter at night? Do the solar arrays shed show, or do you have to remove it by hand? You don't use television, do you? I'd assume that could be a real power hog. Do you have/need air conditioning? How does the solar handle it?
Roofs ought to be designed as solar photovoltaics. Ditto for windows. It's depressing to think of how much development and manufacturing work that really needs to be done and certainly could be done in the US, but as Dr. Cole observes, today's business elites are detached from reality and useless. Too bad the shareholders don't notice, or mind.
WE could be selling to India, not to mention domestically.
Bless you, Eric! May others follow your example. (Personally, I think all one needs to do is view one of the Republican Presidential debates to get themselves "all fired up and ready to go" Democratic...)
Rep Kucinich has often talked a good talk, but has seemed unable to lead any kind of follow-through. When he announced that he would move to Oregon to run for Congress if he got paired in the Ohio redistricting, I lost all respect for him.
His stance on the Libyan intervention just confirms my bad opinion of him. While Kucinich remains a hero to other lefties, I have cut him loose, and good riddance.
Thanks for reading and summarizing the "Firebagger" blogs, so we don't have to!
You're right; the leftist version of Obama Derangement Syndrome is real, and in my opinion, is much more harmful than the rightwing version in that it's designed to STOP ALL POLITICAL PARTICIPATION and constructive action. We're so disappointed, we'll just stay home and not vote for anybody. Boo hoo hoo. What's the point in trying; Obama always folds. Yada yada yada, ad infinitum.
Rightwing ODS gets people mad. It gets them out of their comfortable chairs, away from the welcoming keyboards, into the streets and voting booths. Leftwing ODS causes people to sit around moping in fashionable and satisfying cynicism.
I could well believe that leftwing ODS is a rightwing plot, the reactionary right being so good at that sort of manipulation. But lefties make it too easy, by eagerly grasping for the most hopeless interpretation of the President's every action - and thus rationalizing taking absolutely NO ACTION themselves.
"Unless, of course, the Israelis prefer that the Americans take naval casualties"
Well, there was the sad case of the U.S.S. Liberty at the opening of the 1967 Israeli war. Israelis took out this US naval vessel themselves, deliberately and with great thoroughness, while it was in international waters.
Nobody in the US government let out a peep or complaint.
"Most Israelis who live in Tel Aviv and Haifa can’t stand the settlers."
What will it take to mobilize them, then?
Thanks for the reminder of why the UNESCO de-funding happened - I had been wondering, since the articles I'd read didn't mention the law passed by the Republican Congress during the Clinton administration.
Thanks also for the list of consequences. I'm going to write my Congresspeople and Senators about this. Blind obedience to Israel will have immediate and ever-increasing costs; maybe it's time we tightened our belts.
"Massoud is dead."
Well, I wasn't thinking about installing yet another strongman or "eliminating" Karzai. My vague thoughts were more on the order of ensuring fair elections, via education and stringent observations.
Perhaps I don't understand why ethnic factions are a barrier to democracy? Making sure that all factions are adequately represented would seem to be a priority, and that representatives are accountable to the people they represent.
I realize that none of this is a "military capability" - the State Department would be better suited.
Okay, I know that this is just ignorant. However, it seems to me as if the United States, before withdrawing from Afghanistan, ought to take steps to see that Karzai is replaced with someone more representative and accountable to the Afghans.
We come in and shoot up their country for a decade plus, then leave them under the heel of a corrupt dictator. Sure, I know it's our tradition - but I'd also welcome a change.
Amen, Joseph! As I keep telling people, the "Dilbert" comic strip is a documentary.
Thanks, Joe! But remember, $1,000,000 to a Republican and $1.00 to a Democrat means "Both the Republican and Democratic candidates receive money..." under the current media style guide.
I listen to BBC podcasts regularly, and am generally struck by the way the business and financial reports tend to select the most right wing US businesspeople and hired economists to interview.
Frankly, it's become so disappointing that I've been sticking to comedy, history, and technology programs lately.
Marine Guards
I had heard that US Marines don't guard our embassies anymore - the State Department uses hired (overpriced) mercenaries instead. Does anyone have more information on this?
David, I haven't heard any population loss estimates that were LESS than 90%. And I've gotten my numbers from (right-wing) PBS.
As far as "instantaneous" goes, if the die-off took decades, that would be essentially "instantaneous" as far as the climate and geological processes are involved. And disease spread would not require large-scale European penetration into the "wilderness"; given the large degree of commerce among the Native American tribes, both within the interior and from islands along the coast, diseases would spread horrifically fast.
By the time the Pilgrims settled in North America, they frequently remarked on all the deserted "Indian" villages everywhere. Most of the deaths across the continent seem to have taken place within a century.
Feeding cynicism that undermines the political need to do something...
Perhaps I don't understand - saying that some actions could have an apocalyptic effect causes people to JUST WANT TO KEEP ON doing those things? Makes no sense to me.
That would be like saying that, since detonating many hundreds of nuclear weapons could wipe out all human life (and other life) on the planet, this would be viewed as an incentive to keep building MORE of them, instead of working for arms control.
If my memory serves, nations really did work to control nuclear weapons, and still are.
Thanks for this alternate possibility, Dr. Cole. SoS Clinton was quoted as saying "You can't make this up", as if the very weirdness of the alleged plot was proof that it was true.
We're in real trouble if "you can't make this up" becomes our standard for sorting fact from fiction.
I'm not going to disparage your Thomas Watson & his International Business Machines - there's a story with plenty of evil in it, in addition to the contribution to progress. It's not a contest.
Jobs and Apple made the computer accessible - and all but indispensable - to artists, graphic designers, and other highly skilled but "non-technical" folks. This increased their "productivity" (something you'll buy?) and encouraged greater creativity.
Re: companies didn't "outsource to China" until relatively recently. Apple's computer line was well established by then, and could theoretically be built anywhere, including the US. The i-Things don't require slave labor to exist.
Since when does being "necessary" to "the economy and defense" constitute the entire measure of good?
Thanks for this, Dr. Cole! I knew literally none of this.
I've been a computer geek since the 1970s, and in spite of my techie orientation, always was amazed by the simple USEFULNESS and BEAUTY of Apple's products. You can just sit down and USE them - this was unheard-of in the computing world until relatively recently.
Really? What about that long, loving relationship with Shah Reza Palevi?
"due to poor management"
Well, that's the rub, isn't it? A for-profit company will do anything to increase profits, and cutting costs for safety and maintenance are generally the first to go. You can call that "poor management"; the market calls it "genius."
Moreover, in the US, all commercial nuclear reactors are granted immunity for consequences, should anything go wrong. The federal government has pledged to be their insurer and pick up the tab. So - why spend anything on safety? There are no consequences to disaster!
On top of that, all they're doing is BOILING WATER. You can do that with a mirror or two and a reasonably sunny day.
It's too bad, isn't it, that the US can't get part of the Iran market for solar/wind? But, according to Republicans, "the United States can't compete against China" in solar or wind technology. CAN'T compete. CAN'T. Wow.
And Republicans want to make sure the US won't even try to compete, by blocking loans, subsidies, and stimulus spending on green energy.
And let's not even mention that deep-seated antipathy they have against Iran, dating back, I guess to the 1970s.
"As if they must have an enemy!"
Read 1984.
My recollection was that the student protests (sex, drugs & rocknroll) of the 1960s/70s were important factors in splitting working people off from "the left" and from street protesting in general.
The culture war split labor away from the left, and much of it went to fake populists like Ronald Reagan (gee, isn't he folksy?), who then used their support and votes to serve the monied class.
Are the Wall Street protestors desperate, out of work, working-class people - or are they just lazy students, with a sense of entitlement, cutting class? It's important just who is being represented, and what they want to accomplish.
Thanks for this report! Excellent photos. I appreciate you passing along information - no way the current media will report much on it. It has to be done individually, by blog, tweet and face, I guess - just like they do it in the third world.
I don't personally put any stock in "demonstrations" as a tool for social change anymore. They got media attention in the 1960s, but news coverage is different now. Only gatherings of right wingnuts, no matter how miniscule, get on the teevie. Lefties? You got coverage in 1968. Your time is over.
On the other hand, if the armies of unemployed people, who have little else to do, were to gather daily, say around the local news media offices every day from 11am to 2pm, perhaps there might be a chance that SOMEONE might notice...
Interesting point. Not many people know about the extreme toxicity of beryllium. How much is there, anyway, and what components of the satellite is it in?
"The risk to you as an individual human being of being hit by this satellite debris is one in 20 trillion."
Actually, that's if the satellite fragments are equally likely to hit any place on the earth. In fact, they are projected to come down within a roughly 500 mile long band.
For any folks within that band, the odds of getting hit are many orders of magnitude (that is, factors of 10) higher.
Before getting out your armored umbrella, however, note that NASA is saying that North America will be spared.
As far as I've been able to tell, "the peace process" is actually "the gravy train" as far as Israel is concerned. If Israelis were not at constant war and under "an existential threat", maybe the United States would reconsider the several billion in military and economic aid that we give them every year.
If Israelis were not at constant war and under "an existential threat", maybe the United States would not always support their war crimes and violations of the UN Charter in the Security Council.
Actual peace would clearly mean an end to "the peace process" - and quite possibly the monetary bennies and unconditional support as well. Therefore, nothing can be allowed to advance "the peace process."
I guess I'm also driving the yacht and private jet manufacturies out of business, then? Airlines are forced to fly their first class seats empty because I always go coach?
Come on, Mr. Yo! Price is a concern for many of us, particularly as regards hardbacks. I agree that the playing field should probably be leveled with a more equitable gross receipts tax policy. But I don't buy online to avoid the NMGRT, I tend to go to Amazon because it's mucho dollars less than the local Page One - and has better selection.
Why not an updated bookstore which consists of many "terminals" (for want of a better word) where people could search for books of interest, browse the list and the full contents of each on the screen, and purchase those that interest them? Options would include an e-download or hardcopy.
The store could have literally millions of titles, but most space would be taken up by the terminals, located with carrels and comfortable chairs. You'd still get the too-loud annoying ambient muzak that Dr. Cole seems to enjoy so much, and be able to sip your latte as you read. Extra space would still be taken up with ads and announcements of sales.
The only thing missing would be the blocks of bound paper - at least, until checkout.
"moving in a modern, European, direction"
Is there any politician currently alive in the United States who would be brave enough to propose moving in a "European" direction? Indeed, of suggesting that the US can learn from any other nation?
Dr. Cole, your essay makes a lot of sense. I'm going to forward it to all three of my Congressmen One is an ultraright Republican wbose district includes White Sands, but I'll slant it to him as "SAVINGS!" The other two are, fortunately, liberal Dems and on their second terms, and ought to be receptive to your arguments.
The fact is, US policies are reducing us to Third World status, in terms of infrastructure, public health, education, and even governance. Yet we never stint on military spending and military action. We're looking more and more like "Oceania", as a matter of fact...
I'm sure that the Republican majority will get right onto it.
(sigh!) It's almost enough to make me want to move.
From your lips to G-d's ear, Mr. Picker.
Too bad there isn't an "AMT" for corporations...
Thomas D, I appreciate your defence of Lady Gaga.
Good speech, but...
I, for one, would have loved to hear the President state that he did not go to Congress for final approval of this "act of war" because, simply, the Congress is broken. And then detail how bills have been fatally watered down and still blocked (by Republicans), how appointments go to the Senate to die (because of Republicans), and the current status of the budget and inevitable government shutdown (due to Republican insistence that "negotiating" means giving in to all their demands).
I'd like to hear him state that partisan (Republican) strife has rendered the US government non-functional, but that as President, he doesn't have the luxury of sitting around doing nothing. (He doesn't need to make the obvious comparison with the Former Resident, also a Republican, but making the implication clear would be a nice touch.) He could, however, note the light workload of the (Republican-controlled)House - just three part-days per week in session, the rest on the golf course with lobbyists.
He could add, in conclusion, that the American people have gotten a lot less than they expected, and vastly less than we deserve, from our (Tea Bag Republican) choices in the last election. However, as President, he retains considerable power to act, and he's done so.
I know this is self-indulgent of me, and a President's airtime is limited, but I'd appreciate it if he'd throw an occasional bone to the "freedom fighters" in this country, the Democratic wing of the Democratic party.
Amen, brother. In fact, you CANNOT BUY insurance if anything about your profession includes "nuclear".
At ANY price. (Been there, tried that...)
Greg, I'm with you on the level of reporting. Every story talks about the "radiation" release, and I'm assuming they must mean "radioactive material" - but, if so, what type? Gases that will rapidly dissipate? Elements that will enter the biosphere? What type of radioactive material? And how much? What kind of level of radioactivity?
Of similar concern is the big wave of subsidized nuclear reactor construction that's due to kick off here (pun intended) - the last I heard, rather than using more modern designs and small-scale reactors, the industry wants to revert back to the antiquated 60s style, since it's already "been approved" and they can largely skip the approval process.
What's up on that? I realize that these days, reporters are mostly dumb as dirt as regards anything technical (NERDY!! GEEKY!!! WONKY!!!!!), but there are a significant number of Americans who would understand a well-explained story, and we definitely need to.
On the other hand, removing the "noo-kyu-ler" subsidies from the latest budget bill could be a quick, no-brainer way to reduce the eeee-vil "deficit." Call your congress critters!
Huh? Whatcha say? We're watching the Super Bowl!
Chomsky was on Democracy Now, the Wed. Feb 2 show. You can check it out online at democracynow.org.
(Professor Cole has had a number of interviews there this week, also.)
It kind of depends on whether "the military" is indeed a separate, privileged class, or is comprised mostly of conscripts from the general population.
Something we in the US would be wise to start thinking about.
There was some discussion of this yesterday on Librul Radio (I think possibly Thom Hartmann). The US is in an unfortunate position. Decades of supporting repressive regimes, overthrowing popularly-elected democratic rulers, and intervening militarily in the Middle East (not to mention everywhere else) has made "the US Seal of Approval" a very bad thing.
You don't want to get tarred with the approval of Washington. And, in this case, Washington wants to make sure not to do anything which would jeopardize the legitimacy of these democracy movements.
If that means just shutting up and waiting on the sidelines, that's what Secretary Clinton and the President have to do.
Beck alleges (I've heard the interview, but can't remember the source) that his schtick is all just "comedy." He says that his audience is aware of the fact.
How would this play out? Would Beck get away with this defense by tarring his critics as humorless blue-stockings who just didn't "get it" and people like the Arizona assassin as flat-out wackos?
I had thought that satire was dead. Now I no longer know what satire is.
Thanks, Dr. Cole. I needed this.
I don't disagree with you about the Afghan occupation, nor the Iraqi occupation, for that matter. Yeah, it's "bankrupting" our nation, in both a financial and a moral sense. Definitely, the civilian victims of our video-game steered robo-bombs, our bombings, our assorted runs are no less deserving than a small child born on this nation's Most Sacred Day© (a copyrighted trademark of the Republican Party.)
However, I think that your bringing in this issue, in this context, at that time, was in poor taste. But go ahead - activists generally have poor taste and no manners. It's the only way to get people's attention for important matters.
The gun lobby is already saying that this unfortunate event just means that MORE Americans need to be armed, that if only one person in the crowd had had a gun, the tragedy could have been stopped sooner.
I personally feel this is unserious; most reasonable people who are decent shots would be afraid to try to hit one specific person in the middle of a crowd of innocents. They might be afraid that if they shot and missed, the gunman would immediately turn on THEM. And if you did have one or more vigilantes returning fire - well, who would YOU shoot at? What if you accidently targeted one of the rescuers, instead of the perpetrator?
Against a gunman who's just out there to kill or maim as many people as possible and if need be, die trying, a regular Joe with a pistol hasn't got much of a chance. Regular Joe doesn't want to hurt the innocent. Regular Joe wants to get back to the spouse and kids. Regular Joe needs to AIM. And that takes too much time.
The gun lobby appeals to would-be Rambos and paranoids. Time for saner citizens to put some work into breaking its power.
Today's trivia:
Is anyone else amused that the US diplomats refer to the Israeli government as "The GOI"?
Wow! Thanks for this goldie-oldie, Dr. Cole! It really shows that nothing much has changed with basic rightwing philosophy in 50 years:
Anything you can label "socialism" is obviously bad and EEEE-vil. Lots of slippery-slopism, carried to ridiculous extremes. Constantly moving from one incredible argument to the next. Plenty of foolish, unsubstantiated assertions. Moreover, it's all men, men, men. Yeah, those were the days.
Interestingly, I don't see a single one of Reagan's dire predictions as having been fulfilled after half a century's experience with Medicare and Medicaid.
One hopes that Republicans will trot this one out for its 50-year anniversary, and Democrats and liberals will rip it to shreds.
I must say, I'm not terribly amused by the many comments that make this out as some kind of big joke. About 3,000 redwing blackbirds, suddenly dead. Now 100,000 fish have been added to the death toll - and you have to assume these numbers are probably minimums; not all the little bodies have been found, nor will they.
If it was the fireworks that led to the birds' deaths, are the Arkansans planning to cool it next year? (And what happens each July 4th, for that matter?) If it's some kind of chemical warfare munitions leak, what other damage is it doing?
NPR news readers always have a load of fun when they talk about how all the honeybees are mysteriously dying off in this country (see - they have "bee" in their name - isn't that hilarious? The puns never stop!!) Surely Juan Cole's readers can do better.
Right - and how many Republican operatives are closeted gays? A truly astonishing number, just judging by those who have been discovered or come out (David Brock for example.)
And these Republican gay guys apparently all work to produce anti-homosexual hate messages as a key component of their "day jobs." It's bizarre.
Check out the article about Richard Holbrooke at Talking Points Memo: his family said that his last words, before being wheeled into surgery, were:
"You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan."
'People who play fast and loose with the word “anti-semitic” lose credibility fast.'
Really? Not in these United States!
Amazon.com's Reputation
This is another strike against Amazon.com, in my book (sorry).
Remember, a few years back, when Amazon actually ERASED purchased copies of "1984" off from people's Kindles, after a copyright dispute? Just reached out across the Internet and deleted books that people thought were their own, on their own local systems. Buyers hadn't thought Amazon retained control over their devices and content thereon. Many have thought twice about buying e-Books, readers, and downloaded content as a result. (Okay, I have.)
Dumping Wikileaks is another bad judgment call by Amazon. Not surprising, however. They're a business; their goal is to make money, not waves.
From Boris Johnson's lips to God's ear.
Here, here!
I'm going to call/write and tell him so. Ditto for my Congressional delegation. They might as well leave office fighting for what's right.
Me, too. But people hate Arabs and Muslims because of acts of terrorism committed by a few, who were radicalized primarily by Israel's actions against the Palestinians. Americans don't walk it back to ask why these Arab/Muslim individuals were so angry, preferring to accept infantile rationales like "they hate our freedom" and not "they hate the way we prop up the zionist oppressors."
Education is never an easy task, particularly when the American news media is controlled by right wing-dominated owners who make money from the defense industry. But it's the 21st century! It's about time Americans actually got smarter, better informed, and accepted that people in other countries are easily as bright and human as we ourselves (imagine ourselves to be.)
You make an excellent point. However, you can do nearly as much good by reducing your meat intake by 50-90%. Use meat as a condiment.
It makes nutrition simpler, prevents people from feeling deprived, AND will provide massive cut-backs in the requirements for livestock support. Not to mention being a much healthier diet, excellently suited for our obese times.
Absolutism just turns me off, and I suspect that I'm not alone in this. And frankly, I'd like your ideas of reducing animal farming and want you to succeed!
These are the folks who are S O O O CONCERNED about leaving any debt for their grandchildren. Leaving these hypothetical grandchildren a devastated environment, depleted of essential species of plants and animals, not to mention a human infrastructure that's worn out and broken down doesn't bother them at all.
Right you are! And when you get the public to have the same attitude - well, it's Gawd's will; things will work out in the end - then you can do absolutely ANYTHING and they'll shrub their shoulders, tighten their belts, and just take it, without question.
The peasant mentality. A key component of feudalism, which the 21st Century Republican Party seems to be working to restore.
Bingo. "Growth" has become one of those things, like mom, apple pie, and the notorious third rail on the subway, that nobody dare touch.
Maybe it's time to take a leaf from Dr. Cole's "Israeli squatters" nomenclature and say "metastasize" instead of "grow".
"This city must metastacize, and as your new mayor..."
Last year, BigCo metastacized by 50%, after engulfing MediumCo and Britain's LargeCo..."
It's time to recognize that The Body Public is what's important, and work to curb the metastacization of things that are harmful to it, while encouraging things that promote its health. Like, um - health care for everyone.
Maybe Olbermann is trying to challenge the double standard. He's popular enough that there is already some strong audience pushback.
I'm going to watch the next show (sans Keith), note down all the advertisers, and write them little notes about how I am now avoiding their products, and why.
And, lest they think I'm some degenerate washed-up hippie, I'll be mentioning the significant household income which I control.
Funny, isn't it, how "conservatives" believe in "spending money to make money" as far as regards business, and "you get what you pay for" in their private lives - but somehow, never extend those concepts to the activities of their government.
Broder's thesis sounds like the Bush (the lesser) Doctrine, according to Nestor Kirchner, the former President of Argentina who died last week. Part of an interview that Oliver Stone conducted with Pres. Kirchner is posted on Democracy Now at
http://www.democracynow.org/2010/10/28/headlines#13
In brief,
There's a little more elaboration on this thesis at the link. I'm guessing Broder is still hopped up on the neo-lib Kool-aid, and so doesn't even notice that TWO wars, with occupations, is not doing the trick, so why should it help to add another?!
I'd like to add that Mr. Williams' freedom to speak was not denied or abridged; he can still say whatever he wants, but the Constitution doesn't require that NPR pay him for doing so.
It's pledge week at our two local NPR stations. I have called in to contribute, thanking NPR for the firing of Juan Williams.
Could the Netanyahu Government Fall over New Settlements?
I like Dr. Cole's use of the term "squatter." It's more accurate than "settler" and has a negative connotation here, which is also more accurate. In the US, "settler" suggests the Brave Pioneers Who Tamed The West - a perception that isn't yet sufficiently tainted by the American settlers' genocidal assault on the indigenes. "Settler" is still a good "brand" here.
Controlling the language can be a critical factor in controlling how people think. Have you heard many people call themselves "liberal" lately?
I'm switching to "squatter" to describe the Israeli folks who move into the occupied Palestinian territories, and thanks for the improved terminology!
Agnostics/atheists know more than believers? Well, that's why they call it "faith" (rim shot)
I think the best demonstration of American Christian ignorance came when Stephen Colbert interviewed Georgia Representative Lynn Westmoreland about his campaign to post the 10 Commandments in both houses of Congress, and asked him: "What are the Ten Commandments?" It's at 5:00.
Here's the url:
http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/70730/june-14-2006/better-know-a-district---georgia-s-8th---lynn-westmoreland
By the way, check out the gerrymandering of that district!
Lily Tomlin was right
"No matter how cynical I get, I can't keep up."
But seriously, what are some actions that Americans can take? Write/call our elected representatives? Write letters to the editor, hoping they'll be published? Leave a note on the White House and Department of State websites? March (so sixties!) in the streets?
Hand-wringing over our keyboards and competing for the coveted "most cynical" award are both fun and strangely satisfying, but don't seem to have much impact in the real world.