If you haven't seen it already, please visit, www.iraqthemodel.blogspot.com.
This is a blog that is written by 3 Iraqi's who live in Baghdad. Very enlightening.
Bryan
Friday, August 13, 2004
The Junior Senator from Massachussetts
Today, Senator John Kerry visited Portland, Oregon. He held a rally at the waterfront with some of my least favorite celebrities.
However, aside from this, something has occurred recently that makes me sick. I have watched so much discussed about Senator Kerry's Vietnam record. Now whether he was in Cambodia or not on Christmas in 1968 may be a big story (particularly since the memory was "seared" on his mind), but the glee with which conservative pundits are attempting to discredit the story makes me ill.
Like the man, or don't like him. I don't care. However, the man did volunteer for the service (when he certainly didn't need to) and did serve our country. If he lied, this will be revealed, but don't enjoy discrediting the record of a veteran who quite literally, put his life on the line for our country.
However, aside from this, something has occurred recently that makes me sick. I have watched so much discussed about Senator Kerry's Vietnam record. Now whether he was in Cambodia or not on Christmas in 1968 may be a big story (particularly since the memory was "seared" on his mind), but the glee with which conservative pundits are attempting to discredit the story makes me ill.
Like the man, or don't like him. I don't care. However, the man did volunteer for the service (when he certainly didn't need to) and did serve our country. If he lied, this will be revealed, but don't enjoy discrediting the record of a veteran who quite literally, put his life on the line for our country.
Wednesday, August 11, 2004
It's The Economy, Stupid
I have a running theory. It goes like this. In 1999, the entire country, not to mention the whole world, was worried the change from 2 digits to 4 digits was going to be detrimental to our way of life. Because of this, companies spent and spent and spent. Unemployment went to 3 1/2% (artificially) and everything was thought to be a new paradigm.
When computers didn't crash worldwide, businesses were set. They had just bought all of the technology they needed for at least a couple of years. This filtered down and created quite a recession. More importantly, this put many companies on the exact same amortization schedule for their capital equipment. This means that businesses again will be light on demand of computer equipment, and won't need any for a couple of years.
It amazes me that people don't seem to have enough interest to determine what was the cause of the recession. To this day, people don't understand why the Great Depression (1930's) or the Raw Deal (1970's) ocurred.
When computers didn't crash worldwide, businesses were set. They had just bought all of the technology they needed for at least a couple of years. This filtered down and created quite a recession. More importantly, this put many companies on the exact same amortization schedule for their capital equipment. This means that businesses again will be light on demand of computer equipment, and won't need any for a couple of years.
It amazes me that people don't seem to have enough interest to determine what was the cause of the recession. To this day, people don't understand why the Great Depression (1930's) or the Raw Deal (1970's) ocurred.
Monday, August 02, 2004
What's Wrong with What's Wrong with Kansas
I don't pretend to understand why those in the Midwest may choose to vote Repbulican over Democrat, but I disagree with the assertion that people vote for a particular candidate or group of candidates because of what goodies they will get for voting for them.
It is true that both parties have their own cheerleaders: biz leaders for the Republicans, and organized labor and the legal profession for the Democrats. However, I believe the answer is much more simple. The country believes that Democrats take from the wealthy and give to the poor, while the Republicans leave people to their own devices.
While these assumptions may or may not be true, I believe that these are the perceptions of these parties. Further, I believe that the Midwest ethic believes in working hard for yourself, and not receiving a distribution from the paycheck of the wealthy.
Just one man's opinion.
It is true that both parties have their own cheerleaders: biz leaders for the Republicans, and organized labor and the legal profession for the Democrats. However, I believe the answer is much more simple. The country believes that Democrats take from the wealthy and give to the poor, while the Republicans leave people to their own devices.
While these assumptions may or may not be true, I believe that these are the perceptions of these parties. Further, I believe that the Midwest ethic believes in working hard for yourself, and not receiving a distribution from the paycheck of the wealthy.
Just one man's opinion.
Saturday, July 17, 2004
The week in news
This week, the big news was the proposed ammendment to the constitution. I know why the President supported it, but I think his timing was bad. And it just reinforced one of the reasons I am no longer voting Republican. As I have been clarifying my political opinions, it has come down to a simple statement: I will not vote for people who have a fundamental difference in their belief of the role of government.
In my humble opinion (and that of the founders of our country), government was intended to serve a couple of simple purposes: "Government should keep the peace, coin money, establish a post office, postal roads, and the courts, and secure time-limited copywrights and patents." For those of you whom I sent a "pocket Constitution," that comes from Article 1, Section 8.
However, things began to dramatically change, mostly as we began to get more involved in war. Around the beginning of World War I, the Federal Reserve was created. It near sole purpose was to prevent the reduction in currency purchasing power. It became known to protect the financial markets, but it didn't stop the Depression of 1920-21, or the Great Depression of 1929-1941. In fact, the more government intervenes, the more damage it tends to do. President Franklin Roosevelt hired an economic advisor named John Manynard Keynes. Keynes became lauded for his "central planning," government-controlled economic policy. It supposedly worked until the 1970s when stagflation occurred. In this environment, any "push" in demand, created more inflation, causing higher interest rates and further decline in the purchasing power of our currency. I would argue that Keynes policy didn't work when is supposedly did. England came out of their own depression in 1934, many years before the United States, simply by implementing free-market, supply side policies. Pres. Roosevelt may have kept us in the Depression longer because of his economic policies. This certainly didn't mean that he wasn't a good President. It just means that history's glowing review of his performance may be flawed.
I will close this post with the quote from Thomas Jefferson I found in John Stossel's new book, "Give Me a Break:"
"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain."
In my humble opinion (and that of the founders of our country), government was intended to serve a couple of simple purposes: "Government should keep the peace, coin money, establish a post office, postal roads, and the courts, and secure time-limited copywrights and patents." For those of you whom I sent a "pocket Constitution," that comes from Article 1, Section 8.
However, things began to dramatically change, mostly as we began to get more involved in war. Around the beginning of World War I, the Federal Reserve was created. It near sole purpose was to prevent the reduction in currency purchasing power. It became known to protect the financial markets, but it didn't stop the Depression of 1920-21, or the Great Depression of 1929-1941. In fact, the more government intervenes, the more damage it tends to do. President Franklin Roosevelt hired an economic advisor named John Manynard Keynes. Keynes became lauded for his "central planning," government-controlled economic policy. It supposedly worked until the 1970s when stagflation occurred. In this environment, any "push" in demand, created more inflation, causing higher interest rates and further decline in the purchasing power of our currency. I would argue that Keynes policy didn't work when is supposedly did. England came out of their own depression in 1934, many years before the United States, simply by implementing free-market, supply side policies. Pres. Roosevelt may have kept us in the Depression longer because of his economic policies. This certainly didn't mean that he wasn't a good President. It just means that history's glowing review of his performance may be flawed.
I will close this post with the quote from Thomas Jefferson I found in John Stossel's new book, "Give Me a Break:"
"The natural progress of things is for liberty to yield and government to gain."
Saturday, July 10, 2004
Men of the People
I have heard much lately of our Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates (and current occupants) declaring they know what the middle class needs. Oh really? How many of you are in the middle class. I find it a bit condecending when someone like Preisdent Bush or Sen Kerry pretends they have ever had to worry how they were going to pay for groceries this month. In fact, I would doubt very much if either had ever created a personal budgets.
So next time you hear this drivel, remember where it is coming from. Each of these men are worth many, many millions of dollars.
So next time you hear this drivel, remember where it is coming from. Each of these men are worth many, many millions of dollars.
Celebrity and Politics
It may have started with Jane Fonda, but it has now expanded. What makes celbrities think that we want to know where they stand on any political issue. This seems to be a much larger problem for liberal celebrities. And for the record, I don't care who a celebrity supports. If he/she likes Republicans, Democrats, or Socialists. This will not impact my financial support of their projects. Where I do get upset is when celebrities denegrate certain candidates with insults. It is at this point that I create my own celebrity embargo list. These are people who I will not pay any money to buy their videos or music, buy tickets to their movies or watch them on TV. If I hear them on the radio, I turn the station.
Celebrity Embargo List:
Barbara Streisand (some people aren't bright enough to attempt to speak without a script, but do anyway).
George Clooney (there is only one exception: Ocean's 11; I love that movie, but maybe I should watch the original)
Jeneanne Garafolo (I would try to verify the spelling, but I don't really care)
Al Franken
Whoopi Goldberg
Tim Robbins (I liked Bull Durham, but that was about it)
Susan Sarandon (I can't think of a single thing she has ever done that I have the slightest interest in)
Meryl Streep (ditto)
Chevy Chase (this is too bad, but he has tied my hands)
Jessica Lange (I am sure she has done something, but I couldn't name one project if you'd give me a million bucks)
Most of these people were in New York for Sen. Kerry's fundraiser. There were others, but I didn't hear any other offending statements. I encourage you to join me in my boycott.
Celebrity Embargo List:
Barbara Streisand (some people aren't bright enough to attempt to speak without a script, but do anyway).
George Clooney (there is only one exception: Ocean's 11; I love that movie, but maybe I should watch the original)
Jeneanne Garafolo (I would try to verify the spelling, but I don't really care)
Al Franken
Whoopi Goldberg
Tim Robbins (I liked Bull Durham, but that was about it)
Susan Sarandon (I can't think of a single thing she has ever done that I have the slightest interest in)
Meryl Streep (ditto)
Chevy Chase (this is too bad, but he has tied my hands)
Jessica Lange (I am sure she has done something, but I couldn't name one project if you'd give me a million bucks)
Most of these people were in New York for Sen. Kerry's fundraiser. There were others, but I didn't hear any other offending statements. I encourage you to join me in my boycott.
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