The new problems with the young Congressman who is the son of Edward Kennedy are a new sign of the tarnished armor of Camelot. While this family has been tarred with scandals involving drinking, sex, mental illness, drugs, even rape and murder, it is also a sign that America is still ruled by some political family dynasties similar to England.
The U.S. never really totally broke with the monarchy traditions of England during the war of independence. Instead of having a king or queen, the U.S. has political family dynasties. And even the National Anthem of the U.S. is merely the British anthem, "God Save The Queen", sung with American words and lyrics.
But the problems that plague Camelot are no different than other political families. The Bush political dynasty has been tarnished by the political failure of both father and son. And the son survived a turbulent young adulthood of alcohol and drugs, and questions about his military service, only to be narrowly made president in a questionable election, but only to have his presidency ruined by starting a new Vietnam War in Iraq.
The Clinton dynasty is limited by less children in the family for a large future rule, but both the father and mother are powerful leaders with a real following, but also real political liabilities. The sex scandal of Bill Clinton casts a long shadow over the future of his wife, Hillary to rule after 2008. The Clintons have nearly as many that adore them as don't.
As much as Americans want to believe that their government is their own design, as though they themselves developed the concept of democracy, as though it's early history in Greek history did not really exist, or that England's impression of monarchy did not impact rule in America, nonetheless the U.S. is ruled by a national ruling class. C. Wright Mills and Sociologist, G. William Donhoff, both asserted something similar in the premise of the classic, THE POWER ELITE, and the later, WHO RULES AMERICA?
But with so much tragedy and well as scandal in the national ruling class families, it seems as though there is a "pox" on all their houses. Even Shakespeare would have been hard pressed to write a much better tragedy as the one that has fallen on the house of Kennedy for example. It seems as if the fictional Capulet and Montague families of Verona seem to have inspired the real lives of the Washington familes of Kennedy, Clinton and Bush, with so much advantage coupled with so much heartache, failure or tragedy.
In a Mel Brooks comedy, the line that "It's good to be the king" is used. But the real life truimphs as well as tragedy in the houses of Kennedy, Clinton and Bush prove that this is not always the case.
Sabtu, 06 Mei 2006
Jumat, 05 Mei 2006
Oregon Governor Race Turns Strange And Stranger
Only days before the Oregon primary on May 16, the two major Republican candidates are increasingly involved in a silly ad war. A particularly desperate independent ad run by a 527 committee that most benefits candidate Ron Saxton that is paid for by the Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde as an organization known as Oregonians Against Off-Reservation Casinos which claims that Kevin Mannix supports putting 2,000 slot machines closer to Portland. Yet the attack ads run by the 527 organization never mention that the Confederated Tribes Of Grande Ronde run the Spirit Mountain Casino and are merely afraid that competition from the Confederated Tribes Of Warm Springs that would put a casino closer to Portland would cut the millions in gambling revenues they reap. The Confederated Tribes Of Grand Ronde are also fighting a proposed $515 million dollar Washington state casino that is expected to gross around $200 million dollars a year.
The 527 attack ad also claims that Kevin Mannix supports a sales tax as well as other tax increases, but fails to mention that these are old positions when Mannix was a Democrat prior to the year 2000.
Mannix seems to be responding with both official and independent ads, some paid for by archconservative sexual excitement electronic measurement equipment guru, Loren Parks. According to a local newspaper, (Willamette Week feature, "Dirty Old (Money)Man" 5/15/2002) Parks has been sued for attempting to sexually pressure a female co-worker before, and that is hardly the family values image that many of the right wing supporters of Kevin Mannix would normally support.
One Mannix ad looks like it was designed by schoolchildren. It features an almost SOUTH PARK type appearance cartoonish Ron Saxton and attempts to tie him to Steve Goldschmidt, bother of disgraced former Governor of Oregon, Neil Goldschmidt. The former Governor was involved in a sex scandal with a young teenage child while Mayor of Portland, and the Mannix campaign figures that tarring Saxton with all of this while avoiding the question of Loren Parks lurking in the background.
And the Mannix ad attacks Saxton for a contribution to the Clinton campaign a few years back. But many businesses hedge their bets by contributing to both major candidates so they can lobby with more clout later if they need to. The Mannix campaign never mentions that he was a former George McGovern delegate to the 1972 Democratic Convention and supported the antiwar candidate for President during the Nixon years. Mannix was a Democrat for most of his legislative career and only switched parties after repeated failures for one statewide office after another. As a Republican he has also failed again and again.
Officially the Saxton campaign has reported about $202,000 dollars to spend. But also heavily benefits from more than $408,000 that the independent run ads from the Grand Ronde Tribes. Mannix has officially about $76,000 to spend. But as much as $186,000 in independent 527 money mainly from Loren Parks may be available to spend. Both Republican challengers run well behind either Governor Ted Kulongoski or Jim Hill according to some polls. However it is not a sure thing that Governor Kulongoski will win the primary as Jim Hill, who could become Oregon's first Black Governor, has heavily benefitted from Grand Ronde attack ads as well. Oregon has had few two term Democratic Governors no matter how well they have tried to do their best. A Jim Hill upset of Kulongoski is a real possibility. But otherwise a Kulongoski and Saxton race is more likely. Mannix is simply too played out for many and has lost too many times, and his latest desperate ads give Republican voters little to vote for. And while Saxton seems to be running more to the right for the primary, it is generally moderates like Mark Hatfield or Bob Packwood that won statewide offices before. If Saxton can recapture that his chances will improve in the November matchup with Kulongoski or Hill.
This Oregon governor's race in 2006 has been particularly strange so far this year with more weird events likely to unfold before the year is over.
The 527 attack ad also claims that Kevin Mannix supports a sales tax as well as other tax increases, but fails to mention that these are old positions when Mannix was a Democrat prior to the year 2000.
Mannix seems to be responding with both official and independent ads, some paid for by archconservative sexual excitement electronic measurement equipment guru, Loren Parks. According to a local newspaper, (Willamette Week feature, "Dirty Old (Money)Man" 5/15/2002) Parks has been sued for attempting to sexually pressure a female co-worker before, and that is hardly the family values image that many of the right wing supporters of Kevin Mannix would normally support.
One Mannix ad looks like it was designed by schoolchildren. It features an almost SOUTH PARK type appearance cartoonish Ron Saxton and attempts to tie him to Steve Goldschmidt, bother of disgraced former Governor of Oregon, Neil Goldschmidt. The former Governor was involved in a sex scandal with a young teenage child while Mayor of Portland, and the Mannix campaign figures that tarring Saxton with all of this while avoiding the question of Loren Parks lurking in the background.
And the Mannix ad attacks Saxton for a contribution to the Clinton campaign a few years back. But many businesses hedge their bets by contributing to both major candidates so they can lobby with more clout later if they need to. The Mannix campaign never mentions that he was a former George McGovern delegate to the 1972 Democratic Convention and supported the antiwar candidate for President during the Nixon years. Mannix was a Democrat for most of his legislative career and only switched parties after repeated failures for one statewide office after another. As a Republican he has also failed again and again.
Officially the Saxton campaign has reported about $202,000 dollars to spend. But also heavily benefits from more than $408,000 that the independent run ads from the Grand Ronde Tribes. Mannix has officially about $76,000 to spend. But as much as $186,000 in independent 527 money mainly from Loren Parks may be available to spend. Both Republican challengers run well behind either Governor Ted Kulongoski or Jim Hill according to some polls. However it is not a sure thing that Governor Kulongoski will win the primary as Jim Hill, who could become Oregon's first Black Governor, has heavily benefitted from Grand Ronde attack ads as well. Oregon has had few two term Democratic Governors no matter how well they have tried to do their best. A Jim Hill upset of Kulongoski is a real possibility. But otherwise a Kulongoski and Saxton race is more likely. Mannix is simply too played out for many and has lost too many times, and his latest desperate ads give Republican voters little to vote for. And while Saxton seems to be running more to the right for the primary, it is generally moderates like Mark Hatfield or Bob Packwood that won statewide offices before. If Saxton can recapture that his chances will improve in the November matchup with Kulongoski or Hill.
This Oregon governor's race in 2006 has been particularly strange so far this year with more weird events likely to unfold before the year is over.
Military Intelligence PSYOP Operations In Iraq Cost $24 Million A Year
When they write the history books about how the war in Iraq was lost, they'll need to include a chapter on the role of military intelligence PSYOP operations. These cost $24 million a year and strangely seem to find a willing partner in the MSM to carry their message to the domestic U.S. audience.
Interestingly Army General George W. Casey describes the U.S. home audience as one of the major targets of these PSYOP operations. Part of the military intelligence effort is the selling of the war to the American public.
A good example is a new "outtakes" tape of Iraqi Al Qaeda leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who didn't seem to know how to operate his semiautomatic weapon in his latest propaganda video as well was wearing some Chinese made, American brand tennis shoes. The role of the military intelligence releasing this video to news outlets has little to do with the war other than to attempt to reinforce some sort of military image that the Iraq War had a great deal to do with the War On Terrorism.
The problems is that the Al Qaeda organization in Iraq probably involves no more than 1,000 fighters, only about 500 of whom are probably foreign fighters. They are not even the major portion of the insurgent forces causing violence in Iraq. There are perhaps as many as 15,000 more Sunni fighters, mainly Baathists and thousands more Shia militia groups such as the Badr and Wolf Brigades who are even members of the new Iraqi government and hold provincial governorships as well. Even some radical clerics such as Sadr have their own militia as well. These militia groups are likely responsible for the bulk of violence against Sunni citizens, and the Sunni fighters are most likely for the bulk of the violence against Shiites. This has led to 100,000 citizens living in refugee camps within the last few weeks.
The military intelligence PSYOP operations have managed to create some tribal Sunni fighter violence against Al Qaeda, most notably in the Anbar province, thanks to extensive leaflet and radio propaganda coming from military intelligence sources. But it seems like a major role of military intelligence is to largely play down the overwelming source of local and homegrown violence in Iraq, and instead play up the saging support for the war by using whatever Al Qaeda link to violence that military intelligence that can be found.
The more that the Al Qaeda link is played up in Iraq, then it quiets down critical U.S. public sentiment about Donald Rumsfeld and the Administration's role in the war. This certainly does little to win the war, and only keeps the war on the same course and avoids any major change in policy. While sectarian violence only adds more and more refugees afraid to live in their homes, and fighting between Sunni and Shiite groups only continues, the evolving justification claim of the Bush Administration for the war as having something to do with the War On Terrorism is only given a boost by spending by military intelligence and a willing partner in the MSM.
Since the creation of Iraq in 1922 by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, there has been problems with a sectarian conflict in Iraq. But too much MSM newscoverage of any Al Qaeda link information, including the silly video of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who is functionally illiterate and has very limited ability to be able to read or write, having trouble operating his rifle or wearing American brand tennis shoes, and only sends an inaccurate message to the homeland American audience that does little to foster understanding of the long standing sectarian conflict that makes Iraq very difficult to govern or to stabilize. Ridding the world of Al Qaeda is certainly a major goal. But Al Qaeda lacks the power to overthrow the government in Iraq, but Shiite militia groups certainly are in a real position to do such harm and turn Iraq back to some cruel dictatorship and only continue the cycle of sectarian violence.
Interestingly Army General George W. Casey describes the U.S. home audience as one of the major targets of these PSYOP operations. Part of the military intelligence effort is the selling of the war to the American public.
A good example is a new "outtakes" tape of Iraqi Al Qaeda leader, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who didn't seem to know how to operate his semiautomatic weapon in his latest propaganda video as well was wearing some Chinese made, American brand tennis shoes. The role of the military intelligence releasing this video to news outlets has little to do with the war other than to attempt to reinforce some sort of military image that the Iraq War had a great deal to do with the War On Terrorism.
The problems is that the Al Qaeda organization in Iraq probably involves no more than 1,000 fighters, only about 500 of whom are probably foreign fighters. They are not even the major portion of the insurgent forces causing violence in Iraq. There are perhaps as many as 15,000 more Sunni fighters, mainly Baathists and thousands more Shia militia groups such as the Badr and Wolf Brigades who are even members of the new Iraqi government and hold provincial governorships as well. Even some radical clerics such as Sadr have their own militia as well. These militia groups are likely responsible for the bulk of violence against Sunni citizens, and the Sunni fighters are most likely for the bulk of the violence against Shiites. This has led to 100,000 citizens living in refugee camps within the last few weeks.
The military intelligence PSYOP operations have managed to create some tribal Sunni fighter violence against Al Qaeda, most notably in the Anbar province, thanks to extensive leaflet and radio propaganda coming from military intelligence sources. But it seems like a major role of military intelligence is to largely play down the overwelming source of local and homegrown violence in Iraq, and instead play up the saging support for the war by using whatever Al Qaeda link to violence that military intelligence that can be found.
The more that the Al Qaeda link is played up in Iraq, then it quiets down critical U.S. public sentiment about Donald Rumsfeld and the Administration's role in the war. This certainly does little to win the war, and only keeps the war on the same course and avoids any major change in policy. While sectarian violence only adds more and more refugees afraid to live in their homes, and fighting between Sunni and Shiite groups only continues, the evolving justification claim of the Bush Administration for the war as having something to do with the War On Terrorism is only given a boost by spending by military intelligence and a willing partner in the MSM.
Since the creation of Iraq in 1922 by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, there has been problems with a sectarian conflict in Iraq. But too much MSM newscoverage of any Al Qaeda link information, including the silly video of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi who is functionally illiterate and has very limited ability to be able to read or write, having trouble operating his rifle or wearing American brand tennis shoes, and only sends an inaccurate message to the homeland American audience that does little to foster understanding of the long standing sectarian conflict that makes Iraq very difficult to govern or to stabilize. Ridding the world of Al Qaeda is certainly a major goal. But Al Qaeda lacks the power to overthrow the government in Iraq, but Shiite militia groups certainly are in a real position to do such harm and turn Iraq back to some cruel dictatorship and only continue the cycle of sectarian violence.
Kamis, 04 Mei 2006
Zacarius Moussaoui Sentence Displays Some Wisdom By Jurors
The jurors in the Zacarias Moussaoui trial did display some wisdom in the life sentence rather than the death penalty verdict for this mentally ill defendant. There is a long standing tradition in American justice not to execute the mentally ill for their crimes.
The brother of Zacarias Moussaoui makes a good case for compassion for this mentally defendant in his book , "ZACARIAS, MY BROTHER", by Abd Moussaoui. A childhood of terrible abuse of both the mother and children by the father of this Moroccan immigrant family is indeed a terriby sad portrait of an outrageously abusive childhood in a very dysfunctional family.
The court appointed defense team for this diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic defendant had a very difficult time fulfilling their court appointed duties because of his uncooperative nature and delusional mental illness. And while Al Qaeda likely recruited him as he claimed, his ability to carry out some of the terrorist acts he claimed are far beyond belief.
One of his most suspect claims is that he and convicted shoebomber, British, Richard Reid, were supposed to fly a jetliner into the White House. Paranoid schizophrenics are simply too delusional and uncoordinated to fly large and complex passenger aircraft. And even the most skilled of professional passenger airline pilots will tell you that targeting a small object like the White House with a fast moving object like a passenger aircraft is nearly impossible. The far more "skilled" terrorists who actually struck the World Trade center buildings and the Pentagon chose large objects that were far easier to target. Paranoid schizophrenics are likely to have household accidents such as falls or knocking over objects such as lamps due to serious coordination and perceptional problems. Like other outrageous statements from Zacarias Mossaoui, there is little reason to trust in such foolish delusional statements. Prosecutors were nearly as gullible to believe that this mentally ill defendant had the necessary skills to create or plan a serious act of violence.
Other than an immigration violation and being a member of Al Qaeda that likely could have been deployed in some sort of suicide mission by far more "intelligent" and more "normal" minded Al Qaeda members, a paranoid schizophrenic personality such as Mossaoui simply lacks the personal skills necessary to commit a large scale act of violence all by themselves. But paranoid schizophrenics are indeed the most dangerous classification of mentally ill persons. The recent murder of a 17 year old McDonald's employee by a paranoid schizophrenic with a butcher knife was part of a disturbed conspiracy psychology where the murderer planned to target a female person because he imagined that females were responsible for all of his problems. Moussaoui's source of unhappiness is the nearly the same. He blames Americans for all of his problems when it is a highly dysfunctional childhood and his mental illness that gives him so much emotional and mental anguish.
The jury did display wisdom in keeping society safe from a dangerously mentally ill individual highly likely to be involved in a future serious crime if running free in society. Paranoid schizophrenics simply have way too many bizarre delusions in many cases, that they feel can only be resolved through violence. Society must be kept safe from a mentally ill person who blames all of his problems on innocent American citizens. The Prognosis for treatment of paranoid schizophrenics is not always good. And any of them prone to violence is a dangerous potential for some sort of acting out. For the safety of American society as well as wisom and compassion, the jury did come up with about the best decision that they could based on the type of charges brought against the defendant.
The brother of Zacarias Moussaoui makes a good case for compassion for this mentally defendant in his book , "ZACARIAS, MY BROTHER", by Abd Moussaoui. A childhood of terrible abuse of both the mother and children by the father of this Moroccan immigrant family is indeed a terriby sad portrait of an outrageously abusive childhood in a very dysfunctional family.
The court appointed defense team for this diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic defendant had a very difficult time fulfilling their court appointed duties because of his uncooperative nature and delusional mental illness. And while Al Qaeda likely recruited him as he claimed, his ability to carry out some of the terrorist acts he claimed are far beyond belief.
One of his most suspect claims is that he and convicted shoebomber, British, Richard Reid, were supposed to fly a jetliner into the White House. Paranoid schizophrenics are simply too delusional and uncoordinated to fly large and complex passenger aircraft. And even the most skilled of professional passenger airline pilots will tell you that targeting a small object like the White House with a fast moving object like a passenger aircraft is nearly impossible. The far more "skilled" terrorists who actually struck the World Trade center buildings and the Pentagon chose large objects that were far easier to target. Paranoid schizophrenics are likely to have household accidents such as falls or knocking over objects such as lamps due to serious coordination and perceptional problems. Like other outrageous statements from Zacarias Mossaoui, there is little reason to trust in such foolish delusional statements. Prosecutors were nearly as gullible to believe that this mentally ill defendant had the necessary skills to create or plan a serious act of violence.
Other than an immigration violation and being a member of Al Qaeda that likely could have been deployed in some sort of suicide mission by far more "intelligent" and more "normal" minded Al Qaeda members, a paranoid schizophrenic personality such as Mossaoui simply lacks the personal skills necessary to commit a large scale act of violence all by themselves. But paranoid schizophrenics are indeed the most dangerous classification of mentally ill persons. The recent murder of a 17 year old McDonald's employee by a paranoid schizophrenic with a butcher knife was part of a disturbed conspiracy psychology where the murderer planned to target a female person because he imagined that females were responsible for all of his problems. Moussaoui's source of unhappiness is the nearly the same. He blames Americans for all of his problems when it is a highly dysfunctional childhood and his mental illness that gives him so much emotional and mental anguish.
The jury did display wisdom in keeping society safe from a dangerously mentally ill individual highly likely to be involved in a future serious crime if running free in society. Paranoid schizophrenics simply have way too many bizarre delusions in many cases, that they feel can only be resolved through violence. Society must be kept safe from a mentally ill person who blames all of his problems on innocent American citizens. The Prognosis for treatment of paranoid schizophrenics is not always good. And any of them prone to violence is a dangerous potential for some sort of acting out. For the safety of American society as well as wisom and compassion, the jury did come up with about the best decision that they could based on the type of charges brought against the defendant.
Rabu, 03 Mei 2006
Nobody Does Corporate Corruption As Good As South Korean Corporations
Oh sure some American corporations such as the antics at Enron certainly gave corporate corruption a great college try effort. And many motorists blow smoke from their heads when they have to fillup at the gas pump with $3 a gallon gas blaming the "greedy" American oil companies. And some like Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham made the most of a corrupt relationship with a dishonest defense contractor. But it's like amateur night for corporate corruption in the U.S. compared to some South Korean companies.
During the 1980's the product reputation of Hyundai Motor Co. products suffered terriby when some executives of this company treated it more like their personal piggybank than anything else. Too many shortcuts in quality were made solely to raise profits back then. But with some changes in corporate leadership, Hyundai soon earned a new found reputation for product quality, and some new products like the Azera seem like real bargain in the competitive market with higher end luxury cars costing far more.
This week the head of Hyundai Motor Co., Chung Mong Koo, 68 was arrested on embezzlement charges, where $108 million was claimed by prosecutors to have been used to help fund bribery of government and banking officials among other financial mischief. And the son of Chung, Chung Eui Sun, who is the head of Kia Motors has also been implicated, and prosecutors vow charges against him as well.
Unfortunately things don't stop there for South Korean corporation corruption scandals. The electronic giant, Samsung Group, had a major scandal back in February when Lee Kun Hee and his children were implicated in a scandal that involved aquiring stock for less than market prices, bribing politicians and illegal stock transfer. While Lee was eventually cleared of the charges against him, the family donated a sum of $609 million in a type of legal settlement. Samsung has made a major reputation for quality electronic products such as big screen LCD display TVs. Sony has agreed to a new joint business venture with Samsung in building a major LCD screen factory.
Unlike the more Western model of business practiced in Japan, Korean companies still are nearly feudal in nature, where a close-knit family controls everything. And often, when one is trouble for financial mischief, then it is usually other family members who are involved as well.
Both Hyundai and Samsung have worked hard to develop a great line of products that is very impressive. And both corporations will survive their leadership problems. But the Korean way of doing business needs to be modeled more after Western models of business leadership. Corruption in business is a terrible practice that hurts people. It is immoral and wrong. Yet in South Korea some cultural connections to family run businesses have not caught up with modern times although the products of both Samsung and Hyundai represent some great advances in technology. The scientist and engineer is more advanced than the base human instincts sometimes it seems. Very regrettable.
During the 1980's the product reputation of Hyundai Motor Co. products suffered terriby when some executives of this company treated it more like their personal piggybank than anything else. Too many shortcuts in quality were made solely to raise profits back then. But with some changes in corporate leadership, Hyundai soon earned a new found reputation for product quality, and some new products like the Azera seem like real bargain in the competitive market with higher end luxury cars costing far more.
This week the head of Hyundai Motor Co., Chung Mong Koo, 68 was arrested on embezzlement charges, where $108 million was claimed by prosecutors to have been used to help fund bribery of government and banking officials among other financial mischief. And the son of Chung, Chung Eui Sun, who is the head of Kia Motors has also been implicated, and prosecutors vow charges against him as well.
Unfortunately things don't stop there for South Korean corporation corruption scandals. The electronic giant, Samsung Group, had a major scandal back in February when Lee Kun Hee and his children were implicated in a scandal that involved aquiring stock for less than market prices, bribing politicians and illegal stock transfer. While Lee was eventually cleared of the charges against him, the family donated a sum of $609 million in a type of legal settlement. Samsung has made a major reputation for quality electronic products such as big screen LCD display TVs. Sony has agreed to a new joint business venture with Samsung in building a major LCD screen factory.
Unlike the more Western model of business practiced in Japan, Korean companies still are nearly feudal in nature, where a close-knit family controls everything. And often, when one is trouble for financial mischief, then it is usually other family members who are involved as well.
Both Hyundai and Samsung have worked hard to develop a great line of products that is very impressive. And both corporations will survive their leadership problems. But the Korean way of doing business needs to be modeled more after Western models of business leadership. Corruption in business is a terrible practice that hurts people. It is immoral and wrong. Yet in South Korea some cultural connections to family run businesses have not caught up with modern times although the products of both Samsung and Hyundai represent some great advances in technology. The scientist and engineer is more advanced than the base human instincts sometimes it seems. Very regrettable.
Selasa, 02 Mei 2006
The Regrettable Defense Of The Rush Limbaugh Drug Addiction
It is very regrettable about the way so many "conservatives" have rallied to defend the prescription drug addiction of Rush Limbaugh. For the mere sake of politically based bias, a serious problem with drug addiction was been belittled to a point that prescription drug abuse is not taken very seriously by many.
On the air, Rush Limbaugh made a huge point of his "not guilty" plea. However this was a plea agreement deal, and that certainly does not mean Limbaugh had no serious prescription drug abuse problem . He is not allowed to own a gun. He must sumbit to regular drug tests. He will only have charges dropped after 18 months of cooperation with all the terms of this plea agreement.
ABC News and other sources reported that between 30-40 times, Limbaugh may have made cash transactions just under the $10,000 mark so as to avoid a federal inquiry into these transactions. Making regular transactions near the $9,999 mark is hardly the conduct of someone who was not involved in some sort of wrongdoing conduct. These huge transactions were meant to pay for huge purchases of the highly addictive pain killer, OxyContin and other similar products.
Law enforcement authorities cite OxyContin as one of the most abused prescription drugs that is often associated with criminal conduct and hardcore drug abuse problems. OxyContin abuse rates right up there with abuse of hardcore drugs such as heroin or crack, and can have just as devastating impact on the user. Indeed the third marriage of Limbaugh reportedly broke up over problems caused by this drug abuse.
There is no good in alcohol, smoking or drug addiction. All three are very harmful drug addictions to both the user and to others who are not users. Limbaugh's strong point of the onair use of the term "not guilty" reminds me too much of the denial that drug or alcohol abusers use to claim that they have no addiction problem. Limbaugh should have shown more character to admit his problem, and seek a public forgiveness. And listeners should be wary of someone who still fails to accept full responsibility for their actions or seek to justify that a prescription drug habit reported to be as much as 30 pills a day is not out of control. Elvis Presley took too many prescription drugs and it caused his death. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin all had early deaths caused by drug abuse. Limbaugh is very lucky his drug abuse did not kill him. He should make a point of making the public aware of the dangers of drug abuse and his listeners should not look for ways to justify a potentially deadly habit such as drug abuse. A prescription drug abuse problem is not more honorable than an illegal drug abuse problem.
The actor, Robert Downey, had a difficult time letting go of his drug problems and it landed him in jail. Limbaugh needs to learn from this. He must truly let go of any justification for his drug abuse, otherwise a future relapse may occur.
Decent thinking people shouldn't side with or against Limbaugh on the drug issue because of his politics. There should be a real interest in seeing him beat this abuse. And Limbaugh needs to more forcefully speak out against drug abuse, as a personal witness to the great dangers it causes. Drug abuse makes a person a slave to a substance. The New Testament in Galations 5:20 even sees it akin to being under the influence of wichcraft. Drug abuse can kill or it can land a person in jail, or to commit absurd and outrageous crimes. Drug abuse is a great evil. Nothing can justify it.
On the air, Rush Limbaugh made a huge point of his "not guilty" plea. However this was a plea agreement deal, and that certainly does not mean Limbaugh had no serious prescription drug abuse problem . He is not allowed to own a gun. He must sumbit to regular drug tests. He will only have charges dropped after 18 months of cooperation with all the terms of this plea agreement.
ABC News and other sources reported that between 30-40 times, Limbaugh may have made cash transactions just under the $10,000 mark so as to avoid a federal inquiry into these transactions. Making regular transactions near the $9,999 mark is hardly the conduct of someone who was not involved in some sort of wrongdoing conduct. These huge transactions were meant to pay for huge purchases of the highly addictive pain killer, OxyContin and other similar products.
Law enforcement authorities cite OxyContin as one of the most abused prescription drugs that is often associated with criminal conduct and hardcore drug abuse problems. OxyContin abuse rates right up there with abuse of hardcore drugs such as heroin or crack, and can have just as devastating impact on the user. Indeed the third marriage of Limbaugh reportedly broke up over problems caused by this drug abuse.
There is no good in alcohol, smoking or drug addiction. All three are very harmful drug addictions to both the user and to others who are not users. Limbaugh's strong point of the onair use of the term "not guilty" reminds me too much of the denial that drug or alcohol abusers use to claim that they have no addiction problem. Limbaugh should have shown more character to admit his problem, and seek a public forgiveness. And listeners should be wary of someone who still fails to accept full responsibility for their actions or seek to justify that a prescription drug habit reported to be as much as 30 pills a day is not out of control. Elvis Presley took too many prescription drugs and it caused his death. Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin all had early deaths caused by drug abuse. Limbaugh is very lucky his drug abuse did not kill him. He should make a point of making the public aware of the dangers of drug abuse and his listeners should not look for ways to justify a potentially deadly habit such as drug abuse. A prescription drug abuse problem is not more honorable than an illegal drug abuse problem.
The actor, Robert Downey, had a difficult time letting go of his drug problems and it landed him in jail. Limbaugh needs to learn from this. He must truly let go of any justification for his drug abuse, otherwise a future relapse may occur.
Decent thinking people shouldn't side with or against Limbaugh on the drug issue because of his politics. There should be a real interest in seeing him beat this abuse. And Limbaugh needs to more forcefully speak out against drug abuse, as a personal witness to the great dangers it causes. Drug abuse makes a person a slave to a substance. The New Testament in Galations 5:20 even sees it akin to being under the influence of wichcraft. Drug abuse can kill or it can land a person in jail, or to commit absurd and outrageous crimes. Drug abuse is a great evil. Nothing can justify it.
Senin, 01 Mei 2006
May Day Solidarity For Working People & Immigrants
Today working people around the world march, demonstrate or remember the struggle to survive day to day in life in societies in which they are dependent on jobs from others in order to merely survive. Prior to the Industral Revolution, in agrarian societies, the individuals were responsible for their own fate by how productive they could make their land or how much they could hunt or fish. Today, with so many individuals removed from their land and totally dependent on some corporation or employer for an income, their life is totally dependent on these institutions.
But the role of the wealthy employers is often to seek to maximize profits solely by utilizing the cheapest possible pool of labor. This has created new tensions in what can be called "postIndustrial Revolution" societies. This has led to outsourcing of jobs or the exploitation of immigrants for very low wages.
Labor cheap nations such as China and India are now increasing poverty levels among workers in "postIndustrial Revolution" societies such as Japan and the U.S. In Japan, welfare rolls as well as poverty rates are increasing as industrialism rolls towards labor cheap nations such as China to construct formerly Japanese produced products. In the U.S. a similar roll of jobs to China and India have taken at least four million of the best paying factory jobs. Union membership has sunk to a mere 15% of workers.
With corporations such as GM seeking to void pension contracts, and wages falling among areas such as meat processors who once earned $19 a hour, but now earn just an average of $9, workers and immigrants both march and demonstrate around the world and in the U.S. today for decent wages, good and safe working conditions, and respect on the job by their employers.
Today is only one day in this long daily struggle for respect for workers, decent wages and decent benefits such as health insurance coverage. To provide food, clothing, and a decent life for the worker requires a constant struggle that workers must engage in. Workers need to form more unions and use this voice to best represent them in negotiations with management. Standing alone against the corporation the individual is nearly powerless. The power of companies such as payday loan or car title loan businesses must be blunted by legal limits on unfair interest rates that take advantage of the working poor. More corporations such as Wal-Mart need to provide health care to their employees and families.
From it's roots in the Haymarket Riot in Chicago on May 4, 1886 at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, International Workers Day has grown into the peaceful movement to seek fairness in the workplace. Workers the world over share the same struggle to seek fairness from employers who often pay the lowest possible wages or offer the least benefits possible. But life should not just be good for this wealthy class of employers. The workers who are the soul of productivity for a society deserve to share in some of the wealth of that society.
Today, immigrants also march in many U.S. cities seeking respect from American society. They provide so much labor to many industries that Tyson, Purdue and Cargill Foods and others have actually closed. These workers deserve fairness and respect in society. They provide much of the labor that puts food on America's tables.
A very happy May Day to all. Today is only the first day in the long struggle towards fairness and respect for workers and immigrants. The general well being and wealth of a society is only good if it lifts all up to a better life of more quality.
But the role of the wealthy employers is often to seek to maximize profits solely by utilizing the cheapest possible pool of labor. This has created new tensions in what can be called "postIndustrial Revolution" societies. This has led to outsourcing of jobs or the exploitation of immigrants for very low wages.
Labor cheap nations such as China and India are now increasing poverty levels among workers in "postIndustrial Revolution" societies such as Japan and the U.S. In Japan, welfare rolls as well as poverty rates are increasing as industrialism rolls towards labor cheap nations such as China to construct formerly Japanese produced products. In the U.S. a similar roll of jobs to China and India have taken at least four million of the best paying factory jobs. Union membership has sunk to a mere 15% of workers.
With corporations such as GM seeking to void pension contracts, and wages falling among areas such as meat processors who once earned $19 a hour, but now earn just an average of $9, workers and immigrants both march and demonstrate around the world and in the U.S. today for decent wages, good and safe working conditions, and respect on the job by their employers.
Today is only one day in this long daily struggle for respect for workers, decent wages and decent benefits such as health insurance coverage. To provide food, clothing, and a decent life for the worker requires a constant struggle that workers must engage in. Workers need to form more unions and use this voice to best represent them in negotiations with management. Standing alone against the corporation the individual is nearly powerless. The power of companies such as payday loan or car title loan businesses must be blunted by legal limits on unfair interest rates that take advantage of the working poor. More corporations such as Wal-Mart need to provide health care to their employees and families.
From it's roots in the Haymarket Riot in Chicago on May 4, 1886 at the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, International Workers Day has grown into the peaceful movement to seek fairness in the workplace. Workers the world over share the same struggle to seek fairness from employers who often pay the lowest possible wages or offer the least benefits possible. But life should not just be good for this wealthy class of employers. The workers who are the soul of productivity for a society deserve to share in some of the wealth of that society.
Today, immigrants also march in many U.S. cities seeking respect from American society. They provide so much labor to many industries that Tyson, Purdue and Cargill Foods and others have actually closed. These workers deserve fairness and respect in society. They provide much of the labor that puts food on America's tables.
A very happy May Day to all. Today is only the first day in the long struggle towards fairness and respect for workers and immigrants. The general well being and wealth of a society is only good if it lifts all up to a better life of more quality.
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