The answer is money. Then power. Or power, then money.
We live in a world where the 7 deadly sins pretty much rule a vast majority of behavior.
Consider that well before we felt the need to turn Iraq into a democracy, we were aware of the geopolitical stakes involved in our need for fossil fuels. The Mideast has this commodity in huge abundance.This is no secret. If you're one of the 4500 some odd families who lost loved ones in this stupid (like all other stupid) war we declared, based upon poor intelligence and shoddy information (aluminum tubes that held cake uranium) ( or try this one; that portable rocket launchers existed in neighborhoods, armed with chemical warheads that could be driven to a launch location and launched with 15 minutes.) Thanks Colin Powell, thanks Dick Cheney, thanks Doug Feith, Paul Wolfowitz and the rest of the gang. But especially, thanks George W. Bush for providing the cute little clubhouse where this puppet show could be perpetrated.
Money and power. Influence and the status quo. Rich get richer and poor people's children die, not for anything noble, but a perpetuation of this awful behavior.
I knew you knew that, but it still pisses many people off.
We are now spending money that should be earmarked for so many other worthy things than this. And what is the this? We are bombing and destroying our own equipment that we gave to A Shia majority and a Shia government that we pushed for so that our companies could continue to reap the benefits of the "all biness" in Iraq; reportedly a country that represents one of the top 5 reserves in the world. Remember though, it isn't about the oil (that Sec Def Rumsfeld promised would finance the entire war, which would last roughly 6 weeks after we were welcomed as liberators.)
I'm going to stop. According to Rush Limbaugh, I am an unhappy leftist who dwells on these negative lies and I probably will end up killing myself- as Robin Williams did because lefties are so unhappy. After all, angst is what we do best.
The impact of Williams' death is finally hitting home. There is so much else going on, I tried to block it out. Robin Williams gets hours of press (rightly so, although the actual coverage makes me want to puke.) and Lauren Bacall gets a 120 second blurb because of her come on to Humphrey Bogart in To Have And Have Not .
I always loved Robin's dramatic performances much more than his comedic talents. He was truly one of a kind and I will miss him. It shouldn't take his death to alert us to another low info drive by about mental illness and depression.
I am installing a permanent humstle, one portrayed in the first "THEN AND NOW post: Master Jack. "It's a mighty strange world, we live in, Master Jack."
See you.
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Then and now 3
I promised you an answer to yesterday's dual view of today vs the innocent 50's.
In 1952, the United States learned of the desire of duly elected Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh to nationalize Iranian oil reserves. This was seen as a major blow to multinational oil companies owned by British and American businessmen and a great PR and economic victory for the Soviet Union.
In a declassified report, the American CIA has admitted its involvement in overthrowing the government of Iran and installing the Shah Reza Pahlevi in Mossadegh's place. According to many reports, this incident cast a shadow over US, Iranian relations to this very day.
So this begs a question. As we pan forward to the present and recent past, what was the prime factor in the gestation of virulent anti American sentiment in the Middle East? answer tomorrow.
In the meantime, today's humstle is Billy Joel's Keepin the Faith. The key line in the song to me, is "well the good ol' days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.
We're such a young country- so full of ourselves and somehow, we think the world hungers for our leadership and influence. Guess what? They don't.
Tomorrow, then.
In 1952, the United States learned of the desire of duly elected Iranian Prime Minister, Mohammad Mossadegh to nationalize Iranian oil reserves. This was seen as a major blow to multinational oil companies owned by British and American businessmen and a great PR and economic victory for the Soviet Union.
In a declassified report, the American CIA has admitted its involvement in overthrowing the government of Iran and installing the Shah Reza Pahlevi in Mossadegh's place. According to many reports, this incident cast a shadow over US, Iranian relations to this very day.
So this begs a question. As we pan forward to the present and recent past, what was the prime factor in the gestation of virulent anti American sentiment in the Middle East? answer tomorrow.
In the meantime, today's humstle is Billy Joel's Keepin the Faith. The key line in the song to me, is "well the good ol' days weren't always good and tomorrow ain't as bad as it seems.
We're such a young country- so full of ourselves and somehow, we think the world hungers for our leadership and influence. Guess what? They don't.
Tomorrow, then.
Monday, August 11, 2014
Then and Now 2
In 1955, a gallon of gas cost 24 cents. If it went up as adjusted for normal inflation, today's price would be $196.00 a gallon. Would we be debating about carbon footprints, energy self sufficiency or alternative sources?
A loaf of bread was 18 cents. By the same logic, today's price would be $37.80 per loaf. Would red state opposotion to a reduced carbohydrate diet in schools be as pronounced?
As we have deftly done for as many years as I can remember, we have propped up idiots in countries that had substantial oil reserves. When these same idiots have not done the bidding of our corporate controlled government, we have had them suffer "accidental" circumstances- coups, heart attacks, local insurrections, diversionary military skirmishes. Can anyone name the country who had an idiot (who wouldn't do our bidding in 1953) deposed (with our help) for a strongman who would? And why? answer tomorrow.
Who are Orville Faubus and Melinda Patillo and what were their roles in the innocence of the 1950's?
Just so you don't think I am needlessly manipulating information for no reason, let me assure you, the Chicago Cubs were 9 games under .500 in 1955 and finished 11 games under- a 71-82 finish as the Brooklyn Dodgers were on their way to a NL pennant and a world series victory, with Jackie Robinson among those leading the way. The Cubs would have finished 12 games under, but as they were mired in the second division of the National league, making up a rain delayed game wouldn't have made much difference.
In the 1950's personal responsibility were still one of the strongest values taught in the home, schools and houses of worship. Where do you think we're at as a nation today? Does our government act in a contrarian way as compared to this value? Because I think this question is really important as to why an NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll reported that 71% of Americans think our country is on the wrong track. What's the right track?
I would urge you to visit the sites, The Daily Caller and The Daily Kos. I think it would be educational. Sort of like taking a field trip without leaving your home. See if you agree about the divergence of opinion in this country and what we've become in terms of some of our values and how we express them-- and in context of our nation's first President of color.
Today's humstle is Paul Anka's You're Having My Baby. I make no bones about my love of the Grateful Dead, but the social network is rife with rumors about the recent cancellation of a sizable chunk of Bob Weir's Ratdog's tour. One of the big speculations is that he may be about to become a father again. So hence, the Paul Anka song. All things "Dead" don't run through my soul like a river anymore, so I am amused. If it's serious, I wish Bobby well. He entertained me on many an occasion.
Peace out- refusniks.
A loaf of bread was 18 cents. By the same logic, today's price would be $37.80 per loaf. Would red state opposotion to a reduced carbohydrate diet in schools be as pronounced?
As we have deftly done for as many years as I can remember, we have propped up idiots in countries that had substantial oil reserves. When these same idiots have not done the bidding of our corporate controlled government, we have had them suffer "accidental" circumstances- coups, heart attacks, local insurrections, diversionary military skirmishes. Can anyone name the country who had an idiot (who wouldn't do our bidding in 1953) deposed (with our help) for a strongman who would? And why? answer tomorrow.
Who are Orville Faubus and Melinda Patillo and what were their roles in the innocence of the 1950's?
Just so you don't think I am needlessly manipulating information for no reason, let me assure you, the Chicago Cubs were 9 games under .500 in 1955 and finished 11 games under- a 71-82 finish as the Brooklyn Dodgers were on their way to a NL pennant and a world series victory, with Jackie Robinson among those leading the way. The Cubs would have finished 12 games under, but as they were mired in the second division of the National league, making up a rain delayed game wouldn't have made much difference.
In the 1950's personal responsibility were still one of the strongest values taught in the home, schools and houses of worship. Where do you think we're at as a nation today? Does our government act in a contrarian way as compared to this value? Because I think this question is really important as to why an NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll reported that 71% of Americans think our country is on the wrong track. What's the right track?
I would urge you to visit the sites, The Daily Caller and The Daily Kos. I think it would be educational. Sort of like taking a field trip without leaving your home. See if you agree about the divergence of opinion in this country and what we've become in terms of some of our values and how we express them-- and in context of our nation's first President of color.
Today's humstle is Paul Anka's You're Having My Baby. I make no bones about my love of the Grateful Dead, but the social network is rife with rumors about the recent cancellation of a sizable chunk of Bob Weir's Ratdog's tour. One of the big speculations is that he may be about to become a father again. So hence, the Paul Anka song. All things "Dead" don't run through my soul like a river anymore, so I am amused. If it's serious, I wish Bobby well. He entertained me on many an occasion.
Peace out- refusniks.
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