World
THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LIES
History matters.
In 2018 the Washington Post and New York Times were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on the alleged interference by Russia in the 2016 Clinton/Trump presidential election. On February 20, 2022 the Editorial Board of the New York Post published an article titled: “The Absurd ‘Russiagate’ Pulitzer of the NY Times and Washington Post.” Opening lines from that article:
“For deeply sourced, relentlessly reported coverage in the public interest,” the citation from the Pulitzer Prize board begins, “that dramatically furthered the ...
FOR HUMANITY’S SAKE – SEE THE OBVIOUS
When the United States places missiles on Russia’s borders that can incinerate Moscow and St. Petersburg in 5-7 minutes, and Russia does not place any missiles near US borders, it is the United States that is being “aggressive.” Not Russia. This is obvious. But the Orwellian message that has been foisted on Americans by all major media for years has been: “Russian aggression!” “Russian aggression!” “Putin is a monster!”
When the United States spends $5 billion in 2014 to orchestrate a violent coup in Ukraine to overthrow the democratically elected ...
Balloons, Secrecy and Paranoia
The news last week was the Chinese invasion of the country with a balloon. As the apparently harmless balloon floated across the country it sparked a great deal of angst, speculation, misinformation and plain stupidity.
One wonders if anyone, our government leaders, the news media or the American people ever stop to think before overreacting. The Chinese spy balloon saga and the ongoing classified documents scandals are examples. Critical thinking skills are in short supply but paranoia is abundant.
Of course, the balloon was immediately branded as a “spy ...
FROM DREAM TO NIGHTMARE REALITY
I had the strangest dream last night. I dreamed that Russia and China had placed nuclear missiles and troops all along America’s northern and southern borders. Russia had armaments on the Canadian front that, should America show aggression and begin a war against Canada, in 5-7 minutes could incinerate Seattle, St. Louis, Minneapolis/St Paul, Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City, and Washington DC.
China had placed arms along the Mexican border and in 5-7 minutes could level San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Houston, Dallas, New Orleans, ...
The Social in Political/Economic Society
One of the dominate themes in American society is that of rugged individualism. Individualism is a key to American society, but it exists within social perimeters. We exist in a social environment in thought, property ownership, economy, and innovation. We are not isolated individuals carving out our lives on our own intelligence, talent, and initiative. Instead, we exist, and operate in, a functioning society. A functioning society means a legal framework, social investments, and a knowledge base that allows people and businesses to operate within consistent, and predic...
THE WISDOM OF NIKITA
Older Americans remember well the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. The then Soviet Union had placed nuclear armed missiles on the island nation mere minutes from being able to destroy most major American cities, including Washington D.C. and New York. As a sovereign nation, Cuba, like Ukraine today, had every legal right to have Soviet missiles placed within its borders.
Of course, these Soviet missiles were an existential threat to the U.S. and President John F. Kennedy was left in an impossible situation. No matter the international legalities, under no circumstances was ...
TECTONIC SHIFTS
History matters. As World War II came to an end in 1944, Europe and Japan were in ruins while the U.S. had become the world’s economic powerhouse. At a historic meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, forty-four countries agreed to fix their currencies to the U.S. dollar and the dollar was made convertible to gold at $35 per ounce. Thereafter countries would settle their international trade in dollars, and the dollar became the world’s reserve currency.
As one might expect, having the dollar as the world’s reserve currency proved enormously beneficial to America. ...
Nuclear Weapons and the Environment
January 22, 2023 marked the second anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. On January 22, 2021 nuclear weapons officially became illegal under international law. The world community declared the mass murder resulting from using nuclear weapons a crime against humanity. Currently 92 nations have signed and 68 have ratified the treaty and are bound by its provisions.
Unfortunately, none of the nine countries who have nuclear weapons have signed and ratified the treaty. Because they have not, the treaty does not apply to them. As a result, human ...
IF THE B-21 COULD SPEAK
The First Commandment: “I am the Lord thy God – thou shalt have no other gods before me.”
Idolatry: the worship of a physical object as a god
The dignitaries, the VIP’s, the CEO’s, the top brass had gathered. Hundreds had come on a warm, a beautiful, California evening. The dusk sunlight still lit the air. The national anthem was sung. Hands covered hearts, the brass stood in uniformed salute as the ear shattering military aircraft flew overhead. It was perfection. Hollywood was humbled.
The stage was set. The CEO of Northrup-Grumman extolled ...
JUST WHO IS THE AGGRESSOR?
Americans all know Russia is aggressive, populated by Slavic barbarians, and their leader, Putin, is a mad gangster out to dominate the world. The Chinese are just as bad. Their leader, XI Jinping, is friends with Putin. Need one say more? We need to hate these people.
But Americans also believe in fairness, a level playing field. Since the U.S. has placed missiles near Russia’s boarders in Poland and Romania (Ukraine was next) just 5 – 7 minutes flight time to Moscow, St. Petersburg, and other major Russian cities, Russia should put missiles back in Cuba. And as ...