Unions bring moral character to work and the pay received for that work. They hold companies accountable and it works.

The history of labor unions is important to appreciate.  The propaganda against them is and has been hideous.  Without unions the human condition would be entenched in poverty.  'Back in the day,' as an example of the post slavery USA south, any form of industrialized company paid its workers poorly, subsistence pay and turned around and charged them for the housing they lived in and the groceries they bought. 

Pay from the company = Payment to the company for food and shelter

Nothing there about medical costs.  Nothing.  Not education either, until education became manditory for all children.

Unions don't come close to sainthood, but, they rank far higher in dignity and respect for the value of human labor than any company does.

Recognize this guy? You know, the guy headed for sainthood. (click title to entry for "Laborem Exercens," one of the writing of Pope John Paul II.)

"Laborem Exercens"
 
(SEPTEMBER 14, 1981)
 
VATICAN CITY, DEC 4, 1997 (VIS) - John Paul II wrote the Encyclical "Laborem Exercens" in 1981, on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of Leo XIII's Encyclical "Rerum Novarum" on the question of labor. It was signed on September 14, feast of the Holy Cross.
 
In it he develops the concept of man's dignity in work, structuring it in four points: the subordination of work to man; the primacy of the worker over the whole of instruments and conditioning that historically constitute the world of labor; the rights of the human person as the determining factor of all socio-economic, technological and productive processes, that must be recognized; and some elements that can help all men identify with Christ through their own work.
 
The Encyclical has an introduction and four chapters: "Work and Man," "Conflict Between Labor and Capital in the Present Phase of History," "Rights of Workers," and "Elements for a Spirituality of Work."

I'll be darn there is 'spirituality' involved with work. 

A piece of the human condition. 

A moral right to live and stay alive through work. 

Pope John Paul II was an amazing man.  He loved life, the human character and God.  His work within his power as Pope was remarkable.  Pope John Paul II decided it was important to make certain the human being was valued above profit in a way that would define work as a spiritual commodity necessary for life.  Profit is not the only venue of importance for the human capacity for work.  While it is necessary to some degree for sustainability of labor, it is not the only consideration in regard to work and the price paid for it.

Who is the moral authority of labor? The MORAL authority. Most people haven't got a clue.

The government?

Who, exactly, has the MORAL authority over labor and the right of a human being to be given dignity and love for their work.  Not only that but to be appreciated for that labor in a manner that is consistent with a moral society with needs, hopes and goals.

Who it is?

The latest casualty to unionization is the construction industry. It is called 'devolution' of unions.

Unions Lost Members in 2009, as Overall Employment Fell  (click title to entry - thank you)

January 22, 2010 (Union Byte) By Ben Zipperer The collapse of the housing bubble and corresponding decrease in private consumption and investment partially reversed small but significant membership gains by the labor movement over 2007 and 2008. Union membership fell in line with the decline in overall employment in 2009, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ annual union membership report released today. The unionized share of the U.S. workforce dipped to 12.3 percent last year from 12.4 percent in 2008. For the first time ever, union members in the public sector outnumbered those in the private sector. While the recession eliminated jobs across the private sector, employment fell most rapidly in the relatively unionized construction and manufacturing industries, placing downward pressure on the overall unionization rate.... When the housing bubble popped it took along with it union jobs.  The construction job market was saturated with workers and remains that way.  Cheap labor is everywhere and construction unions are working harder than they ever have to bring down the cost of hiring union workers.  Most of these workers have families to support and had the rug pulled out from under them by George Walker Bush and the majority Republicans. Why is it there always seems to be 'method' to the madness of Wall Street debacles?  Why is that?  Mismanagement caused this disaster and the morality of it all while it was occurring during the years previous to 2007 never was a concern.  Never once.  I wonder why? OUR MISSION: (click here) Eliminate the adversarial culture of workers' compensation claim administration; improve the delivery of wage-replacement benefits and the quality of medical care to injured union members; return injured workers to their pre-injury job quickly; reduce the costs of insurance for union contractors thereby increasing their competitiveness. Through the 1970s and ‘80s, labor and management were unable locally or nationally to reform the workers’ compensation system, resulting in many years of conflict in state legislatures and courts, and rising costs. In 1995, following a model used in several other states, Minnesota passed legislation allowing for an alternative workers’ compensation system developed through collective bargaining. In 1996, Wilson-McShane Corporation was hired by a labor-management coalition to develop and administer the Union Construction Workers’ Compensation Program....

It's Sunday Night

"Vulnerable" by Secondhand Serenade

Share with me the blankets that your wrapped in
because its cold outside cold outside its cold outside
share with me the secrets that you kept in
because its cold inside cold inside its cold inside

and your slowly shaking finger tips
show that your scared like me so
let's pretend we're alone
and I know you may be scared
and I know were unprepared
but I don't care

tell me tell me
what makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
please don't tell me that I am the only one that's vulnerable
impossible

I was born to tell you I love you
isn't that a song already
I get a B in originality
and it's true I cant go on without you
your smile makes me see clearer
if you could only see in the mirror what I see

and your slowly shaking finger tips
show that your scared like me so
let's pretend we're alone
and I know you may be scared
and I know were unprepared
but I don't care

tell me tell me
what makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that you're so sure
please don't tell me that I am the only one that's vulnerable
impossible

slow down girl your not going anywhere
just wait around and see
maybe I am much more you never no what lies ahead
I promise I can be anyone I can be anything
just because you were hurt doesn't mean you shouldn't bleed
I can be anyone anything I promise I can be what you need

tell me tell me
what makes you think that you are invincible
I can see it in your eyes that your so sure
please don't tell me that I am the only one that's vulnerable
impossible

I want to talk about unions tonight.

They are a vital part of the American Fabric and needed for a strong Middle Class that contributes in the largest part of the American economy .  I will begin later, but, will use the usual hours of pubication beginning at 8:30 PM.

The NOAA radio has sounded off three times.  Doing it this way may insure no interruptions once I start.

Thank you.

Yemen is a republic by constitution, but, Saleh was more like a dictator.

Aden 1966 - (click title to entry - thank you) Cordon and Search operation by 3 R Anglian on a sector of the Sheikh Othman soukh (market).
Private Nichols on his vehicle participating in the cordon
Photograph courtesy of Brian Harrington Spier

Yemen was a British possession as recently as the 1960s. It became its own soveriegn entity in that decade and due to its Western influence and traditions organized a republic.  All these small Arab countries and some African countries 'give mixed signals' as to what their 'internal composition' consists of.  Yeme;n while it was British; was sovereign to the Indian State of Great Britain.  So, much of what can be seen in this picture in the way of uniforms for its military personnel look to have an Indian influence, that was the 'colony effect' of the West.

If I were to guess where Awlaki was living, it would be among the many islands of Yemen.  He isn't on the mainland, at least I would not expect him to be there.

Yemen already has a history of a constitution that requires a republic government in support of the people of that nation.  Saleh wasn't really conducting the Yemeni govenrment as a republic so much as a military dictatorship and it is why the Egyptian removal of Mubarak was so appealing to the Yemeni people.  As counter intuitive as this may sound, I trust the people to make good choices to establish a BENEVOLENT government.  No doubt the prison doors will swing open wide as there is a transition which will cause chaos and criminality all over again, but, I sincerely believe Yemen's people will come to terms with all that in time.  To say "The West" is a trusted partner is not realistic, but, the current 'non-interference' (ie: Egypt) and 'upholding the dignity' (ie: Libya) of the people is a clear indication The West has changed its ways. 

So.  We'll see.  I realize Saleh is still alive, but, I am not convinced the power structure in Yemen currently is loyal to him.  I believe The West can count on a change in government regardless of Saleh's recovery.

Yemen, chaos, anarchy or coup?

A pro-opposition soldier (click title to entry - thank you) waves a flag reading “A thousand congratulations” as protesters in Sana'a celebrate what they said was the fall of Yemen’s regime after president Ali Abdullah Saleh left the country for medical treatment in Saudi Arabia.

Most likely a coup by assassination attempt.  It has many of the trappings of the Egyptian removal of Mubarak.

BUT, al-Awlaki is there.  There is some possiblity this is a victory for al Qaeda, but, that is not my first resolution in these circumstances.  The USA State Department and military are going to have their hands full in finding out whom has taken control of the entire government, but, for an assassination attempt to get to Saleh as quickly as it did when the Yemen troops were called in from the borders it was an 'insider' that managed to gain control.  Was the 'insider' al Qaeda and Awlaki?  I seriously doubt it.  If I were a Yemeni military commander, with ambitions, I wouldn't put it all on the line for Awlaki, but, more for the possibility of leading the country with the support of the people.

Saleh and the Yemenis in Egypt will have information to detail what occured within the President's attempted assassination.  Certainly anyone near Saleh would know the people involved.  It could be another ISI-like issue which opens up the possibility that it would be anyone, but, I don't think so.  There was too much 'organized' and 'orderly' media providing information to the world for this to be as primative as the internal working of al Qaeda.  I do believe it is a sincere coup by the people.  That is the call of the day.  Freedom and majority rule.  With al Qaeda still interntional criminals any sincerely loyal Yemen citizen, be it military or otherwise, would not seek to hand over this opportunity to global criminals and the risk of invasion similar to Libya.  I think this is all good.  There may even be a media event by al Qaeda to confuse the issue and seek loyalty, but, it will be all propaganda. 

I would not venture the opinion that this is a 'power vacuum' yet.  I don't believe it is.  There has to be attempts by other nations to validate the authority in control of the country and move on that knowledge to bring alliances and potential for hope that will carry loyalty from the people to the new government.  The people need 'order' and not chaos to allow NGOs (Red Cresent) to safely help them to insure their new democracy rather than allow it to fall into chaos and anarchy.  Anarchy will kill them.  They will understand that all too soon if that occurs.

Good luck.

UNISYS Water Vapor satellite of north and west hemisphere (click title to entry for 12 hour loop - thank you)

The Weather Channel's Temperature Map of the USA
June 4, 2011
2435 gmt

That is one hot land mass.

There is a hot air system coming up from central Mexico and the southern border of Mexico where it meets with the Pacific Ocean.  The thing is this, the variations in the temperature migrating north are enough to cause concern for increased turbulence along that air insertion coming north.

UNISYS Water Vapor Satellite of north and west hemisphere  (click title of entry for 12 hour loop - thank you)
June 4, 2011
193014z

The increased water vapor accumulations are accommodated by the higher elevations in Colorado with it reaching down to New Mexico, but, further east the Great Lakes are providing evaporation as the heated air reaches those higher latitudes.  Additionally, with the sun going down the upper air mass will cool faster than the air next to the ground.  It is a concern.  The greatest moisture accumulation has occurred in the past hour.

UNISYS Water Vapor satellite of north and west hemisphere
June 4, 2011
233015z

The movment toward turbulence began between these two satellite images.  I hope it is nothing but some rain perhaps.  The mid-latitude vortex off the west coast is facilitating the movement of air from the south to the north and making room for more water vapor accumulation as it builds in velocity.

What is Finland doing right?

A mutated strain of E. coli is hemorragic similar to the flesh eating bacteria outbreak years ago.  Only this time it is internal organs attacked.  How cozy, nice and warm and nourished besides.

According to Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira, (click title to entry - thank you)  there are no signs of an EHEC epidemic in Finland. No new infections have been found since Friday.

Tuula Honkanen-Buzalski, Director of the Research Department at Evira, says that there is now a cautious optimism in the air regarding the spread of the epidemic.

However, new cases may still emerge across the globe due to the publicity that the EHEC epidemic has got. Before hearing about the epidemic through the media, those fallen ill may not have realised that their symptoms were caused by EHEC bacteria.

The epidemic has caused the deaths of 19 people, while 1,700 have contracted the illness. On Friday, Finland’s National Institute for Health and Welfare THL reported a confirmed case of a patient, who was found to carry EHEC bacteria reminiscent of the fatal German strain.

The most common symptoms of an EHEC infection include bloody diarrhoea without a fever, and stomach cramps. The origin of EHEC infections remains unclear.

YLE

Isn't it believed to have been traced back to a seafood festival in Germany?  Let me see if I can find the article.

Here it is.

Mystery deepens over E. coli poisoning  (click here)

NewsCore

June 05, 2011 1:50AM

As authorities continued to hunt the source of the outbreak, Germany's national disease center, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), is looking closely at a harbor festival that took place in Hamburg between May 6 and May 8.

The weekly newspaper Focus said Saturday the festival drew 1.5 million visitors from Germany and abroad and noted that the first reported case of E. coli infection followed just a week later in the city's university hospital....

Sorry, a harbor festival.  I remembered harbor as boats and fishing vessels.  What is the chance this is some kind of toxic algae or something?  Were there any recent algal blooms in the area? 

There is a journal article about a Finnish toxic bloom back in the 1980s.  It is a long shot, but, maybel  The Finnish would have taken steps to rid their food supply or CONTACT with this algae.

Hydrobiologia

Volume 190, Number 3, 267-275, DOI: 10.1007/BF00008195

Toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) in Finnish fresh and coastal waters (click here)

K. Sivonen, S. I. Niemelä, R. M. Niemi, L. Lepistö, T. H. Luoma and L. A. Räsänen

A survey of the occurrence of toxic blooms of cyanobacteria in Finnish fresh and coastal waters was made during 1985 and 1986. Toxicity of the freeze-dried water bloom samples was tested by mouse-bioassay (i.p.). Forty-four per cent (83/188) of the bloom samples were found to be lethally toxic. Hepatotoxic blooms (54) were almost twice as common as neurotoxic ones (29). Anabaena was the most frequently found genus in toxic and non-toxic blooms and it was present in all neurotoxic samples. Statistical associations were found between hepatotoxicity and incidence of Microcystis aeruginosa, M. viridis, M. wesenbergii, Anabaena flos-aquae and Anabaena spiroides. Neurotoxicity was statistically associated with Anabaena lemmermannii, Anabaena flos-aquae and Gomphosphaeria naegeliana. Isolation of strains of cyanobacteria confirmed the occurrence of hepatotoxic and neurotoxic strains of Anabaena, as well as hepatotoxic strains of Microcystis and Oscillatoria species....

Blue-green algae can be fresh water streams and lakes as well.  Algae causes all the symptoms noted with this bacteria.  What if the bacteria mutated to a toxic food source?

Just a guess.

Is the Casey Anthony Trial the next OJ ordeal? Absolutely. The Mainstream Media may as well bring in experts to follow it.

Casey, herself, is not a reliable person to be involved in any 'quotes' as far as credibility.  She has been compromised by her image after her daughter was missing and to state her father was abusive is a legitimate observation by her regardless of her pandering to her parents seeking power through their power.  It could be the relationship with her parents today is simply an extension of the alleged abuse.  She has personality disorders, probably Borderline Personality Disorder to say the least.  Is she guilty?  On circumstantial evidence?  I can't believe the prosecution has such a weak forensic case.

The State has the body and there should be all kinds of DNA evidence found at and with the crime scene and victim.  Yet, I do not hear any reporting of a clear DNA match from the body that would close the case on Casey.  I find that to be really odd.

To say Casey is a negligent mother is an understatement, but, a murderer?  There should be all kinds of evidence against her and yet the best The State has is circumstantial.  The jury will probably rule against her plea of not guilty, but, the case bothers me.  Mothers kill, no doubt about that, but, everything is so strange leading to the discovery of the body and the evidence itself, I find it disturbing this is not an open and shut case from all venues.

Casey has been her own worst enemy in many ways, but, not without the prompting of people that surrounded her.  It is a sad case and Caylee was a beautiful child.  She was surrounded by dysfunction at every turn, but, she found reasons to smile.  I wish mothers, in doubt of their ability to care for a child, be it financial, emotional or otherwise, would consider offering those children up for aboption.  In this case, Caylee was victim to the family that somewhat defined itself as a caring family in regard to a young girl.  Casey didn't have the personality strength to step back and realize parenthood was not her idea of fun.  The State should have done better by this child and it concerns me that Caylee's death is known to more than one woman that was her mother.  I don't really believe Caylee is receiving justice, but, that is just me.  An entire month without questions or concerns.  Wow.

Burn the Yearbook Movement sponsored by FOX News.

If that list carried the names of Democrats one can believe it would be splattered all over FOX's e-pages and television coverage as a fact and appropriate.  The Yearbook Committee is correct in including a list of the "5 Worst Persons in the World' as a noteworthy cultural icon of 'the times.' 

Yearbook committtees across the USA frequently seek out 'signs' as iconography of the year they graduated.  That sometimes mean the outrageous appear.  So, the nonconformists at the High School were welcome in a unique way to remember their reality at a time of graduation from High School.  Including the list is TYPICAL and appropriate and the morons at FOX News are trying to make a political issue out of a simple yearbook page.

Whether the list is correct or not is something people will debate forever.  I do mean forever.  The innocent civilians that died in Iraq are historic in numbers when the USA realizes it was a blatantly illegal and unnecessary war.  The War in Iraq will go down in the history books as one of the worst propaganda events in the history of this country.  And.  One might add that FOX propaganda was an intricate part of the deception that lead to the invasion that ultimately removed liability from the former CEO of Halliburton and then Vice President by self appointment, the $9 million dollar man himself Richard Cheney.

There is no controversy here EXCEPT the propaganda of disgruntled hypocrits masquading as RE-SPON-SIBLE parents.  Give me a break.

Was "The Two Americas" a myth? No. That was evident in October of 2008 and beyond.

I sincerely believe the criminal charges against John Edwards has resulted for political power and personal gain rather than legitimate reasons.

One has to ask how long the "National Enquirer" is going to bank roll this story?  It is a dead horse that is receiving a beating for no reason at all.

EDWARDS SURRENDERS TO FEDS!  (click here)

Sad, but, true.  But, enough is enough and a strong reason this is becoming a witch hunt in North Carolina is because of the law suit of Andrew Young.  Fool that he is.  (click title to entry - thank you)  Well, after all it was he that 'made all dreams possible,' yes?  Yes.

I find it really, really odd that the prosecution is actually using Ms. Mellon's handwritten notes as evidence in a case that involves good friends and a benevolent Southern Bell.

I do believe there is a 'hint' of vengence for Elizabeth that lives on as well.  That is unfortuate as I am certain she had higher regard for her own dignity than that.

But, as to Ms. Mellon.  I will write about another Southern Bell and what happens after their spouses die.

I can't help but realize the hideous nature of 'how far' this has all gone.  I mean the National Enquirer lost all dignity with maintaining the longevity of this topic.  It is one thing to bring to light the mistress of a potential president, but, to continue to 'stir the pot' for stirring purposes is more than hideous.

Moses Herman Cone (click here)  (June 29, 1857 – December 8, 1908) was an American textile entrepreneur, conservationist, and philanthropist of the Gilded Age who was active in the southern United States. He began his career in sales and became an innovator who offered finished clothing, which was unusual in an era when textiles were normally sold as unfinished cloth....

No one in the USA knows Moses from 'the south.'  He was a ruthless SOB that knew how to get blood from a nickel.  I am sure his wife would agree.  See Mrs. Cone didn't have control of any money while he was alive.  Not that she suffered in silence, not at all, but, she 'had to put up with guy.' ya know?

Church going folks.  Moralists.  There was always a reason for unfathomable wealth in the way of Christian morality.  It provided income 'enough' for people to feed their familes and live in the 'rent controlled' housing that was owned by the company of which the employees paid for monthly.  So, there were always reasons why the Southern Gentry could call themselves Gentry even if their employees and their employees familes lived in poverty and squalor.  Ah, those were the day.

Well, you see, good 'ole Moses here died before his wife.  She, being a good Christian wife and longing to be sure there was a seat in heaven for the poor bastard after a reasonable stent in purgatory decided she needed to move into more moderate 'digs' and use the vast fortune her spouse amassed for a benevolent reason.

So, in recognition of Moses she built a hospital to benefit all the families that worked for the industries of Moses and his family.  The hospital stands yet today in Greensboro in memory of him and is required to carry his name forever as the 'original charter' stipulates.  That 'role' if you will is extremely typical for fine Southern Bells seeking to find joy in relieving the suffering of others.

I don't know Ms. Mellon.  I am not even going to pretend to.  But, I don't have to and still realize why she was so involved with Senator John Edwards, his wife Elizabeth and his hopes of bringing social justice to the USA as a Vice Presidential and later Presidential hopeful.  There was absolutely nothing malicious in the relationship 'of hope' that developed between the former Senator and Ms. Mellon.  Nothing.  No lies.  No deceits.  Disappointment, perhaps, but absolutely no conspiracy to hide a child that was not aborted from the public.

Instead, the longing for a better America was smeared by an irresponsible videographer that could not or would not separate herself from her subject long enough to bring about the changes in the USA that Ms. Mellon dreamed of.  I am quite sure Ms. Mellon did not know Ms. Hunter, nor asked to meet her.  It is ONLY my estimation that Ms. Mellon assumed from people like Andrew Young that Ms. Hunter was extorting monies from John Edwards.  A fine Southern Bell seeking a better path for the USA in the promise of a devoted man would believe the best of him and the worst of a woman that was attempting to disrupt a marriage and a dream.

So. 

In the estimation of a wealthy widow if money was what Ms. Hunter wanted then money is what she was to have. 

The engineering of the particulars of all that was the work of Mr. Young.  If that isn't obvious than I don't know what is.  It is interesting a civil suit surrounding an extortion tape is being brought by Young after he engineered the arrangement for Ms. Hunter and the image for the former Senator.

When marriages are assaulted and fall into disrepair in the south it is said, "Things get ugly."  They have.  Unfortately.  I find the entire mess quite over exposed and interesting 'BLUR' of the facts for political and personal reasons by people other than the accused in both instances.

I wish the Edwards family the best and hope there is a good and just outcome for John.  Not being legitimately involved in politics and having a daughter that doesn't live with his other children is punishment enough as far as I am concerned.  It should be enough for everyone else including the ludicrous "National Enquirer" that managed to elevate their news rag to 'heroic dimensions' and actually believes readers still believe it maintains that status.

Elizabeth Edwards lived a magnificent life.  She will never have her memory diminished.  She was exceptional in every way.  No one needs a media service interested in vengence beyond vengence to validate that either.

Sarah Palin: Paul Revere Warned The British

What to discuss first to 'get messes out of the way of what matters.'

Palin, Edwards.  Edwards, Palin.  Palin, Edwards.  Hmmm.....Edwards, Palin.  I think first Palin as she is more a tabloid than any tabloid out there.

From the "National Enquirer."

...The 47-year-old politician (click title to entry - thank you) en­dured shock waves from her daughter’s underage drinking and partying, pregnancy scare and nasty homophobic rants on Face­book before finally pulling her out of school....

Willow Palin is being coined as 'a wild child' by the Enquirer, but, I don't hear any complains from Sarah. 

What was the name of that bus she was riding on?????  .....................  oh, yeah, 'One Nation.'  I was wondering did that name indicate a goal or a reality.

When is Palin going to admit she is a joke?  She likes to star in this flag waving mess she calls the truth, but, it just isn't.  Her lie today regarding the ride to Paul Revere had nothing to do with reality, it had to do with rhetoric.  She consciously took the "Freedom Call" out of context for her own purposes.  I mean do I have to say it?  When is this hideous attention to morons seeking power going to stop in this country?  Quite frankly it is disgusting to see the press gussing all over an idiot and expecting her to be a legitimate 'character' for the presidency.  Like, doesn't the press actually have something to write about except the tabloid life of the Palins?

Enough of that mess, there is no redeeming value to any of it.  It solves no problems and speaks to nothing of substance.  So much for needing schools in the USA, just learn to be an idiot enough to attract other idiots.

So, let's see if I get this right. I do mean 'right' and not correct.

Libya: BP Evacuates Workers Amid Unrest (click here)

:39pm UK,
Monday February 21, 2011

Lisa Holland, foreign affairs correspondent

BP has said it was evacuating families of workers and non-essential staff from Libya in the wake of political unrest....

It wasn't enough that Paulson lost the opportunity to actually affiliate with real terrorists that have prostate cancer and destroy jet planes full of people, but, the USA House of Representatives actually DO NOT understand what is occuring in Libya.  Not the Senate, but, the House.

Okay.

So, where exactly is the confusion, the fact that the United Nation's Resolution 1973 BARS occupation of foreign troops or the fact the oil fields haven't been given to Halliburton yet?

Oh, the Paulson thing?  Yeah.  Goldman Sachs was seeking to invest heavily in the oil fields in Libya before the rebels decided to take over the country.  I am sure they were looking forward to hunkering down with Gadaffi, getting to know him and laughing about the fact MONEY can buy loyality even where the law prohibits it.  You know, the prostate cancer charade.

There were actually two bills, one by Representative Kucinich removing the USA from the engagement with NATO into Libya and the other was by Speaker Boner that calls for clarification of the engagement OR ELSE.  The OR ELSE is for political propaganda as the Boner bill that passed 268 to 145 vs. the Kucinich bill that failed 148-265.  The Kucinich bill recieved bipartisan support as a note of order.

...The resolution by Speaker John Boehner (click title to entry - thank you) said the president has failed to provide a "compelling rationale" for the nearly 3-month old operation to aid rebels battling Moammar Gadhafi's forces. During Friday's debate, Democrats and Republicans complained that Obama ignored Congress' constitutional authority to declare war.

The nonbinding measure insists that Obama provide Congress with details on the scope of the mission and its costs within 14 days. It also bars U.S. ground forces except to rescue an American service member....

But, the Boner Bill does not carry any clout as it is NON - BINDING.  The measure does not require any USA involvement to end either.  The House was provided information about the NATO decision in the first week of USA involvement, but, evidently can't seem to come to conclusions regarding the topic.

"This resolution puts the president on notice," Boehner said on the floor. "He has the chance to get this right, and if he doesn't, Congress will exercise its constitutional authority and we will make it right." 

Speaker Boner sells his soul for the chance to espouse political rhetoric.  I would think someone that has been in the USA House of Representatives since 1991 would understand the 'precedent' that has been drawn on by the President in order to assist allies in NATO.

It goes like this and to begin, USA intelligence is deployed 'on the ground' in the capacity of intelligence gathering.  That is for the specific reason for the safety of civilians as it is nearly impoossible at times to discern rebel movements, etc.

Beyond that there is precedent for the USA to act.  First established precedent, is the NATO air campaign to stop Slobodan Milosevic's ethnic cleansing in 1999.  The USA, under Former President Clinton, didn't even have a UN Security Council Resolution when it engaged in these actions in Bosnia.  The NATO parties involved were left to their own jurisprudence to decide their actions.  The actions in Libya carry the brevity of having not just allies, but, a UN Security Council Resolution invoking the powers of NATO to act to protect the citizens of Libya.

Kosovo remembers 1999 air strikes (click here)

23/03/2011

...He describes how Serbian police came to expel his family from his house in Pristina during the night of March 24th.

"The Serbian police said, 'Do you see NATO? They are coming, but when they come, you will not be here'," he recalled....

But, where does the UN Security Council have the audacity to actually call for protections of civilians in a THEN sovereign country?

Remember Rwanda?  Yes?  Remember how President Clinton, even today, regrets not acting to stop that genocide?  Yes?  That 'refecltion' by the Former President and international coalitions began a policy called, "Responsibility to Protect."  Most people haven't heard of it, but, certainly I would expect a USA House Speaker to not only KNOW what that policy states, but, to understand it and act on it.

Here it is:

The RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT ("RtoP" or "R2P") (click here) is a new international security and human rights norm to address the international community’s failure to prevent and stop genocides, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity.  The INTERNATIONAL COALITION FOR THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PROTECT (ICRtoP) brings together NGOs from all regions of the world to strengthen normative consensus for RtoP, further the understanding of the norm, push for strengthened capacities to prevent and halt genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and mobilize NGOs to push for action to save lives in RtoP country-specific situations.

If I can refer to Darfur for an analogy. 

There are many, many NGOs involved in the Darfur region to assist in the SURVIVAL of people victimized by their government.  In order for NGOs to operate 'at all' they need some degree of 'tolerance' to provide the needed supplies to people marginally surviving.

Understanding how vital NGOs are to survival efforts to prevent genocide comes the understanding that for them to provide their services thet have to be reasonably safe.  In case of Libya, there was a great deal of danger to the people of Libya directly from their government.  The danger came in the way of military armaments and death.  There was no way possible for the people of Libya to survive when their government turned against them and there was no way for NGOs to act in their benefit to insure their survival.  What had to occur in Libya, as NATO decided, was to stop the bombing of civilians to allow for survival and actions by NGOs to take place.  As much as diplomacy worked in Darfur, to somewhat of an effective degree, it was not at all working in Libya. 

So, to insure the UN Security Council Resolution 1973 was to be effective there was only one resolve left to the international community consisting of NATO; they had to disarm Libya and remove the dangers to its' civilians and the life saving work of international NGOs.  There was only one way of doing that and only one country within the NATO Alliance that could carry that directive to completion.  I remind, France was the first of NATO allies to enter Libyan air space and did so heroically and without USA involvement at that time.  But, France's capacity still wasn't able to address the battery of Libya's national missile defense system and the USA could.

So, to realize how LAX the USA House of Representatives actually is under Republican leadership and majority, this topic is actually closed as the President acted appropriately in support of alliances this country values and has been long standing.  He acted as Commander and Chief well within his power and it is the USA House of Representatives that is proving to prove to be incompetent.

I mean really.

The "George Walker Bush Economy" returns, with a vengence !!!!!!!!!

Draconian state and local budget cuts while attempting to destroy unions and the Middle Class.  So, what else is new?


It is safe to say the Republicans 'have no ideas' to improve the sagging economy which was left behind by Bush, Cheney, Paulson and Evans / Gutierrez.  This is surprise.  We already know cutting taxes for the wealthy provides NO new job growth.  We already know that cutting government 'to fit the political rhetoric of the Republicans provides NO new job growth.  So what was everyone thinking when they put draconian political hacks in the Governorships of the states?

Jobless rate inches up; job growth flattens (click title to entry - thank you)

9:29 am June 3, 2011, by Jay

The new job numbers are out. The economy produced 83,000 additional jobs in the private sector in May, still in the positive range but well below the improvement shown in recent months and also below the number needed to shrink the unemployment rate, which rose from 9 to 9.1 percent.
Private-sector job growth was offset to a degree by job losses in state and local government, a decline that brought the total number of jobs created in May down to 54,000. As the Bureau of Labor Statistics noted, “local
government has lost 446,000 jobs since an employment peak in September 2008.”...

The ONLY idea the Republicans, be it mainstream or Tea Baggers, have to offer is to be the 'Equal and Opposite' Force in the USA economy and then to blame it on the current President.  Amazing.  "Equal and Opposite" is the only aspect of science a Republican values.

The lack of insight as to what really comprises return of viability to any economy can currently be noted in North Carolina where there is a Republican majority in the legislature with a Democratic Governor trying to 'right the ship' and 'protect children's futures.'

...Gov. Bev Perdue (click here) says the Senate budget would force local districts to lay off school personnel. Her office distributed information after the Senate vote on the amounts each district stands to lose. Perdue's budget proposal kept part of a temporary sales tax increase adopted two years ago to see the state through the recession....

What the NC Republican budget attempts to deceive the electorate of is a proposed increase in jobs in education.  While the NC Republican budget definately would remove valuable teachers from the classrooms, what it intends to do is create less classrooms wtih less teachers, increase the number of students in each classroom while HIRING teaching assistants to help accommodate the increased number of students each teacher has to educate.

The question is WILL THE CHILDREN LEARN?  If a teacher is asked to use EXTENDERS to the learning process of the students it means they will not be able to PERSONALLY attend to the students' needs.  Instead, students will be left to seek learning opportunities by far less qualified and experienced teacher assistants.  The NC Republicans turn every teacher with larger numbers of students into a 'lecturer' while the students at all grade levels are left on their own to understand the lecture with the help of assistants that do not have the expertise of the teachers.  It sets students behind and certainly doesn't begin to be sure "No Child is Left Behind.'

North Carolina has one of the lowest pay scales in the nation.  A teacher's starting salary out of college with a four year degress is $19,000 per year.  If that isn't enough of an insult, teachers with teacher's assistants in the classroom will be measured for merit salary increased based on the same standards of teachers with smaller classrooms.  North Carolina doesn't have unions either.

One might note the 'drop out' rate is high for NC.  While the state boasts some of the top public universities in the nation, it might be worthwhile to realize those universities are also a bit of a cash cow for all the out of state students accepted for education.  I believe the average percentage of out of state students accepted in the public university system is at least 18% of the student body.  The success rate or should I say the lack of success rate of in state students justifiies the ever increasing percentage of the public university system.

The teachers of every school and university in North Carolina deserves to have a union to protect them and more than that, to protect their students and the quality of education they receive.  Most if not all North Carolina teachers are very dedicated to improving the lives of their students and seek success for each one.  That will be nearly impossible if Governor Purdue does not veto the state budget.

I'll tell you how dedicated the teachers of this state are, they provide the learning materials for their students.  Tablets, pencils, erasers and the list goes on.  See, the draconian Republican rhetorical standards of 'the south' have turned METHODS of the public education into private education by demanding the students provide their own learning supplies.  Next they'll have to purchase their own books.  Teachers in order to teach often buy their own teaching supplies out of their poorly compensated salaries. 

So, then, what is left in 'disposable' income in North Carolina to ACTUALLY have an economy?

Odd. Bipartisan paid hackers. Hm?

...And the group has an even more eye-opening claim: It was hired to hack PBS.org.

"This is the guy that paid us to hack pbs.org," the Lulz Security group wrote on its Twitter feed, pointing to the account of another person who goes by the name Shadow DXS.

Branndon Pike, the Daytona Beach 21-year-old who goes by the name Shadow DXS online, was quick to deny any such pay-off.

Pike said he's broke. "My fiancee is paying all my bills right now," he told FoxNews.com. "If I had a dollar it would not be going to these clowns."...

Hackers: Coming Soon to a PC Near You  (click here)

The PBS attack and Tupac report may seem like fun and games, but the joke could be on hackers if the Pentagon has its way

By Robert X. Cringely

Infoworld  

Jun 2, 2011 6:48 pm

This just in: After 15 years, Tupac Shakur is still dead.

It seems reports of the rapper's resuscitation have been slightly exaggerated -- or, rather,completely fabricated by a hacking group calling itself Lulz Sec (and/or the Lulz Boat). That "group" took over the website of PBS NewsHour over the weekend and posted a story that Tupac, who was gunned down in internecine hip-hop combat on the streets of Las Vegas in 1996, is actually alive and well and living in New Zealand, raising sheep, no doubt, along with Biggie Smalls....

Would decriminalizing the drug trade while placing it in the hands of physicians and business actually stop the abuse and crime affiliated with it currently?

Two soldiers watch 134 tons of marijuana seized by the Mexican Army burn in the border town of Tijuana, Mexico, in October 2010. (click title to entry - thank you)

It isn't an easy question to answer, but, there is definately a way of determining a solid yes or no to those issues.

…"Political leaders and public figures should have the courage to articulate publicly what many of them acknowledge privately: that the evidence overwhelmingly demonstrates that repressive strategies will not solve the drug problem, and that the war on drugs has not, and cannot, be won," the report said.

The 19-member commission includes former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former U.S. official George P. Schultz, who held cabinet posts under U.S. Presidents Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. Others include former U.S. Federal Reserve chairman Paul Volcker, former presidents of Mexico, Brazil and Colombia, writers Carlos Fuentes and Mario Vargas Llosa, U.K. business mogul Richard Branson and the current prime minister of Greece….

…The commission is especially critical of the United States, which its members say must lead changing its anti-drug policies from being guided by anti-crime approaches to ones rooted in health care and human rights….

George Pratt Schultz is no one's fool.  He is a learned man that has mastered 'policy' from every venue there is for policy.  He has served the people of the USA in vital roles within its government and his assessments cannot be dismissed.

His partner is the Former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan.  They were joined by distinguished citizens to come to a concensus on how best to defeat the growing problem of drug cartels and their impingement on nations (that is plural) sovereignty.  Currently, Mexico is hanging on but finding it difficult to improve quality of life for its' citizens while fighting a sincere war within its borders with international criminals.  Afghanistan has the USA military absolutely confounded to stop the production of opium and instill an economy as profitable as the illegal trade that now exists. 

Is it possible for a civilized world to produce currently illegal drugs, classify them, regulate and control them, incorporate them into an economy to serve the people and their economies at lower costs and better quality than the products today on illegal markets?  The answer probably is YES.

The next BEST step for the study group to take is a presentation to the General Assembly of the United Nations.  This issue cannot die in political propaganda.  Affiliated with the global illegal drug trade are illegal trades of weapons and the funding of extremist organizations and that is only two of the very profound problems facing the global community that involves these dynamics.

Drug Addictions COST nations billions if not trillions in economic viability.  The citizens fall into influences outside their governments and I might add 'alcoholism' can be a good comparision to begin a comparison.  Alcoholism can be treated and treated successfully, but, that would not occur IF prohibition was the law of the land and covert activity was the only means of finding treatment.  Imagine having 'back street' alcohol treatment facilities.  Nothing short of disasterous and completely deleterious to a society.

To begin, the use of these 'scheduled' drugs have to be looked at closely.  If they are to be legal, in order to be effective the drugs MIGHT have to be classified as medications and then there is the uproar about INSURANCE COVERAGE and what is covered and what is not.  If these drugs are to be legalized and administered by physicians with the goal of removing their victims from the addiction, there will always be the danger of an underground movement no different than that we see today with perscription drugs.  Either it is aggressively treated or the 'illegal drug market' will survive.

The determination of 'benefit' of legalizing this market vs maintaining it as criminal will be found in THE MARGIN of improvement that is gained by aggressive, physician based legalization that overcomes and GIVES ADVANTAGE to the governments around the world rather than the criminals.  The best outcome is the marginalization of the criminal element while the legal trade is attractive to citizens, sought out as the best alternative and elevated to a positive aspect to any society burdened with these problems. 

It could be done and it should be done.  A vigorous Untied Nations exploring the potential and the end of drug cartels should go forward.  No one nation can take this challenge on without global consent.  It has to be a global focus to stop the cartels.  I have confidence if this is approached in an international venue it will not only be successful, but, will provide greater legitimacy to understanding the use of the drugs and where they are to be applied in medicine and where they are not.

To say the medical community of the USA will support these initiatives is an understatement.  When my Father at the age of 80, was battling cancer his oncologist stated to him in the presence of his family that if he decided to find comfort in marijuana as a relief to the symptoms he was going to experience in order to survive the treatment regime he would consent to the activity even though he could not legally say so.  My son in complete distress and in his 30s was willing to try to find comfort for his Grandfather.  Mind, we were all in the same room.  My son does not participate in this activity and I know that for a fact, but, in wanting to save his Grandfather's life he would do anything.  My Father stringently objected to my son's involvement and thanked his oncologist for being open minded.  I am confident the oncologist finds use of these substances within his practice everyday and finds it better to know what his patients are taking into their bodies rather than hide it.  There is danger in IGNORING the benefits of substances currently criminalized when people are fighting for their lives and desperate.  Something my son said to me after his Grandfather's death was, "If Grandpa had received some relief and appetitite enhancement with marijuana as a treatment, he might still be with us now."  No one should ignore those words, because somewhere in this country honest and decent citizens are doing exactly that and might not be telling their physicians about it.  Would my Father's oncologist have perscribed marijuana if he felt it would have saved his life?  You betcha.

The Study Group needs to go forward with their finding and not let it be shelved as inconsequential to a better world.