Republicans: The Anti-American Ideology Still Exists

Senate republicans torpedoed a bill that was passed by the House to provide $14 billion in loans for General Motors, Chrysler and Ford.  Republican Senator Bob Corker led the way by insisting that the UAW give him a date certain by which the union would reduce their own wages to be competitive with the foreign auto plants in the U.S.

 

I don't know of any taxpayer who likes the bail out of any industry but when the economy has already lost 1.9 million jobs so far this year and the country has a President who never had an economic policy, some thing has to be done to strop the erosion of jobs and the economy.  Those Senate republicans really showed their true colors because their opposition was not about the bail out, it was about breaking the union.

 

Not one of the Senate republicans proposed that the CEO's and executives of the auto industry work for salary only, no bonuses or other compensation for the near future.  But they want the union to take another cut by a date certain. 

 

President Bush, who is eager to find something to accomplish before leaving office said his administration would furnish the industry some kind of emergency life line if talks with congress failed.  The hint was he would use some of the money from the $700 billion already approved by congress.  The democrats in congress asked the President a month ago to use some of that same money for the auto industry and he refused.  It is just another example of this President being out of touch with what is happening with the economy. 

 

The average American, hopefully is starting to realize just how phony the republicans in congress really are.  Is it any wonder why the economy is in such bad shape under George Bush and the republicans.

The George W. Bush Presidency:

I have often written about Mr. Bush being a small person and it is all coming front and center now as he prepares to leave office.  His lack of character and integrity is now playing out in his final days on the job. 

 

It was reported how the Bush administration has issued talking points to his cabinet members to go out to the news media and talk about his accomplishments the last 8 years.  Never mind that Presidents usually stand on their record with out having to tell the people how good they have been.  Those  talking points follows the talking points of Bush himself during the run up to war with Iraq when he and his administration tried to brain wash the people with lies about Iraqi WMD.  This is a President who believes in his own lies and thinks if they are repeated over and over they will become facts.

 

Ben Feller, Associated Press writer reported that Bush, speaking at West Point told the cadets, "That today's military is stronger, more agile and better prepared than the one he inherited in 2001.'  But the fact is Bush's unnecessary war in Iraq stretched the military so thin it did not have enough troops to fight the real war on terror in Afghanistan and now 7 years later we are talking about sending more U.S. troops to that country from Iraq.

 

Never in my lifetime has a sitting President passed off so many problems that he himself created to the new President-elect.  Mr. Bush is leaving office just like he governed, "passing the buck."  He is such a small person in stature.  Despite his self serving statements history will record his Presidency as a house of cards, a house that can easily collapse.  The change over from the Clinton administration to the Bush administration has been an 8 year disaster for the country and its people.  What a shame.

The Economy Continues Its Downward Spiral

The Labor Department announced that the economy lost 533,000 jobs in November.  That brings the total job loss for the first 11 months of 2008 to 1.9 million.  The unemployment rate increased to 6.7%.  The number of unemployed workers increased 2.7 million since December 2007.  Currently there are 10.2 million Americans unemployed.

 

About the same time President Bush acknowledged the fact that we are in a recession, the second one to take place on his watch.  A new report said the recession actually started in December 2007.  Just a few months ago both Bush and McCain said the fundamentals of the economy were sound.

 

The job losses are a blow to each individual who has a family and other responsibilities to take care of. Its a personal loss with repercussions.  There is a real face behind every job loss and the greed and policies that put our nation and the people in this economic mess has to be reversed. 

 

The November job losses were the highest in 34 years, since December of 1974.  It is note worthy, that occurred doing the republican administration of Nixon-Ford.  President Bush and the Reagan-Bush administrations trickle down economics ideology has been in place 20 of the last 28 years and has been an economic failure.  Not only have they been the party of record deficits and debt creation, they have been the party most responsible for letting corporate America do as they wish with no checks and balances.

 

Reagan, Bush 41 and Bush 43 have bankrupted the federal treasury at a time when the country and its people most need a treasury in the black to take care of the cost that is needed to revive the economy.  Don't be surprised if you see the republicans in congress and the neocon journalists call for cutting back Social Security and Medicare and other needed programs that truly help the people.  It is going to happen as sure as the sun comes up tomorrow.  That is the real reason behind the Republicans ideology. 

The India And Pakistan Problem

India, Pakistan, and Israel was the subject of one of my articles on 11/14/07 concerning their nuclear capabilities and the fact that they were not a member of the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty like the U.S. and other nuclear powers.

 

Those three countries operate their nuclear facilities without checks and balances and are a threat to world peace.  The tragic terror attack on India at Mumbai recently points out the need to bring those WMD under control before they are used.  India has said elements from Pakistan had carried out the attacks and that those elements trained inside Pakistan.  Pakistan insisted it was not behind the attacks.

 

Both India and Pakistan have attacked each other for years over disputed territory.  Such attacks and now this major terror attack at Mumbai could push them over the top to resort to nuclear weapons. All it would take is one of their leaders to miscalculate.  President elect Obama and other world leaders should make it a priority to have all three nations join the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty so checks and balances can be put in place.  Diplomacy has to set in motion a means of communication that would take place instead of violence.  The U.S. should also take another look at its relationship with all three countries. 

Diplomacy From A Position Of Weakness

Secretary of State Condi Rice met with Indian officials in New Delhi and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Admiral Mike Mullen met in Islamabad, Pakistan with president Asif Ali Zardari.  The occasion was in response to the Mumbai terror attack that took place recently.

 

Rice and Mullen are looking for ways to have India and Pakistan act in a responsible manner in tracking down the terrorists and have Pakistan crack down on a Kashmir based terror group leading the list in the Mumbai attack.  Rice has asked both countries to cooperate and to do so transparently.  She also warned Indian officials against a hasty reaction to the attacks and not create other unintended consequences. 

 

The Bush administration and Rice have no creditability with either country on the terror problem and especially with Pakistan.  The administration has backed former Pakistan leader Musharraf with billions of dollars in aid, said he was an ally in the war on terror even though the Bush administration knew he let terror groups operate and train in Pakistan.  Rice and this administration have a real problem when they talk about being transparent and hasty reactions.  There was no transparency by Bush in the run up to war in Iraq and the consequences that followed are still acting out.

 

The U.S. is less safe now under Bush and the U.S. has lost its moral mantle of world leadership under Bush.  V.P. elect Joe Biden said long ago Bush had a Musharraf policy but no Pakistan policy and if the American people want to be honest with themselves, could make a good case that Bush has never had a foreign policy.  January 20th can not arrive soon enough.

Continuation Of A Corrupting War

America and the world found out long ago that the war and occupation of Iraq over WMD that did not exist was an unnecessary war and that Iraq was no threat to the security of the U.S. or the middle east.  The public also found out after the fact that the Pentagon urged retired military officers to appear on the cable networks during the run up to war to promote the war and talk about the Iraqi threat.

 

Now the war, approaching its sixth year at a cost of over $600 billion and over 30,000 U.S. casualties including over 4000 deaths and who knows how many innocent Iraqi's, David Barstow of the New York Times reports the following:

 

Retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey who has appeared over 1,000 times on NBC and its cable sisters since the 9-11 attack signed a consulting contract with Defense Solutions, a tiny military contractor with a slender track record.  Four days later he swung into action with a personal note and 15 page briefing packet to General David Petraeus strongly recommending Defense Solutions and its offer to supply Iraq with 5000 armored vehicles from Eastern Europe.  McCaffrey did not mention his new contract with Defense Solutions in his letter to Petraeus, nor did he disclose it when he went on CNBC that same week and praised the commander Defense Solutions was now counting on for help.  Mr. Barstow also reported in testimony with congress McCaffrey criticized a Pentagon plan to supply Iraq with several hundred armored vehicles made in the U.S.A. by a competitor of Defense Solutions.

 

Barstow also reported, on NBC and other public forums, McCaffrey has consistently advocated wartime policies and spending priorities in line with his corporate interests.  But those interests are not described to NBC's viewers.  He is held out as a dispassionate expert, not someone who helps companies win contracts related to the wars he discusses on television

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Our men and women in uniform have been betrayed by those retired Generals who promoted this war and then went on to profit from this unnecessary war.  The Iraq war has been a corrupting enterprise in so many ways and the American people will never be told the truth.  President Kennedy was right during the Cuban Missile crisis in 1962 when he refused to accept a military invasion of that island as the only option that was being pushed by the military.  President Kennedy had the wisdom to implement another military option which prevented a war and saved thousands of lives.  President elect Obama needs to keep his promise to the people and end this war in Iraq and all the corrupting influence associated with it.

The Magic Word

President-elect Obama has held several news conferences lately to talk about the economy and what he plans to do early in his administration to address the severe problem the country faces.  He also said after the economy is back on track and working he would focus on returning to balanced budgets.  Those two words are magic.

 

The president-elect has assembled a good economic and fiscal team with the experience to create for the country and its people a sustained economy and job creation.  Fiscally, they know what is required to balance the budgets and create surpluses.  They also know the benefits that would produce.

 

The people have a right to be concerned about the billions of dollars committed to the bail outs already announced, however, that is a drop in the bucket compared to the record deficits and debt created by the last 3 republican presidents over the 20 year period they served.  Interest alone to pay for the money borrowed to finance the deficits and debt is almost half a trillion dollars a year.

 

Obama is right to make it policy to balance the budget and reverse the out of control spending that happened on the republican watch.  A sound fiscal policy will allow the U.S. to meet its obligations made to the people and do those things that really matter and make a difference for the country and its people.  Keeping the Magic alive is the right thing to do.

Corporate Betryal Of America And The Public

There is a sad and sorry story being played out in our current economic meltdown and unfortunately the average American is paying the price.  Loss of jobs, benefits and reduction in pay, higher unemployment, reduction in buying power, increase in poverty, loss in savings and retirement accounts and the list goes on and on.

 

And I hope the people and elected officials notice the businesses the tax payers money is bailing out and the businesses that are asking to be bailed out are all mega companies and large conglomerates who merged with or bought out other competitors over the years.  Some have ventured into businesses where there was no prior experience.

 

Every time these companies buy out competitors they increase their own wealth and reduce competition resulting in monopoly and higher consumer prices.  When they take over another company they issue talking points that go something like this:  The acquisition will make for a better and more responsive company to cut cost, give better service, products and prices for the consumer.  But it never happens.  What the CEO's do with the additional revenue and profits is line their own pockets with huge bonuses, stock options and other rewards at the expense of their workers.  It should also be remembered that all these mergers and buy outs of other companies result in a loss of jobs.

 

Corporate America also has a history of lying to congress and the people.  The mega banks were supposed to advance the quality of ones financial life and are now looking for a hand out.  The major oil companies who bought out many of the independents said it would allow them to increase drilling and production but drilling and production has been going down for years.

 

A priority of Congress should be to put a hold on any mergers or buy outs until further notice.  Corporate America has proved it can not be trusted.  They have not earned the respect of the people and during this crisis they have not displayed any leadership to accept responsibility and act with wisdom.  We know and are experiencing the havoc that greed has forced on the people and the country.

 

The time has come for our new President and congress to ask this basic question in their planning and future actions and decisions.  "Will the decisions be of benefit to the people and the country?"  The answer must be yes for true change. 

Republicans Bobby Jindal and Sarah Palin

There are those in the Republican party who are pushing Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as the future leaders of the Republican party.  Television journalists have picked up on this and are now given both a lot of coverage. President-elect Obama's election and the democrats addition of seats in the House and Senate in this months election have the republican party in a tizzy.

 

Governor Jindal has been in office for less than a year so as of this date he does not really have a record to run on.  Nor has it been established yet that he has good judgement, an important element in governing.  In fact he has been out of state a lot campaigning for McCain and in state for John Kennedy who ran against Mary Landrieu and her senate seat.  Jindal talks a good game but his ideology is like other Republicans who put themselves on a pedestal and look down on everyone else who does not share their ideology.

 

Jindal's administration after taking office passed a ethic reform bill that most people think has no teeth.  While preaching ethic during his campaign for governor, his own campaign had to pay a fine for violating the ethic laws.  Jindal's leaders in the Louisiana legislature passed a bill giving lawmakers a big fat pay raise and then Jindal said he would not step in. When public pressure got so great he finally vetoed the bill.

 

Governor Palin during the presidential campaign showed she is a typical republican who's method of campaigning is to personally attack her opponents instead of telling the people what shestands for and what her policies would be.  She wanted to identify with the soccer moms and create an identify as a good old girl with a wink and a smile.  National candidates should identify with the nation but Palin continued to divide the people.  Remember her comment about the real America.

 

She is now bashing those who said she was a drag on the Republican ticket.  The people had it right, she and McCain just had nothing to offer.  If Jindal and Palin represent the best the Republican party can offer as future leaders of the party they will continue to be a turn off.

The Cost Of Seniors Health Care And Other Medical Costs

Healthday News in an article published in the New Orleans Times Picayune of 11-23-08 reported the following.  Researchers who analyzed Medical and National Health Interview Survey data reported the cost of medical and productivity for 2007 among Americans 65 years and older was $196 Billion.  This covered six major illnesses examined in the study:  Chronic Lung disease, ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, pneumonia and gastrointestinal illness.  The cost in 2000 was $135 billion.

 

Ischemic heart disease was the most expensive at $60 billion.  These cost are expected to go up as people live longer.  I have commented before about this problem and how common sense can reduce this ever increasing cost burden on our people and the country.  Another report in the September/October 2008 issue of WebMD magazine points out the cost of allergies medication cost $5.7 billion annually while visits to doctors cost $300 million for office visits. 

 

The answer is prevention and education that people can easily do and obtain to reduce their dependence on prescription drugs and medical cost.  Most seniors belong to HMO's and many provide free membership at fitness centers that provide regular exercise work outs, cardiac exercise and other information on how to take care of ones health.  It is known that some forms of high blood pressure and diabetes can be controlled with out medication with the proper diet and exercise.  Other health problems can be helped in the same way.

 

Cities, states and the federal government should have as a priority programs to educate the people what can be done to better take care of their health and reduce their medical cost.  This should be done on a regular sustained basis and people should be urged to be a part of prevention at an early age.  Governments can do this through advertising, the inter net, literature, public announcements and other avenues that would not be costly to governments.

 

Prevention is the vehicle that will not only lower medical cost for the individual and government, it will also lead to a more active and healthy life style for the people.  The alternative is the price we are now paying with no end in sight.  There is no government or individual who can afford to pay for future health cost at the increases we have seen in the last 10 years.  Prevention and a good physical fitness program will allow the people to take charge and control their own health and medical cost.