The Massachusetts win by Scott Brown was a victory for independent voters, not the Republican Party. It was a big loss for Democratic Party politics but in no way an endorsement of the Republican Party. An insightful analysis of the voting was made by the Christian Science Monitor.
The voters were simply sick and tired of the screw-ups and ridiculous inability to govern shown by both parties. They voted for an individual candidate in defiance of party politics. This is strong evidence that the exclusive two party system is losing control. This bodes nothing but good for the nation.
It is good because the first task in rebuilding our sickened system is a massive injection of honesty and dedication into Congress. This depends on the success of two actions:
1. We continue to grow an informed and thoughtful bloc of voters who think independently of the two party system.
2. The two party system loses its almost exclusive power to govern the election process
Independent voters with no allegiance to either party will tend to support honest candidates who support the common good regardless of party affiliation. These voters will also be more aware and less tolerant of purposeful misinformation. Lies and misinformation are an inherent part of the current election process. This need not be the case. Legitimate election points and counterpoints can be made with truth. Parties that routinely incorporate half truths and outright lies in their campaign cannot be trusted with public office. Money spent on misinformation should be a negative marker to its own cause.
Political parties were not mentioned in the Constitution, and the concept was frowned upon by most of the Founding Fathers. Jefferson and Washington were especially adamant that political parties would be harmful to the nation. Loyalties develop for the party over those for the country. The parties limit creative thought, encouraging “party think” in its place. They limit the quality and quantity of candidates who are presented to the voters.
Neither party is tapping into the vast talent pool of the country. The selection process must be opened to more and better qualified people to become candidates. This will not happen as long as almost all seats in Congress are held by loyal party members.
Perhaps the system performance has finally reached the “tipping point” level of embarrassing incompetence and corruption. The Massachusetts election is an encouraging indication that the citizen has finally turned disgust into votes.
The Founders gave us a Constitution that allows the citizens to correct the government through elections. Unfortunately as it now stands those very elections are strongly influenced by those we hope to correct. This will require extra diligence. Our votes are extremely valuable. We must use them carefully and wisely. We desperately need a congress of citizen-legislators who will focus on the nation’s problems rather than a political party. This should be an important consideration before you give them your vote
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee: A Possible First Step
On November 6, 2009 we made a post detailing how almost all citizens feel completely betrayed by both government and private institutions. They see that the government is acting for special interests, not the public good as required by the constitution. To restore our nation we stated that:
The banks however have been operating under the assumption that their only obligation toward the citizens suffering from the economic meltdown they caused is to repay the TARP funds at some point. They expected no further consequences for the misery they have caused the nation. They are reporting large profits and intend to reward themselves with record bonuses-while the rest of the nation suffers.
The announcement by the administration of its intention to impose a Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee* on banks with over 50 billion dollars in assets is the first credible indication that the necessary consequences may be coming. It could mean that the cozy financial sector/government relationship is starting to unravel under the relentless anger of the US citizens. Of course the 90 billion dollars expected to be recovered in 10 years is minuscule compared to the damage done to the nation. But at least it initiates a principle of collecting consequential damages that should deter future similar behavior. Watching how congressmen react to this bill will be a real marker for those who must be replaced.
As currently described the bill will only apply to banks with over fifty billion in assets and will be structured so that there will be a strong incentive to pay the fee from the planned excessive bonus pool. This will protect the smaller banks and prevent the large banks from simply passing the fee through to its customers. It is indeed meant to have the large banks who acted against the public good suffer additional consequences.
The drumbeat of the bank lobbyists against the bill is already underway. There will be a very aggressive effort to have it either killed or weakened with loopholes. Hopefully this will not end as a Republican versus Democrat issue. We must follow the life cycle closely and be sure that our congressman and senators understand that regardless of their party affiliation you expect them to act in the public good. Follow their statements and votes very closely. Its will be a good warm-up for the many battles we have yet to fight.
The citizens require a strong program that will absolutely guarantee that the psychology and ethics that led to the betrayal is completely disgraced and placed outside the American system forever. It is critical that those in the entities who were responsible for the meltdown are publically identified and punished. There must be significant retribution with large sums recovered for the people who innocently suffered. The public consequences to those that caused the situation must be adequate to prevent any thoughts of ever returning to similar behavior.
The banks however have been operating under the assumption that their only obligation toward the citizens suffering from the economic meltdown they caused is to repay the TARP funds at some point. They expected no further consequences for the misery they have caused the nation. They are reporting large profits and intend to reward themselves with record bonuses-while the rest of the nation suffers.
The announcement by the administration of its intention to impose a Financial Crisis Responsibility Fee* on banks with over 50 billion dollars in assets is the first credible indication that the necessary consequences may be coming. It could mean that the cozy financial sector/government relationship is starting to unravel under the relentless anger of the US citizens. Of course the 90 billion dollars expected to be recovered in 10 years is minuscule compared to the damage done to the nation. But at least it initiates a principle of collecting consequential damages that should deter future similar behavior. Watching how congressmen react to this bill will be a real marker for those who must be replaced.
As currently described the bill will only apply to banks with over fifty billion in assets and will be structured so that there will be a strong incentive to pay the fee from the planned excessive bonus pool. This will protect the smaller banks and prevent the large banks from simply passing the fee through to its customers. It is indeed meant to have the large banks who acted against the public good suffer additional consequences.
The drumbeat of the bank lobbyists against the bill is already underway. There will be a very aggressive effort to have it either killed or weakened with loopholes. Hopefully this will not end as a Republican versus Democrat issue. We must follow the life cycle closely and be sure that our congressman and senators understand that regardless of their party affiliation you expect them to act in the public good. Follow their statements and votes very closely. Its will be a good warm-up for the many battles we have yet to fight.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
The Big Question: How Much Incompetence Can a Great Nation Stand Before it Becomes Not Great?
Is the US running out of runway?
The previous decades have been characterized by incompetence from our elected government and private sectors that have eaten up large amounts of runway.
There just isn’t much runway left!
All this has happened on our watch. To avoid the terrible disgrace of destroying a great country we must turn it around.
So what weapons do we have?
If we use them wisely they should be enough. Let us begin by accepting certain high level truths and targets for correction:
We have to keep this great country great!
The previous decades have been characterized by incompetence from our elected government and private sectors that have eaten up large amounts of runway.
•Emergence of the financial sector as the nations policy leaderThis has resulted in:
•Failure to develop a reasonable integrated energy plan for independence from enemies
•Disastrous trade policies that seem designed to weaken America manufacturing
•A misdirection of effort on climate change
•Ill thought out wars
•Major public policy being controlled by gullible uneducated media, alarmist environmentalists, and special interests
• A global recession
• Millions of Americans losing jobs and homes while being forced into government assistance
• Thousands of our young dying in those ill thought out wars
• A complete loss of faith by the people in both their government and private institutions
• Disastrous trade balances
• Gigantic misallocations of resources
There just isn’t much runway left!
All this has happened on our watch. To avoid the terrible disgrace of destroying a great country we must turn it around.
So what weapons do we have?
• A population with a continuing love of country and respect for freedom
• Intelligence.
• Tools our founders gave us to change the elected government.
If we use them wisely they should be enough. Let us begin by accepting certain high level truths and targets for correction:
1 First, we must acknowledge that the two party system we now have is corrupt and is failing us. There is nothing in the constitution about political parties. Both George Washington and Thomas Jefferson were among the founders who were outspoken against them. Their fear being that people would develop loyalties for their party that would override their loyalty to the country. We have seen this come true in spades! The two national parties focus on sustaining their own standing. They have passed laws that purposely limit citizen choice. Their sole control of the election process must be broken and the process re-opened to the citizens.This is just a beginning list and shows how far we have to go. Once again, can we trust the current elected government to initiate these and other steps? If not, the Founders built in the ability to replace the House in two years and the entire Senate in six.
2. The financial sector must be placed in its proper role as a simple service to the producing sectors of the economy-not its current commanding position of control. Its current consumption of the wealth created by the country is completely out of line.
3. The government is not able to adequately manage the large sums of money being spent on major R&D projects. Climategate is but one example. The citizens must have a better view of these expenditures. The country has thousands of experienced engineers, scientists and tradesmen working in the private sector or retired who would provide an independent view as a public service-possibly organized by the professional societies. This would be an important step for the citizens to regain control of the country finances and allocation of resources.
4. The availability of education opportunities to the citizens must be greatly expanded to match the increasing need for an informed electorate.
5. The media should be distinguished for providing, facts, education, and free discussion by the public. The ownership and control of media assets by only a few corporations is not desirable.
6. The Founders went to great effort to protect the individual citizen against infringement by the government. They are well stated in the Bill of Rights. We must reaffirm these protections in all our actions.
We have to keep this great country great!
Sunday, January 03, 2010
With Global Cap &Trade and Climate Change in Free Fall Where is USA Energy Plan B?
In accordance with its standard policy of minimizing the useful information it provides to the public the mainstream media has only discussed two choices for a US energy program.
1.Lead the world in an economy killing global cap and trade system to control CO2
2.Allow civilization to be destroyed by CO2 caused climate change.
In spite of our elected government’s record for bad decisions, surely climate gate and the general impracticality of an energy policy based totally on the global control of CO2 will prevent the first option. The second is not worth discussing. But where is the plan for a third option that presents an environmentally sustainable and balanced energy plan free from the noise of global CO2 control? A plan that is directed to what is best for the USA?
.
We need an integrated energy plan that uses all of the technologies in their best applications and is based on quality engineering, science and economics. It must be created for the general good of the US citizens and not the result of public relations and lobbying by special interests.
After over thirty years and untold billions you would think that the Department of Energy could pull a copy of a plan like that right out of the files. They might make a few adjustments to reflect the increased domestic reserves of natural gas before publishing it widely for Congress and the public to judge. It should be open and well explained so the public can judge how intelligently their congressmen are addressing the problem. It will be a base case for risk/benefit analysis against which the demands of global CO2 control advocates could be publically judged.
Sadly, this is a fantasy. The intimidation of the media and political system by the climate change alarmists has been so complete that they could politically stop any such plan from being developed. This is another example of just how blundering these institutions are as guardians for the public good. However, climate gate has finally opened the subject for objective analysis and correction. Can we count on either institution to correct the errors of their ways and lead? Sadly again, that is fantasy B.
We must somehow change this situation.
1.Lead the world in an economy killing global cap and trade system to control CO2
2.Allow civilization to be destroyed by CO2 caused climate change.
In spite of our elected government’s record for bad decisions, surely climate gate and the general impracticality of an energy policy based totally on the global control of CO2 will prevent the first option. The second is not worth discussing. But where is the plan for a third option that presents an environmentally sustainable and balanced energy plan free from the noise of global CO2 control? A plan that is directed to what is best for the USA?
.
We need an integrated energy plan that uses all of the technologies in their best applications and is based on quality engineering, science and economics. It must be created for the general good of the US citizens and not the result of public relations and lobbying by special interests.
After over thirty years and untold billions you would think that the Department of Energy could pull a copy of a plan like that right out of the files. They might make a few adjustments to reflect the increased domestic reserves of natural gas before publishing it widely for Congress and the public to judge. It should be open and well explained so the public can judge how intelligently their congressmen are addressing the problem. It will be a base case for risk/benefit analysis against which the demands of global CO2 control advocates could be publically judged.
Sadly, this is a fantasy. The intimidation of the media and political system by the climate change alarmists has been so complete that they could politically stop any such plan from being developed. This is another example of just how blundering these institutions are as guardians for the public good. However, climate gate has finally opened the subject for objective analysis and correction. Can we count on either institution to correct the errors of their ways and lead? Sadly again, that is fantasy B.
We must somehow change this situation.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Climategate and Climate Change: We Urgently Need an Energy Plan That is Not Deferential to the Climate Change Agenda
By making solutions to known energy problems submissive to an unattainable global CO2 agenda we have created a terrible misapplication of valuable time and technical resources.
Climategate highlights the lack of engineering and science basics in our private, political, and government leadership that allows glaring errors to happen. It is bad that climate change activists broke rules of science to mislead us. The larger disgrace is that we are just discovering the deception and impracticality of a CO2 control focus after spending billions of dollars and wasting years of valuable time. The various review committees responsible for overview on the program failed us.
In retrospect, giving climate change alarmists the popular lead on energy policy was preordained to fail. The climate change support came from academics in a soft and immature science, advising government and political leaders who were largely attorneys. financial specialists and economists. Add to this a cheering section made up of an undereducated press, Wall Street licking its chops to be brokering carbon credits, and emotionally driven environmentalists. It seems inevitable that such a lineup would come up with an impractical program that lacked good engineering and science.
The country has the technology and innovative spirit right now to support an environmentally sound energy plan. A knowledgeable and objective leadership could at this stage initiate a plan that would return us to world industrial leadership. The engineering, hard science, and willing workers are available. The technologies are at a ready state to be engineered for national application.
Unlike climate change research, energy technology has a backbone of traditional engineering and hard science combined with practical experience. New technology has given us vast reserves of natural gas. We are the world leader in agriculture and biotechnology. The country has the land resources for wind, solar, and biofuels from numerous sources while our biotechnology is increasing both the food and fuel supply. Nuclear electrical technology has been on standby in the US for over 25 years for no legitimate reason.
With these vast resources, why in the world are we not moving forward with a solid energy plan supported by the entire nation? The enemies are internal.
A major reason is the lobbying and public relation efforts by many oil and coal companies who have outdone climate gate with half truths and misleading data. There is also plenty of evidence that Congress is in the control of lobbying by those corporations that are highly vested in the current system, no matter how it harms the nation Finally, we have fallen for the fantasy requirement to control CO2 on an emergency basis.
Where is the knowledgeable and objective national leadership that will sort out the lies and exaggerations that are coming from dishonest sources? We disparately need a community that can put together a level-headed energy package for the nation. A plan that will really be for the common good.
I suggest that the professional engineering and science societies are the only candidates. They must rise to put partisan politics aside. They are qualified and generally free from special interests. The could organize the independent and objective technical guidance the national leadership so desperately needs. An important part of this contribution would be to honestly educate the general public so they could make informed decisions.
Your members have the knowledge. Let them be heard!
Climategate highlights the lack of engineering and science basics in our private, political, and government leadership that allows glaring errors to happen. It is bad that climate change activists broke rules of science to mislead us. The larger disgrace is that we are just discovering the deception and impracticality of a CO2 control focus after spending billions of dollars and wasting years of valuable time. The various review committees responsible for overview on the program failed us.
In retrospect, giving climate change alarmists the popular lead on energy policy was preordained to fail. The climate change support came from academics in a soft and immature science, advising government and political leaders who were largely attorneys. financial specialists and economists. Add to this a cheering section made up of an undereducated press, Wall Street licking its chops to be brokering carbon credits, and emotionally driven environmentalists. It seems inevitable that such a lineup would come up with an impractical program that lacked good engineering and science.
The country has the technology and innovative spirit right now to support an environmentally sound energy plan. A knowledgeable and objective leadership could at this stage initiate a plan that would return us to world industrial leadership. The engineering, hard science, and willing workers are available. The technologies are at a ready state to be engineered for national application.
Unlike climate change research, energy technology has a backbone of traditional engineering and hard science combined with practical experience. New technology has given us vast reserves of natural gas. We are the world leader in agriculture and biotechnology. The country has the land resources for wind, solar, and biofuels from numerous sources while our biotechnology is increasing both the food and fuel supply. Nuclear electrical technology has been on standby in the US for over 25 years for no legitimate reason.
With these vast resources, why in the world are we not moving forward with a solid energy plan supported by the entire nation? The enemies are internal.
A major reason is the lobbying and public relation efforts by many oil and coal companies who have outdone climate gate with half truths and misleading data. There is also plenty of evidence that Congress is in the control of lobbying by those corporations that are highly vested in the current system, no matter how it harms the nation Finally, we have fallen for the fantasy requirement to control CO2 on an emergency basis.
Where is the knowledgeable and objective national leadership that will sort out the lies and exaggerations that are coming from dishonest sources? We disparately need a community that can put together a level-headed energy package for the nation. A plan that will really be for the common good.
I suggest that the professional engineering and science societies are the only candidates. They must rise to put partisan politics aside. They are qualified and generally free from special interests. The could organize the independent and objective technical guidance the national leadership so desperately needs. An important part of this contribution would be to honestly educate the general public so they could make informed decisions.
Your members have the knowledge. Let them be heard!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Climategate: How Much of Climate Change Policy is Fruit from a Poisonous Tree?
Sophisticated Americans Want to Know.
In court, evidence that is derived from prior evidence judged erroneous or inadmissible is itself inadmissible. It is considered “fruit of the poisonous tree”. Our government certainly owes its citizens the respect to apply this same principle of thorough examination of information and decision flows. The current climate change proposals are too costly and life changing to the nation to be based upon any poisonous trees or their fruit. This, of course, applies to both sides of the issue.
It appears that the only solution is to make all information available for review and critique by specialized and qualified private citizens who would volunteer their time as a patriotic responsibility. I would like to see that the following information is available for qualified citizens to examine before any major government initiative:
As revealed by climategate we are far from these standards now.
This objective participation by specialized private citizens would provide an objective technology source to counter the existing decisionmaking methodology of using dueling public relation programs. It would also be one step in the process of the citizens outside of Washington having some disparately needed representation in the Washington government technology monopoly.
Is there a truly non-partisan, objective, privately funded organization that could provide the required administration leadership?
In court, evidence that is derived from prior evidence judged erroneous or inadmissible is itself inadmissible. It is considered “fruit of the poisonous tree”. Our government certainly owes its citizens the respect to apply this same principle of thorough examination of information and decision flows. The current climate change proposals are too costly and life changing to the nation to be based upon any poisonous trees or their fruit. This, of course, applies to both sides of the issue.
It appears that the only solution is to make all information available for review and critique by specialized and qualified private citizens who would volunteer their time as a patriotic responsibility. I would like to see that the following information is available for qualified citizens to examine before any major government initiative:
Details of the underlying data collection system combined with assurance that it was carried out in an objective manner by professionals with no vested interest.
Modification of raw data for analysis is thoroughly documented and available for full examination by other organizations or citizens.
The analysis behind the recommendations is thorough and presented in an orderly manner for critique by citizens and other organizations.
Consequences of the recommended or alternate actions are thoroughly explained and documented
As revealed by climategate we are far from these standards now.
This objective participation by specialized private citizens would provide an objective technology source to counter the existing decisionmaking methodology of using dueling public relation programs. It would also be one step in the process of the citizens outside of Washington having some disparately needed representation in the Washington government technology monopoly.
Is there a truly non-partisan, objective, privately funded organization that could provide the required administration leadership?
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Climategate and Climate Control: Policies Based Upon Unvalidated Computer Models Can Lead to Enormous Misallocation of Resources
The country definitely needs to address its energy problems. We actually have an excess of technology to do that. We can begin serious engineering and construction as soon we develop a levelheaded plan and schedule.
What we don’t have is the practical technology to control carbon dioxide. Nor do we have convincing evidence that it is even necessary. The computer models that provided predictions of future values have done poorly and are certainly not sufficiently validated. The cost to society of trying worldwide carbon dioxide cap and trade control at the current level of knowledge is incalculable.
Because the climate control advocates chose to not provide their raw data, much of which was later destroyed, there has not been the opportunity by skeptics to participate in detailed analysis. Participation by opposing views is normally a part of any event which claims to be science. There is a lot of work required before we have an objective climate control program. Meanwhile critical energy programs await the resolution of climate control issues that may be years away
By making the energy program dependent upon carbon dioxide control we have reversed the priorities. We should go foreword full bore on an energy plan which does not wait for either carbon dioxide or climate control resolution. The energy plan would certainly include environmental fixes where well-founded information is available.
Climate control work should be restarted as objective programs aimed at resolving the list of current unknowns. A validated predictive computer model based upon improved understanding of governing principles should be high priority. All data must be available to all researchers. As objective and validated information is developed it would be integrated into the energy program.
What we don’t have is the practical technology to control carbon dioxide. Nor do we have convincing evidence that it is even necessary. The computer models that provided predictions of future values have done poorly and are certainly not sufficiently validated. The cost to society of trying worldwide carbon dioxide cap and trade control at the current level of knowledge is incalculable.
Because the climate control advocates chose to not provide their raw data, much of which was later destroyed, there has not been the opportunity by skeptics to participate in detailed analysis. Participation by opposing views is normally a part of any event which claims to be science. There is a lot of work required before we have an objective climate control program. Meanwhile critical energy programs await the resolution of climate control issues that may be years away
By making the energy program dependent upon carbon dioxide control we have reversed the priorities. We should go foreword full bore on an energy plan which does not wait for either carbon dioxide or climate control resolution. The energy plan would certainly include environmental fixes where well-founded information is available.
Climate control work should be restarted as objective programs aimed at resolving the list of current unknowns. A validated predictive computer model based upon improved understanding of governing principles should be high priority. All data must be available to all researchers. As objective and validated information is developed it would be integrated into the energy program.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Please Truth, Come Set Us Free
The truth shall set you free. Religion, history and philosophy agree that knowledge of the truth is an important component of enduring freedom. Dictators and oppressive governments rarely have an interest in talking truth to their citizens.
It therefore appears logical to think that a society that values freedom, such as the United States, would be very good at detecting lies and deceptions and strong on the truth. Our forefathers, through our constitution have given us powerful freedom of expression rights that strongly support the pursuit of truth.
Then why is the US awash with such a confusing mess off half-truths, deception and outright lies?
One night, after a particularly painful evening of trying to sort out truth from the cacophony of noise from TV, the internet, politicians and just plain conversation my mind was exhausted. I tried prayer as I went to sleep.
“Please God, we are so confused. Could you intervene and help us know truth?”
To my surprise I had a dream that night with a reply. Not directly from God, but from a spirit who identified himself as the Apostle of Truth. I know that skeptics will attribute this to an overactive imagination or midnight pizza but I choose to take it as a legitimate answer.
It started as a light entered my bedroom and a voice began speaking. After introducing itself the voice offered the reason it could not intervene.
The light slowly dimmed and I was again in a darkened room. I was awake and apprehensive. This was advice that it was reasonable for us to follow. But would we?
It therefore appears logical to think that a society that values freedom, such as the United States, would be very good at detecting lies and deceptions and strong on the truth. Our forefathers, through our constitution have given us powerful freedom of expression rights that strongly support the pursuit of truth.
Then why is the US awash with such a confusing mess off half-truths, deception and outright lies?
One night, after a particularly painful evening of trying to sort out truth from the cacophony of noise from TV, the internet, politicians and just plain conversation my mind was exhausted. I tried prayer as I went to sleep.
“Please God, we are so confused. Could you intervene and help us know truth?”
To my surprise I had a dream that night with a reply. Not directly from God, but from a spirit who identified himself as the Apostle of Truth. I know that skeptics will attribute this to an overactive imagination or midnight pizza but I choose to take it as a legitimate answer.
It started as a light entered my bedroom and a voice began speaking. After introducing itself the voice offered the reason it could not intervene.
“As you know, your universe is special in that it is very complex and tightly balanced. God is reluctant to make changes. I knew he would not allow me to directly intervene for you. I did describe your prayer and he was glad to see you were working hard in the right direction. He also gave me permission to pass on to you the explanation he had given me a long time ago
About one million years ago God decided to give man the very precious gift of creative thinking. After a short time I noted that your species (humans) were abusing the gift. You were overwhelming my presence with your own imagined fabrications. God said that the gift of creative thought was absolutely essential to reach the high goals he had set for your species. Under no conditions would he limit this power. He had provided balance, however, by adding higher cerebral functions to your brain. With this power you can search the universe for information and apply reasoning that allows you to identify the actual truth over imagined events. These processes had only been in place for a short time. Natural selection would eventually strike a balance between the two competing processes and those based on truth would surely do well.
So God has given you the tools you need to win. Diligently use your cerebral processes to seek out the truth. Win your debates by truthful statements in which you can have confidence, not lies. You must put great effort into it if you are to be really free.
The United States is a great favorite for those of us who have been watching you from this side of the black hole. Although we have been a little disappointed in you recently, we think that you will eventually replace the people and their values that have weakened you. You will once again be great. Even though you have many friends here, however, you must do it yourselves.
Good luck. We will be following you with hopefulness.”
The light slowly dimmed and I was again in a darkened room. I was awake and apprehensive. This was advice that it was reasonable for us to follow. But would we?
Friday, November 06, 2009
Citizens Need Proof that the Cozy Big Finance /Government Relationship is Over
It has been 16 months since we posted on the silliness of the media continually placing high net worth New Yorkers in front of cameras to be asked if they thought the country was in a recession. We pointed out that if they had talked to a reasonable distribution of small businessmen around the country it would have been obvious we were in a very painful one.
Since that time not only have the lost jobs and personal financial nightmares increased but we now realize the magnitude of betrayal we have suffered from the financial sector, the government, and our elected officials.
We have the sick feeling of being completely hoodwinked by both our private and public institutions. Most people now realize that in the dealings of these entities there was no concern for the United States or its citizens. The common good was simply not a consideration. This realization has triggered a great wave of discouragement toward the entire American system. This feeling is independent of the politics of the citizen. The vast majority of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents feel that the entire system is owned by the special interests and Washington insiders through their control of the Government.
Go to almost any gathering of what used to be the middle class and you will find that there is universal anger and even hatred toward the following entities:
· The financial institutions that wasted trillions that could have been used productively for our country
· The banks that won’t risk lending to small businesses but want to pay high bonuses to executives.
· The elected government that passed laws that protected these disastrous actions.
· The lobbyists and special interests that influenced and really bought the elected government
· The lying financial rating agencies
The disheartened American is sick of blowhard politicians seeking to gain by the situation. The citizens desperately need to see real evidence that the country will at some time be run for the common good. The strength of these feeling is not fully understood in the Washington and New York power centers. If not fixed the country will face major changes.
The citizens require a strong program that will absolutely guarantee that the psychology and ethics that led to the betrayal is completely disgraced and placed outside the American system forever. It is critical that those in the entities who were responsible for the meltdown are publically identified and punished. There must be significant retribution with large sums recovered for the people who innocently suffered. The public consequences to those that caused the situation must be adequate to prevent any thoughts of ever returning to similar behavior.
If the public were to see these events embedded into prompt institutional action it would demonstrate that the cozy relationship between the perpetuators and congress has ended and patriotic faith in the system might return.
Can this be done with the current elected government on whose watch many of the events occurred?
Both the House and Senate are circulating draft bills that are supposed to re-regulate the financial sectors so that the disasters will not be repeated. If normal history is repeated, however,they will be passed after usual lobbying oftains built in loopholes
In May of 2009 Congress formed the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC). It was given broad authority to determine exactly what happened to create the disaster(s) and to identify any incidents of law breaking they discovery. It has subpoena power. There is even a direction to compare salaries in the financial sector to those of equal responsibility in other sectors. Six members were appointed by Democrats and four by Republicans. The commission is to submit a final report to Congress in December 2010-safely after the 2010 elections.
The commission had its first public appearance on September 17. The introduction of members and their introductory remarks are described here. As would be expected, they are almost entirely insiders. Congress prided itself on the ground rule that only private citizens could be members-no one connected with the government would be on the commission. It turns out that although none have current government positions almost all have had deep earlier government connections. The commission is largely split between former Clinton and Bush appointees, with one former senator. There is no representation from the damaged citizens.
Reasonable results will take a lot of citizen intervention.
Since that time not only have the lost jobs and personal financial nightmares increased but we now realize the magnitude of betrayal we have suffered from the financial sector, the government, and our elected officials.
We have the sick feeling of being completely hoodwinked by both our private and public institutions. Most people now realize that in the dealings of these entities there was no concern for the United States or its citizens. The common good was simply not a consideration. This realization has triggered a great wave of discouragement toward the entire American system. This feeling is independent of the politics of the citizen. The vast majority of Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and Independents feel that the entire system is owned by the special interests and Washington insiders through their control of the Government.
Go to almost any gathering of what used to be the middle class and you will find that there is universal anger and even hatred toward the following entities:
· The financial institutions that wasted trillions that could have been used productively for our country
· The banks that won’t risk lending to small businesses but want to pay high bonuses to executives.
· The elected government that passed laws that protected these disastrous actions.
· The lobbyists and special interests that influenced and really bought the elected government
· The lying financial rating agencies
The disheartened American is sick of blowhard politicians seeking to gain by the situation. The citizens desperately need to see real evidence that the country will at some time be run for the common good. The strength of these feeling is not fully understood in the Washington and New York power centers. If not fixed the country will face major changes.
The citizens require a strong program that will absolutely guarantee that the psychology and ethics that led to the betrayal is completely disgraced and placed outside the American system forever. It is critical that those in the entities who were responsible for the meltdown are publically identified and punished. There must be significant retribution with large sums recovered for the people who innocently suffered. The public consequences to those that caused the situation must be adequate to prevent any thoughts of ever returning to similar behavior.
If the public were to see these events embedded into prompt institutional action it would demonstrate that the cozy relationship between the perpetuators and congress has ended and patriotic faith in the system might return.
Can this be done with the current elected government on whose watch many of the events occurred?
Both the House and Senate are circulating draft bills that are supposed to re-regulate the financial sectors so that the disasters will not be repeated. If normal history is repeated, however,they will be passed after usual lobbying oftains built in loopholes
In May of 2009 Congress formed the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission (FCIC). It was given broad authority to determine exactly what happened to create the disaster(s) and to identify any incidents of law breaking they discovery. It has subpoena power. There is even a direction to compare salaries in the financial sector to those of equal responsibility in other sectors. Six members were appointed by Democrats and four by Republicans. The commission is to submit a final report to Congress in December 2010-safely after the 2010 elections.
The commission had its first public appearance on September 17. The introduction of members and their introductory remarks are described here. As would be expected, they are almost entirely insiders. Congress prided itself on the ground rule that only private citizens could be members-no one connected with the government would be on the commission. It turns out that although none have current government positions almost all have had deep earlier government connections. The commission is largely split between former Clinton and Bush appointees, with one former senator. There is no representation from the damaged citizens.
Reasonable results will take a lot of citizen intervention.
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Teddy Roosevelt’s Advice, Our Energy Disaster, and Parallel Universes
When asked the basic rule behind accomplishing an important task Teddy Roosevelt gave the following advice.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
If only we had applied this advice in the early nineteen eighties, when the clouds of the forthcoming energy disaster first gathered. Can you imagine how it would have changed history if we had not placed the responsibility of our energy future into the hands of the oil companies? However, bad decisions that do not consider the future almost always lead to serious consequences. In this case, the United States is now suffering the consequences in spades.
The possibility of parallel universes is under consideration by many scientists. If so, perhaps there is a universe where we did push forward with an aggressive energy program and a mind to the future. The people living in that universe now enjoy a balanced energy program where there are multiple biotech and petroleum derived blends of fuels available. The transportation vehicles can run on any blend so the fuels are all competing with each other in a free market. The infrastructure to support this flexibility has long been in place. The disaster of a single fuel type and a few large companies completely controlling the market and prices ended years ago. The mergers that led to a few very large companies dedicated only to petroleum fuels never occurred. OPEC must now work very hard to sell their products in competition with the other sources of fuels.
The crippling transfer of dollars from the US economy to unfriendly companies also never happened. The United States, as a leader in biotechnology and agriculture, is enjoying a boom period that could not be imagined in 1981.
Unfortunately, we do not have a way of moving into that parallel universe at this time. However, let us apply Teddy Roosevelt’s advice right now and maybe 25 years from now we can pull alongside.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
If only we had applied this advice in the early nineteen eighties, when the clouds of the forthcoming energy disaster first gathered. Can you imagine how it would have changed history if we had not placed the responsibility of our energy future into the hands of the oil companies? However, bad decisions that do not consider the future almost always lead to serious consequences. In this case, the United States is now suffering the consequences in spades.
The possibility of parallel universes is under consideration by many scientists. If so, perhaps there is a universe where we did push forward with an aggressive energy program and a mind to the future. The people living in that universe now enjoy a balanced energy program where there are multiple biotech and petroleum derived blends of fuels available. The transportation vehicles can run on any blend so the fuels are all competing with each other in a free market. The infrastructure to support this flexibility has long been in place. The disaster of a single fuel type and a few large companies completely controlling the market and prices ended years ago. The mergers that led to a few very large companies dedicated only to petroleum fuels never occurred. OPEC must now work very hard to sell their products in competition with the other sources of fuels.
The crippling transfer of dollars from the US economy to unfriendly companies also never happened. The United States, as a leader in biotechnology and agriculture, is enjoying a boom period that could not be imagined in 1981.
Unfortunately, we do not have a way of moving into that parallel universe at this time. However, let us apply Teddy Roosevelt’s advice right now and maybe 25 years from now we can pull alongside.
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