A couple of years ago I wrote a post "What if it's already too late....". One of the possible endings to that sentence I wrote "... and the Industrial and Chemical revolution of the past 200 years has already sufficiently polluted the Environment as to make our Extinction a certainty?"
Now today We have Coal-Fired Slug in Tennessee that broke out from it's holding pond and flooded 300 acres with a really super nasty gunk "included 45,000 pounds of arsenic, 49,000 pounds of lead, 1.4 million pounds of barium, 91,000 pounds of chromium and 140,000 pounds of manganese." as reported in the NYT. Would you raise a family near that stuff?
We also have Giant ponds of pig poop in the Carolina's just waiting for a hurricane to flush it into the water system and by the way the Bush Administration would like to start mining Uranium next to the Grand Canyon. Maybe it is too late?
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Push Wages Down
I"ve written a few times asking the question, how do we reallocate the money that private sector companies are spending now into a Universal Healthcare system. One way I concidered was finding a way to either incentivize or even mandate that all company turn the saving from a federally funded healthcare system into wages. There is no reason that a company should see a move to Uni-Healthcare as a giant financial boom other then the advantages in compettitiveness going forward.
It is when that $12,000/yr that the average company pays for healthcare for a family of 4 becomes a raise that we can talk about how much we are willing to pay into a UniHealthcare system.
So I was thinking what if we tried to find a way to push wages down from the top of a company to the lower level wage earners?
Is there an American CEO that is really worth $400 million a year? What can you do with that much money other then insure more Paris Hiltons in few generations?
I wonder what kind of stimulus this would be for the economy. If instead of a 6 grand umbrella stand a family was able to put a little more away for a child's education or even have a little more to buy that Hybrid car?
Now I can already hear the Conservatives "Income Redistribution!" Well I say "Not So!". In spirit of Republican pollster and author of such great word play like Bush's "Clear Skies" or "Healthy Forrest" Initiatives, Frank Luntz. Think of it as an "Earnings Fairness Doctrine"
It is when that $12,000/yr that the average company pays for healthcare for a family of 4 becomes a raise that we can talk about how much we are willing to pay into a UniHealthcare system.
So I was thinking what if we tried to find a way to push wages down from the top of a company to the lower level wage earners?
Is there an American CEO that is really worth $400 million a year? What can you do with that much money other then insure more Paris Hiltons in few generations?
I wonder what kind of stimulus this would be for the economy. If instead of a 6 grand umbrella stand a family was able to put a little more away for a child's education or even have a little more to buy that Hybrid car?
Now I can already hear the Conservatives "Income Redistribution!" Well I say "Not So!". In spirit of Republican pollster and author of such great word play like Bush's "Clear Skies" or "Healthy Forrest" Initiatives, Frank Luntz. Think of it as an "Earnings Fairness Doctrine"
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Enemies Domestic
There are few other human beings on this planet in need of a smack down more then Dick Cheney. Soon after 9/11 Dick Cheney said the the US might have to "go to the darkside" in the War on Terror. Unfortunetly for all of us he and George Bush was prepared lead the way. There is a rare kind of evil inside Dick Cheney. It's a kind of arrogant self aware evil that doesn't care what anyone thinks. Doesn't care what the Constitution says.
Despite the fact that it violated any number of Law or treaties, despite the fact that experts said it didn't work, despite the fact the US has prosecuted our own soldier for doing it. Dick Cheney wanted to torture and so He and his Aids set out to circumvent the Law. Today he sit with a smirk on his face and says "So What".
Faced with Global Warming. He denied it. When an Enviromental Law stood in the way of a Corporate interest He undermined it.
When it came to his fellow American. Some he imprisoned without charge some he spied on without warrants. He ultimately betrayed all of us.
You just can't let Dick Cheney or George Bush tear up the Constitution and just walk. We have to ask ourselves what is our responsibility to defend the Constitution from enemies both foriegn and domestic.
Despite the fact that it violated any number of Law or treaties, despite the fact that experts said it didn't work, despite the fact the US has prosecuted our own soldier for doing it. Dick Cheney wanted to torture and so He and his Aids set out to circumvent the Law. Today he sit with a smirk on his face and says "So What".
Faced with Global Warming. He denied it. When an Enviromental Law stood in the way of a Corporate interest He undermined it.
When it came to his fellow American. Some he imprisoned without charge some he spied on without warrants. He ultimately betrayed all of us.
You just can't let Dick Cheney or George Bush tear up the Constitution and just walk. We have to ask ourselves what is our responsibility to defend the Constitution from enemies both foriegn and domestic.
Battles and Wars
I hate to speak in militaristic terms but it best analogy that fits the point I'm trying to make. I was reading an opinion piece by Bob Ostertag on the Huffington Post. He argues That Gay Marriage is the wrong issue for Gay people and asks "Is this really where decades of struggle for sexual freedom ends? With the state granting its blessing to homosexual nuclear families emerging from City Hall, husband-and-husband or wife-and-wife, with the photographer and the rice and the whole bit, finally having become just like them?".
What I thing is wrong with this argument is that it seems to confuse a Battle with a War. Gay Marriage is just one of many fronts in a War for our equality and the freedom to live our lives without discrimination. Be it employment, housing and yes even marriage. The "wrong issue" argument looks at it and believes that "We are putting all our resources into winning a right that only the few of us in long-term conventional couple relationships will enjoy." It is definitely true that at the moment the struggle for Gay Marriage is the prominent battle in the War for Equality. But I thing the Gay community is capable of fighting a multi-front War. If there is one think a Queen is good at it's multi-tasking. We can fight for the rights of those of use who want the legal protection that a marriage entails and we can fight for those who are looking to end other forms of discrimination and homophobia.
One last point Mr. Ostertag claims "What's more, we are creating a social climate in which young queers are encouraged to recast their vision of the relationships they seek to favor the married couple." The Idea that Gay people might be intimidated by "social climate" is oxymoronic.
What I thing is wrong with this argument is that it seems to confuse a Battle with a War. Gay Marriage is just one of many fronts in a War for our equality and the freedom to live our lives without discrimination. Be it employment, housing and yes even marriage. The "wrong issue" argument looks at it and believes that "We are putting all our resources into winning a right that only the few of us in long-term conventional couple relationships will enjoy." It is definitely true that at the moment the struggle for Gay Marriage is the prominent battle in the War for Equality. But I thing the Gay community is capable of fighting a multi-front War. If there is one think a Queen is good at it's multi-tasking. We can fight for the rights of those of use who want the legal protection that a marriage entails and we can fight for those who are looking to end other forms of discrimination and homophobia.
One last point Mr. Ostertag claims "What's more, we are creating a social climate in which young queers are encouraged to recast their vision of the relationships they seek to favor the married couple." The Idea that Gay people might be intimidated by "social climate" is oxymoronic.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
The Day the Earth Stunk Out the Place
My Partner and I, Joe, went to Atlantic City this past Wednesday to see "The Day the Earth Stood Still". I'll get to that piece of crap in a minute. So We decided to stay over night at the Tropicana Casino and see the movie in the IMAX Theater they have there. IMAX is pretty cool. I'm not so sure it work to well with all movie. I mean if it's a movie with a lot of close ups you'll spend most of movie with a sixty foot face staring back at you.
The Casino is an interesting place. If you want to get a feel for the diversity of American have a seat in an Atlantic City Casino and watch the world go by. The Tropicana is like a really expensive mall with a casino in it. It like congratulations your a big winner, so why not give the casino some of it's money back by buying really over priced crap. I'm also convinced that they design casinos so you get lost and end up just wondering around. Never able to find a way out, until the blinking lights and rhythmic bells punctuate the hiss of the crowd. The Slot Machines around every corner like drug dealers promising priceless rewards for just a dollar maybe even less if you just need a taste.
Oh wait Casino profits fund my HIV drug program here in New Jersey...Never mind. Take a chance and come to Atlantic City. It's a great place to gamble and buy really expensive crap.
Anyway the Movie. The people who made this movie blew it so bad they should be banished from movie world for 5 years. This movie as so many holes in it that it makes no sense. First, there is no grand message to the people of Earth about how this is our last chance to clean up our act. The main character played by Keanu Reeves, which by the way if you need an actor to play a character with absolutely no personality Keanu is your man, Says in the beginning that he want to go to the United Nation to speak to the leaders of the planet. Never gets there. Matter of fact under the scenario of this movie the vast majority of the planet is left with no clue about what just happen. I guess it up to the leaders to explain it. Imagine Dick Cheney after Keanu leaves. "No Problem, We took care of it. Just a little misunderstanding, go about your business."
I will give the movie a little credit for two things. The idea that planets like the Earth are rare and far to important to let us ruin it and the line "If the Earth dies you die. If you die the Earth survives" That's a great line.
Other then that the movie was a total let down.
The Casino is an interesting place. If you want to get a feel for the diversity of American have a seat in an Atlantic City Casino and watch the world go by. The Tropicana is like a really expensive mall with a casino in it. It like congratulations your a big winner, so why not give the casino some of it's money back by buying really over priced crap. I'm also convinced that they design casinos so you get lost and end up just wondering around. Never able to find a way out, until the blinking lights and rhythmic bells punctuate the hiss of the crowd. The Slot Machines around every corner like drug dealers promising priceless rewards for just a dollar maybe even less if you just need a taste.
Oh wait Casino profits fund my HIV drug program here in New Jersey...Never mind. Take a chance and come to Atlantic City. It's a great place to gamble and buy really expensive crap.
Anyway the Movie. The people who made this movie blew it so bad they should be banished from movie world for 5 years. This movie as so many holes in it that it makes no sense. First, there is no grand message to the people of Earth about how this is our last chance to clean up our act. The main character played by Keanu Reeves, which by the way if you need an actor to play a character with absolutely no personality Keanu is your man, Says in the beginning that he want to go to the United Nation to speak to the leaders of the planet. Never gets there. Matter of fact under the scenario of this movie the vast majority of the planet is left with no clue about what just happen. I guess it up to the leaders to explain it. Imagine Dick Cheney after Keanu leaves. "No Problem, We took care of it. Just a little misunderstanding, go about your business."
I will give the movie a little credit for two things. The idea that planets like the Earth are rare and far to important to let us ruin it and the line "If the Earth dies you die. If you die the Earth survives" That's a great line.
Other then that the movie was a total let down.
Unregulated Man
The next time you hear someone talking about the virtues of unregulated markets. Replace the word markets with Man and see if you think it's still a good idea.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Suicidal Protest
Rhyming rhythms pounding off the wall as starlites race across faces in the spotlight and strangers in the darkness.
In dim lite corners small groups gather with stories of happy times and family lore. As the rythms fade and a soft melody begins, two men emerge from the shadows and move throught the crowd to the center of the room.
Men who are willing to sacrifice themselves for a belief in a greater good. To give their lives in a demostration of rebellion against bigotry and for liberty and equality.
As the men reach their target. A curious face begins to wonder, an angry heart starts to pound, a generous soul cracks a smile, but hatred rules the crowd.
In the center of the room the two men turn to each other and say "I love you", kiss and begin the "Suicide Waltz".
The men in this senario are "Suicide Dancers". Part of an army of Gay couples willing to infiltrate weddings (the more red the state the better), at great personal threat, and confront oppression by dancing to a love song.
This was posted originally in '06, but being in a nostalic year end mood and it's relevence to the California H8 protests I thought I'd redo it. (ok I made a few spelling and grammer) corrections)
Friday, December 19, 2008
A Possible Gay Navy Secretary
Washington Times:
Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy -- a move that would put the first openly gay person at the top of one of the services.
Some top retired military leaders and some Democrats in Congress are backing William White, chief operating officer of the Intrepid Museum Foundation, to be the next secretary of the Navy -- a move that would put the first openly gay person at the top of one of the services.
Throw a Shoe at Bush
It's not very often that I give George Bush a compliment. Matter of fact probably the only other thing that I give him any credit for was his spending on HIV/AIDS around the world. Although he managed to screw that up too by neglecting HIV/AIDS here at home.
Anyway I now have a new compliment for George Bush and it has to do with the shoe throwing incident.
George, Dude, Great friggin' move getting out of the way of that shoe. That sucker was going right for your head!
click Here for a chance to throw your shoe at Bush
Anyway I now have a new compliment for George Bush and it has to do with the shoe throwing incident.
George, Dude, Great friggin' move getting out of the way of that shoe. That sucker was going right for your head!
click Here for a chance to throw your shoe at Bush
Thursday, December 18, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY
To Joe,
The Man I Love Beyond All Others.
MERRY CHRISTMAS BABY,
Jim
Maybe I don't say it enough.
Sean Hannity: Misinformer of the Year
MEDIA MATTERS:
"Sean Hannity has been a prolific and influential purveyor of conservative misinformation. But never has he so enthusiastically applied his talents for spreading misinformation as he did to the 2008 presidential race, focusing his energies primarily on President-elect Barack Obama. Day after day"
"Sean Hannity has been a prolific and influential purveyor of conservative misinformation. But never has he so enthusiastically applied his talents for spreading misinformation as he did to the 2008 presidential race, focusing his energies primarily on President-elect Barack Obama. Day after day"
WOMEN AS PROPERTY
CAIRO (Reuters) - An Egyptian man said on Wednesday he was offering his 20-year-old daughter in marriage to Iraqi journalist Muntazer al-Zaidi, who threw his shoes at U.S. President George W. Bush in Baghdad on Sunday
New Study: HIV and Women
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Instead of infiltrating breaks in the skin, HIV appears to attack normal, healthy genital tissue, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday in a study that offers new insight into how the AIDS virus spreads.
So Be It
Over the week's since the election of Barack Obama I've heard one group or another complain about certain decisions that the President-Elect has made. To be honest I haven't been happy with a couple of his decisions. Would I have picked Gates for Defense? No. In a earlier post I though the Dems couldn't keep picking Reps for National Security posts, that it would just feed into the perception that Reps are better at keeping us safe.Obama's latest choice of Rick Warren to do some kind of prayer thing at the Inauguration. Would I have picked him? Absolutely not. First anybody who says " The Church is the most magnificent concept ever created." or who argues that today definition of traditional marriage has been the same for 5,000 yrs. is obviously someone who is either fooling himself or living in a very weird , very dark little bubble.
In both these cases, however, I'm willing to say if this is what Obama feels he needs to do to accomplish his mission then I'll except that. I've lived through Reagen and 2 bushes. I know how bad it can get. Just the last Bush has done more to scar this Nation for generations to come. If this is what a President Obama needs to do to start the healing, then so be it.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Just In Time
The U.S. and most of the Industrialized World live in "just in time" economies. Things are distributed to where they're needed when they're needed. No More No Less. This works great for wringing waste out of the system and increasing profitablity but in the event of catastopic collapse in the distribution system, it would leave people without lots of important stuff fast. First among them food. How long would your grocery store last with a serious distruption to it's supply chain?
Sounds like a good argument to support your local farmers.
Sounds like a good argument to support your local farmers.
The Scars of Our Torture
I was watching MSNBC last night, specifically Obermann and Maddow, actuallly before I go any further I need to mention something about Keith Obermann. First I like Obermann's show. Seems like a nice guy, sense of humor's a little dorky but hey we all got quirks. Mine involves feathers but we don't need to go there right now. Anyway what is up with the Obermann show. It's like the same 4 or 5 yes men all the time. "your absolutly right Keith" or "I couldn't agree more Keith". I can't remember the last guest he had that you could call even mildly confrontational.
Actually this started out about something I saw on the two shows. Both shows spent some time reporting that in a brand new interview Dick Cheney admitted to War Crimes as a breaking news headline but actually Dick Cheney acknowledged this about a month ago in a McClatchy news service story. They reported "Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al Qaida suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called "water-boarding," which creates a sensation of drowning." I had linked to this story here on this blog in the middle of November.
One of my concerns going forward is that those within our government guilty of War Crimes will not be held accountable. I don't know how, as a people governed by Law, we could let this happen? If we do nothing, If we just refuse to bring criminals to justice. Then it will not be those few that are to blame. It will be all of use who are responsible, it will be our Nation as a whole that will bare the scars of our torture.
Actually this started out about something I saw on the two shows. Both shows spent some time reporting that in a brand new interview Dick Cheney admitted to War Crimes as a breaking news headline but actually Dick Cheney acknowledged this about a month ago in a McClatchy news service story. They reported "Vice President Dick Cheney has confirmed that U.S. interrogators subjected captured senior al Qaida suspects to a controversial interrogation technique called "water-boarding," which creates a sensation of drowning." I had linked to this story here on this blog in the middle of November.
One of my concerns going forward is that those within our government guilty of War Crimes will not be held accountable. I don't know how, as a people governed by Law, we could let this happen? If we do nothing, If we just refuse to bring criminals to justice. Then it will not be those few that are to blame. It will be all of use who are responsible, it will be our Nation as a whole that will bare the scars of our torture.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
BEYOND BREAKING NEWS
NEWS BEYOND BELIEF:
Anonymous sources are reporting that during the aftermath of the Bush-Shoe Incident as some members of the Secret Service and Iraqi Security Forces were wrestling the man to the ground other members of the Secret Service were taking away a second Shoe-man.The Secret Service, however, are denying that they are holding a second Shoe-man and that this incident was the actions of a lone Shoe-man. Many experts believe that there are just too many unanswered questions at this point.
Anonymous sources are reporting that during the aftermath of the Bush-Shoe Incident as some members of the Secret Service and Iraqi Security Forces were wrestling the man to the ground other members of the Secret Service were taking away a second Shoe-man.The Secret Service, however, are denying that they are holding a second Shoe-man and that this incident was the actions of a lone Shoe-man. Many experts believe that there are just too many unanswered questions at this point.
ARE WE F#@KED?
If you listen to the news these days, or any time really you'll notice you can find an Economist to stand on any side of an issue. Conservative supply side to Liberal Kaynesian talking heads will sit there and tell you what is happening or will happen as this crisis goes forward. But Economist don't have any better view of what is happening then anyone else. What Economists do very well is look backward. They kind of autopsy the past. They pull out their graph paper and start plowing through the numbers disecting them, interpiding them to the point that the average person's diminishing return would be lunch.
The truth is nobody knows what is going to happen. We are a ship in a storm on very bad seas. Very little we do is going to protect us from the rocks and the constant threat of rouge waves of potential unknowns that we know we don't know but none the less are still unkown (just a little shout out to Donald Rumsfeld there. Trying to lighten the mood)
So If that not depressing enough. Here's a Video from 60 MINS.
We just might Be totally F#@KED.
The truth is nobody knows what is going to happen. We are a ship in a storm on very bad seas. Very little we do is going to protect us from the rocks and the constant threat of rouge waves of potential unknowns that we know we don't know but none the less are still unkown (just a little shout out to Donald Rumsfeld there. Trying to lighten the mood)
So If that not depressing enough. Here's a Video from 60 MINS.
We just might Be totally F#@KED.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Carried Away
Republicans will fight to the death to prevent an increase in the minimum but try to limit executive pay and it's "woo hey now let's not get carried away here"
Saturday, December 13, 2008
TOP TALENT
It seems to me that this argument that Corporations need to pay CEO's $10's even $100 of millions of dollar because that's the only way they can attract the top talent, is a really big pile of bullshit. You can't tell me that there isn't some mid-level executive at GM that would love to get his hands on that company and would probably lead with more vision and competence then the current leadership. Which it should be noted is not exactly the highest hurdle in the world.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Why So Vitter?
In a recent post I talked about the "drama" that people talk about surrounding the Clintons. The idea was that the Clintons do not bring the drama to the table. The drama is the accusational dust storm that is kicked up by those who, for what ever reason, see Bill and Hillary Clinton as unethical or in Bill Clinton's case immoral. One of those most concerned is Sen. David Vitter a Republican from Louisiana. In the Vitter case, I have to admit to not being sure what Vitter resents the most about Bill Clinton. The fact that Clinton had consensual sex with another woman or that Vitter has to pay for his?
NJ Panel Recomends Gay Marriage
PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - New Jersey should follow two other U.S. states and allow same-sex couples to marry rather than just enter into civil unions, as the law currently permits, a state commission recommended on Wednesday.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
My Fellow "Others"
Today marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
Sometimes when I'm in a THC induced mental drift I entertain the idea, what if aliens are visiting our planet and will they ever reveal themselves? I'm left with the thought, would you introduce yourself to neighbors like us? I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to look at ourselves as outsiders would see us. Much like say the people of the middle east would look at the U.S. They see a greedy government/corporate beast willing to support dictators and use force so secure the fuel for their own economic selfishness.We, on the hand. may look at other parts of the world and see barbaric oppression of woman. So when we examine out progress on the UDHR we need to look ourselves as outsiders with honesty.
I think as a gay man I should mention that I do believe, although no mentioned specifically the Declaration does include sexual orientation, In Article 2 when it says "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.". That right my fellow GLBT brothers and sisters, we are other.
So how do you think we're doing?
Sometimes when I'm in a THC induced mental drift I entertain the idea, what if aliens are visiting our planet and will they ever reveal themselves? I'm left with the thought, would you introduce yourself to neighbors like us? I guess what I'm trying to say is that we need to look at ourselves as outsiders would see us. Much like say the people of the middle east would look at the U.S. They see a greedy government/corporate beast willing to support dictators and use force so secure the fuel for their own economic selfishness.We, on the hand. may look at other parts of the world and see barbaric oppression of woman. So when we examine out progress on the UDHR we need to look ourselves as outsiders with honesty.
I think as a gay man I should mention that I do believe, although no mentioned specifically the Declaration does include sexual orientation, In Article 2 when it says "Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.". That right my fellow GLBT brothers and sisters, we are other.
So how do you think we're doing?
HIV is Managable
Washington Post:
"Her story is a remarkable chronicle of the advance of medicine and strong evidence of the importance of testing. Not only can my patient expect to live a relatively long and productive life, she can do it with the love and support of a healthy husband and children. None of this would have been possible without early detection and proper adherence to an HIV regimen. "
"Her story is a remarkable chronicle of the advance of medicine and strong evidence of the importance of testing. Not only can my patient expect to live a relatively long and productive life, she can do it with the love and support of a healthy husband and children. None of this would have been possible without early detection and proper adherence to an HIV regimen. "
Bush Trashing Enviroment
From Rueters:
"While the first 100 days of the Bush administration initiated perhaps the worst period of environmental deregulation in American history, the last 100 days of a Bush presidency could be even worse,"
"While the first 100 days of the Bush administration initiated perhaps the worst period of environmental deregulation in American history, the last 100 days of a Bush presidency could be even worse,"
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
A Gay Election Day
I was reading this morning about a plan for a "Calling out Gay Day" in California to protest Prop H8. The idea being that gay people should call out from work. Now I know I did call for a shutting down downtowns in protest of the vote. But I think it's time to stop the protests and get to work. I mean we are talking about California for crying out loud.
So everyone should get to work get a new Prop on the ballot for next cycle and get it past.
So everyone should get to work get a new Prop on the ballot for next cycle and get it past.
Water Water Everywhere
In the west we have fight brewing between the states, environmentalists and farmers. In the east some states like Georgia are suffering from severe droughts. Fresh water is only going to be harder to come by. Not to mention globally where warming is melting the glaciers that supply 70% of the world population with drinking water.
So I have a suggestion for the coming stimulus package. Two huge desalinization plants. One on the east coast and one on the west coast and the infrastructure to support and distribute it.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Our Bush Legacy
From the NYT:
"The nation’s courts continue to grapple with the abuses committed by President Bush’s administration in the name of fighting terrorism."
"The case involves Ali al-Marri, a citizen of Qatar who was in the United States legally. He was declared an enemy combatant in mid-2003 and has been held in a Navy brig since then."
"The other, equally notorious case is being heard on Tuesday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in Manhattan. It involves Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian with no ties to terrorism who became a victim of the Bush team’s lawless policy of “extraordinary rendition” — the outsourcing of interrogations to foreign governments known to torture prisoners.
Mr. Arar’s ordeal began in 2002, when he was seized by federal agents as he tried to change planes on his way home to Canada from a family vacation. After being held incommunicado in solitary confinement and subjected to harsh interrogation without proper access to a lawyer, he was “rendered” to Syria, where he was tortured. He was locked up for almost a year in a dank underground cell the size of a grave before he was finally let go."
"The nation’s courts continue to grapple with the abuses committed by President Bush’s administration in the name of fighting terrorism."
"The case involves Ali al-Marri, a citizen of Qatar who was in the United States legally. He was declared an enemy combatant in mid-2003 and has been held in a Navy brig since then."
"The other, equally notorious case is being heard on Tuesday by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, in Manhattan. It involves Maher Arar, a Syrian-born Canadian with no ties to terrorism who became a victim of the Bush team’s lawless policy of “extraordinary rendition” — the outsourcing of interrogations to foreign governments known to torture prisoners.
Mr. Arar’s ordeal began in 2002, when he was seized by federal agents as he tried to change planes on his way home to Canada from a family vacation. After being held incommunicado in solitary confinement and subjected to harsh interrogation without proper access to a lawyer, he was “rendered” to Syria, where he was tortured. He was locked up for almost a year in a dank underground cell the size of a grave before he was finally let go."
Compromised Immunity
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Five Blackwater Worldwide security guards surrendered Monday
in an investigation into a deadly
2007 shooting in a busy Baghdad intersection.
The defense will argue that the guards felt threatened. The prosecution will argue they over-reacted. Probably the truth lie somewhere in the middle, but without a doubt these guards will learn that even War for Profit comes with a very high price.
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Growing Old with HIV
NEWSWEEK:
"Medical advances are helping many HIV patients live into old age. But that blessing presents its own unique set of tribulations."
"Medical advances are helping many HIV patients live into old age. But that blessing presents its own unique set of tribulations."
Friday, December 05, 2008
More Guns, More Death
States with lax gun laws had higher rates of handgun killings, fatal shootings of police officers, and sales of weapons that were used in crimes in other states, according to a study underwritten by a group of more than 300 U.S. mayors.
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Why I Like Bigger
As can be expected from Congress the numbers being tossed around for the coming stimulus package are continually growing. First we heard $300 billion then $700 billion even whisper of a trillion. So never to be out done. Here's why I think it should be even bigger.
I remember when the debate was on about the Bush tax cuts. I remember thinking to myself, I say myself mainly because a surprisingly few people I interact with each day want to discuss tax policy. Go figure.
Anyway I remember thinking to myself that a trillion dollars means a hell of a lot to the government, but to the overall economy, not so much. If you cut taxes by a trillion dollars you are going to put some serious pressure on the resources that works as a safety net for those most vulnerable. Starting with health care. But that trillion dollar tax cut to an overall economy of $14 trillion is a nice boost but nothing close to what we need.
I believe The stimulus package should be $2 trillion dollars over five years. First most estimates I've heard over the last few years say we're already a trillion dollars behind on normal maintenance of our roads and bridges let alone any kind of modernization. Green technology spending and development will need a nice chunk. Retrofitting government building for clean energy is another area for job creation.
On the more social sided fully fund the s-chip children's health care program and other programs to lay the foundations for universal health care. There will be more on health care in the future. But until then bounce this thought around in your head. How do we capture and reallocate the money we now spend on health care?
There might even be a way to help fund this plan. A progressive carbon tax.
While we're waiting from maintenance to scrap the Republican off the ceiling let me explain.
The carbon tax would be obviously oil and coal based products and emissions and could be other non-renewable resources. The progressive part means that each year the tax gets higher. Something like 1% the first year. 2% the next. Then 4%. next could be 6% or 8% depending how aggressive we want to be. What this progressive tax does is give everybody fair warning that you better find better ways now, because in a few years this stuff is going to be a lot more expensive.
I remember when the debate was on about the Bush tax cuts. I remember thinking to myself, I say myself mainly because a surprisingly few people I interact with each day want to discuss tax policy. Go figure.
Anyway I remember thinking to myself that a trillion dollars means a hell of a lot to the government, but to the overall economy, not so much. If you cut taxes by a trillion dollars you are going to put some serious pressure on the resources that works as a safety net for those most vulnerable. Starting with health care. But that trillion dollar tax cut to an overall economy of $14 trillion is a nice boost but nothing close to what we need.
I believe The stimulus package should be $2 trillion dollars over five years. First most estimates I've heard over the last few years say we're already a trillion dollars behind on normal maintenance of our roads and bridges let alone any kind of modernization. Green technology spending and development will need a nice chunk. Retrofitting government building for clean energy is another area for job creation.
On the more social sided fully fund the s-chip children's health care program and other programs to lay the foundations for universal health care. There will be more on health care in the future. But until then bounce this thought around in your head. How do we capture and reallocate the money we now spend on health care?
There might even be a way to help fund this plan. A progressive carbon tax.
While we're waiting from maintenance to scrap the Republican off the ceiling let me explain.
The carbon tax would be obviously oil and coal based products and emissions and could be other non-renewable resources. The progressive part means that each year the tax gets higher. Something like 1% the first year. 2% the next. Then 4%. next could be 6% or 8% depending how aggressive we want to be. What this progressive tax does is give everybody fair warning that you better find better ways now, because in a few years this stuff is going to be a lot more expensive.
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
The Future of Sarah
There are two things that could make Sarah Palin a serious threat in the future. If a close knit group of influential Neo-Conservative adopt and train her as their spokesperson. Much like George Bush was a creation of Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld and Paul Wolfowitz.Imagine for a second Sarah Palin talkin' what John Bolton is whisperin'. Scary? You Betcha!
The other thing that could make her a force is if the left continues to obsess and ridicule her. turning her into a marter for the Religious Right.
She is a natural fit for the hard right. Her views on abortion, creationism, sex education, marriage rights and all those other issue, issues that real Americans can get behind and support, support with that eye of all patriotic people of this great land and show our belief and our common mission, from those little town were all our best values originate, for energy Independence.
First Gay Cabinet Secretary?
From the WSJ via The Huffington Post:
For the rainbow cabinet of the nation's first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you've probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press.
For the rainbow cabinet of the nation's first African American president, Mary Beth Maxwell is the perfect labor secretary you've probably never heard of: a gay woman, community organizer and labor leader with an adopted African American son. And this founding executive director of American Rights at Work is about to get the full-court press.
folk singer Odetta dies at 77
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Odetta, the deep-voiced folk singer whose ballads and songs became for many a sound track to the American civil rights movement, has died aged 77, the New York Times reported on Wednesday.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)