National Security

When the primaries are over and the two major parties have their candidates, John McCain will attempt to focus the debate on the topic of national security, a subject that he feels more comfortable with than economic policy. Hillary Clinton has already given us a taste of the fear mongering ads that he might produce with her 3 AM Ad. I might have expected it from McCain, but I was really disappointed to see Hillary stoop to this level. Anyone who has knowledge of how our government operates in a crisis situation knows that the president does not make national security decisions in a vacuum. The first thing that would happen if the president received such a call would be an emergency meeting of the National Security Council. One might hope that in a crisis the president would use the wealth of information and suggested responses offered by the members of the NSC to analyze the situation. An appropriate response to the crisis would depend on the quality of the advisors the president chose and his or her ability to exercise judgment based on their assessment of the situation from various perspectives. Certainly one would hope that the president would not make a hasty decision based on personal knowledge and experience alone.

In making his case that he is the best prepared in the national security department, McCain will undoubtedly tout his military background and experience. But in looking back in history, the presidents who commanded our troops during the times of greatest conflict had little to no military experience. Woodrow Wilson, president during WWI and Franklin Roosevelt, president during WWII had no military experience at all. Abraham Lincoln was a captain in the Blackhawk War, but that certainly did not prepare him for the Civil War. Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon were all in WWII, but that did not stop them from blundering into a failed war in Vietnam. Kennedy’s war experience did not prevent him from a poor decision in the Bay of Pigs invasion.

A nation is most secure when wars are prevented through appropriate diplomacy, strategic alliances, and industrial, economic and military strength. Right now, our nation is probably about as insecure as it has ever been in its history.

We are involved in two wars that seem to have no end in sight. The enemy is not a military force that can be conquered and subdued. There is no military objective, territory to be taken, government to be toppled. Terrorists are criminals-murders, sometimes insane or antisocial individuals and sometimes murderous gangs. Although they use a particular altered ideology for recruitment, identifying them with a particular religious belief is giving them more legitimacy than they deserve. Police action supported by the population being preyed upon is the appropriate intervention, not military occupation by a foreign army. Unless the overwhelming majority of the population of Afghanistan and Iraq support their governments’ in controlling terrorist gangs, there is no end to this conflict. Our military is stretched to the breaking point acting as a police force fighting terrorists without the support of the population and in some cases the government they are trying to defend.

The United States is economically vulnerable. We owe money to our enemies, we have let our industrial base decline, and we depend on foreign nations that are not democratic or are even openly hostile to our political and economic system for the energy we need to function as a society. If we had to defend ourselves, we would not have the ability to independently equip our troops with the basic necessities. In a world conflict, we would not have the fuel needed to transport our troops and supplies, and operate our advanced military equipment.

Our relationship with our allies has deteriorated, and our influence on the diplomatic front has taken a dramatic hit as a consequence of the invasion of Iraq and the Bush administration’s reliance on threats and intimidation instead of working with other nations to find solutions to world conflicts. The idea that the United States was the lone “super power” after the fall of the Soviet Union seems to have left us with a superiority complex that is less than attractive to the rest of the world community.

So, in picking a president to bolster our national security, I am not looking for a military leader, and certainly not someone who supported the decisions and policies of the current administration. I want a leader who is better at preventing wars than deciding how to fight them; who has a plan to rebuild our military to discourage attacks, not make it into an Iraqi police force for the next hundred years. We need a president who has a plan to strengthen our economy and bring back the industrial capacity that allowed us to be the “arsenal of democracy” during the two world wars. We need a leader who will challenge us to marshal our resources and our technological creativity to solve our energy problems. Finally, we need a president who can work with the leaders of other nations to solve our shared problems and create a force for freedom that is formidable and united enough to discourage others from waging attacks against us.

If all else fails, and that call comes to the White House at 3 AM; I want a president who is humble enough to seek the counsel of the best minds available and ensure the support of our allies before taking action. I want a president who will consider the options, the possible consequences, and plan accordingly. President Bush and his advisors dropped the ball when it came to analyzing the options and possible consequences regarding Iraq, and the members of Congress that voted him the power to invade failed us. Certainly there were many experienced military and political leaders making this decision, from the Bush advisors to the Congress. What was lacking was the ability to correctly analyze the situation, and exercise good judgment. Senators Clinton and McCain both voted to “authorize the use of United States Armed Forces against Iraq.”

In contrast, here is Barack Obama’s assessment of the situation. I’ll take his judgment over McCain and Clinton’s experience.

….“That’s what I’m opposed to. A dumb war. A rash war. A war based not on reason but on passion, not on principle but on politics.

Now let me be clear: I suffer no illusions about Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal man. A ruthless man. A man who butchers his own people to secure his own power. He has repeatedly defied UN resolutions, thwarted UN inspection teams, developed chemical and biological weapons, and coveted nuclear capacity. He’s a bad guy. The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him.

But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history.

I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a US occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.

I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the middle east, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of Al Queda.

I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars.

So for those of us who seek a more just and secure world for our children, let us send a clear message to the president today.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s finish the fight with Bin Laden and Al Queda, thru effective, coordinated intelligence, and a shutting down of the financial networks that support terrorism, and a homeland security program that involves more than color-coded warnings.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to make sure that the UN inspectors can do their work, and that we vigorously enforce a non-proliferation treaty, and that former enemies and current allies like Russia safeguard and ultimately eliminate their stores of nuclear material, and that nations like Pakistan and India never use the terrible weapons in already in their possession, and that the arms merchants in our own country stop feeding the countless wars that rage across the globe.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to make sure our so-called allies in the Middle East, the Saudis and the Egyptians, stop oppressing their own people, and suppressing dissent, and tolerating corruption and inequality, and mismanaging their economies so that their youth grow up without education, without prospects, without hope, the ready recruits of terrorist cells.

You want a fight, President Bush? Let’s fight to wean ourselves off Middle East oil, through an energy policy that doesn't simply serve the interests of Exxon and Mobil.” …

Barack Obama Speech October, 2002

Monopoly

When I was a child, cold winter Saturdays like this one were often spent in the tower of a Victorian mansion that had been made into four apartments. My best friend’s family lived in the apartment on the top floor that used to be the attic of the mansion. My family lived in the duplex in the ally behind the apartments, where the stable for the mansion once stood. The kids in our neighborhood spent their 10 - 25 cent weekly allowance on coke, pretzel sticks, and penny candy. Then we settled in around a big table and enjoyed this game of high finance that was developed during the great depression. The game ended hours later when one of us had accumulated most of the property and wealth and someone else went bankrupt paying the rent required for landing on the other’s property full of hotels.

The game was developed during the great depression, when the country reaped the result of years of over extended credit, unbridled greed, and the consolidation of wealth. So it seemed fitting that I was playing Monopoly in a made over Victorian mansion, though I had no clue about the history of either as I munched on my pretzels and drank my Coke.

The Gilded Age and the Jazz Age that preceded the worst economic depression in history were periods of unprecedented corporate growth. An increasingly smaller percentage of the population controlled not only business, but through their wealth also influenced the political process to their advantage. These were times when the gap in the distribution of wealth between workers and those who owned the means of production increased dramatically. This was also the age of the muckrakers and the trust buster, Teddy Roosevelt. There are many similarities between this period of history and our own. Is John McCain a Teddy Roosevelt Republican hiding in a Reagan costume? Check out my guest column on the Cosmic Message web site?

Half-truths, Lies, and Exaggerations

Diogenes, the Greek philosopher alleged to have walked around with his lamp looking for an honest man, is a pitiful image. But even more to be pitied is any American voter looking for a crumb of truth in the campaign ads and debates of this presidential election. If you haven’t visited The Annenberg Political Fact Check in search of the truth, you should grab your lamp and click the link.

The most unfortunate thing about the half-truths, lies and exaggerations that blare forth from our televisions and radios, find their way our mailboxes, and flow around the Internet in our e-mails is that they work. They appeal to our desire for simplicity and our impatience with the difficult task of trying to understand complex problems that require complex solutions. We have no patience for a candidate who will try to explain the complicated details involved in fixing our health care system or working with other governments to resolve issues like terrorism, global warming, arms reduction, etc.

Even if we had the patience, it is difficult to find media access to the truth. There are some exceptions, but they are hidden away in the deep recesses of the Internet, on the shelves of libraries, or in scholarly journals that almost no one reads. There is even some truth to be found in the halls of Congress during the committee hearings, and once in a great while, the mass media presents a truly good documentary or scholarly discussion.

I have already given up looking for honest politicians during an election year, but I still hope that once they get elected they will stop campaigning and put aside the cute little digs they make at each other. I hope they will do the job we are electing them to do, to understand the complex problems that confront us and use their common talents to solve them. That is what the founding fathers did so long ago in that sweltering room in Philadelphia when the fate of our nation rested in their ability to craft a government even though they were divided on many issues. They had the humility to admit that their efforts were not perfect, but they gave it their best and made provision for it to grow with our nation and our understanding.

So, in voting this year, I have put aside my search for honesty. I will put up with all the silly campaign stuff; I just won’t let it influence my vote. I’ll take my lamp to the candidates’ web sites and look for plans that are detailed. I’ll listen for a hint of humility when they give their speeches. I’ll ask myself if this candidate has the ability to compromise when compromise is necessary for the greater good. I’ll listen for vision because without vision we are bereft of goals, and without goals there is no progress. I’ll do my best to vote intelligently, but they sure don’t make it easy.

John Boccieri for Ohio's 16th District

I practically grew up being represented by Ralph Regula. He was my state senator and later my Congressional representative when I lived in Canton. Imagine my surprise when many years later he once again became my representative after redistricting placed Medina County in the 16th District. Ralph Regula has represented Ohio well during his 36 years, 18 terms in Congress. I haven’t always agreed with his position on the issues, but I do have tremendous respect for his service to our state and our nation. I am particularly grateful for his support for education. The Stark County Branch of Kent State University made it possible for me to graduate from college.

After this term of office, Congressman Regula will retire. In this age of divisive politics and political scandals, one may wonder if there is a candidate who can represent the people of the 16th District with the integrity and dedication that Ralph Regula has demonstrated throughout his career in public service.

Fortunately, I had the opportunity to meet candidate, John Boccieri at the Medina County Democratic Rally on February 2nd, and I was truly impressed! John has already demonstrated his dedication to this country and the people of our state by serving 11 years in the military including 4 rotations in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. He has had legislative experience in the Ohio Assembly, currently serving as Senator for the 33rd District and previously serving as a state representative. His education is also everything you might ask for in a Congressional Representative, a bachelor’s degree in economics and master’s degrees in public administration and business. But it wasn’t only his resume that impressed me; it was his ability to connect with people and his passion for fixing the problems that we face.

It is time to pass the torch of leadership to a new generation. The people of Ohio’s 16th District are fortunate that John is stepping up. On his website, there is the promise to, " bring a common-sense approach to crafting legislation and policies, making sure that working families in the 16th District – and across the country – see the benefits of decisions made on Capitol Hill. " For those of us hoping to change the way our Congress has been doing business, electing John Boccieri to be our representative is a great place to start the reformation. Check out his website.

Hope Renewed by the Democratic Debate

I have to admit I've grown pretty pessimistic during the Bush presidency. I didn't start out that way. I was actually ready to give him a chance when he won (?) the election. I mean, how bad could it get? Even Republicans love this country, don't they? What has happened in American politics during this president's administration was beyond my worst nightmare, and I can conjure up some pretty nasty dreams when I am in a pessimistic mood.

Nothing in this presidential primary gave me cause to change my mood until last night's Democratic debate. Unlike their front running Republican counterparts, both Obama and Clinton handled themselves with the class I expect from someone who is campaigning to be our president. For more of my view of the debate and to join the discussion, visit the Cosmic Message. The debate didn't exactly make an optimist out of me, but I did find some hope.

Letter to Congress

I have to say I am angry enough to spit bullets, so I sent this letter to my Congressional representatives, Senator Sherrod Brown, Senator George Voinovich, and Congressman 16th District, Ralph Regula. I hope that they will share my opinion with the rest of their colleagues. If any of this hits home for you, feel free to cut and paste as you see fit and send it off to your Congressional representatives.

Dear Congressional Representative:
I have been closely watching the economy for a long time. It was easy to predict the present "crisis" as American families borrowed at high rates of interest on credit cards when they couldn't afford to do so. When they got into trouble on credit cards, the Fed lowered the rate of interest so they could double mortgage or use home equity loans to pay off credit card debts. The banks and financial institutions could not make their high rates of interest on traditional loans, so they made the risky sub-prime loans and jacked up the credit card rates on those who were already in financial trouble.

It is strange that the Congress now wants to "do something" about the economic crisis. People in Ohio have been losing their decent jobs for years. Credit card companies have been robbing us of what little money we have each month. We are as much tied to the credit card companies as the coal miners were tied to the company stores. What did Congress do about it? It changed the bankruptcy laws so it is harder to get free of the debt this government has encouraged consumers to shoulder and encouraged people to hock the house to pay off the credit cards. Our elderly are getting reverse mortgages to pay for health care and living expenses.

In the meantime, Congress went on an Iraq spending spree with billions that cannot be accounted for, and all we hear is that entitlements are breaking the budget. We are told that health care for everyone would break the budget, but federal and state funds are already paying the cost for those who are at highest risk among us, the elderly, disabled, and poor. Meanwhile the private insurance companies refuse to insure people with preexisting conditions and charge employers and the self-employed outrageous rates. Insurance companies have increased profits and higher salaries for their CEOs while the tax payer picks up the tab for the uninsured and those at highest risk. When a crisis does occur like hurricane Katrina, insurance companies refuse to pay their subscribers, leaving the government to give aid to the people who have been hurt.

Ah! But now the stock market is hitting the skids. Now there is a REAL economic crisis for Congress to worry about. What will we do?! The answer, of course, is for the government to spend billions of dollars they borrow from China, some Middle Eastern oil rich leader or our Social Security fund to goad the American consumer to resume spending. It is interesting that Congress has no money to help Americans who have no health care, have lost their jobs to China, owe their homes and their lives to credit companies and banks, but they have 160 billion to spend to prop up the stock market and the financial institutions that have been gouging us.

Here is what I have to say to this Congress and I hope you will say it for me. Keep your refund! You weren't there when the credit card companies and banks were enslaving me. You weren't there when my health cost were doubling. You weren't there when the good jobs in Ohio went to China, India and Vietnam. So don't be there for the bankers, CEO's, mortgage companies, day traders and house flippers. I might suffer a bit, but I know how to do with less. Lower and middle income people in Ohio have had a lot of practice.

Do you want to pass some legislation?! How about regulating the financial institutions, stock market, and insurance companies? How about changing our trade agreements to protect American workers? How about ending the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy, so that we can fund the war this Congress voted to get us into? Maybe you could stimulate the economy by fixing our bridges so they won’t fall and our levies to protect our homes. Maybe you could put some Americans to work fixing our broken infrastructure, policing our streets to make our neighborhoods safe, or fixing our schools.

Yours truly,
Angry Constituent

Joining CRAM

Discontinuous Permafrost has started a great movement called CRAM and I am joining the movement today. It is time American consumers began to fight back against corporate abuse and this seems like a great way to do it. If you want to join, just start putting all those credit card applications back in the prepaid envelops with the words please recycle scrawled across the application or better yet, send them back shredded with a note to recycle the contents.

While we are on the topic of corporate greed...
Is anyone else upset by the politicians attempts to solve our economic crisis by sending us back a penitence of our own money so that we can spend it to prop up the stock market?

Seems strange to me that universal health care is seen as prohibitively expensive when the cost is estimated to be $110 billion a year, but candidates from both parties seem ready spend $50 billion to $150 billion for a tax stimulus package that they hope Americans will spend to prop up corporate profits and the stock market. Americans have been losing their jobs, their homes and their financial stability for a long time, but what gets the attention of Congress? The stock market is going down and the financial institutions are losing their shirts on the bad loans they made to the financially overextended American consumers. Except for Ron Paul, none of the candidates seem to be losing sleep over where the money will come from to pay for the stimulus.

It is time for the politicians to start telling the truth about our economic situation. This nation cannot survive as the major consumer of products that are produced elsewhere. We cannot continue to borrow away our future to prop up our overindulgence today. This is a time of reckoning. It isn't the first time this has happened. It happened once before when everyone was trying to get rich quick by speculating in land and stocks. People were enticed by advertisements to buy the latest technological gadgets today and pay for them tomorrow and credit was easy to get. The only difference was that it was washing machines, radios and automobiles then and it is iPods, cell phones, and Nintendo's today. We are in a recession and we could end up in a depression if the politicians continue to stick jacks under the crumbling foundation instead of addressing the true problems with this economy.

Happy New Year!

What a joy to welcome in 2008 with my husband, brother and sister-in-law at the First Night Akron celebration! Even though this event has been going on every New Year's Eve for the past twelve years, this was my first time attending it, but it will not be my last.

After a great dinner at the Otani Japanese Restaurant in the Merriman valley, we went downtown to explore a virtual smorgasbord of entertainment, all for the cost of our $10 button; even the parking and bus ride around town was included. My personal favorite was the Magical Theatre Company’s presentation of Bunnicula at the Akron Library. The comments of the little 3 or 4 year old sitting behind me during the play were as entertaining as the performance. There was certainly something for everyone from toddler to senior citizen at this celebration. My husband’s favorite was the harmony of the Akron Derbytown Barbershop Chorus at St. Bernard Church, and we all enjoyed the great rhythms of the University of Akron’s Steel Drum band.

We kept warm jumping around to the beat of “Cats on Holiday” as the New Year approached and welcomed in 2008 with a bang, blaze of colors, and the rockin’ sound of music from Akron’s WKDD radio. I had a great New Year’s Eve and didn’t even touch a drop of alcohol. It was enough of a high to celebrate with our community and look through the free 3D glasses at the kaleidoscope of color that emanated from the fireworks. I never realized that you could get such a psychedelic effect that way. If you have never attended First Night Akron, you might want to give it a try next year. I plan to make it an annual event.

Now that the holiday is over, I am resolving to be more organized and stay in shape. I make these resolutions at the start of every year, but I never keep them to my satisfaction. I also am making a new commitment to citizenship this year. I've posted my political resolutions on the Cosmic Message Blog.

Happy 2008 to all!