Working on:
--Ruminations: Up-to-date!
--Social X: completed Social Love items; next: Social Change
--Studies in Interplay: writing draft of Turkey Military and Government. I think there's exciting material here.
As I've gone along, I do recognize similiarities--peculiarities--in thinking between Jon Sobieski, who, tradition has it on my mother's side of the family, is said to be my great-great-etc grandfather and me! Sobieski stopped the advance of the Ottoman Empire into Europe, viz., Austria, simply because that's what he wanted to do, without thinking of any material reward from the Austrians; and I frequently have done things in my lifetime simply because I thought it's the right thing to do, without weighing the personal consequences. That is an unusual thought pattern which may have continued through the Centuries--since the 17th Century--in my mother's lineage.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
Theory I: Obama's Modus Operandi
I am inclined to think that President Obama likes to present his point of view amid contrived or timely events as a sort of "object lesson" you might find in a Baptist Church Sunday School class.
Here's a set of instances that I apply this absurdity:
1. Healthcare deliberations occurred just when the insurance companies raised their rates dramatically, in order to show that "see what you're in for in the years to come? You need to reform healthcare!"
2. Immigration reform. Obama knows he can't get any legislation passed through Congress on this topic. But he has a friend in his administration who was governor of Arizona; and he knows Federal law pertaining to immigration. So, the present governor of Arizona presses for immigration reform which mimics Federal law with the addition that the state and local police will carry out the Fed law! It's nothing other than a test case or a research study pertaining to how the Federal law should be carried out.
3. Afghanistan. The government of Afghanistan is so far content to keep the status quo, let things ride, as it were. Obama can't get the government to commit itself to anything other but permitting US troops and a modest number of Afghans to continue to wage war. But just yesterday, we are told, the "surge" is to commence. Further, the Afghans are informed of some geologist study that the country could become very weathy some day, because of its rich mineral resources, though in remote areas of the country. So, the administration's object lesson is, "you stay with us, and you'll be rich someday." Note the same lesson has been part of the instruction manuel for the Haitian government, too, since it is reportedly rich in natural gas reserves.
Yet as long as the American military is destroying the Afghan cash crop, which is in such demand world-wide, I think this object lesson will miss the mark.
4. Israel. Obama can't budge the Israeli government to deal equally with the Palestinians, i.e., enable a two-state solution. But there's Turkey, a friend of the US over the years. Suddenly, Turkey breaks Israel's blockade that hems in Gaza; and Obama says, "See, there's a need for a change in Israeli policy towards the Palestinians! Israel can't always be successful!"
However, to placate the devotees of Israel, Obama moves on greater sanctions against Iran, when everybody knows sanctions can't be successful as long as Iran is chumy friends with Russia and China!
5. Oil policy. Obama wants movement towards alternative sources of energy. Suddenly, BP a firm supporter of Obama's campaign according to Glenn Beck, has a disaster situation in the Gulf. I'm not saying that the disaster was deliberate but it's timely. Now, Obama argues, we can't put into operation other oil rigs into operation in the Gulf until there's resolution as to the nature of this spill. Moreover, he urges (because of the spill) Congress and the country move towards other sources of energy--the object lesson, again. Meanwhile, the government lets BP take the lead in handling the disaster; and government apparently provides small resources to covering the pipe though taking a lead in the clean-up; and making sure there's sufficient BP amends.
Incidentally, Russia has been doing deep oil drilling extensively; and I wonder if they've been called in as consultants.
6. Banks and monetary policy. Here, the "object lesson" was immediate and shocking. As a result, the government has gained control of the banks in the country. This may indeed be wise policy, for the Chinese and the Russians and the Japanese are capable of moving vast amounts of money around the globe to gain influence among nations in need, e.g., some African country in need of plants and machinery for
a hydroelectric power network. What you need in such an envisioned case is plenty of money to finance it!
6.
Here's a set of instances that I apply this absurdity:
1. Healthcare deliberations occurred just when the insurance companies raised their rates dramatically, in order to show that "see what you're in for in the years to come? You need to reform healthcare!"
2. Immigration reform. Obama knows he can't get any legislation passed through Congress on this topic. But he has a friend in his administration who was governor of Arizona; and he knows Federal law pertaining to immigration. So, the present governor of Arizona presses for immigration reform which mimics Federal law with the addition that the state and local police will carry out the Fed law! It's nothing other than a test case or a research study pertaining to how the Federal law should be carried out.
3. Afghanistan. The government of Afghanistan is so far content to keep the status quo, let things ride, as it were. Obama can't get the government to commit itself to anything other but permitting US troops and a modest number of Afghans to continue to wage war. But just yesterday, we are told, the "surge" is to commence. Further, the Afghans are informed of some geologist study that the country could become very weathy some day, because of its rich mineral resources, though in remote areas of the country. So, the administration's object lesson is, "you stay with us, and you'll be rich someday." Note the same lesson has been part of the instruction manuel for the Haitian government, too, since it is reportedly rich in natural gas reserves.
Yet as long as the American military is destroying the Afghan cash crop, which is in such demand world-wide, I think this object lesson will miss the mark.
4. Israel. Obama can't budge the Israeli government to deal equally with the Palestinians, i.e., enable a two-state solution. But there's Turkey, a friend of the US over the years. Suddenly, Turkey breaks Israel's blockade that hems in Gaza; and Obama says, "See, there's a need for a change in Israeli policy towards the Palestinians! Israel can't always be successful!"
However, to placate the devotees of Israel, Obama moves on greater sanctions against Iran, when everybody knows sanctions can't be successful as long as Iran is chumy friends with Russia and China!
5. Oil policy. Obama wants movement towards alternative sources of energy. Suddenly, BP a firm supporter of Obama's campaign according to Glenn Beck, has a disaster situation in the Gulf. I'm not saying that the disaster was deliberate but it's timely. Now, Obama argues, we can't put into operation other oil rigs into operation in the Gulf until there's resolution as to the nature of this spill. Moreover, he urges (because of the spill) Congress and the country move towards other sources of energy--the object lesson, again. Meanwhile, the government lets BP take the lead in handling the disaster; and government apparently provides small resources to covering the pipe though taking a lead in the clean-up; and making sure there's sufficient BP amends.
Incidentally, Russia has been doing deep oil drilling extensively; and I wonder if they've been called in as consultants.
6. Banks and monetary policy. Here, the "object lesson" was immediate and shocking. As a result, the government has gained control of the banks in the country. This may indeed be wise policy, for the Chinese and the Russians and the Japanese are capable of moving vast amounts of money around the globe to gain influence among nations in need, e.g., some African country in need of plants and machinery for
a hydroelectric power network. What you need in such an envisioned case is plenty of money to finance it!
6.
WHACK-O Theory Format
In this series, I'll be presenting ideas and theories I've "believed" based on nothing other than a gut feeling, an intuition. All of us have feelings of this nature about something for which there's little or no evidence, but we want to believe or are "driven" to accept nonetheless. Who knows, maybe there's something to whack-o theorizing, if nothing other than it shows we humans aren't always rational nor analytical. We like to fantasize, too!
Each item will be of this nature, i.e., WHACK-O!
Each item will be of this nature, i.e., WHACK-O!
June 11, 2010 Friday
Working on:
--Social-X, the topic Social Love. Have completed the research for the Midlife Crisis item and will be writing.
--Ruminations: Will be entering an item "Insincerity, the glue in human relationships." I've been listening to Dr. Laura's program at night here in Reno; and she prompted my thinking on this topic, which was a favorite of the Existentialists (who argued that social living requires living a lie, putting up a pretense).
--Studies in Interplay: Have completed the research for the first item in this series, viz., the relation between the military and the government in Turkey. Ready to start writing!
--What's up? Will be starting a new series in this blog entitled WHACK-O Theory. In it I'll be presenting ideas or theories I've intuitively come upon, i.e., based on nothing other than my gut feeling. I got the idea for the series from one of the talk shows, but I think the most outstanding venue for whack-o thinking is the all night show that discusses alien landings on earth and sightings of ghosts and spirits! Oh, well, it should be fun joining the ranks of the kooks!
I've stepped up blog productivity here in Reno, largely because there's nothing to do here. I can't afford to gamble even if I understood what's it all about. However, I do enjoy the scenery; and I reguarly attend the great senior center in downtown Reno. I think it's the best senior center I've ever seen--and I've been to a lot!
--Social-X, the topic Social Love. Have completed the research for the Midlife Crisis item and will be writing.
--Ruminations: Will be entering an item "Insincerity, the glue in human relationships." I've been listening to Dr. Laura's program at night here in Reno; and she prompted my thinking on this topic, which was a favorite of the Existentialists (who argued that social living requires living a lie, putting up a pretense).
--Studies in Interplay: Have completed the research for the first item in this series, viz., the relation between the military and the government in Turkey. Ready to start writing!
--What's up? Will be starting a new series in this blog entitled WHACK-O Theory. In it I'll be presenting ideas or theories I've intuitively come upon, i.e., based on nothing other than my gut feeling. I got the idea for the series from one of the talk shows, but I think the most outstanding venue for whack-o thinking is the all night show that discusses alien landings on earth and sightings of ghosts and spirits! Oh, well, it should be fun joining the ranks of the kooks!
I've stepped up blog productivity here in Reno, largely because there's nothing to do here. I can't afford to gamble even if I understood what's it all about. However, I do enjoy the scenery; and I reguarly attend the great senior center in downtown Reno. I think it's the best senior center I've ever seen--and I've been to a lot!
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