Our current economic system

Just in case you were wondering why nobody has any money or pensions anymore, read this:

http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/17745-the-five-step-process-to-cheat-the-middle-class-worker

If you think this system is just peachy-keen, read it again, then ask yourself why you continue working for someone else's profit (taxed at a lower rate than your meager wages) while the government continues to give the country's natural resource wealth, sans frais, to corporations who don't ever clean up their own detritus, and use bankruptcy laws as a means of evading pension and contract responsibilities.

Servitude! - the modern way of life!

And if  you've read this far, here's another illuminating article about our loss of control over the business beast:

http://www.alternet.org/corporate-accountability-and-workplace/what-watchdog-how-financial-press-has-failed-american-public?akid=9920.1084699.8spl8b&rd=1&src=newsletter775831&t=5&paging=off

Intimidation, and its aftermath

This story illustrates the obscene nature of a government that encourages torture and child murder (collateral damage), and yet throws the full power of the law against those who disagree with the corporatist desire to commercialize every aspect of human life.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/12/aaron-swartz-heroism-suicide1

How depressing.

It Is Happening Here

Your assignment today is to read this article and contrast the activities described therein with the events in Germany during the 1930s:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/29/fbi-coordinated-crackdown-occupy

Then write a short article listing the freedoms for which the western world is hated.  Discuss why it is now so hard to write a long list of these freedoms

Have a great New Year!

Here's what has been trampled by our fear-inducing governments,

An excellent summary of the retrogression of western freedoms:

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/12/scandal-alert-congress-is-quietly-abandoning-the-5th-amendment/266498/

This just proves that bin Laden won.  He has destroyed the freedoms that we used to enjoy, by causing our own governments to overturn them and to destroy the rule of law in our society.  Now that's the definition of a successful attack!

Whose dead children are important?

A good article to consider during this time of Newtown overexposure:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/17/us-killings-tragedies-pakistan-bug-splats

A Good Move To Counter Propaganda

Glenn Greenwald describes the formation of a new organization aimed at supporting real journalism and countering government efforts to hide its crimes:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/dec/17/wikileaks-new-press-freedom-group

It cannot happen soon enough!

What we have lost

Here's is an excellent article that outlines what we have lost in the recent panic about terrorism:

http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/105/why-we-torture.html

We no longer can pretend to live in a free country, where rule of law is paramount.

Merry Christmas!

A worthwhile read

Andy Worthington reminds us of some transgressions that seem to have been ignored:


http://fff.org/explore-freedom/article/the-long-pursuit-of-accountability-for-the-bush-administrations-torture-program/

"Freedom", as practiced in the USofA

Here's a good summary of how the freedom thingy is being practiced in the US these days:

http://original.antiwar.com/jwhitehead/2012/11/12/obamas-first-term-track-record-on-civil-liberties/

You can bet that Canada's government wants exactly the same sort of powers, and will probably sneak them into one of Harper's ever-so-popular omnibus bills in the near future.

How the world works

Here's a couple of basic lessons in economics that explain why things never seem to get better in our modern world:

http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2012-11-07.asp

Inflation is not inevitable, but it sure passes the debts along to future generations, thus keeping taxes low because the government does not want the current electorate to actually pay for current spending.

Obama , the good guy (?)

Here's what has happened to the US this century.  Things have changed down there in a very big way, and most people seem to think these changes are just fabulous:

http://blog.independent.org/2012/10/30/obama-and-civil-liberties-the-prospect-of-four-more-years/

I believe these changes will result in the destruction of our culture, but, what the hey, who cares?

Ahh ... our British heritage ...

Something to consider when you brag about our ancestors:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/9653497/British-have-invaded-nine-out-of-ten-countries-so-look-out-Luxembourg.html

I'll bet the politicians said they were bringing good things to the invaded areas every time.

A new type of fealty ...

for those with liberal tendencies.

http://warisacrime.org/content/indefinite-detention-progressive-voter

This is an interesting slant on how politicians have co-opted the wishes of various 'groups' in order to retain their support.

The fruits of violence

Here's what NATO has accomplished in Afghanistan - It's created a nation of permanently dependent spoiled thugs:

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/11/01/report-afghan-cant-maintain-us-built-facilities-after-pullout/

Again, we need to ask whether it might have been better to have spend all that money inside our own borders as opposed to throwing it all away in the sand (and to continue doing so for the next 10+ years).

Stalin was right

Stalin said that the person who counted the votes determines the winner.  He was right;

http://www.ukprogressive.co.uk/breaking-retired-nsa-analyst-proves-gop-is-stealing-elections/article20598.html

This is very troubling.

Kill lists now official US policy

There is no longer any doubt that the US President is acting as if he has the right to order the murder of anyone in the world without any public notice, presentation of evidence, or opportunity to appeal these death orders.  Read Glenn Greenwald's article about this obscene practice:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/24/obama-terrorism-kill-list

'They hate us for our freedoms' ...

Here's an example of how the brave security boys in Afghanistan are representing the west:

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/10/17/video-shows-drunk-stoned-us-security-contractors-while-on-duty/

I'm so glad Canada was part of this process!  (Hint: ... irony ....).

"Debate" among those with lots to hide

Just in case you were left with a feeling of unease regarding the 'spontaneity' of the US Presidential debates, here is the reason things seem so stilted and phony:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/16/presidential-debate-issues

Nobody is allowed to ask the right questions, nor refute BS in real time.  It's all a pleasant show for the kids (the great ignorant mass of the citizenry), like the way fighting relatives behave when meeting up at grandpa's funeral.

Opportunity knocked flat by 'defence'

Here's an good explanation of why defence spending is so obscene:

http://warisacrime.org/content/all-war-local

The concept is that of opportunity costs.  Money is finite (there ain't no golden goose) and if you choose to spend money on stuff that is only useful to destroy things, then you do not have that money available to spend on something useful, like schools, hospitals, roads, infrastructure, etc., etc.

Glenn Greenwald and questions of bias:

Glenn analyzes the debate show last night to expose the important bias inherent in the actual questions that were asked.


http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/12/raddatz-debate-objectivity

It's the old "When did you stop beating your wife?" problem.  The questions assume as fact things which are usually blatantly wrong, and ask for responses to the question which do not deal with the actual problem.

Questions for the Presidential candidates

Here's some things that will not be asked of either Romney or Obama, for reasons which are not obvious to most North Americans who do not understand where the true power lies in our societies:

http://original.antiwar.com/engelhardt/2012/10/11/dont-ask-and-dont-tell/

Maybe you should ask these questions of yourselves to try and understand what it is that you cheer about as you 'support the troops'

Time for some introversion ...

Some astute thoughts about the contradictions that are accepted by most western people in order to justify the horrific acts committed by our governments:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/10/11

Is the them vs us paradigm so ingrained as to force our brains to accept winning by murder as the only solution to competitions at the international level?

Omar Khadr, some thoughts

Maher Arar puts forward some ideas about Omar Khadr's return to Canada after his sojourn with the US military:

http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorialopinion/article/1266158---i-miss-being-trusted

If you have forgotten, Mr. Arar was also a guest of the Canadian-government-supported US system for a while.

Some things just need saying ...

... and Phil Giraldi says it very clearly:


http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/10/03/why-i-dislike-israel/

You certainly don't hear very many express these concepts.  Stuff to think about and rebut, perhaps?

If Iran has nukes ...

... it won't be attacked by the US and Israel.  So says the Guardian:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/02/iran-nukes-deterrence

Iran has not started a war with anyone anywhere in the last 150 years.  Why start now?  It should, however, have the right to defend itself, even from the US and Canada, if attacked by them.

Two of the Good Guys, ...

Wylie and D'Arcy, discussing their world and its foibles:

Time to drop NATO as an entity

Interesting article from The Guardian (UK-based) supporting the comparo with CNN headlines in the entry from Oct 2, below.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/oct/02/why-british-soldiers-dying-in-afghanistan

I would love to see something like this is any Canadian or US newspaper, but I guess we couldn't stand the truth, if it ever were to be told to us.

Maybe I should have a cellphone after all ...

I really wanted to join the navy when I was a kid.

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/10/02/us-navy-can-turn-your-smartphone-into-a-spy/

 I wonder when the "iSpyOnYou" app will be ready?  It would be a shame if iPhone afficianados were not included in the info 'sharing'.

US versus European news media

Nice to see that the important things are right up front in CNNland, isn't it?

What if every choice is bad?

This discussion by Justin Raimondo grapples with the problem faced by a voter when both candidates are despicable.  How do you prioritize your thinking in order to pick the candidate for whom you should vote, or if, indeed, to decide if there a benefit to not voting for either?

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2012/09/30/race-for-the-white-house-2012-whom-to-root-for/

He makes a strong case exposing the 'war' metaphor so commonly used these days, as a sham excuse to loot the citizenry and destroy their freedoms.  I would suggest that a state that chooses to start a war is actually committing a form of slow suicide by virtue of using its own finite supply of people and property for destructive rather than constructive purposes

Why hornets sting people

Here's are Joseph Hornberger's thoughts and sympathies for those who antagonize hornets:

http://www.fff.org/blog/jghblog2012-09-21.asp

It really is difficult to support idiots who go around poking into hornet nests, and expecting the hornets to thank them for doing so.

Still trust governments?

An article confirming a program that most people refuse to believe would ever be used against them:

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/09/19/post-911-surveillance-far-more-expansive-than-previously-known-new-book-says/

An Important Landmark (or futile blip?)

At least Italy remembers its morals, manners, laws and treaty obligations.

http://news.antiwar.com/2012/09/19/italy-court-upholds-convictions-on-cia-agents-for-torture-and-rendition-program/

I hope this is the start of a trend.  If only Canada would join in.

Afghanistan is less despotic than the US!

Glenn Greenwald points out the horrible irony being played out in the US over the 'lock 'em up without a trial and throw away the key' provisions in the new NDAA.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/sep/18/obama-appeals-ndaa-detention-law

Prisoners have more right under Afghan laws than they would in the good old USA today.  So much for the shining beacon on the hill myth wrt America as an example of justice, rule of law and individual freedoms.

Canada will probably not be far behind now that the CIA and FBI have been given the right to arrest folks inside Canada by Harper in the recent omnibus bill.  More restrictions will inevitably follow in the one currently being introduced sans debate in Parliament.

The next 'free' trade agreement will cost us Billions

Here's the scoop on the next pile of BS our governments are preparing for us at the behest of international corporations:

http://truth-out.org/news/item/11563-obama-says-one-thing-in-spotlight-another-behind-closed-doors

Of particular importance is the part wherein the new TPP prevents member countries from instituting any regulations that the companies do not like.  My bet is that Canada's water will be owned by corporations, not Canadian governments, within twenty years.

Back to the days of one hot bath a month.

"Defending-the-indefensible"

An article in the American Conservative discusses an essay on executive power in the US versus the constitution that created the country.

http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/defending-the-indefensible/

Worthwhile reading.  More worthwhile discussing amongst yourselves.

Introducing Rocky Anderson ...

... a soon-to-be-vilified independent candidate for the US presidency.

I just ran across this article which presents his views on several topics of interest:

http://warisacrime.org/content/rocky-andersons-response-tom-haydens-obamexcuses

Keep an eye out for news about him.  He is like a humanist's version of Ron Paul, and will be studiously ignored by main stream media and both the democratic and republican parties, despite the truth of what he says.

9/11 lessons for us all

A handy set of facts for your consideration:

http://sheldonfreeassociation.blogspot.ca/2012/09/ten-lessons-plus.html

So much government BS to wade through every day.  It gets discouraging.

Depravity summarized

Jonathan Turley reminds us of how childish we once were to believe in justice:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/forum/story/2012-09-10/torture-obama-broken-promise/57735442/1

Today's tough guys sneer at the Nuremberg legal precedents and principles. Welcome to the second coming of the Dark Ages, where might is right and reason and learning are for sissies.

Another Harper blight on canada's recordbook

The Iran embassy debacle is clearly outlined in this article, which you would not likely see in any North American newspaper:

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2012/09/20129814399526977.html

How is it that this bonehead runs Canada?  He acts like we are already the 51st state of the USA.

The signboard of the new dictatorship

Just in case you were not aware of it, democracy disappeared at the Democratic convention last week during (most appropriately) the god/jerusalem vote.  Consider Justin Raimondo's discussion of the event:

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2012/09/09/that-villaraigosa-moment/

You should watch the videos of this to see the actual sham vote yourself.  Exercise your google skills to find the relevant videos.

There is no way for the individual to get his vote recorded any more, not even within the so-called Democratic Party.  This is no slippery slope, this is free fall.

When criminals prevail

Another spot-on article from Glenn Greenwald about how the bad guys actually control the courts:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/28/us-israel-justice-whitewash-state-crimes

Again, I was raised to believe that the two world wars were to prevent and punish the criminal behaviour of governments, even my own.  It seems that this is no longer the case in North America and much of Europe.

Hooray for our side!  My gang uber alles!

Understanding some phrases

Here's an explanation of what national security et al really means:

http://original.antiwar.com/kevin-carson/2012/08/27/on-translating-securityspeak-into-english/

Now you know who you're supporting.

Obeisance anyone?

Glenn Greenwald offers an explanation of why the western civilizations that defeated Hitler are now allowing their governments to implement his means of social control at their own home:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/26/compliance-authority-failure

Trust me, I'm a politician.

Still think the big banks are taking care of us?

Read about Iceland and its approach to dealing with the 2008 economic collapse in that country:


http://www.thestreet.com/story/11665082/1/iceland-was-right-we-were-wrong-the-imf.html

It seems that a little guy can get along with out following the dictates of international bankers.  Maybe Canada should look into these methods rather than following the advice (orders?) of thieves as it is currently doing

At least somebody's watching ...

YOU!!

Check this little item:

http://www.businessinsider.com/trapwire-everything-you-need-to-know-2012-8

That should raise your paranoia level a tad.

The thought for today ...

A Big Unpleasant Picture

This article discusses ideas which are disturbing, but which also have a 'ring of truth' since it ties together many of the recent events which seems to characterize our bloody world.  Enjoy!


http://truth-out.org/news/item/10676-how-the-war-on-drugs-in-latin-america-benefits-transnational-corporations-and-undermines-democracy

Who knew?  It's all part of the bigger 'economic' picture that is so often praised by the press.

Speaking of the "commons", here's a suggestion:

Let's nationalize the banks!

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/07/23-7#.UA2nqoGscQ8.facebook

After all, what could be more fundamental to the well-being of every citizen than his money?  Why would you allow some corporation to hold your stuff and profit from it?  It's like allowing someone to use your car as a taxi for free, and after a few years all you have is a worn out wreck and the cabbie has a million dollar condo in the Caribbean.

Magna Carta and its meanings through time

This explains a lot about where we came from and the difficulties that have arisen while trying to maintain a western civilization:

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/10473-destroying-the-commons-how-the-magna-carta-became-a-minor-carta

The idea of a "commons" is not well understood today, and probably never gets mentioned in schools or colleges anymore.  It's a great idea whose time has come once again.

"Just doing my job" ...

"Just doing my job" has important consequences for others.  Consider this article:

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/10476-the-careerists

When I was a kid, this was used to explain how Germany veered off the civilized course during the Hitler years.  Is history repeating itself?

Politicisation of the Public Service

Consider this story regarding the respect given Health Canada's scientists by the current Minister of Health:

http://www.care2.com/causes/death-of-evidence-government-ignores-scientists-and-risks-public-health.html

Governance by the brain-dead servants of industry.

The trustworthy Canadian Government ...

... NOT!!

Here's behaviour that defines our current government:

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-throws-wrench-in-khadr-repatriation/article4430435/

After knowing where he was for 8 years, cooperating in this child soldier's imprisonment and torture, negotiating and signing a plea bargain agreement for his sham trial, Harper's boys decide not to live up to their end of the bargain.  They had years to ask for and examine the requested transcripts while working on the plea agreement.  Suddenly it's a big issue.  One has to question their competence in all aspects of their work.

Compared to Karla Holmolka (currently living a quiet, married, free life in Montreal), Omar Khadr's purported crimes are trivial.  Our government's behaviour, however, is loathsome, cowardly, illegal, and cringe-inducing.

Portugal's drug policy works

Here's a summary of the Portuguese experience with decriminalizing drugs:

http://www.businessinsider.com/portugal-drug-policy-decriminalization-works-2012-7#ixzz210SiGluR

One cannot help but wonder whether this sort of approach would also reduce the number of thugs seeking to profit from drug sales.  Time will tell.

Evidence-based decision making

I notice that others are upset by the dumbing down of the Canadian public service:

http://www.care2.com/causes/canadian-scientists-mourn-the-death-of-evidence.html

Maybe if we pray real hard to Tsxaheonf we can revers this trend.

The only other option is to learn how to think and vote accordingly.

Privacy insanity, again

I just had to save David Sirota's article regarding the latest ludicrous government excuse:

http://www.salon.com/2012/06/25/nsas_wiretapping_doublespeak/singleton/

Why does it seem that the western world is slipping back into facism?

The descent into darkness

This article rings true for me. Maybe it might help explain the current state of our society:

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2012/06/18-2

Even Ayn Rand's ideas stem from the concept that reality is not subject to the whim of human wishes.  A=A, n'est-çe pas?

No comment needed

An article about morality and 'terrorism'

Chris Floyd has written an article discussing the reaction to recent US government admissions.

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2251-unspeakable-things-the-liberals-clumsy-dance-across-obamas-killing-floor.html

Pogo was right, so many years ago.

Judge Andrew Napolitano's concerns

Despite being a FOX News employee, the judge gets some things right:

http://original.antiwar.com/andrew-p-napolitano/2012/06/06/where-is-the-outrage/

A good defense of the rights of the individual vis a vis his government.

Selfish ain't bad if it's consistent with reality

Consider the arguments presented by Joseph Stiglitz in this article:

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/2012/05/joseph-stiglitz-the-price-on-inequality

The filthy rich don't really need slave labour, they need affluent consumers to buy the stuff that they import from the third world.  Right now the rich are behaving like a snake that starts eating its own tail.  Eventually that behaviour will not help the snake.

Rational selfishness forces one to help out the others that exist in the same world as you do, if only for your own survival.

Obama and genocide

Here's another Glenn Greenwald article that brings out an important aspect of foreign policy that needs to be acknowledged:

http://www.salon.com/2012/05/29/obama_the_warrior/singleton/

How long will it take the general populace to admit this, and then embrace it as its own?

Someone else noticed

... that there are war criminals in high places out there:

http://www.politicususa.com/bush-cheney-war-crimes.html

It's interesting to note that there was an effort to get these war crimes trials going in Canada, but that the Canadian government effectively prevented them from happening.  Another moment of infamy and complacence in which all Canadians may bask.

Why do so many people get all wrapped up in fetus rights when there are so many egregious examples of fully mature humans being savaged by our actions (and inaction) in the middle east?  Can we all spell 'hypocrisy'?  How about 'self-deception' and 'self-contradictory behaviour'?  We surely wouldn't want our rulers to be inconvenienced by having to obey our laws and treaties, would we?

Rational Behaviour in a foreign land

It seems that Malaysia has not forgotten all the lessons that the English Empire tried to impress on it during its colonial status, at least the bits about the supposed underpinnings of Western morality, governance and warfare:

http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/05/12/bush-convicted-of-war-crimes-in-absentia/

Maybe there is some hope for our future.

Obama gets rationalized by Tom Englehardt

Here's an interesting read on the path to today's Obama:

http://original.antiwar.com/engelhardt/2012/04/29/the-obama-contradiction/

Not much hope for true freedom or privacy in the near future, is there?

Privacy issues

... are they to become a thing of the past in Britain (and elsewhere)?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/03/privacy-state-snooping-true-democracy

Oh, look! Al Jazeera has a little exposé for us:

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2012/04/20124518519786175.html


Coming soon to your neighbourhood!

End of an era ...

Privacy - what's 'dat?

http://original.antiwar.com/jwhitehead/2012/03/27/everybodys-a-target-in-the-american-surveillance-state/

By any definition, the 9/11 attacks have been 100% effective in causing the destruction of the American constitutional democracy. Interestingly enough, it has been the American government itself which decided to do all the dirty work which killed off the freedoms that were intended to be enshrined in the US Constitution. The expression "They hate us for our freedoms" no longer has any validity.

It's just as if a hockey team decided to shoot the puck at its own goal.

My Alma Mater makes the news ...

... in a manner that makes me wanna puke:

http://www.care2.com/causes/climate-denier-teaches-university-climate-science-course.html

I sure am glad I don't donate money to the alumni fund at this place.

Another overview of the decline of our western civilization

I realize this is all depressing, but every so often it is worthwhile to examine what has actually happened in our world during our lifetime. There is indeed a concerted campaign to destroy our liberal constitutional democratic way of life and, as of now, any legal impediments that would prevent an absolute dictator are gone.

We no longer have intrinsic rights as individuals against our government's decrees.

http://www.truth-out.org/scorched-earth-politics-americas-four-fundamentalisms/1330979344

Have a nice day!

An overview of our situation

Jonathan Turley offers up a good summary of why the western world is sinking into totalitarianism, even if the politicians deny it:

http://jonathanturley.org/2012/01/15/10-reasons-the-u-s-is-no-longer-the-land-of-the-free/

US Attorney-General Holder's recent speech defending the government's right to murder it's citizens without any recourse to the public justice system is just another example of the thug rationalizing his crimes in pretty words. Here's another analysis of Holder's comments:

http://www.progressive.org/eric_holder_pathetic_rationale_for_assassinating_U.S_ctizens.html

It would be interesting to see this sort of linguistic claptrap used by a defendant in a murder trial. Do you suppose that "I thought he might have been able to help somebody hurt me." is now an acceptable excuse for killing someone you don't like?

Here's another look at private enterprise

This article really does ask the right questions and helps deal with the left vs right shibboleth that consumes so much of our political discussions these days.

http://theragblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/richard-razinkov-privatization-of.html

I am particularly impressed by the argument that there are certain activities within a society which should never be generating a profit for anyone, like prisons.

Here's another look at the meaning of 'free trade'

This makes you wonder whether making money really is the ultimate reason for living:

http://www.truth-out.org/free-trade-or-democracy-cant-have-both/1330792757

Eventually, ya gotta spend your dough. Most people choose to do so with other people, if there's any left around.

The State of The Culture

Here's a great summary of where our culture is these days, according to Phil Giraldi. Good food for thought (if anyone still remembers what that is):

http://original.antiwar.com/giraldi/2012/02/29/corruption-and-the-citizen-american-style/

Something I've suspected recently ...

Here's a theory about the sort of people who caused the recent financial meltdown. It makes sense to me.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-03/did-psychopaths-take-over-wall-street-asylum-commentary-by-william-cohan.html

The scary part is the same people are still in charge.

More on arbitrary imprisonment

More on the due-process-free actions of our governments:

http://www.salon.com/2012/02/20/khader_adnan_and_normalized_western_justice/singleton/

Where have all the values gone?

Habeus Corpus, a primer

Here's an article regarding two people being held at an American base, and how Habeus Corpus just might help them.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/13/opinion/prisoners-are-not-pawns.html?_r=1

This is only possible because Britain, unlike America, still pretends to believe in the efficacy of Habeus Corpus. It will be interesting to see if the British government will obey its own Court Of Appeal, or whether it will abrogate the rule of law in Britain, just as has been done in the United States.

Here's a good sign

This article indicates the influence of Noble Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunos, who started Grameen Bank, the first microbank, in 1983.

http://www.care2.com/care2blog/new-york-rolls-out-new-kind-of-corporation.html

I wish the effort all the best. This could be revolutionary if it caught on in a big way.

Canada's new image noticed abroad

Harper's Davos pronouncements are only part of what is being noticed about Canada's behaviour these days. Check this out:

http://www.truth-out.org/what-happened-canada/1327935024

I wonder if those who live in Canada would see things in the same light?

A musical interlude

Just to lighten things up for a bit, here's some videos of a concert I was involved in recently.

SRO, Unitarian Church Concert 20-Jan-2012
Set 1 v2 [55m22s] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kf8R1Zbf98o

SRO, Unitarian Church Concert 20-Jan-2012
Set 2 v2 [57m55s] – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBvOH7EaZTE

Standing Room Only:

Little known facts for those curious about 'things'

John Pilger summarizes the accomplishments of our allies wrt encouraging democratic movements in foreign countries in this article:

http://original.antiwar.com/pilger/2012/01/19/the-world-war-on-democracy/

Isn't that a record that should be celebrated?

Hooray for our side!

What it's all about: money!!

Most people do not realize that money is primarily an exercise in faith by those using a currency. We all hope that those with whom we do business will accept the paper we hand them as the medium of exchange for what we actually want.

For most of the years after everyone gave up the gold standard, the American dollar has been the most accepted currency in the world. That may be about to change. I suggest reading through the following article from Pepe Escobar and Tom Englehardt which suggests a very intriguing possibility for our future:

http://original.antiwar.com/engelhardt/2012/01/17/sinking-the-petrodollar-in-the-persian-gulf/

This battle for the role of the world's pre-eminent currency has been used to explain many of the foreign policy adventures upon which the US and its allies have embarked in the last century. It's now looking as if the US dollar may be headed the way of the English pound and the Euro. Too many of the world's other inhabitants no longer have faith in it. Might be time to buy gold.

Here's another take on this subject:

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/NA20Ak02.html

Seems to make sense to me.

A Year-end Review of Civil Liberties

Here's what's happened to our neighbours to the south:

http://original.antiwar.com/jwhitehead/2011/12/28/2011-the-year-in-civil-liberties/

Anybody think that things are any different in Canada?

The truth about Iraq

Here's what happened in Iraq:

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2199-war-without-end-amen-the-reality-of-americas-aggression-against-iraq-.html

Afghanistan is no different.

How can anyone feel proud of Canada's involvement in these episodes?

More about our controllers

Some more thoughts regarding the role of corporations in controlling our society:

http://www.truth-out.org/restoring-government-and-people/1323271080

Of particular interest is the historical discussion of how corporations originally arose and how soon thereafter they were turned against the society that created them. Again ... and ... again ... and ... again.

It is time to retake control of our beasts.

For more history on this subject:

http://www.hightowerlowdown.org/node/664

Why the bad guys win

Stalin is alleged to have inferred that democracies are controlled by whoever count the ballots, not the people who cast the votes. In a similar manner, criminal punishment is more a matter of choosing which laws are to be enforced rather than the magnitude of the crime.

This means that important people rarely get investigated for the crimes they commit.

This fact is destroying our culture, in my opinion.

Consider the article by David Sirota:

http://www.salon.com/2011/12/06/why_no_ones_investigating_wall_street/

See, Al Capone just didn't have friends in the right places!

Our neighbour's values

Here's something to think about when admiring the government of our nearest, dearest, neighbour:

http://www.truth-out.org/final-indignity-last-insult-real-america/1323396756

Things aren't as pleasant as they are portrayed in our corporate media, or by our fawning government spokespersons.

Violence in our society

Just a reminder of the status of our 'freedoms':

http://www.salon.com/2011/11/20/the_roots_of_the_uc_davis_pepper_spraying/singleton/

Bullying is still bullying, even when the state does it, and its effects are anathema to the well-being of our culture (well, the culture I grew up in and accepted, - it might not be yours).

Here's another example of what's happening:

http://bicyclebarricade.wordpress.com/2011/11/19/open-letter-to-chancellor-linda-p-b-katehi/

Not very encouraging ...

Are we entering a new 'Dark Ages'

The Dark Ages were a period prior to the Renaissance when the European world imploded into brutish ignorance, losing any knowledge of the cultures and technological accomplishments of the Greeks, Romans, Chinese, Egyptians, and many other civilizations of the ancient world. 'Might makes right' was the operating mode of the time and not much else other than this head-banging feudalism happened for centuries.

Consider this article by Justin Raimondo, and ask yourself whether our culture is headed down the same path to warrior-based stupidity:

http://original.antiwar.com/justin/2011/10/23/the-return-of-barbarism/

Another Ho-Hum moment in Pax Americana ...

American citizenship is beginning to appear a little less desirable, if you thought it would afford you the "protections' mentioned in the American justice system. Consider this recent incident in the ongoing effort to protect " 'mericuns":

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/2176-family-values-the-roman-rigor-of-obamas-death-squad.html

For those of you with an interest in technology, drones of this sort are being developed all around the world, even by people who don't like the US and its activities.

Makes you wonder if the golden rule is going to followed by those foreign developers when they are ready to do test flights.

Glenn Greenwald also writes about this process and incident with startling clarity:

http://www.salon.com/2011/10/20/the_killing_of_awlakis_16_year_old_son/singleton/

Some basic constitutional concepts

This article frames the basic notion of the relation of the state versus its citizens quite well:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anthony-gregory/obama-al-awlaki_b_998546.html

Note that in a traditional western democracy the state is constrained by its creators, the citizens. In dictatorships, the state constrains citizens. Which idea do you fall in line with?

Perhaps you might wish to re-think the situation surrounding the Awlaki murder to see where it fits in these paradigms.

Speaking of Death Panels, check this out!

How low can we go? The US seems to be going for a new record:

http://news.antiwar.com/2011/10/05/white-house-secret-panel-can-order-americans-assassinated/

Anyone still think that Hitler, Stalin, Pol Pot, Mao, Clifford Olson et al are the only bad guys out there?

Be very afraid. Given recent history, how long before Canada decides it also has to have a similar 'panel' to advise the PM?

A Lesson on Morality

There is a difference between 'legal' and 'moral'.

If you don't understand the jist of this article:

http://original.antiwar.com/charles-davis/2011/10/03/when-it-comes-to-state-sanctioned-murder-morality-matters-most/

you cannot claim to understand the difference between right and wrong.

Speaking of crimes, how about murder?

The Awlaki death needs discussing.

Here's what Chris Floyd has to say about things, as a starting point:

http://www.chris-floyd.com/component/content/article/1-latest-news/2169-absence-of-evidence-the-progressive-policy-of-imperial-murder.html

I find this event very troubling because the defenders of the American killing of these men have manipulated the legal and moral discussion in so perverse a manner that it is now impossible to describe a situation in which anybody could not be subjected to a similar death sentence from America.

Basically, if the Americans think they are worried about you, you are dead. No trial, no notice, no charges, no evidence, no nothing! I cannot imagine the mafia allowing this sort of 'killing on a whim' to exist within their organizations. Why do we, the so-called free western democratic countries, allow this to happen?

As Floyd says at the end of his article:

" ... this is not just moral blindness: it is active, open, undeniable complicity with evil. "

Priorities on crime - Harper Style

Here's an interesting overview of what our esteemed Prime Minister is pulling with his 'crime' bill that is now being forced onto Canadians, sans meaningful debate (as is his style):

http://www.care2.com/causes/potheads-fare-worse-than-child-rapists-in-canadian-crime-bill.html

Why don't the Conservatives just change their name to the Frightened Little Boys Club?

Hubris at work

Justin Raimondo of Antiwar.com, had this interesting thought regarding the situation unfolding in Libya:

"The “responsibility to protect” doctrine, the banner unfolded as we went into the Libyan battle, represents the complete descent of the ruling elites of the West into madness. If insanity requires a certain unselfconsciousness, an inability as well as an unwillingness to see one’s actions objectively, then surely this describes the Western mindset as we hail Libya’s chaotic “liberation.” To look at what is happening in that country and declare it a “success” – or, indeed, anything other than a catastrophe – is clear evidence of mental disability. The blinding madness of our ruling elites has them lurching from one disaster to the next, and proclaiming it a great success – without any awareness of how close the whole imperialist project is to collapse."

Canadian politician and self-proclaimed foreign policy guru Lloyd Axworthy was very much involved with the development of the 'responsibility to protect' doctrine. It's interesting to see how well that concept is working when applied in the real non-western world.

Maybe we should demand that our governments stay home and just let those who feel the need to intervene in other people's business to do so with all their own resources, rather than allowing them to usurp taxpayer's moneys to pursue their dreams of glory in foreign lands.

Cynical old me, however, thinks that all of these disasters are driven by the corporate kleptocracy that is looking to steal the resources of places such as Iraq, Libya etc. These guys always manage to hide behind patriotic, religious or do-gooding pretences to get governments to do their dirty work.

Further to the '"9/11 Roundup of Results" post

For those interested, here is what Osama bin Laden said about what he wanted to happen as a result of the 9/11 event:

As Osama bin Laden put it in a videotaped message broadcast by al-Jazeera on November 1, 2004:

“All that we have to do is to send two Mujahedin to the farthest point East to raise a piece of cloth on which is written al-Qa’ida in order to make the generals race there to cause America to suffer human economic and political losses without their achieving for it anything of note.… So we are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy.”

The late terrorist leader went on to point out that

“Al-Qa’ida spent $500,000 on the [9/11 attacks], while America in the incident and its aftermath lost – according to the lowest estimates – more than 500 billion dollars, meaning that every dollar of al-Qa’ida defeated a million dollars by the permission of Allah besides the loss of a huge number of jobs. As for the size of the economic deficit, it has reached record, astronomical numbers estimated to total more than a trillion dollars. And even more dangerous and bitter for America is that the Mujahedin recently forced Bush to resort to emergency funds to continue the fight in Afghanistan and Iraq which is evidence of the success of the bleed-until-bankruptcy plan with Allah’s permission.”

and

“So we are continuing this policy in bleeding America to the point of bankruptcy. Allah is willing and nothing is too great for Allah. That being said, those who say that al-Qa’ida has won against the administration in the White House or that the administration has lost in this war have not been precise because when one scrutinizes the results, one cannot say that Al-Qa’ida is the sole factor in achieving these spectacular gains. Rather, the policy of the White House that demands the opening of war fronts to keep busy their various corporations – whether they be working in the field of arms or oil or reconstruction – has helped al-Qa’ida to achieve those enormous results.”

So, I guess the smart government just keeps dancing to Osama's tune, eh? That approach has been so effective in achieving Osama's goals so far, why stop now?

Things could have been so different ...

Here is an interesting scenario for the post 9/11 world if our governments had not bought into the blood lust exploited so effectively by the military/industrial complex:

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/09/2011910115157366771.html

Imagine, using our laws to solve our disputes! Quel concept!

... ... but then we wouldn't have had all that neat torturing, groping, spying, assassinating, bombing of civilians, and religious nuttiness to entertain us, would we?

... and who needs habeus corpus anyway? All government/police types are just cuddly good time folks out there to protect us from ... .... ... what?

9/11 roundup of results

Glenn Greenwald again has it correct:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/09/06/war/index.html

bin Laden will be seen as one of the effective purveyors of violence of all time. For his modest financial and human investment, he essentially has destroyed the United States and much of the western world as examples of liberal democracies flourishing under the rule of constitutional law and human rights.

In case you missed it, we are now living in a fascist, corporate-controlled thugocracy with no interest in the well being if its citizens except as sources of cannon fodder, slave labour and tax revenue to support the armies and police.

... but we are "secure" ...

Rah rah rah!

What is a Bilderberger?... , and why it matters

Taylor Caldwell wrote a novel called Captains and The Kings back in the 70s that dealt with history as made by a cabal of the rich and powerful. Its a good read.

Here is an article describing exactly how this theme is operating in today's world and the effects it has had and will have on our lives:

http://www.truth-out.org/standard-poors-and-bilderbergers-all-part-plan/1313765245

Note that the Canada meeting mentioned in the article happened at the newly opened Brookside Hotel in Kanata. Gee, doesn't that make one proud!

More on surveilance/ privacy issues

Here's Glenn Greenwald summing up the state of the art in government snooping on and persecution of its citizens:

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2011/08/19/surveillance/index.html

Big Brother is watching and arresting transgressors.

Subservience ueber alles!!