We Reap What They Sow

Like most issues of today they were born out of past tragedies. One of the major issues in the United States is illegal Mexican border crossings. The sad thing is that Mexico’s problem came about around 1938 with article 27.  With the passing of that article the death of the co-op land happened. This was the beginning of the death of the poor in Mexico. 

Now on top of this when Mexican citizens try to start a new life with dignity in the US. They’re harassed by a group known as the new minute men. A group that still believes that borders still matter; which is a cute thought if major companies believed in them as well. At best, we can try to force them to help raise the lives of those that are indentured to them. Though unfortunately wage slavery is a reality regardless of location around the world. Some organizations like the IWW are trying to help stop wage slavery.

Now the argument that if we “deal” with the Mexican border issue somehow this will help the US in some way is childish and may be a tad racist. The truth is they are coming here to do exactly the same thing that all of our ancestors did. Now if the wages where fair around the world chances are immigration would slow to a crawl. 

Then when this happens we can begin to raise the black flag of freedom around the world! Only once we stop caring about arbitrary lines on a paper; and force companies to pay living wages around the world. This will allow us to live with respect and we can move on to harder issues facing mankind.

What Is Being Saved?

OK first off it’s true that the reasons why our forces and government are at war seem to change every few years or so. Which if that hasn’t already sent up at least a few alarm bells in your head I would be scared. It ‘s also true most of us that are not directly affected by the wars; do not spend a great deal of time on thinking about the subject. The reasons why are numerous to say the least.

Though the big two are safety of the public and protecting our way of life. Both in theory sound like sane and righteous causes, if not infantile in their explanation of why they do what they do to protect the public. But in all the speak of protection one little thing keeps being left out, at first I just thought I had missed this being answered. Granted one man can not in all sanity follow the news twenty four hours a day every day.  Then out came the question from Helen Thomas, no real surprise there if you are familiar with the US press corp. Now the question was simple she asked why they are attacking. The most interesting thing about the response was not so much what he said. Mainly they have the goal to spread terror and are perversion of Islam. Which no one would disagree with, but it’s the fact that he honestly could not answer it. That’s about as far as I’ll go on that point. In my previous post I spent more time on it.

Now comes the juicy part, protecting our way of life. That is a painfully and obvious choice of broad wording to get around a larger question. Over last seven or so years we have given up much for safety. The right to a fait trail and the right to privacy just to keep it short. So the question is whose life are we protecting? In a country that can not run itself in a effective way, in a country that exploits it’s own workers by Europe’s standards. Our wages for the amount of time we work have been on the decline. The fact that a great deal of us do not even live in a state that has a “living” wage. Just think about that for a second, I’m not talking about a great or even a good wage. I’m talking about a living wage. this sounds like a far cry from the envy of the world. On top of that we don’t even understand how to do something as simple as being able to install a basic level of healthcare for our people.  We are so bad that doctors that normally deal with  helping those in what here think of traditionally poor parts of the world where setting up shops here give people glasses and fix teeth! On top of that the demand was so great that they could not even help half of those that showed up. So I ask you in all honesty what are we protecting?

With figures nearing almost twenty percent unemployed and a nation that can not keep it’s people healthy; and will even torture other innocent people in our name to protect what?  Now is the time that we must come together and vote out those that benefit no one but themselves. We must find peaceful ways to help those that need our help and scorn those who would lead us to a path of self-destruction.

A simple question

I’m not sure how many of you follow online news. My guess would be most people, but we all look at different places for our news. I found this link via a website called reddit. If you are not familiar with it, it’s worth a quick look.  Anyway, about a week ago a legendary reporter in the US press core by the name of Helen Thomas asked a very simple question.  It was directed to the Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano. “You do not give the motivation of why they want to do us harm.” Here is the link to the video http://is.gd/6l8Ly

The response sounded very rehearsed. It was explained in a way that the people they are fighting are not human. Now I understand the phycology used in the armed services to dehumanize those they are fighting. If that is not done most people would either have a hard time killing or would outright refuse to kill. As it is this is no longer working sadly for the US armed forces, more to the point the army. In a newly released story by the US government the number one cause of death this year already is suicide.

I am sorry for that side rant. Though this now hits at the heart of the matter. Why do they hate us? I use the term us in talking about what is commonly known as the “Western” countries. Like you I have heard “reasons” why they hate us. The most pathetic being “they hate our freedom.” Granted when push comes to shove we will kill them without much of a second thought. So I ask you why? Is it religious reasons, or is it in fact about the bases we have in the middle east?  Could it be in part still over the Balfour Declaration? The fact that this has not been explained crystal clear by those we have entrusted our lives with is alarming.

Treat a Man like a Terrorist

It seems that the promise to close Guantanamo Bay in a year will just be a fantasy. At the time of writing this the US Government would have eight days to clean house.  So I’m not holding my breath for any hopeful news. The only thing that does seem to be remotely promising in all of this is that the Swiss seem to be saying that enough is enough. They seem to be on the path to longer accepting any more illegal prisoners.

What I don’t understand is that these people are being turned over to the US as terrorist. Though no real investigation is being done to establish that these people pose any real threat to the US. The most blatantly damning evidence is that they are not being charged with anything for years! This is either the largest over site I have heard of form my government or; they just have no real proof. Just claiming someone is a bad person is not enough reason to go to the line of torturing these individuals.

Now if in fact some of these people are guilty then charge them and put them in a US jail. For a government that says it believes in protecting our way of life, and is tasked to uphold the law they have a funny way of showing it. The US media is far from helping. You seem to get the impression that Timothy Mcveigh never existed. This was a man that was an American home grown terrorist that was caught, convicted, an tried all in the US. So there is legal precedent that the US prison system can in fact do it’s job.

So what are they afraid of? If the evidence is there bring them up on charges, if not let them go. Treating a man as a terrorist and less than human benefits nobody. Showing those who wish us all dead that it is better if you die than being in “prison” will not help curb attacks. Showing your enemy that you are willing to act less than human lets them easily paint you as a devil.

Middle East Peace Talks Part Two

Mr. George Mitchell was on the Charlie Rose show last Wednesday to discuss the new plan for the Middle East. The interview is worth your time and can found in it’s entirety here.  Now in case you do not have about an hour at the moment I wanted to bring up a few quick things I thought worth bringing to light.

One point he brings up is that Israel has in fact relaxed dome of it’s border control. Which is a great step forward in the much needed trust that is lacking in the region. Towards the end it was asked what the US can really do? More or less do they have any teeth or is this at best lip service to the region? The biggest thing to come up was holding back on funding to Israel. Now that is far from a new tactic to be brought up. For my money I doubt that will come to pass, why you may ask? Well because I have at least a vague understanding to how deep the US congress is in love with Israel.

Of course you can not have a discussion about Israel and Palestine without the bringing up the 1967 border. The chances I will ever see this happening in my lifetime in my opinion is at best a foolish thought. For the record I’m 25. Now all in all the discussion seemed fairly hopeful overall, which is good. The only really sad thing is that Mr. Mitchell more or less admitted is that the new land that Israel acquired during the occupation was most likely going to stay in there control.

Berlin’s Anarchist are fighting the new Bourgeoisie

As the sun sets, the fires light the night sky across the city.  The tool of the trade is a lighter and a few matches, the target is high priced cars. The flames take a little to get started so the anarchists have more than enough time to get away from the crime scene. Most seem to get at least a block or two away so it has become almost impossible for the police to track them down.

Since the fall of the Berlin wall; prices for the inner city in Berlin has been on the rise. Though just recently has gentrification really been felt for the inner city residents. Last year alone in the capitol an astonishing 216 high end luxury vehicles such as Range Rovers, Fords and Mitsubishis where set ablaze. This was an aggressive rise from the previous year of 135 cars. As this practice has become so popular in the city it has also become a pastime of some residents to map where attacks have taken place. They have even set up a site located here to track the action.

The attacks have been strongest in West Berlin in the Kreuzberg district. This is commonly known as a leftist stronghold in Berlin. Though if you hit up the site you will notice that the attacks have spread beyond the district. Which has also lead to splinter groups stepping up attacks in other cities like Hanberg.  A group named “Movement for Militant Resistance” or under in it’s native tongue “Bewegung für Militanten Widerstand.” Which has the acronym BMW claimed it preformed 8 burnings last year. Other Anarchists groups have taken to torch police cars, and have gone after DHL trucks. The reason for the DHL trucks is because they have been moving products for the German army in Afghanistan. This along with the German railway for moving nuclear waste.

Less violent tactics for the residents who do not wish to burn cars; but do not want to driven from their homes have some options.  Some of them are fairly easy such as installing satellite dishes and not repairing broken windows to help give a bad image to the neighborhood. Plus some are changing the names on the house to foreign names.  (Now as a side note I’m not sure why this would make a difference.  It seems to give the impression that the rich residents are xenophobic.) A big issue is that green spaces are being zoned away so more high-end apartments can be built.  This along with the death of some local establishments due to the new higher rent. The residents do not look they will be stopping anytime soon.

Israel to make a killing from the Washington budget

In now an old news report I found on the Israeli news site ynetnews.com it laid out a ten year funding plan from Washington. The pervious and very religiously motivated President Bush approved a $30 billion paycheck to Israel over a decade. Starting with $2.5 billion in this year and $2.775 and  then $3 billion in 2012. This is all for the guise of a defense budget for the Israeli occupation.

The first issue is where is this money coming from? The US taxpayer has already bailed out multiple institutes in our own country; from banks to the auto industry. Now it seems we have been forced to prop-up yet another thing that is at best something most of us have a lack of understanding of. On top of this we will now help the Israeli army setup a missile/rocket defense.

This all comes after other projects both defense and basic internal US reconstruction projects are getting the axe.  To be fair the Israelis where not sure for a while wether the missile project would go through with an ever growing movement of support for the Palestinians after the new occupation the Israelis imposed after the war last year.

Though through all of this Israel has seen a odd ally appear. It seems that Egypt has been helping keep aid workers and trucks from reaching Palestine. It seems we have to wait to what becomes of this alliance.

What are they so afraid of?

Now that the banks have had some time to play with all of our money it seems that they don’t want to share any of it. The debate on wether or not to lend the cash is no longer really discussion worth a having anymore. At best it may make you feel a little better because in hindsight we all have perfect vision.  Yet what’s now the new thing to get steamed over is the fact that the banks are still not really into lending any money to us. When average people have to write to the President to intervene on this you know things have gotten dire.

It seems that they think we are as bad as they are when it comes to money. On the news hour they had a banking rep say with a straight face they have to be sure the people they lend to can pay them back. That’s why it’s been a slow process on the lending front.  So after seeing that  I’m not sure if they just have the memory of a goldfish or are in fact that greedy with yours and my money. I would assume the second but they are not the greatest record takers after all so they could have forgotten. With a call from the President to start doing what they are supposed to do is a good start. Now I get the fact that they want to get out from owing us back our cash, but without lending and just paying back is more than just a little short sighted. I know they are huge capitalist, hell it’s what they are all about. Yet if they are to inept to run a business with that model I demand they hang over the  keys to us! I sign of mental illness is doing the same thing over and over again and hoping for a new result; and it’s all to apparent that’s what they are doing.

I would say I would be sorry to see the bank industry be forced to be state run but that would be a lie. I know in the US it’s fashionable to say that the government can not do anything right, but hey. The government still knew how to hold onto our cash while the stocks where going into the tanks. So I’ll be an owner of Bank of America.  I’ll take a one three hundred millionth stock in it. I didn’t go to school to learn banking but as long as I don’t loose everyone’s cash I’ll be ahead of the game.

The last thing I say on the matter is do you honestly think we the people could do any worse than them? Honestly you saw the stocks plummet too. Yes the private sector traditionally is where innovation comes from; but we do not need to reinvent our dollar.

What are you really buying?

So will the global downturn be a good thing this holiday season? In the greater scheme of things no. Though it seems that people are buying less, and on top of that in a recent poll a lot of people say that they will keep this trend going once things get better.

This is great news to all of us. Especially those that have looked into how we get some of those products we all like. Globalization sounds great in theory. You know about all of us coming together and working together. I mean who wouldn’t want that? Well besides anyone in labor that  fought to increase his or her wages so they could live. Maybe the child labor workers, would rather go to school than make toys or clothes. Or maybe Mexico would like to have it’s old constitution back before they where strong armed into changing it. I could be wrong here. It would be far from the first time. Though it has been stated many times when we as a world help poorer countries with getting them schooling, clean water and food larger companies move on. The truth is we just own to much stuff, or want to much stuff.

Look we all want great products for cheap prices. We all bargain hunt myself included, and why not? Well maybe we should have to see what the real hidden costs are. I’m not saying that you should not buy anything if you observe any holiday traditions. All I want to say is, will whomever you do see this time of year love you any less if buy one less gift for them? If you honestly thought maybe or yes, just maybe they are not worth your love.

Left of Nothing

I know It’s been a long time. Though I did not really have anything to say until now. You have to read, sit back and absorb to have anything worth saying. So that’s what I have been doing with my time.

So the thing I have been hearing is that the President is the most liberal President we have had in modern times. If that is really true then the “Left” is in fact a bigger joke than I thought it was. I want to know what he in fact left of? Has he stopped the wars? Not so much, but as he accepted his Noble Peace Prize he said that we can’t have peace without the threat of war. Well I guess he would have made a great Cold War President. Is he closing down Guantanamo bay prison? Well he’s working on that, I guess it takes a ton of time to get a planes to transport people outside of Cuba. Maybe he’s waiting for cheaper airfare deals online? Well maybe with his spare time he is working on either fixing or dismantling NAFTA? Err maybe not so much. Just because they answer to no-one, and are helping in driving down wages and exploiting people around the world he may think the task to small for his attention. Well at least he is talking about green jobs, I guess that’s a start. But talk really only makes you and those that agree with you feel good.

So, how is he this screaming Left guy I keep hearing about? Nader is left, Dennis kucinich is really the only Leftist that still has some convictions. Now I’m not saying that you have to become an Anarcho-syndicalists. To this day I still don’t see why we have to be the “police.” I have heard the standard answer “then who”, and “do you trust them?” That is either a statement of someone who deeply believes lines on a map matter; or someone who does not know US history. The US has been far from benevolent in world affairs. If you are unsure of what I mean just look to South America’s history. Then look up “The School of the Americans.” Granted the schools actions only became an issue when they killed nuns.

So my question still stands. What is Obama in fact Left of? The country has a hard right and a middle right at best in power as we speak.