Some years ago, I was selected to head the confederacy project. I took over from a guy who had worked on it--some 10 years or so--till his death. I think I was chosen for the work I did in Russia in designing the Russian Federation's current constitution.
Anyway, I've made some in-roads in promulgating the idea. For instance, I'm glad to see that Scotland is still toying with it so as to delineate its relationship to the U.K. through the Commonwealth and even with the E.U. I've urged India and China to break up their nations into smaller nation-states, each dominated by localized cultural and social forces. Of course, the nations colonized by the English around the world form the Commonwealth, an exemplar of how long-lasting these ties can be.
Well, now, I've been working on delineating the nation-states I believe the US could be decomposed into and have come up with three with their respective capitals: Sacramento (where I'm at now), Omaha (where I lived now and again), and Washington, DC (where I've spent months at a time each visit). Actually, these would be regional independent nations, divided among several existing federal states.
I've designed how this would work; and that's about all I've done in the ten years or so I've been assigned to work on the project. It's slow to take shape, but I take it, there's no hurry!
Thursday, August 20, 2015
I want to continue staying where I'm at, please!
August 20, 2015
To: Lorretta K.
From: John O. in Apt. #1
I'm requesting that you disregard my letter that I will vacate the premises on September 1. I'd like to stay on. The reversal of my decision is for two reasons.
1. I would be forced to become homeless for an unspecified length of time. I don't have funds sufficient for a deposit elsewhere, forcing me to become homeless. And, I don't know when the state of California is likely to pick up my Medicare Premium monthly payment.
2. I like it where I'm at--particularly the room, the apartment, the neighborhood; and especially, I like my thoughtful landlord, YOU!
So, please disregard my statement of intention to leave the end of this month!
To: Lorretta K.
From: John O. in Apt. #1
I'm requesting that you disregard my letter that I will vacate the premises on September 1. I'd like to stay on. The reversal of my decision is for two reasons.
1. I would be forced to become homeless for an unspecified length of time. I don't have funds sufficient for a deposit elsewhere, forcing me to become homeless. And, I don't know when the state of California is likely to pick up my Medicare Premium monthly payment.
2. I like it where I'm at--particularly the room, the apartment, the neighborhood; and especially, I like my thoughtful landlord, YOU!
So, please disregard my statement of intention to leave the end of this month!
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
XVII. The US Need to Establish Good Relations with Cuba Post Haste!
My Whacko Theory number 17 is that the US was driven to re-establish its Embassy in Havana without delay, once it was deemed immanent that Russia was already in the planning stage to construct its own seaport on Cuban soil. Another try by the Big Bear to establish a landing on the American continent a la Cuban Missile Crisis of the Kennedy Presidency!
Fearing that Russia could meet the need of a languishing Cuban economy to develop financial markets aimed at Central and South America, actually, the US had no choice but to beat Russia to the punch; thereby satisfying its own American business interests for further economic development south of the border. The theory may also explain why the US has been generously permitting a porous border for immigration from the Latin American countries--so as to make possible close familial ties among those crossing into the US with those left behind. The idea is to ignite the Americas in explosive inter-country commerce and trade that can last for years to come! And there's no treaty agreement that has the inherent cohesiveness of the family tie.
Just, a whacko theory, folks!
Fearing that Russia could meet the need of a languishing Cuban economy to develop financial markets aimed at Central and South America, actually, the US had no choice but to beat Russia to the punch; thereby satisfying its own American business interests for further economic development south of the border. The theory may also explain why the US has been generously permitting a porous border for immigration from the Latin American countries--so as to make possible close familial ties among those crossing into the US with those left behind. The idea is to ignite the Americas in explosive inter-country commerce and trade that can last for years to come! And there's no treaty agreement that has the inherent cohesiveness of the family tie.
Just, a whacko theory, folks!
XVI. Religious Iranians avoiding Mid-East Power Politics
Background:
This is a Whacko Theory, but it's based on an item I was asked to write in September, 2012 in the Didactics and Globalization blog series that I entitled "Israel and Iran." The research I did for that piece uncovered certain facts that led to my present understanding of Iran.
1. Iran has survived as an independent nation-state despite the pressures to control it by powerful nations and power-blocs. The United States for decades has sought to depose its government ever since 1979. European powers have tried to control it in order to gain privileged status over its oil. Though friendly, Russia is its competitor for the Chinese markets. What prompted panic and fear in Iran from these separate power blocs--Russian vs. the West--has been their attempts to take over neighboring countries--Afghanistan (Russia and the US), Iraq (the US), Syria (the US)--by means of war and other hostile aggressive actions, e.g., sanctions. Moreover, it feels threatened from Israel, whose military might far out surpasses their own. Their answer to Israel: build a nuclear arsenal.
And it goes without saying that Iran lost its war with Saddam's Iraq as gas warfare was deployed on their soil. Nor can they assert influence in the region that even comes close to that swayed by Saudi Arabia, United Emirate Republic; even Kuwait/
Internally, there's a lot of political pressure from conflicting factions. On the one hand, Muslim nations are pressured to hate Israel, ever since the 7-Day War that robbed Islamic countries of their lands, e.g., the Golan Heights. Iran has had to deal with this extremist group internally, which calls upon all Muslims to fight Israelis throughout the Middle-East.
2. But this land is ruled by a religious faction. Its people are not known to pursue an aggressive posture in the political arena, nor have they a history of hostile invasions of their neighbors. Nevertheless, they are situated in the Middle-East where the quest and control of regional oil fields affects Mid-East politics; where greed for profits from the sale of oil as much dictates actions of regional nations as does thirst motivates the entire species of mankind to seek life-sustaining water.
The real question Iran must confront is how can it survive in a region that is a-moral, not given to seek guidance from Allah, on how to live peacefully amid one's neighbor states.
The Whack-o Theory
After studying the Iranian situation, I have come to think that Iran is already in possession of nuclear armaments, probably since 2002 or 2003. I cannot believe that a country so sophisticated as to fen off attempts to control it or take it over would need some 15 to 20 years to develop its nuclear capabilities! Makes no sense to me! But I believe it is not an aggressive nation, prone to war and take hostile action against its neighbors.
So, how does one nation survive in a hostile environment, where everyone wants to destroy you? You learn to be all things to every nation that threatens you; and secretly go about your business of surviual!
This is a Whacko Theory, but it's based on an item I was asked to write in September, 2012 in the Didactics and Globalization blog series that I entitled "Israel and Iran." The research I did for that piece uncovered certain facts that led to my present understanding of Iran.
1. Iran has survived as an independent nation-state despite the pressures to control it by powerful nations and power-blocs. The United States for decades has sought to depose its government ever since 1979. European powers have tried to control it in order to gain privileged status over its oil. Though friendly, Russia is its competitor for the Chinese markets. What prompted panic and fear in Iran from these separate power blocs--Russian vs. the West--has been their attempts to take over neighboring countries--Afghanistan (Russia and the US), Iraq (the US), Syria (the US)--by means of war and other hostile aggressive actions, e.g., sanctions. Moreover, it feels threatened from Israel, whose military might far out surpasses their own. Their answer to Israel: build a nuclear arsenal.
And it goes without saying that Iran lost its war with Saddam's Iraq as gas warfare was deployed on their soil. Nor can they assert influence in the region that even comes close to that swayed by Saudi Arabia, United Emirate Republic; even Kuwait/
Internally, there's a lot of political pressure from conflicting factions. On the one hand, Muslim nations are pressured to hate Israel, ever since the 7-Day War that robbed Islamic countries of their lands, e.g., the Golan Heights. Iran has had to deal with this extremist group internally, which calls upon all Muslims to fight Israelis throughout the Middle-East.
2. But this land is ruled by a religious faction. Its people are not known to pursue an aggressive posture in the political arena, nor have they a history of hostile invasions of their neighbors. Nevertheless, they are situated in the Middle-East where the quest and control of regional oil fields affects Mid-East politics; where greed for profits from the sale of oil as much dictates actions of regional nations as does thirst motivates the entire species of mankind to seek life-sustaining water.
The real question Iran must confront is how can it survive in a region that is a-moral, not given to seek guidance from Allah, on how to live peacefully amid one's neighbor states.
The Whack-o Theory
After studying the Iranian situation, I have come to think that Iran is already in possession of nuclear armaments, probably since 2002 or 2003. I cannot believe that a country so sophisticated as to fen off attempts to control it or take it over would need some 15 to 20 years to develop its nuclear capabilities! Makes no sense to me! But I believe it is not an aggressive nation, prone to war and take hostile action against its neighbors.
So, how does one nation survive in a hostile environment, where everyone wants to destroy you? You learn to be all things to every nation that threatens you; and secretly go about your business of surviual!
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