Marijuana Legalization-
Huffington Post Article
Live Science Article
From Wikipedia
Know the currency Presidents-
Ulysses S. Grant
Andrew Jackson
Just for fun-
Mauch Chunk Switchback Railway
The Pantheon
Monday, March 2, 2015
Phoning in
I called into a local area talk show today and I think this is a post about political mindsets.
This morning I was driving to get my morning coffee when I heard the show's host talk about how dangerous it would be if Marijuana were legalized. He started the conversation with medicinal properties and then went on to discuss Colorado. For those who are not interested or do not know of the current state of weed in the United States here's a quick recap.
Recently the Colorado State legislature legalized the recreational use of weed, and imposed a higher tax (25%) than was on the long legal medical prescription grade (2.5%). The idea was to generate revenue by providing legal means for purchasing something that was already being used and obtained illegally.
For fiscal year to date 2014-2015 Colorado has generated $52,570,081 from both medicinal and legal Marijuana sales.
Time will tell if the payoff will be worth the cost of education and accidents associated with a newly legalized recreational drug. Mainly law enforcement is having trouble enforcing high while driving laws with most of the accidents associated with the drug coming from auto accidents.
For more background check the daily reading for today.
The talk show host who I will not name, went on to say (or hint at) that legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes was dangerous. His main argument was that we do not know at this point whether or not weed is good or bad for us, and he made the fatal mistake (in my mind) of trying to relate Marijuana to alcohol.
So I called in and was apparently coherent enough to get past their call screener, one I assume that was a fellow enthusiast, and after waiting was put at the starting segment, so right after the break he comes to me.
We banter for a bit, and all in all I think I held my ground well. I however felt unsatisfied with how he left things so I decided to write an email into the show, so lets see if I hear back. I really like his show despite my disagreements.
I just wanted to thank you guys for letting me on the show today. As much as I know I am not going to get [talk show host] to change his mind, I found this article interesting.
The politics of many things are touchy to a few, and though this may seem machiavellian the American economy might benefit from such a plan.
The talk show host only wanted to talk about the negative effects and how he was only for medicinal use. Though we all know how easily it is to get a prescription "weed card" for weed in California.
If you need a reminder here's a fun video from Garfunkel and Oates.
This morning I was driving to get my morning coffee when I heard the show's host talk about how dangerous it would be if Marijuana were legalized. He started the conversation with medicinal properties and then went on to discuss Colorado. For those who are not interested or do not know of the current state of weed in the United States here's a quick recap.
Recently the Colorado State legislature legalized the recreational use of weed, and imposed a higher tax (25%) than was on the long legal medical prescription grade (2.5%). The idea was to generate revenue by providing legal means for purchasing something that was already being used and obtained illegally.
For fiscal year to date 2014-2015 Colorado has generated $52,570,081 from both medicinal and legal Marijuana sales.
Time will tell if the payoff will be worth the cost of education and accidents associated with a newly legalized recreational drug. Mainly law enforcement is having trouble enforcing high while driving laws with most of the accidents associated with the drug coming from auto accidents.
For more background check the daily reading for today.
The talk show host who I will not name, went on to say (or hint at) that legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes was dangerous. His main argument was that we do not know at this point whether or not weed is good or bad for us, and he made the fatal mistake (in my mind) of trying to relate Marijuana to alcohol.
So I called in and was apparently coherent enough to get past their call screener, one I assume that was a fellow enthusiast, and after waiting was put at the starting segment, so right after the break he comes to me.
We banter for a bit, and all in all I think I held my ground well. I however felt unsatisfied with how he left things so I decided to write an email into the show, so lets see if I hear back. I really like his show despite my disagreements.
I just wanted to thank you guys for letting me on the show today. As much as I know I am not going to get [talk show host] to change his mind, I found this article interesting.
I also wanted to mention the amount of minorities currently incarcerated, some for life, for Schedule I narcotics offenses, the majority of which are marijana related.
In Louisiana one black man was recently incarcerated for selling a small amount of weed to get $5 for food. Under the state's 3 strikes rule he was sentenced to life without parole. Article below, though you might find the tone biased.
It seems to me that legalizing weed for medicinal use or recreational use could add a drop of stimulus into local economies as well. If inmates that were incarcerated for weed alone were released, perhaps they could fill some of the jobs that illegal immigrants are doing, at minimum wage, adding to the number of legally employed people.
Also decreasing what I see as a gap between american workers who think they are above menial labor and the over qualified underemployed who can't find a job.
Some labor force has to fill these jobs that the average person would not want, and if we want tax paying Americans instead of undocumented labor we should invest in the overwhelming amount of Americans in prison who might want to work hard if given enough chances.
Chances with strict rules and consequences for misbehavior.
I think a safe first step is to deregulate Marijuana as a Schedule I narcotic, and release inmates serving time only for this offense, into work programs.
Work programs where they can make real money, pay taxes, and eventually seek higher paying jobs.
Drug testing being a strict requirement for work.
Think of how this would stimulate the local economies. I know this type of plan is currently in use, but think of what a massive surge of labor could do for the overall goal of full employment.
Mainly if deregulate a substance that was used by the chinese some 4,000 years ago. That is not chemically manufactured like any other Schedule I, and if given more time and research could be found to be better for you than drinking a beer every night.
Thank you for your time. I enjoy the show and am glad we have influential people like [talk show host] in the world.
The talk show host only wanted to talk about the negative effects and how he was only for medicinal use. Though we all know how easily it is to get a prescription "weed card" for weed in California.
If you need a reminder here's a fun video from Garfunkel and Oates.
Friday, February 13, 2015
Daily Reading 2/13/15
From Wikipedia-
In the news-
Ukraine and Russia
Brian Williams
World War II-
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
United States home front
For Fun-
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Zeiss Projector
In the news-
Ukraine and Russia
Brian Williams
World War II-
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
United States home front
For Fun-
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Zeiss Projector
Culture and Politics in the US
"I work for no man, for all men are equal."
To me the political structure in the United States can be examined through the lens of culture. Meaning it is America's culture that shapes its politics more than anything. If compared to the cultures of other geographical regions of the world, it can be seen that the United States is unique in a lot of ways. No where else has a culture been born out of rebirth as much as it has here, and few places on earth compare to the unmatched natural beauty of this country.
For a time I was perplexed at what felt so different about my country. It was not until I traveled that I began to understand this feeling. A feeling of vastness, of unending opportunity, and of being able to try my whole life but never see all of the country. Our geography has separated the people into distinct culturally diverse regions, and the funny thing is they all create stereotypes about the each other. The people in the each section consider themselves to be better off, better qualified, and everyone else a boob. Why else would their ancestors have chosen to settle in this particular place?
These thoughts isolate the regions, and an invisible cultural partition is built. This partition in the United States has disconnected us in such a way that we do not care about our neighbors as much as we used to. It makes school violence seem distant, and breeds the phrase "Right around the corner from me" to describe only the events that affect only you. This, in my opinion, attributes to a distant culture. A culture that in the States that makes us feel disconnected from one another, and teaches us individualism from a very young age.
In my Anthropology class in college the professor had lived with the Cheyenne Native Americans, and explained it like this. He stated that the Native Americans were a highly collectivist society. From birth a child is reared not only by the mother but by the whole family, and not only that the village helps in the raising of the child as well. Babies sleep with their parents until they grow to a certain age, and then are lodged in the same room. The bond between the parents and their children seemed to be stronger, and family ties were strong.
In asian culture, ancestry is given mythical powers. You can pray to one's ancestors for guidance and wisdom. It is important to also note the privilege given to the elders in this culture, the younger generation sees the importance of the older. Both, young and old, work together culturally to achieve their goals.
However, in American culture, given that we are a mash-up of so many geo-cultures spread amongst a vast beautiful landscape, we are individuals forging our own paths. So involved are we in our individualistic lifestyle that anything that does not bother us directly, is paid little attention. Who cares if government debt is almost equal to gross domestic product of the country? Americans themselves can relate because a majority are living under the same personal debt to income ratio. Who cares if more and more people find themselves needing assistance? Americans make their own way and create their own destiny.
Unfortunately, the nature in which culture influences politics is based on these half-truths. It works out brilliantly for the power elite in charge. As long as Harry Politician (a non-creative name for the average person of hubris that inherits office) can keep the majority of the people under their influence happy, they can find themselves in a position of cushy power. Cushy in the fact that their jobs come with privilege, and power as in they can destroy everything you hold valuable, if enough Harrys get together with bright ideas.
So in a way, American culture proceeds the political realm, in that its influence is responsible for the core legislation of the country. To understand American politics, in my personal opinion, is to fully understand the people and culture out of which, the bureaucratic landscape emerges. To understand a revolt, you have to look at the people at the heart of such. Meaning that revolutions and changes of power do not happen without cause and without the masses being behind such a cause. This is the core the American political system. The idea that a disconnected people elect politicians that are obsessed with micro managing districts to secure more votes, while at the same time trying to create policy on a vastly larger scale that affects the majority.
Minority favoritism, for majority goals, and that is how culture and politics go hand and hand.
To me the political structure in the United States can be examined through the lens of culture. Meaning it is America's culture that shapes its politics more than anything. If compared to the cultures of other geographical regions of the world, it can be seen that the United States is unique in a lot of ways. No where else has a culture been born out of rebirth as much as it has here, and few places on earth compare to the unmatched natural beauty of this country.
For a time I was perplexed at what felt so different about my country. It was not until I traveled that I began to understand this feeling. A feeling of vastness, of unending opportunity, and of being able to try my whole life but never see all of the country. Our geography has separated the people into distinct culturally diverse regions, and the funny thing is they all create stereotypes about the each other. The people in the each section consider themselves to be better off, better qualified, and everyone else a boob. Why else would their ancestors have chosen to settle in this particular place?
These thoughts isolate the regions, and an invisible cultural partition is built. This partition in the United States has disconnected us in such a way that we do not care about our neighbors as much as we used to. It makes school violence seem distant, and breeds the phrase "Right around the corner from me" to describe only the events that affect only you. This, in my opinion, attributes to a distant culture. A culture that in the States that makes us feel disconnected from one another, and teaches us individualism from a very young age.
In my Anthropology class in college the professor had lived with the Cheyenne Native Americans, and explained it like this. He stated that the Native Americans were a highly collectivist society. From birth a child is reared not only by the mother but by the whole family, and not only that the village helps in the raising of the child as well. Babies sleep with their parents until they grow to a certain age, and then are lodged in the same room. The bond between the parents and their children seemed to be stronger, and family ties were strong.
In asian culture, ancestry is given mythical powers. You can pray to one's ancestors for guidance and wisdom. It is important to also note the privilege given to the elders in this culture, the younger generation sees the importance of the older. Both, young and old, work together culturally to achieve their goals.
However, in American culture, given that we are a mash-up of so many geo-cultures spread amongst a vast beautiful landscape, we are individuals forging our own paths. So involved are we in our individualistic lifestyle that anything that does not bother us directly, is paid little attention. Who cares if government debt is almost equal to gross domestic product of the country? Americans themselves can relate because a majority are living under the same personal debt to income ratio. Who cares if more and more people find themselves needing assistance? Americans make their own way and create their own destiny.
Unfortunately, the nature in which culture influences politics is based on these half-truths. It works out brilliantly for the power elite in charge. As long as Harry Politician (a non-creative name for the average person of hubris that inherits office) can keep the majority of the people under their influence happy, they can find themselves in a position of cushy power. Cushy in the fact that their jobs come with privilege, and power as in they can destroy everything you hold valuable, if enough Harrys get together with bright ideas.
So in a way, American culture proceeds the political realm, in that its influence is responsible for the core legislation of the country. To understand American politics, in my personal opinion, is to fully understand the people and culture out of which, the bureaucratic landscape emerges. To understand a revolt, you have to look at the people at the heart of such. Meaning that revolutions and changes of power do not happen without cause and without the masses being behind such a cause. This is the core the American political system. The idea that a disconnected people elect politicians that are obsessed with micro managing districts to secure more votes, while at the same time trying to create policy on a vastly larger scale that affects the majority.
Minority favoritism, for majority goals, and that is how culture and politics go hand and hand.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Daily Reading 3/20/14
From Wikipedia-
Politics-
The article describing the position and its current incumbent.
Prime Minister of Crimea
Sergey Aksyonov
World War II-
The last of the Axis powers and the pact that formed one of the alliances.
Benito Mussolini's Fascism
Pact of Steel
For Fun-
Nerdily delving into space with an asteroid that gave us some brief panic, and a warp drive that uses hypothetical particles to move faster than light.
99942 Apophis
Alcubierre drive
Thank you for reading, wherever you may be.
Politics-
The article describing the position and its current incumbent.
Prime Minister of Crimea
Sergey Aksyonov
World War II-
The last of the Axis powers and the pact that formed one of the alliances.
Benito Mussolini's Fascism
Pact of Steel
For Fun-
Nerdily delving into space with an asteroid that gave us some brief panic, and a warp drive that uses hypothetical particles to move faster than light.
99942 Apophis
Alcubierre drive
Thank you for reading, wherever you may be.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Daily Reading 3/19/14
From Wikipedia-
In the News-
The search for a missing plane, and another that has never been found.
Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501
USS Kidd
World War II-
Continuing to examine the causes, weaknesses with the treaty that ended the previous war, and Emperor Hirohito of Japan.
The Treaty of Versailles
Hirohito
For Fun-
Examining the power of engineering and imagination.
Mega Structure
The Illinois
Thank You, for reading. Now onto more important things.
In the News-
The search for a missing plane, and another that has never been found.
Northwest Orient Airlines Flight 2501
USS Kidd
World War II-
Continuing to examine the causes, weaknesses with the treaty that ended the previous war, and Emperor Hirohito of Japan.
The Treaty of Versailles
Hirohito
For Fun-
Examining the power of engineering and imagination.
Mega Structure
The Illinois
Thank You, for reading. Now onto more important things.
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Daily Reading 3/18/14
From Wikipedia-
Politics-
One of the few countries to still have an elected monarch.
Malaysia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
World War II-
Starting at the beginning and reviewing the causes.
Weimar Republic
Hitler's Rise to Power
For Fun-
Two large radio observatories with a great history.
Arecibo Observatory
Very Large Array
Thank you for reading, you can now impress your friends with your newfound knowledge.
Politics-
One of the few countries to still have an elected monarch.
Malaysia
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
World War II-
Starting at the beginning and reviewing the causes.
Weimar Republic
Hitler's Rise to Power
For Fun-
Two large radio observatories with a great history.
Arecibo Observatory
Very Large Array
Thank you for reading, you can now impress your friends with your newfound knowledge.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
The GOP
Once Grand, Never Again
When I grew up in the South I idolized the GOP because my parents did. My dad was a hard working contractor who built his business from scratch, so of course his support is going trend red. I used to see the president and politicians in an almost aura-like state. Though I was young when Clinton was impeached I still was giddy with joy because he was a Democrat, and in the south you hate those Democrats.
I used to aspire to be a Republican, and fulfil my duty to vote for a just cause. I remember the first time I voted, the feeling of finally doing something meaningful. However, voting has never been that way since. I think it might have been because the church I vote at always managed to run out of voter stickers before I finished voting. What is the point of voting unless you can prove to your neighbors that you are as patriotic as they?
With my feelings of joy being replaced with apathy, I again gazed over the ballot, and again was disappointed that I had somehow let it come to this. We are told in school that every vote counts, but when faced with a choice between two people whom you did not and cannot support, your vote seems meaningless. It is a connection problem. The connection between the cause and the result. When I anonymously check a candidate, I do not see the end result immediately, and in this highly connected world, expediency is king.
Yes, if my guy wins I am rapturous, and rush to gloat. The caveat being that the opposite happens when my guy loses. Uncertainty of tomorrow, feelings of doubt, investment in rare earths, and the stockpiling mattress cash to name a few. That feeling passes eventually though, its half life equal to that of the first 90-100 days of the new presidency or congressional session. Afterwards life becomes normal again and I wait another two years for the rush and dissapointment.
This is where the problems begin in the space in between.
In between the primaries, the political push, and the overall election cycle, lies the swaying point. The point where if things are going great, the undecided public stays with their team, if things are going bad, all lifeboats set sail. This is where little stories become big ones out of pure boredom, and both parties are struggling for the American public to retain interest in the political system. This is why the Republican party is struggling.
They cannot manage this political gap effectively, and must rely on a passionate blitzkrieg to get the party rallied again in an election year. This constant stopping and stalling, complaining and whining, tires the public to a point of exhaustion. In the end, after each cycle, it takes more and more momentum, more rallying speeches, even a party convention to spark interest in the cause.
The aging party is slowly wearing itself out.
Looking tired to the young and hip democrats. The democrats who do not mind you skateboarding on the sidewalk outside their house. The democrats who will not bug you as much, you just sit back in relax, they'll take care of everything. Just get up on a Tuesday in November and vote blue, so you won't have to be!
Because the 1980s republicans are slowly becoming a distant memory, the next generation is coming along and the GOP is panicked because they are not voting Republican. The ideologues in the party are afraid to rethink their positions on core issues, and fail to see a generation that is fighting desperately to not become like their parents. The 33 year old single mother, the 33 year old occupy protester, the 33 year old unemployed. All of which see Republicans as a danger to their livelihood, and as a representation of their parents telling them what to do.
What is the worst thing I can do to upset my parents? Vote Democrat.
What upsets my mom more than anything that I will ever do? Not voting.
Voting is a point of pride in my family, public service even more. Why can't the GOP simply open up to more healthy debates that will fulfill both points of pride in my family? Why can't they invoke that same feeling when I was 18 and I was fulfilling my duty to the Nation?
Until they can recapture the spirit of the next generation, the republican party will go the way of the Whigs and become a mere footnote in American history.
When I grew up in the South I idolized the GOP because my parents did. My dad was a hard working contractor who built his business from scratch, so of course his support is going trend red. I used to see the president and politicians in an almost aura-like state. Though I was young when Clinton was impeached I still was giddy with joy because he was a Democrat, and in the south you hate those Democrats.
I used to aspire to be a Republican, and fulfil my duty to vote for a just cause. I remember the first time I voted, the feeling of finally doing something meaningful. However, voting has never been that way since. I think it might have been because the church I vote at always managed to run out of voter stickers before I finished voting. What is the point of voting unless you can prove to your neighbors that you are as patriotic as they?
With my feelings of joy being replaced with apathy, I again gazed over the ballot, and again was disappointed that I had somehow let it come to this. We are told in school that every vote counts, but when faced with a choice between two people whom you did not and cannot support, your vote seems meaningless. It is a connection problem. The connection between the cause and the result. When I anonymously check a candidate, I do not see the end result immediately, and in this highly connected world, expediency is king.
Yes, if my guy wins I am rapturous, and rush to gloat. The caveat being that the opposite happens when my guy loses. Uncertainty of tomorrow, feelings of doubt, investment in rare earths, and the stockpiling mattress cash to name a few. That feeling passes eventually though, its half life equal to that of the first 90-100 days of the new presidency or congressional session. Afterwards life becomes normal again and I wait another two years for the rush and dissapointment.
This is where the problems begin in the space in between.
In between the primaries, the political push, and the overall election cycle, lies the swaying point. The point where if things are going great, the undecided public stays with their team, if things are going bad, all lifeboats set sail. This is where little stories become big ones out of pure boredom, and both parties are struggling for the American public to retain interest in the political system. This is why the Republican party is struggling.
They cannot manage this political gap effectively, and must rely on a passionate blitzkrieg to get the party rallied again in an election year. This constant stopping and stalling, complaining and whining, tires the public to a point of exhaustion. In the end, after each cycle, it takes more and more momentum, more rallying speeches, even a party convention to spark interest in the cause.
The aging party is slowly wearing itself out.
Looking tired to the young and hip democrats. The democrats who do not mind you skateboarding on the sidewalk outside their house. The democrats who will not bug you as much, you just sit back in relax, they'll take care of everything. Just get up on a Tuesday in November and vote blue, so you won't have to be!
Because the 1980s republicans are slowly becoming a distant memory, the next generation is coming along and the GOP is panicked because they are not voting Republican. The ideologues in the party are afraid to rethink their positions on core issues, and fail to see a generation that is fighting desperately to not become like their parents. The 33 year old single mother, the 33 year old occupy protester, the 33 year old unemployed. All of which see Republicans as a danger to their livelihood, and as a representation of their parents telling them what to do.
What is the worst thing I can do to upset my parents? Vote Democrat.
What upsets my mom more than anything that I will ever do? Not voting.
Voting is a point of pride in my family, public service even more. Why can't the GOP simply open up to more healthy debates that will fulfill both points of pride in my family? Why can't they invoke that same feeling when I was 18 and I was fulfilling my duty to the Nation?
Until they can recapture the spirit of the next generation, the republican party will go the way of the Whigs and become a mere footnote in American history.
Daily Reading 3/8/14
From Wikipedia:
Politics:
The creator of the rockets that launched us into space- Wernher von Braun
The international determinant of the brink of global disaster- Doomsday Clock
WWII:
This day in WWII- Japanese Capture of Rangoon
Overall picture- South-East Asia theater
For Fun:
Stanley Kubrick's classic- Dr. Strangelove
An early supercomputer- IBM 7090
Politics:
The creator of the rockets that launched us into space- Wernher von Braun
The international determinant of the brink of global disaster- Doomsday Clock
WWII:
This day in WWII- Japanese Capture of Rangoon
Overall picture- South-East Asia theater
For Fun:
Stanley Kubrick's classic- Dr. Strangelove
An early supercomputer- IBM 7090
Monday, March 3, 2014
To Vladimir Vladmirovich Putin
Mr. Putin,
I am an American living in Georgia, but do not get your hopes up for you this is a Georgia you have not yet invaded. We have no real natural resources that you would covet, and no regions of majority Russian speaking people that you can claim control of. Our legislature is not merely a puppet for the policies of a president who wields totalitarian control.
I am writing to ask in one succinct word, why? Why do you feel the need to march into Ukraine and threaten the sovereign region who has been autonomous since 1995. Why do you feel the need to back a president who stole $70 billion from its people? Why is it compulsory for you to use your military might on a country that can barely defend itself?
In an era of geopolitical thought and the United Nations trying desperately year after year to maintain global peace, why do you feel the need to invade another country with such pretexts that mirror Hitler in its justifications?
Yes, surely you remember the invasion of Czechoslovakia? Hitler's justification was to protect the German speaking population of the region. How is this any different from what you are doing? Sure the comparison may seem extreme, but his actions soon plunged the world into War World II.
In these modern times do you really want another Cold War? Or perhaps that is your main goal, to revert back to the policy of the former USSR that you grew up in, a time that you secretly still crave. You see I still think you long for, (forgive the idiom) the good old days. The days where the party was apodictic in its actions, and its support by the people unwavering, or else! A time where you could make any dissent disappear overnight, non-persons erased from history sent to your infamous Gulags.
Mr. Putin, it is your people I feel the worst for, and the people of Ukraine. I have seen what the Russian power has done there in its recent history, and why you want the region for yourself. It is hard to forget, though you might consider it Western propaganda, that an estimated 10 million Ukrainians died of starvation when the USSR confiscated all of its grain in the 1930s.
You are a brilliant man, and no one can deny that, not even Western media. However, your continued intent to control the Ukrainian peoples, and the breadbasket of the former Soviet States can only harm the people involved. Please use reason, and do not let your ego influence your future decisions.
Sincerely,
Taylor Chandler
I am an American living in Georgia, but do not get your hopes up for you this is a Georgia you have not yet invaded. We have no real natural resources that you would covet, and no regions of majority Russian speaking people that you can claim control of. Our legislature is not merely a puppet for the policies of a president who wields totalitarian control.
I am writing to ask in one succinct word, why? Why do you feel the need to march into Ukraine and threaten the sovereign region who has been autonomous since 1995. Why do you feel the need to back a president who stole $70 billion from its people? Why is it compulsory for you to use your military might on a country that can barely defend itself?
In an era of geopolitical thought and the United Nations trying desperately year after year to maintain global peace, why do you feel the need to invade another country with such pretexts that mirror Hitler in its justifications?
Yes, surely you remember the invasion of Czechoslovakia? Hitler's justification was to protect the German speaking population of the region. How is this any different from what you are doing? Sure the comparison may seem extreme, but his actions soon plunged the world into War World II.
In these modern times do you really want another Cold War? Or perhaps that is your main goal, to revert back to the policy of the former USSR that you grew up in, a time that you secretly still crave. You see I still think you long for, (forgive the idiom) the good old days. The days where the party was apodictic in its actions, and its support by the people unwavering, or else! A time where you could make any dissent disappear overnight, non-persons erased from history sent to your infamous Gulags.
Mr. Putin, it is your people I feel the worst for, and the people of Ukraine. I have seen what the Russian power has done there in its recent history, and why you want the region for yourself. It is hard to forget, though you might consider it Western propaganda, that an estimated 10 million Ukrainians died of starvation when the USSR confiscated all of its grain in the 1930s.
You are a brilliant man, and no one can deny that, not even Western media. However, your continued intent to control the Ukrainian peoples, and the breadbasket of the former Soviet States can only harm the people involved. Please use reason, and do not let your ego influence your future decisions.
Sincerely,
Taylor Chandler
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Swiss Bank Fraud
The government is finally cracking down and trying to get its hard earned money from millionaire tax evaders.
An LA Times article yesterday detailed massive amounts of money that is hiding overseas in highly secretive and discreet Swiss bank accounts. Like we did not already know that. For years lawmakers in the United States have been trying to find out who and crack down on these extremely rich tax evaders. Immunity stands for anyone who wants to give up some 22,000 wealthy Americans who tucked and rolled their money out of the United States to avoid the highly progressive tax rate.
It is not wrong for the government to want their money, it is wrong to extort the Swiss into giving it to them.
Apparently just the thought has driven thousands of these tax dodgers to fess up and pay billions in back taxes and penalties. The main reason for them is its just a matter of time. I'm not an expert on international law, but I do know that we currently have an extradition treaty with the Swiss. So what the government is doing is not breaking any US laws, its the millionaires who are, but the ambiguity that surrounds who actually has money overseas makes it hard to prosecute.
Instead the United States is going after the banks themselves, to try to get them to give up as many private investors as possible. However their efforts seem fruitless.
United States Military Cutbacks
The Constitution
When talking about the United States military, it is necessary to examine the constitution. As is common knowledge Article 1, Section 8, of the United States Constitution, gives congress the rights to wage war, grant rights to privateers, and also allows for a funding of the Army and Navy (cl. 12 and 13 respectively). The interesting thing about these particular clauses is the debate between the Federalists and Anti-Federalists when they were written some 200 years ago.
The Anti-Federalists were skeptical about the need for a standing army during peacetime, citing many grievances. James Burgh stated that, "[a] standing army in times of peace, [is] one of the most hurtful, and most dangerous of abuses."
An anti-federalist paper (suspected to written by George Clinton's political ally Robert Yates) Brutus no. 10 states that they, "are dangerous to the liberties of a people...not only because the rulers may employ them for the purposes of supporting themselves in any usurpation of powers, which they may see proper to exercise, but there is a great hazard, that any army will subvert the forms of government, under whose authority, they are raised, and establish one, according to the pleasure of their leader."
However it is the great John Hamilton who defended the clause by saying that, "These powers ought to exist without limitation: because it is impossible to foresee or define the extent or variety of national exigencies, or the correspondent extent & variety of the means which may be necessary to satisfy them." (The Federalist No. 23)
So a middle ground was reached which involved Military funding which according to the Constitution was supposed to be every 2 years. In this way the Army could be adjusted based on need, and that a large standing army could be avoided for precautionary measures.
Modern Threats
Terrorism
All this to say that the cutting of Military troops to so called "Pre World War II levels" do nothing to threaten our existence or way of life. The fear of retaliation is enough to assuage our enemies in the modern age. This, as I believe it, is the reason terrorism is so rampant in today's world and that a war against is always going to be perpetual.
Terrorism has no nationality, and resorts to surreptitious means to fulfill what it sees as the ultimate end goal- the demise of the ruling class or ones they view as the tyrants. Therefore with no diplomacy available, as with a war or an attack by a country, terrorism will continue regardless of counter attacks, and regardless of a government's efforts to deter it. So it seems to me that the argument that a large military will prevent terrorism is a moot point.
Another point that I have heard spouted from the dissidents of DOD cutbacks is what I call the Men vs Men argument. It states that because of the manpower of super armies such as North Korea, China, India, and Russia that we should have an equal amount in America, for after all we are the worlds most powerful and advanced nation. This argument laughably solves itself. Anyone that thinks that wars are fought largely with men vs men especially in this modern age should rethink their position.
Between the United States' vast weapons technology and advanced military training we would, even with proposed cuts, be able to defend ourselves. Also we would be able to retaliate ten fold, with ICBMs and if necessary nuclear force, to deter our enemies even more.
I'll reiterate the bottom line from Monday's post:
If war were to break out tomorrow even with the defense cuts, I strongly doubt that the United States would be unprepared for such a conflict. What this should be seen as is the DOD finally realizing that they have a spending problem, and them trying to responsibly resolve the issue without putting the Nation's defense in jeopardy.
Daily Reading 2/26/14
China has always interested me, mainly because of the age of their culture and their almost perfect homogeneous Han society. It is a culture that owes a lot to its early emperors and empresses. Today's reading is themed on the early formation of China and some of its creation myths.
From Wikipedia
Politics-
The Three Sovereigns
Wu Zetian
WWII-
The Battle for China
Operation Barbarossa
For Fun-
Pangu
Qilin
Daily readings are found through my endless rabbit hole wanderings through the internet. Please use caution when reading Wikipedia pages, and only trust information and facts that have been provided with inline citations.
From Wikipedia
Politics-
The Three Sovereigns
Wu Zetian
WWII-
The Battle for China
Operation Barbarossa
For Fun-
Pangu
Qilin
Daily readings are found through my endless rabbit hole wanderings through the internet. Please use caution when reading Wikipedia pages, and only trust information and facts that have been provided with inline citations.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Daily Reading 2/25/14
Today's readings are a random assortment of starter readings. Under the political thought section, two institutions of government are contrasted. For fun the famous director Cecil B. Demille and the revolutionary process that brought color to film.
From Wikipedia-
From Wikipedia-
WWII
Political Thought
For Fun
Monday, February 24, 2014
Ukraine
When a country is desperate for change.
In the Ukraine something unusual is happening.
The people protested a trade deal, that seemed among other things, the breaking point for a people already stricken with poverty and low wages. The protest turned violent and it was hard for the world to ignore the protestations any longer. The president fled the country, the country that now wants him tried as a criminal.
That is only the beginning though.
Reports are starting to surface through Reuters and CNN that is exposing just how unnecessarily lavish the president was. Revealing just how much money an unchecked president could spend in the name of his people. Mansions with ornate interiors, car collections worth millions owned by the president and his son, and a partially finished five story villa overlooking the Black Sea.
The primary question asked is, "Why?"
The question that I want to know is what will happen next in this former Soviet Republic. Who will rise to power as the figurehead in this new regime? It begs further study.
Wikipedia Article
Beginning of the End
Defense Department Budget Cuts
First take a look at this page on Wikipedia here.
The United States used to be a world leader in military power. However, after a stalemate in Korea and the highly unpopular war in Vietnam public opinion changed and the military saw the post WWII golden age at an end. So after 30 years the military has dwindled to a place of 9th in total military power, 52nd in military per capita, and 11th in reserve military. We do maintain a strong second in terms of active military, loosing to only China.
What is interesting to me (it might be the United States' size that allows this) is a small percentage of the population can serve in the military while the military can still maintain the second largest active duty in the world. Here are the percentages of population to total active duty from 1940-2010 (Defense per capita).
United States
1940- .34%
1945- 9%
1950- .9%
1955- 1.9%
1960-1.4%
1965- 1.45%
1970-1.48%
1975-1.04%
1980-.90%
1985- .94%
1990- .82%
1995- .61%
2000- .49%
2003- .50%
2010- .47%
2014(proposed)- .43%
The bottom line is that we will still have a large active military, through technology the modern DOD is becoming more efficient on a daily basis. We are seeing the removal of humans from the front lines and replacing them with more expendable technologies such as drones and robots. So my question is why is it such a big deal that the army wants to move humans out of harms way?
If war were to break out tomorrow even with the defense cuts, I strongly doubt that the United States would be unprepared for such a conflict. What this should be seen as is the DOD finally realizing that they have a spending problem, and them trying to responsibly resolve the issue without putting the Nation's defense in jeopardy.
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