August 14, 2010 archive

Is Climate Crisis About to Topple a Government?

Simulposted at Daily Kos

And not just any government, but a nuclear armed government. A government that is at the very crux of our “National Security.”

From McClatchy

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The humanitarian and economic disaster caused by the worst floods in Pakistan’s history could spark political unrest that could destabilize the government, dealing a major blow to the Obama administration’s efforts to fight violent Islamic extremism.

The government’s shambling response to floods that have affected a third of the country has some analysts saying that President Asif Ali Zardari could be forced from office, possibly by the military, which has ruled Pakistan for more than half its 63-year history.

Other experts caution that the state itself could collapse, as hunger and destitution trigger explosions of popular anger that was already seething over massive unemployment, high fuel prices, widespread power outages, corruption, and a bloody insurgency by extremists allied with al Qaida.

Hello everyone!

Well, I’ve been wanting to participate here for a while.  Had a friend nudge me just enough to start it off proper.

Sometimes I do this.  Just write up some initial chatter to break the ice.  Some places don’t seem to evoke that.  This one does.  I generally enjoy the commentary here, and I think I know a fair number of you too, which is always a plus.

Right now, it’s a slow Saturday morning.  Ever think about the very high value of Saturday?  To me, it’s a very special day, because one can basically do whatever they want on that day, assuming a ordinary work week that is.  Want to get completely hammered?  This is the day, because you’ve got one to recover and somehow manage to show up at work, ideally capable, but maybe just there.

So that’s one good thing about this day.

Another is it being the first real day off.  I don’t know about you guys, but work comes at a huge premium right now.  I note that corporate profit, in general, is very high.  Well, no fucking wonder!  We’ve got people running ragged, generally worried over the clear and present threat of so many not actually working.  I’m sure the powers that be love that.

Often when I’m writing, my cat Zozo tends to camp out on my lap, occasionally making noises, or rubbing, shifting, putting that paw out, looking for a pet and some nice words.  Wonder what she thinks of me looking at a screen, moving all those fingers around?  She’s probably thinking there are much better things to do, like play with the laser dot (and, if you’ve not done that with your pet, do!  It’s a blast, just use moderation.), or maybe go explore the yard together, maybe playing in the tree.

Since I’m rambling, I love animals.  The more aware animals are just like little people!  They have the same issues, the same needs, and often are a whole lot smarter than we give them credit for.  One big thing is getting over the differences.  I find learning about the animals, learning enough to have a conversation, or read an emotion is often no different than doing the same for people.  With animals, they have no layers of abstraction that get in the way of others knowing who they are.  They just are –unabashedly, I might add, feeling no shame, and very little inhibition, once the trust is there.  

There is something in that for all of us –and it’s something good.  There should be a whole lot less shame and inhibition in the world, and the animals show us how that can be, and why it matters.

Growing up, I generally hated politics.  Really, to me, it all seemed complex and very unproductive.  Since then, having matured, working in various places, the importance of politics has continued to dawn on me.  A whole lot of our current trouble boils down to a very large percentage of us simply not doing our civics.

Sometimes I wonder about that, then I consider that Saturday again.  It’s awfully hard to invest in civics when there are so damn many escalating demands.  This is by contrived design, BTW.  Make no mistake about it.  

Somehow, we have to get more people to do that more of the time, or…  get them to allow others to do it by proxy.  The religious right and corporate right are both very good at this, and that’s largely, IMHO, due to their lack of consideration for others.  Exploitation comes naturally, and with that comes the tools for exploitation, and that’s the story we know today.

Is it possible to get real trust in this way and not be corrupt?  I don’t know, but I’m curious about it.  The idea that there are enough people to decide an election for the better, sitting on the sidelines is a compelling one, in that it is the only real check we have right now on corporate abuses, and corruption, but how to engage them?

One way is stories.  When we know people, it’s harder to do the wrong things, and it’s harder to ignore things, and the value of interaction goes up big.  Maybe it’s all as simple as investing the time to tell stores, engage people, and get them to vote at a minimum, seeing that minor effort pay off with better policy.

There you go!  My first ramble essay here, ideally more to come.  You will see me in the comments on and off, for sure.  Probably not on this one though.  My Saturday just got a bit busier, as Mrs Potatohead just entered the room wanting to do stuff!  No matter how ugly the world gets, I know I’ve got at least one person, who will enter the room, and want to do stuff, because I matter.  That’s worth a lot more than the dollars and the power, any day of the week.

Cheers all!

Time to Declare Global War on Flooding



More GRITtv

Change Is Not An Enemy or an Empty Slogan

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable:  “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector.  The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men–robbers, evildoers, adulterers–or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week, and I give a tenth of my entire income.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’  “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Floods Leave 20,000,000 People Homeless in Pakistan

Pakistan Flood 3

(Prime Minister Yousaf Raza) Gilani said 20 million people were now homeless and called on Pakistanis to rise to the occasion, amid growing fears of social unrest or even a military takeover following the government’s shambolic response to the floods.

Pakistan Flood 2
Marooned flood victims looking to escape grab the side bars of a hovering Army helicopter which arrived to distribute food supplies.

You can make a secure donation to Save the Children for victims of the floods via Paypal here.

Open Dragon

Photobucket

What If I Got my Information from AP headlines and stories?

This morning when I turned on my computer – these headlines greeted me from my Yahoo opening page:

AP: Obama Claims GOP Trying to Destroy Social Security.

In that story AP states that a bipartisan committee was set up by the President to make social security more secure.  It does not name the bipartisans, nor give us any background on them.  I can tell you my own friends are pretty clueless, and I’m guessing many of yours are.

In another headline earlier this week:

Obama: GOP wants to Privatize Social Security.

Why is he setting us up?  Any ideas.  Because Paul Krugman, Dean Baker, Jamie Galbreath and others are hitting back?  Because Paul Ryan is getting some press, even though he is soundly trounced by Paul Krugman.  Washington Post gives him plenty of space.  Because he is hearing from the Congress that people are becoming aware of what’s going on – even the “lesser” people – even the F****n retards (and what is worse than an elderly f***n retard) – even the “bleeding heart liberals” that Durbin admonished:  Everyone has to make sacrifices.  I have faxed Durbin’s office for a list of his sacrifices.  How about him and other senators paying for all of their healthcare – just a gesture to the taxpayers, many of whom have no healthcare.  I plan to go to one of his meetings with a list of my own sacrifices.  No. 1 on that list is that I lost almost half of my portfolio because people like him weren’t doing their job.

Or is it because he wants to seem tough and embattled.  And, when he does some sleight of hand, some backroom card dealing – and the program comes out weaker than it is now – we’ll have understood – well he did try but “we just don’t have the votes.”  Since we now know that Gingrich and Clinton were working behind the scenes – can we doubt that we’re in for some unpleasant surprise.

Any ideas.  I’m flummoxed but I know this:  it’s not in the working class’ interest.  Repeat, it is not in our interests and if it were a matter of less importance I might enjoy the Obanamic theatrics.  I can assure I. will.not.

Your thoughts!  

If Republicans got their Way …

If Republicans got their Way … there would be no more Medicare.

If Republicans got their Way … you couldn’t Retire until 70.

If Republicans got their Way … they’d privatize Social Security.

If Republicans got their Way … there would be no more Corporate income tax.

If Republicans got their Way … they’d eliminate taxes on Capital gains.

If Republicans got their Way … they’d cut in half the taxes of the richest 1 percent.

If Republicans got their Way … the Bush Tax Cut for the Rich would never end.

Factlets from The Republican’s Roadmap for America’s Future:

The Ryan Budget’s Radical Priorities

Center on Budget and Policy Priorities

By Paul N. Van de Water — July 7, 2010

Docudharma Times Saturday August 14




Saturday’s Headlines:

Deepwater Horizon crisis ‘may be over’

The big fat wedding brawl

USA

Detroit Goes From Gloom to Economic Bright Spot

Early cleanup efforts of gulf oil spill marred by communication woes, scammers

Europe

Spain to receive more Cuban dissidents, Church says

Russia to load fuel for Iranian reactor

Middle East

3 Reasons Israel will attack Iran

Gravestone Removals Add Fuel to Jerusalem Museum Dispute

Asia

Children bear the brunt of Pakistan’s nightmare

An education paradox

Africa

Uganda’s LRA killed 2,500 people, abducted 697 children over past 18 months

Latin America

Arrests target Mexico drug cartels

Late Night Karaoke

Original v. Cover — #38 in a Series

Steam Roller Pictures, Images and Photos

O.K.  I’ll admit it.  I’m a sucker for a witty, well-turned phrase.

Pickup lines could potentially fall within this category, most assuredly in the minds of those who speak them, an opinion not necessarily shared by others. But of all the pickup lines I’ve witnessed live or on the silver screen, I’m hard pressed to think of one that didn’t seem crude, cliched or trite.

Such solicitations assume many forms, some subtle, vague and indirect but in other cases, are exceedingly clear, to the point and unambiguous. Those adopting the latter approach seemingly prefer to skip past the means, focusing exclusively on the ends, avoiding time-consuming preliminaries and unpredictable outcomes.    

Original v. Cover — #38 in a Series (UPDATED)

Steam Roller Pictures, Images and Photos

UPDATE:  I just knew that it would be impossible to get through Friday the 13th without something strange happening. Twice I’ve added a poll, and twice it has disappeared. Hopefully, the third time will be a charm.

O.K.  I’ll admit it.  I’m a sucker for a witty, well-turned phrase.

Pickup lines could potentially fall within this category, most assuredly in the minds of those who speak them, an opinion not necessarily shared by others. But of all the pickup lines I’ve witnessed live or on the silver screen, I’m hard pressed to think of one that didn’t seem crude, cliched or trite.

Such solicitations assume many forms, some subtle, vague and indirect but in other cases, are exceedingly clear, to the point and unambiguous. Those adopting the latter approach seemingly prefer to skip past the means, focusing exclusively on the ends, avoiding time-consuming prelinaries and unpredictable outcomes.    

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