Boehner's Latest Boner

John Boehner, the occupier of the seat of the Speaker of the House, has misled the Israeli government according to official Israeli sources.  More on the story is at the link below.

Mr. Boehner, it appears, is coming dangerously close to usurping the powers of the Presidency.  One can quibble about Mr. Obama's policies.  But if Boehner has misled the Israeli government this is a serious matter.  It weakens not only the Presidency but America itself by spreading confusion, discord, and division.

Apparently, Boehner told the Israeli Prime Minister that the invitation for Mr. Netanyahu to speak before Congress was bi-partisan.  It is quite clear this was untrue.  I certainly don't want to judge anyone -- even John Boehner -- only through the press.  But these allegations of misleading the Israeli Prime Minister need to be investigated.  For such a thing would indeed be a big boner.

Boehner's Latest Boner

Despite Cheery News Notes from Government and Others, Americans Deeply Stressed Over This Factor

From Yahoo Health comes news of a survey of Americans' stress.  One factor over any other is leading to continuing stress and is even affecting the health of people.  I'll have the link to the complete article below.

 

The average person knows he is under stress.  And when he thinks about it, personal finances very often come to mind. 

 

What a sad state of affairs for what used to be called the greatest nation on earth.

 

Certainly, an America constantly stressed-out over personal finances is not the America we know, and certainly not a healthy America. 

 

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via Yahoo Health --

 

 

 

Nearly three-quarters of adults say they’re stressed about this factor.

 

Even with the U.S. economy on the rebound, Americans are more stressed out about money than ever, and the financial strain is harming the nation’s health.

The American Psychological Association’s “Stress in America” survey results for 2014, released this week, shows that 72 percent of adults report feeling stressed about money at least some of the time, and 22 percent say that they experience extreme stress about money. Top reported triggers include paying for unexpected expenses, paying for essentials, and saving for retirement.

 

 

https://www.yahoo.com/health/the-one-thing-most-of-us-are-stressed-about-110081709832.html

 

A Changing America: Land

Today I begin a new series entitled "A Changing America."  This series will examine mostly positive changes to this great land officially known as The United States of America.  While problems and deficits in American life are fair game for this and other blogs, highlighting positive or good changes is in order.  It is also desperately needed in order to help maintain the sanity of the frail, and the good cheer of the strong.

I have seen recently the injustice of the land rental and leasing system so widespread, especially in the U.S. and England, as well as elsewhere.  Although widespread, the practice can hardly be considered well-liked.  The article linked to below describes well the basic injustice of this system.  Land ownership and then rental has its roots quite deeply in history and was known more recently as feudalism.  The fact that feudalism still exists, though in a different form, is a fact not often admitted in polite company.

However, it is most certainly a very real part of -- literally -- the landscape.  See here why this system is illogical and unjust:

A Changing America: Land

Koch Brothers Try to "Buy-Down" Democracy

The link below takes you to my sister blog and what I feel is an important post on the recent revelation of what may be the greatest Greed Campaign in United States history.  There is nothing I can add at the moment to what you will find here:

http://democampaignwatch.blogspot.com/

Syriza Victory Not All It Could Have Been

Events in Greece are currently moving quickly.  At the article linked to below, a member of the Greek leftist coalition, Syriza analyzes last week-end's election and gives reasons why the left victory was not more decisive.  Assuming there was not significant ballot tampering, the fact that Syriza did not garner an absolute majority in the legislature is certainly cause for concern.

Still, of course, a victory of any size by Syriza is significant.  It shows the Greek people have had enough of the dictat by the Troika, as it is called.  (The troika are the European financial sources, plus the World Monetary Fund, which have been issuing a never-ending series of demands to the Greeks.)

It is disappointing the new Greek government may be interested in negotiating with the Troika.  This will not work.  An illegitimate monster cannot be negotiated with.  Is this not what the Troika is -- an out-of-control monstrosity concerned only with the privileges of the powerful?  
 .

The new Greek left

From Defense News: U.S. Trainers Will Deploy to Ukraine

Rush Post --


Below is an excerpt from Defense News on-line. 

The United States government seems intent on taking advantage of tensions to help foster a new Cold War mentality.  That, at least, is one way of looking at the situation.  Another is to observe that the profit system is very afraid of another way of doing business -- something like what Russia was striving for during most of the 20th century but failed to accomplish -- establishing a more just social compact.

Defense News now reports on a plan to send U.S. troops to Ukraine, ostensibly as trainers.  How often have we seen this scenario before?

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WASHINGTON — American soldiers will deploy to Ukraine this spring to begin training four companies of the Ukrainian National Guard, the head of US Army Europe Lt. Gen Ben Hodges said during his first visit to Kiev on Wednesday.
The number of troops heading to the Yavoriv Training Area near the city of L'viv — which is about 40 miles from the Polish border — is still being determined, however.
The American training effort comes as part of a US State Department initiative "to assist Ukraine in strengthening its law enforcement capabilities, conduct internal defense, and maintain rule of law" Pentagon spokeswoman Lt. Col. Vanessa Hillman told Defense News.

U.S. "Trainers" to Deploy to Ukraine: Report

Looking Ahead

Coming Soon --

As promised earlier, I have been working on researching what went wrong with Election 2014.  There certainly is already enough evidence collected on this blog to see evidence of a crime.  Some may think this allegation wild. However, the U.N. Declaration on Human Rights guarantees free and fair elections the last time I checked.  And the U.S. is a signatory to that document.  This means it has the force of law in the U.S.   Any elections which are not free and fair are thus illegal in the United States.  Perhaps it would take a Vincent Bugliosi to press the case, but for our purposes it is clear serious allegations of electoral misconduct must be investigated.

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Next month will be the 51st anniversary of the appearance of the Beatles on The Ed Sullivan Show.  This may not seem to be in the same category of importance as election tampering.  However, in viewing a DVD of those appearances yesterday, I saw how culturally important they really were.  There are technical musical reasons for their importance.  But the impact of these four fresh-faced lads from Liverpool with their energy and honesty as artists was gigantic then and down through the years.  I hope to add The Beatles to my list of items to be researched.  Yeah, yeah, yeah!

Forbes Magazine Was Right -- for a Change

Forbes magazine made many good points in 2013 when it noted a crisis in confidence in America, especially concerning elections.  While I certainly don't agree with the import of the author's statements on Jimmy Carter, he does criticize capitalism (at least in its "crony" form), something rare for a major U.S. business magazine.

We in the U.S. should think long and hard about whether this is the image we want to project to the world:  that of a nation run by a corrupt business system accompanied by a weak election system.  Most patriots would say this is intolerable.


Forbes Makes a Good Case

Why Electronic Voting Is a Non-Starter

Coming Soon: More on the Role of the Press

Ahead:  more on the role of the press and media in our current political malaise.  This week I plan to continue addressing the inappropriate role the press now plays in our political process.   There is such a thing as a sin of omission.  To fail to report the news is just as serious as reporting the news incorrectly.  It is all part of a solidifying economic system -- one based on profit, not people

Please come back for more soon.    

Hitler's Mind as Cultural Phenomenon

Hitler has been regarded as the greatest sociopath of all time.  But the exact process or workings of his mind have been open to debate.  The article linked to below is the best paper on Hitler I have ever read in this regard.  It becomes clear just what was motivating the man.  Everyone with a care for the world of now should read this paper, for we have strong echoes of the Nazi movement with us today.
More needs to be said about this, and I plan to do so in coming days.  For instance, what motivates persons who would undo Social Security?  Is it really motivated out of concern for the common person?  Or does it come from something else?  A careful analysis such as the one here can be very useful.

For a link to the pdf version of the article click here:
The Mind of Hitler

Are Presidents Gods -- Or Do They Just Act that Way?

At the link below is an important article detailing a shift in thinking on the part of the American press regarding Presidential power.  We really are seeing a rightward shift in the way the President is viewed.  This process began long ago, but accelerated under Bush the Lesser.  Now Pres. Obama is afflicted with delusions of grandeur as well, as evidenced by drone strikes.  The Presidency has evolved into an office containing almost unlimited power to start a war.

Much more can be said.  The article below is a start.


Are Presidents Gods -- Or Do They Just Act that Way?

An Admirable Republican

Quickly --

Currently I cannot name a single "liberal" Republican of national prominence.  Edward Brooke was such a man, one whom I remember as a dignified voice in the U.S. Senate.  Read more here:


An Admirable Republican

Family Situation

I am currently dealing with a death in the family and am spending time on supporting the remaining family members and friends.  Soon I will return.  When I do I plan to have more information on a new direction for the new year.  

Should you happen to be able to read music you may find the above interesting as the tune varies a bit from the version most popularly performed.  For most of us, the national anthem is a piece heard frequently sung sparely (without accompaniment) and stylistically in questionable fashion, though often soulfully.  

Now, as we enter a new year, and the 201st for Francis Scott Key's excellent and esteemed poem, may our banner yet wave on January 1, 2016 and for time immemorial.  May we work heartily to see this goal achieved!