Military-Industrial Complex Speech, Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1961: "The prospect of domination of the nation's scholars by Federal employment, project allocations, and the power of money is ever present"
Eisenhower-I admire his words, here.
10.02.2005
well look who dropped in
I am. Now I am here. In houston. montrose. Finally have the internet to get informed. took a month, but I AM glad that september's over. F september. now then, i will be posting more, and for the hordes of nonexistent readers eagerly awaiting my next post with great expectations-i only hope to deliver. okay. enough with that. my life is enormously entertaining and exciting, but next it will be on to power, the world, etc. Carry on then, minions.
5.25.2005
Dead Zoned Out
It has arrived early; it's bigger than ever and it promises a summer of death and destruction. The annual "dead zone" in the Gulf of Mexico - starved of oxygen, and thus killing fish and underwater vegetation - has appeared earlier than usual this year.----The Independent/UK
Ok. So the only publication that provides information about this GULF problem -a great example of an unsustainable way of life-is A BRITISH PUBLICATION. This story, and the reasons WHY such an environmental problem exits is a case study in itself. Consider: nitrogen runoff. coupled with high levels of chemical usage generated from what: FARMING, DEVELOPMENT(lawn fertilizer, etc.) INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION. Of course there is no indication in America today of a rational dialog or even recognition by way of publicity on the sum of environmental harm we commit. Unchecked capitalism inevitably will lead to environmental catastrophe. That is all.
Ok. So the only publication that provides information about this GULF problem -a great example of an unsustainable way of life-is A BRITISH PUBLICATION. This story, and the reasons WHY such an environmental problem exits is a case study in itself. Consider: nitrogen runoff. coupled with high levels of chemical usage generated from what: FARMING, DEVELOPMENT(lawn fertilizer, etc.) INDUSTRIAL POLLUTION. Of course there is no indication in America today of a rational dialog or even recognition by way of publicity on the sum of environmental harm we commit. Unchecked capitalism inevitably will lead to environmental catastrophe. That is all.
5.05.2005
morbidly debt-ridden
"In addition to the pension and health care liabilities GM's debt is also of concern and is symptomatic of the high consumer, corporate and government debt levels. US corporate debt grew to new highs of over $9 trillion, representing 84 percent of GDP. These high debt levels are significant when you consider that the Federal Reserve has stated it intends to continue to raise interest rates, and that equity markets are overvalued by all traditional measures. The combination of decreasing consumer spending and increased debt service costs will ultimately translate into slower growth, a contraction in earnings and reduced profit margins. This will all translate into declines in stock prices. "
An excellent article relating to fiscal fitness.
An excellent article relating to fiscal fitness.
1.27.2005
Thursday
What a strange business is water! Billing monthly for its use
But how many things in life come free commodities, everybody must consume
are not we all equities now bonds to be bought and sold
or have we always been so only now we have more control
over whom we serve and which part of power they represent
we still serve power must work to make money to
become a servant of the system to purchase goods and services
within the system and pay taxes to that which governs part of the system
can one stand as an island on their own-outside-interacting when one wishes to do so?
But how many things in life come free commodities, everybody must consume
are not we all equities now bonds to be bought and sold
or have we always been so only now we have more control
over whom we serve and which part of power they represent
we still serve power must work to make money to
become a servant of the system to purchase goods and services
within the system and pay taxes to that which governs part of the system
can one stand as an island on their own-outside-interacting when one wishes to do so?
1.16.2005
speaking electively
Another electoral decision is upon the world, which is eagerly waiting to see WHO will be the next leader of Iraq. What we are being given is lightly colored sugar water which is supposed to satisfy our minds that "things are progressing", or "its a democratic process at work". HA! Complete farce. Fabrication. Several facts remain. We invaded Iraq, saying that we would bring the country into a "new age of democratic prosperity". Living conditions, not to mention prosperity among the citizenry has fallen since the invasion. Unemployment still stands at 70%. Reconstruction projects which would benefit the urban population have all but been put on hold due to "security concerns".
[{HOW MANY HUMAN LIVES WILL BE "INTERRUPTED" HERE IN THE "homeland" AND ABROAD DUE TO "SECURITY CONCERNS"!}]
Sadly, nearly all of the reconstruction projects completed thus far have dealt with oil infrastructure. Why has the Administration not put any energy into hiring citizens on a civil construction basis? And what of our responsibility to provide order to an occupied country? What of our responsibility to the Iraqi people? Bush talked much of this, but where are the results? There are very few to be found.
We have failed to improve any facet of the situation since invasion. Water and sewer infrastructure is dismal. Electricity less reliable than before the invasion. A collapsed Iraqi industrial complex that is not being invested in apart from oil related industries. I will take cement for a specific example-the most widely used product in the era of 10 foot blast walls and otherwise-we have it flown in from foreign factories and decline to invest in or operate domestic Iraqi sources.(obscure but I hope my example's intent is understood)
To repeat: we have done very little good inside Iraq besides get rid of its former dictator. With even the imperialist nature of the initial act removed(discarding the part that sickens me the most), our factual results in Iraq have proved to of be little benefit to the people! What we have given Iraqis has been nothing but more complex and dangerous lives. How we addressed their needs was pitifully inadequate relative to the situation on the ground. One more tidbit before i go: There are 24 million people in Iraq, of which 16 million or so are unemployed. How can you have a legitimate country or even expect civil order in a society with nothing to do? Again, the fact that there is not civilian hiring on a MASSIVE scale by the Iraqi(US) government similar to what WE did during the Great Depression is nearly criminal-and has been for two years so. I give a thumbs up to The Administration for a well-documented horrible job. On nearly everything. Oh, except Shock and Awe. Those guys. They were great.
[{HOW MANY HUMAN LIVES WILL BE "INTERRUPTED" HERE IN THE "homeland" AND ABROAD DUE TO "SECURITY CONCERNS"!}]
Sadly, nearly all of the reconstruction projects completed thus far have dealt with oil infrastructure. Why has the Administration not put any energy into hiring citizens on a civil construction basis? And what of our responsibility to provide order to an occupied country? What of our responsibility to the Iraqi people? Bush talked much of this, but where are the results? There are very few to be found.
We have failed to improve any facet of the situation since invasion. Water and sewer infrastructure is dismal. Electricity less reliable than before the invasion. A collapsed Iraqi industrial complex that is not being invested in apart from oil related industries. I will take cement for a specific example-the most widely used product in the era of 10 foot blast walls and otherwise-we have it flown in from foreign factories and decline to invest in or operate domestic Iraqi sources.(obscure but I hope my example's intent is understood)
To repeat: we have done very little good inside Iraq besides get rid of its former dictator. With even the imperialist nature of the initial act removed(discarding the part that sickens me the most), our factual results in Iraq have proved to of be little benefit to the people! What we have given Iraqis has been nothing but more complex and dangerous lives. How we addressed their needs was pitifully inadequate relative to the situation on the ground. One more tidbit before i go: There are 24 million people in Iraq, of which 16 million or so are unemployed. How can you have a legitimate country or even expect civil order in a society with nothing to do? Again, the fact that there is not civilian hiring on a MASSIVE scale by the Iraqi(US) government similar to what WE did during the Great Depression is nearly criminal-and has been for two years so. I give a thumbs up to The Administration for a well-documented horrible job. On nearly everything. Oh, except Shock and Awe. Those guys. They were great.
1.12.2005
Mass Dysfunction
Today the US declared that no large caches of WMD were ever found. I could have made millions off of a W. bobblehead that kept repeating "weapons of mass destruction-weapons of mass destruction", and for all the hot air put out to spread that message there ARE NONE? Of course there are not any WMDs. There never was a capacity to produce, nor maintain such weapons by Iraq after Gulf War I-not to mention a means of delivery. But this hypocrisy will be accepted by the American masses and W will offer the usual explanations. Meanwhile Iraq is STILL in a horrible state(of dysfunction), with almost 2 years on the clock. I believe that so far we have failed. Miserably. And I predict further failure. So it is in America now.
_______________________________________________________________
THIS IS an addition, a postscript of purpose and pessimism on this day added, March 12 2k6, 14 months after the original.
My unease has lasted. Iraq, STILL with 60 per cent unemployment, STILL unrestful and in ever-increasing amounts. a two month old election and still no parliament in power, basic services inaccesible and unreliable at even moderate levels-even in baghdad-, a horrible prison complex spawing throughout the country, and im not through. but in retaliation those explaining cite schools, hospitals, public works jobs being completed-but why the low unemployment rate-not to mention the drain of talented workers! I am astonished the country is still managing to function on any level at all! Saddam's trial appears to be a bad joke, there are dozens of people being killed every day in some sort of bombing incident-and the general comes on television and says its going great! good. blasted all over foxnews and it becomes law. abiding citizens. this entire world is in such great flux, dynamically active metamorphosis which is traveling faster than any one person can comprehend and interpret. it is an amazing time to be alive and see such change, but frighteningly horrific and foreboding omens that are not good abound. from energy and the aquisition thereof, the sheer precarious position of world finances and the obstacles to peace. nigeria. rebebls. palestine. tobeornottobeastate. the wall. west banks. polluted rivers. iran. omigodtheymighthavenukesintenyears. (israel will probably end up attacking iran if anyone does.). climate. meltingice. nanotech. futuretech. quantum computing. whatafreakinworld. thats all. oh, and we are still failing in iraq, and i will be worrying about the consequences of whatever ends and if it will be well.
_______________________________________________________________
THIS IS an addition, a postscript of purpose and pessimism on this day added, March 12 2k6, 14 months after the original.
My unease has lasted. Iraq, STILL with 60 per cent unemployment, STILL unrestful and in ever-increasing amounts. a two month old election and still no parliament in power, basic services inaccesible and unreliable at even moderate levels-even in baghdad-, a horrible prison complex spawing throughout the country, and im not through. but in retaliation those explaining cite schools, hospitals, public works jobs being completed-but why the low unemployment rate-not to mention the drain of talented workers! I am astonished the country is still managing to function on any level at all! Saddam's trial appears to be a bad joke, there are dozens of people being killed every day in some sort of bombing incident-and the general comes on television and says its going great! good. blasted all over foxnews and it becomes law. abiding citizens. this entire world is in such great flux, dynamically active metamorphosis which is traveling faster than any one person can comprehend and interpret. it is an amazing time to be alive and see such change, but frighteningly horrific and foreboding omens that are not good abound. from energy and the aquisition thereof, the sheer precarious position of world finances and the obstacles to peace. nigeria. rebebls. palestine. tobeornottobeastate. the wall. west banks. polluted rivers. iran. omigodtheymighthavenukesintenyears. (israel will probably end up attacking iran if anyone does.). climate. meltingice. nanotech. futuretech. quantum computing. whatafreakinworld. thats all. oh, and we are still failing in iraq, and i will be worrying about the consequences of whatever ends and if it will be well.
Back Zach is
In the wake of what most likely be termed the largest natural calamity of our era, a few things strike me. The sheer humanity of the disaster and mankind's subsequent reaction to it have proved to be on a scale never before seen in the modern age. It was an event personally witnessed by most due to the news coverage and chilling footage of the water rising. The earth's reaction: over 4 billion dollars have been pledged to help our fellow humans. Uplifting though my thoughts have been on our reaction, some things discussed to provide relief to governments affected have garnered my attention.
The governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and others owe close to 100 billion dollars to foreign nations, the World Bank(WB), and the International Monetary Fund(IMF).(WB and IMF-their agenda is controlled by their creators and backers-the US) Creditors have proposed suspending debt payments in order to ease the burden from the current crisis. How kind of them. What is not mentioned is that these debts were incurred during the 70s and 80s under a US-sponsored infrastructure developments.
Our diplomats convinced these governments-whose leaders walked away with part of the proceeds-to borrow money to build airports, seaports, electrical grids, dams, and all number of goodies. These improvements were built by US companies who profited enormously under what only can be termed in my eyes a form of colonial exploitation. These huge construction projects did not benefit the majority of the population within these countries. The projections used to justify the building of such structures were flawed and inflated, and the businesses which pressed for the contracts were corrupt and practiced extortion in reverse. The governments who control them are still saddled with debt and poverty still reigns among the masses.
So, we in the US, being comfortably nestled in the Homeland Secure, can proclaim that we have done our part. We are a giving nation, and when we come together we can accomplish great achievements. Sometimes it is the items that escape our everyday inquiry, done by our government without notice or without cause, which harm us more than we will ever know.
I give pause and my sympathy for all those who have fallen from natural disasters along with those unnatural disasters of genocide, famine, imperialism, authoritarianism, and all other wrongs in the past year and those yet to come.
The governments of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and others owe close to 100 billion dollars to foreign nations, the World Bank(WB), and the International Monetary Fund(IMF).(WB and IMF-their agenda is controlled by their creators and backers-the US) Creditors have proposed suspending debt payments in order to ease the burden from the current crisis. How kind of them. What is not mentioned is that these debts were incurred during the 70s and 80s under a US-sponsored infrastructure developments.
Our diplomats convinced these governments-whose leaders walked away with part of the proceeds-to borrow money to build airports, seaports, electrical grids, dams, and all number of goodies. These improvements were built by US companies who profited enormously under what only can be termed in my eyes a form of colonial exploitation. These huge construction projects did not benefit the majority of the population within these countries. The projections used to justify the building of such structures were flawed and inflated, and the businesses which pressed for the contracts were corrupt and practiced extortion in reverse. The governments who control them are still saddled with debt and poverty still reigns among the masses.
So, we in the US, being comfortably nestled in the Homeland Secure, can proclaim that we have done our part. We are a giving nation, and when we come together we can accomplish great achievements. Sometimes it is the items that escape our everyday inquiry, done by our government without notice or without cause, which harm us more than we will ever know.
I give pause and my sympathy for all those who have fallen from natural disasters along with those unnatural disasters of genocide, famine, imperialism, authoritarianism, and all other wrongs in the past year and those yet to come.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)