ALFRED TOKAYER: (1900-1942) A COMPOSER CAUGHT IN THE MAELSTROM OF HISTORY
Sixty eight years after Irene’s father’s deportation to Germany in 1942 his yellowing manuscripts are coming to life with a CD made of his compositions. The process was started in 2006 by my son and daughter, Peter and Cathy, who met up with three very fine and well known Canadian musicians, Norman Hathaway, violinist, Catherine Wilson, pianist and Leslie Fagan, soprano who gathered some other musicians and shortly thereafter from these ageing manuscripts put together a concert in Toronto of several pieces. This concert represented the first hearing of this lovely music, and for us, and I know for many in the hall, it was a moving experience.
In the meantime in France a concert pianist, Bertrand Giraud, who was giving a concert in our home town in southern France, Rieux-Minervois, met with Irene and took copies of the manuscripts back to Paris, was impressed and in collaboration with Amaury du Closel, a well known conductor prepared a CD in 2007 of about twenty pieces. This preparation kept Irene busy researching libraries in England, France, Morocco and Germany about her father’s past and including finding another manuscript (added to the CD) and copyright evidence of other pieces that as yet we haven't recovered.
In May 2008 we attended our first a concert in Paris of some pieces of Alfred Tokayer’s music. Amaury du Closel had written a book entitled Les Voix Etouffées du IIIe Reich (The Voices Stifled by the Third Reich). It provided the basis for the formation of the ensemble of musicians who have since undertaken an ongoing series of concerts to present this music in towns and cities throughout Europe. As of June 2009 there have been approximately 15 concerts, 12 by ensemble Voix Etouffées, and three independently by the pianist, Bertrand Giraud. These concerts have taken place in France (Paris 3, Rieux- Minervois, Orleans), Germany (Koethen, Magdebird, Halberstadt, Rostock, Permasens), Roumania (Bucharest), Austria (Vienna) and Poland (Auschwitz). The program for the remainder of the 2009 season and 2010 will be announced shortly.
Irene was hoping that someday she would just hear this music and what has occurred has exceeded her wildest dreams.
The following history of Alfred Tokayer was written by Amaury Du Closel
“Alfred Tokayer, conductor, composer, born march 21, 1900 in Koethen”- an entry as banal as this could well have been found, among thousands of others in the DICTIONARY OF JEWS IN MUSIC’, published in 1940 by Theo Stengel and Herbert Gerigk. This sinister pamphlet clearly reflects the single-mindedness with which Nazi Germany, basking in the glow of its victories, applied itself to the persecution of Jews on every level of the social scale. By making itself the instrument of a policy which used denunciation in the service of the Final Solution, and targeting, in particular, the musical community, it contributed to the deportation and assassination of countless musicians, many of whom were simple folk -from music teachers to Cabaret artists - who had neither the means, nor the contacts which might have allowed them to take the road into exile. Some years ago the German musicologist Eva Weissweiler, attempted to discover the fate of almost two hundred of those victims whose story ends in most cases with the mention “died. in Riga, in Majdanek, in Auschwitz”. Alfred Tokayer died in Sobibor” Yet Alfred Tokayer was the victim of another denunciation, that of the country in which he sought shelter with his daughter – France.
That it should have taken 65 years for his music to be revived, says much about the efficiency of the cultural policies of the Nazis, which for a long time survived the collapse of the Third Reich. When Hitler published “Mein Kampf”, he seized on a theme that had become central in German debate since 1918: that of its cultural identity. The revolutionary movements following the defeat, the humiliation of the Treaty of Versailles and the economic crisis which followed, the occupation of the Ruhr by French Troops, all contributed, and in particular in the more conservative classes, to the fear that due to the influence of foreign forces, Germany was about to lose its soul. In this fertile and paranoid soil, a new nationalism developed and found its way into the musical sphere. In 1919 Hans Pfitzner denounced not only the influence of Bolshevism and Americanism but also of “Degeneration” that were becoming aspects of modernity in theArts.
In the chapters dealing with Modern Art, Hitler, in Mein Kampf used the terms “bolshevist” and “degenerate”. These concepts were distilled into anti-Semitism: Bolshevism becoming the weapon by which the Jews seek to dominate the world, and “Degeneration” the natural proclivity of the Jewish Race that would make it “the destroyer of culture” When he came to power, the cultural policies of the Nazis where built on these theories and would soon, as early as the end of 1933, result in a cultural apartheid. An organisation named “Juedischer Kulturbund” was created in Berlin and other German cities. It was reserved for Jews only, a farce, since after the Nuernberg laws of 1935, Jews had already become second class citizens who were no longer permitted to perform in German Opera Houses and Concert Halls. In May and June 1938, when the Reich stepped up its campaign of anti-Semitism, an exhibition named Entartete Musik (Degenerate Music) organized by friends of Alfred Rosenberg and modeled after the Exhibition Entartete Kunst (Degenerate Art) held the previous year in Munich(1937), decried the influence of the Jews on German music.
Alfred Tokayer did not wait for the Kristallnacht to leave his homeland.. He was born in Koethen, a town in Sachsen-Anhalt - were Johann Sebastian Bach was chapel master at the court from 1717 to 1723 - into a Jewish family originating from Bistritz, a town in Transsylvania at that time part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, but today part of Roumania. There, the family lived in abject poverty, in conditions resembling those described 40 years later by Albert Londres in his book, ‘The Wandering Jew’, in which he investigates Jewish populations all over the world. This poverty, coupled with the fear of pogroms, and repeated violence against Jewish communities in the easternmost sector of the empire, led many families at the turn of the century to seek a better life in Western Europe. This was the case of the family of Norbert Glanzberg, future composer of songs for Edith Piaf and Yves Montant. Coming from Galicia that family settled in the town of Wurzbuerg in Germany in 1910. Moritz Tokayer, future father of the composer, is ahead of this wave by almost 20 years, arriving in Berlin in 1891. In 1899 he marries Gertrud Simon, a cousin of Bruno(Schlesinger )Walter. The couple settles in Koethen where Alfred is born on March . It is there that he begins the study of music. During the year 1919/20 he continues at the Hoch’sche Konservatorium in Frankfurt where he also attends courses in philosophy and economics, subjects he had studied at the university of Berlin the previous year.
It must be said that much of the life of Alfred Tokayer is almost devoid of documentation, because many archives have either been lost during his exile, or destroyed in the war. For example, it has been impossible to retrace his whereabouts between 1920 and 1924 at which time he obtains his first professional engagement at the Opera of Bremen. We know that he studied piano, chamber music, accompaniment, orchestration, conducting and composing with some of the most prominent musicians of the time, among others, Ernst Toch, a great and as yet too little known composer who was forced to flee Germany in1933.
In Bremen, where he remains until 1930 he is conductor and voice coach. The musical director of the Opera is none other than Manfred Gurlitt, the creation of whose opera “Wozzeck’ unfortunately coincided, that same year, with the work of Alban Berg . In 1938, when he can no longer exercise his profession, Gurlitt emigrates to Japan. Alfred
Tokayer, is voice coach and conductor of operetta and light musical entertainment, and is well received by the critics of the day. In 1927 he marries a colleague, the singer Lucie Rena.
From 1931 to 1933, they are both engaged at the Volksoper in Berlin. Alfred Tokayer collaborates with Max Reinhardt, Oskar Strauss, Theo Mackeben, the brothers Vladigerov. He becomes voice coach to Kaethe Dorsch and again conducts operetta and light music (Note: Kaethe Dorsch was then to Germany what Gertrude Laurence was to the English speaking public). Like many musicians with modest incomes, he works on orchestrations, in particular the operettas of Kuennecke. Lucie, while being the understudy of Kaethe Dorsch, helps make ends meet as an usherette at the cinema.
When Hitler comes to power, and the Chamber of Music of the Reich is put into place, Alfred Tokayer is most likely deprived of any remaining possibility to exercise his profession. Simultaneously, the application of the legislation depriving Jews of legal status gets underway, making his family one of its first victims. On Mai 5, 1935 their German citizenship, so proudly acquired in 1919, is cancelled and their possessions given to “more deserving” Aryans. On december 16, 1935 the once prosperous business built by Moritz Tokayer is forced into bankruptcy.and the family takes the road into exile: Alfred flees to France, his parents to Yugoslavia.
The waves of immigrant musicians, mostly Jewish, who arrive as conditions in Germany worsen, are not welcomed into the French musical community. On November 26, 1933 the composer Florent Schmitt interrups a concert of the works of Kurt Weill at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees with cries of “Long live Hitler! We have enough bad musicians in France without taking in all the Jews of Germany”, and some journalists, in the name of defense of the national culture, support this view, denouncing the “vulgarity” of the songs of Silver Lake, performed that night by Madeleine Grey. Reviewers like Rene Dumesnil, Alfred Bruneau, Pierre-Octave Ferroud, Lucien Rabatet lead the charge in attacking “this Jewish-German Virus, ..this large contingent of émigrés”, “these germs of decadence brought with the invasion of the German Jews.” A hitherto latent anti-Semitism is suddenly revealed and not only in musical circles, but in the society as a whole. Even the “anti-boche” feelings of World War I are revived. When rules and regulations are put in place to restrict employment for foreign musicians, “to work at all is something of a tour de force”, writes the composer and conductor Hans Walter David ) as early as 1933. He continues:…”first of all, there is a large stamp in my passport stating that all professional activity is forbidden. Furthermore, the exercise of the profession is dependant on a membership in a professional association: conductors need to be members of the conductors’ guild, composers of the association of authors etc.
Since these organisations admit only French citizens, the immigrant alien is excluded from all work, from all income.”
And yet, Tokayer seems to adapt reasonably well to his new life in Paris. He keeps in contact with his fellow immigrants, but gravitates to French musicians such as Manuel Rosenthal and Reynaldo Hahn. Through them, he meets the countess Lili Pastre who during the occupation sponsored and protected many Jewish artists in her property at Montredon near Marseille. She provides him with some income, and also finances the education of his daughter, Irene, who has come to join him in 1938. He accompanies recitals, works on arrangements, among others, for the composer Maurice Thiriet, who wrote much of the music for the films of Marcel Carne. While prisoner of war in Germany, Thiriet will lend his name to several Jewish composers working underground, among them Joseph Kosma, so that they might receive the copyright income that is otherwise blocked by the Sacem .(Societe des Acteurs, Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique) Why would Tokayer have registered his works with the SABAM (Society of Belgian authors and composers) when he was living in Paris? One might guess that his candidature (if there was one) was rejected, because of policies put in place by SACEM to discriminate against composers, especially Jewish, fleeing the Nazi regime. A subsequent study on the spoliation of Jews led by Jean Matteoli states: “ For ten years prior to the arrival of the Germans in Paris, the management of the Sacem, targeted foreign members thought to be too numerous in the society. This Xenophobia led to the implementation of discriminatory rules, which caused several foreign composers living in France to join more liberal organisations, in Belgium or Italy”. In the case of Tokayer however, these questions must remain hypothetical.
In 1936 Tokayer is called to London to orchestrate and conduct the music for the film “The Robber Symphony” directed by Friedrich Feher ) This is to be the first film – before Walt Disney’s “Fantasia” to be based on music. The film, at the time, is not well received (it has to-day ardent defenders) yet the music is unanimously applauded. While in London, he meets one of his fellow-students, the conductor Heinz Unger, who had made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in 1919, but was forced into into exile in l933. In 1948, he creates and becomes musical director of the North York Philharmonic Orchestra in Toronto. It seems both Unger and Tokayer were students of Ernst Toch.
At the end of 1938 he is chosen to participate in the broadcast of laureates organised by Radio 37. This private radio station had been opened the previous year by Jean Prouvost, director of the daily ‘Paris Soir’ and folded with the arrival in 1940 of the German troops in Paris. In a letter dated December 27, 1938, Tokayer alludes to the concert that was broadcast from the Tour Eiffel. The letter also mentions the various steps he is undertaking in order to bring his parents to France. In this he receives help from Marcel Monteux, the son of the industrial who founded a large shoe manufacturing industry, an art lover whose villa in Antibes was decorated by Ker-Xavier Roussel a painter of the Nabi school of Art, and who, in 1931, sponsored La Chienne by Jean Renoir. Another source of help is a Mr.Singer the nephew of the Princess Polignac, nee Singer whose salon played such a great part in musical creation in France between the two wars. His efforts seem to have been succesful, since in 1940, when he joins the Foreign Legion, Moritz and Gertrud Tokayer reside at 12, Rue Fenoux in the 15th arrondissement. In the same letter, Tokayer mentions that he is rehearsing Offenbach’s “La Chatte Metamorphosee” for the New Year’s concert, probably in his own arrangement for 2 pianos and four voices.
When war is declared on September l, l939, Alfred Tokayer, considered an enemy alien, is interned in the camp of Sourioux, near Vierzon in the Cher that was originally built to house Spanish refugees. Here he shares the fate of several composers –Erich Itor Kahn, Marcel Rubin, Louis Saguer, Eric-Paul Steckel, Rudolf Goehr……all interned to allow the French authorities to determine “ who presented a danger to the country and who could be used in the war effort”. Voluntary engagement in the Foreign Legion reduced official suspicion of any fifth column activity. Like many others (Max Deutsch volunteered as soon as war broke out, as did Erich Itor Kahn, Paul Arma or Joseph Kosma but who were rejected as physically unfit) Tokayer joins the Legion on December 8 1939. He arrives at the Legion Headquarters -Sathonay - on december 17 and remains there until March 1940: it is probably here that he writes the Cantique de Sathonay. He is then sent to Sidi-Bel-Abbes in Algeria, and later to Khenifra, in Morrocco. He is assigned to teach music at the conservatory of Meknes where he also conducts, in 1940 ,“Une Journee de mon Enfant” for a local station of Radio Maroc.
When he is demobilized in 1940, he settles near Limoges where friends and colleagues from Paris had fled. He continues to make music, gives concerts, plays the village harmonium, brings music into a nearby home for Jewish refugee children, even mounting a production of Offenbach’s “Chanson de Fortunio”. In 1942, the Allies land in North Africa and the Germans reply by invading the whole of France. The anonymity of a large city now looks safer and he decides to return to Paris. The Abbe Robert, priest of the village where he had found refuge and who has become a friend, helps him acquire a false identity. Now called Andre Tharaud he returns to Paris with his partner, Mado. Early in 1943, he leaves Paris again, hoping to reach England via Portugal. He and Mado are arrested at the demarcation line. Mado is freed, but Alfred Tokayer is sent to the camps of Beaune-la-Rolande and Drancy- where, by miracle, he meets his parents, Moritz and Gertrud. A few days later all three board the convoy to Sobibor….
It is to-day impossible to ascertain whether the pieces on this recording constitute the entire musical output of Alfred Tokayer , especially since the only work preceding his exile is ‘Das Lied vom Wein’. All others were composed later. We know that when he registered his work with the SABAM on July 18, 1939, almost all the other pieces on this recording had already been composed. These include the four melodies that constitute the suite Une Journee de Mon Enfant: Teddy, Quand je suis mechante, Hirondelle and Berceuse. The Symphonic Suite, based on the same work dates from 1936 and does not seem to have been registered with the SABAM. La Petite Musique pour Clavecin et Orchestre a Cordes is composed after 1939. The orchestrations for 2 of the songs, “Arriere Ete” and “Une Femme a Passe” are added in that same year. This catalogue of works created in exile, which includes most of the vocal pieces, could be seen as, a hommage to its adoptive country, because the influence of the French School of that day is so profound. There are echoes of Ravel, the Group of Six, especially Poulenc. Alfred Tokayer masters the French language very shortly after his arrival. He choses French texts for all his works: Maurice Merillot, “Une Journee de mon Enfant” Theophile Gautier, the Belgian poet Fernand Severin, Emile Pauly and his partner, Mado. He is determined to adapt to his new life and to become part of French musical life. Yet his music has echoes of his family’s roots in central Europe. In particular, some of the orchestrations of “Journee de Mon Enfant” evoke strong memories of Gustav Mahler. This piece is, incidentally, rather unusual: each movement starts with a song and continues with several progressions played by the orchestra; yet the songs are not a central theme upon which variations are built and the Suite takes on the form of a collage. The seven songs, in their brevity, are inspired by the French model. Their somber aspect leads us to believe that they are composed after 1940 and reflect the dark side of the times.
The Stifled Voices of the Third Reich have long been relegated to silence. Many composers who became the victims of the brown terror were not only eliminated from the world of the living, but also from the memory of generations that followed. To this day, perseverance and a solid dose of optimism are required of a family who dares demand that the voice of the victim be heard. Thanks are due to Irene and her children, the descendants of Alfred Tokayer, for finding a way.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Everything Up For Sale
January 15th 2011
Announcement by the Right Honourable Stephen Crapaud, Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Libertarian Party
My fellow citizens we have been elected on a platform to lead a government that recognizes Canadians should be free to run their own lives and to this end there must be a major reduction in the size and power of government. A much smaller government with fewer taxes and regulations will no longer dominate your lives. The remaining members of the Conservative Party who were defeated in their reelection bid in 2010 are in full support of these objectives thus giving us a solid majority to carry out this mandate.
I am therefore pleased to announce our government's plan to continue downsizing and aggressively sell off major federal assets. This first sell-off initiatives will include opening bids for all national parks, lakes and highways. In the spirit of Globalization the bids will be open to foreign investors. Asian, US, Middle Eastern and Venezuelan investment funds have already expressed a keen interest.
This privatization plan meets several important objectives of this government namely;
the reduction in the size of your Federal Government
the privatization of crown assets thus ensuring sound business and profit making objectives are met,
a major reduction in the national debt through this sell-off.
Let me remind you that our successful 2010 campaign was based on a commitment to massively reduce government costs and thereby making it possible to realize our election promise to you of introducing a flat tax at a reduced rate of 8%. May I also remind you that this reform was enthusiastically supported by 65% of Canadian voters. We can take great pride in our accomplishments to date. Major tax reductions have already been achieved by integrating our medical services with the privatized Obama plan of our great neighbours to the south and thus eliminating socialized single payer medicine. We have also begun the process of eliminating the Old Age Pension. It will be replaced by soup kitchens and shelters for our less fortunate citizens. As private citizens you will now be free to choose between private insurers of your choice.
June 26th 2011 Announcing the Sale Of Crown Properties
I am pleased to announce the following successful bids
1. The Dubai Investment Group (DIG) has won the bid to acquire the Trans Canada Highway from Manitoba to the West Coast. After much negotiation a price of 650 billion dollars was agreed upon. Mr Rasheil bin Mahoody, of DIG has been appointed to the Chairman's position and will shortly appoint his board members and executives to run this enterprise.
2. The China Investment Fund (CIF) was the winning bidder for the National Parks located in British Columbia and Alberta. The agreed price was 1.7 trillion dollars and will include all hunting, fishing, timber and mineral rights. Mr Lee Con Lee of Shanghai has agreed to assume the position of Chairman of the Board. He will be bringing his executive team, yet to be announced, from China
As expected the Manitoba and Ontario Governments are raising some objections about selling off their section of the Trans Canada Highway and Ontario adds the Great Lakes and and the St Lawrence River to this dispute. Quebec politicians object to everything and are threatening independence again, but we are nevertheless confident we will resolve all these disputes shortly so that the bidding for these assets can get underway. As for Hudson's Bay and the Arctic Islands and Northwest Passage their sale is off the table for now until disputes between Russia and the USA are resolved.
July 12th 2011 Announcement
We are pleased to announce that the Chairmen of DIG and CIF have jointly submitted to the Federal Government their business plans for developing and managing these acquisitions,. The Trans Canada Highway will become a toll road. The roads, rail lines, pipelines and waterways entering the park will exact revenue from people and vehicles on entry and royalties will be applied to all shipments of minerals, and timber leaving these properties. In order to encourage the high price CIF was willing to pay and in accordance with Libertarian principles these operations will be unhindered by any form of regulation over the exploitation and methods employed. The Greens, NDP and some Liberals are agitating for environmental regulations and demonstrations are planned across Canada. Be assured that our police and military will be in attendance and will firmly deal with any trouble makers. In the spirit of Ayn Rand, the inspiration for Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan, we have complete confidence that leaders of DIG and CIF will do the right thing.
August 17th 2011 PM's Progress Report
My fellow citizens, I am pleased to announce that DIG report that the tolls on the highway have been working successfully these past months. Traffic has continued to build. It has become clear however that operating costs are above expectations and the DCF Board have decided that it will be be necessary to lay off 40,000 employees to be replaced with less costly labour brought in under contract from the Philippines.
CIF have reported that the Parks are encountering serious problems with many campers and Native People entering via trails and through the brush and refusing to pay the fees. CIF have announced that they have no alternative but to build an electric fence around these properties. This will require 6,700 miles of electrified fencing. We are pleased to announce that a contract has been signed with India Steel of New Delhi to undertake this project.
December 5th 2011 Progress Report
My fellow citizens, this is a plea for the publics cooperation. There have been Native Peoples uprisings and violence over the park fencing project and a large group of unruly leftists have joined them. It has something to do with their hunting rights and the migration of animals. It is unfortunate that the NDP, Green Party, some Liberals and even some Conservatives are supporting their misguided cause. There have been reports of threats and violent confrontations. The employees of India Steel in fear for their lives have elected to go home. The RCMP have been called in to monitor the situation, Dick Cheney has been contracted as a consultant to offer advice on where we go from here (I understand he is very dangerous with a gun) and he is advising that we negotiate with Blackwater to see what can be done. You can appreciate that with the World watching our Global reputation is at stake here.
December 15th 2011 update
DIG report that the highways in Alberta and through Rogers Pass were closed for ten days owing to heavy snow storms. A 175 mile traffic back up of cars and trucks occurred and two sections of the highway have experienced serious avalanches that have yet to be cleared. We now realize that Dubai management and their Philippine staff had never encountered snow before and were staying indoors. We are currently bringing back some Canadian staff on a part time basis to tackle this problem. Needles to say this will be expensive and in order to sustain profit objectives tolls will be increased, Jan 1st 2012 by 30%.
June 12th 2012
Due to the public's unfortunate resistance to our new rates, highway usage has seriously dropped with excessive loads now backing up on secondary roads. DIG reports the TC highway has become unprofitable until this resistance is resolved. We have also learned that some automated toll booths have been blown up and traffic is entering freely, This must stop. Since the RCMP are fully committed to the problems in the parks we have asked the the Canadian Military as peace keepers to monitor the situation along the highways.
June 19th 2012
Mr Rasheil bin Mahoody of the DIG has announced that the toll system has broken down and traffic is defiantly moving freely again despite the presence of the military who are simply sitting by. Without funds the DIG has no alternative but to close the highways and send the Philippine workers home. Many are seeking asylum and the Immigration Department has this under review.
June 26th 2012
As for the parks it has become an all out war with our Native People and their leftist supporters doing battle with Blackwater. This is the height of the mosquito and black fly season and it has been reported that this is causing a great deal of suffering amongst Blackwater's mercenaries who have never encountered such a siege before. They have therefore asked permission to employ Drone aircraft (that have proved to be so successful in killing and terrorizing civilians and a few of the enemy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and can be courageously operated from comfortable offices in Texas). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in protest and in fear of the Drones have gone on strike. It is their first strike since their mutiny in 1876 to protest against an unsavoury leader in Bow River, a location now known as Calgary, If Blackwater and their Drone attacks fail to win this struggle soon, all national parks will be closed until further notice.
August 7th 2012. Final report from The Right Honourable Stephen Crapaud
My fellow Canadians, I am speaking to you from the bunker under the Parliament buildings. The Native Canadians now supported by so many leftists have taken control of the buildings. I am watching on my television the large, noisy and jubilant crowds outside celebrating this disaster, undoubtedly NDPers, Greens, some Liberals and a few Conservatives. The RCMP and Military are standing aside; simply peace keepers and lacking backbone. My fellow Canadians, you have let this government down, I see on the TV monitor that this mob is now burning me in effigy and I fear for my life. This leaves me with no choice but to accept the Governor General's request for this Government to resign and for me to fly to Columbia in South America where their democratic government will welcome and protect me.
Aftermath as reported in The Globe and Pail. October 22nd 2012
The public is in an uproar. The elections of 2011 based on tax reforms were overwhelmingly supported by wealthy Canadians and most Albertans. Pensioners and the working class were deeply divided and it was looked upon negatively by box store employees and the unemployed. Since this latter group rarely cast a vote, the results from the election were inevitable. As for religious fundamentalists this chaos seemed to have all the signs of the Rapture. The Governor General has called for a temporary coalition government (in my opinion The Tower of Babel) to attend to immediate business until an election can be called.
Quebec announced separation on Sept 17th and has formed a political alliance with France and will be adopting the Euro. Both the English and French populations in Quebec are solidly behind this.
The DIG and CIF ( the sell-off projects) have been declared bankrupt and the Royal Bank and the Bank of Montreal and a host of hedge funds and their bond holders are left holding the bag. These losses combined with the 8% flat tax have left the Feds strapped. They hope to raise four trillion dollars to cover ongoing government expenses and to bail out the banks. Income from the taxpayer will be raised to pay for this. The bankrupt ventures(CIF and DIG),the banks and the government are currently working with a variety of foreign venture capitalists, Russian oligarchs and governments to find solutions.
To complicate matters the Greens, NDP and some Liberals have entered into discussions with Chavez and Morales to join Latin America's Bolivarian Revolution, the Native people have declared Nationhood in the parks, and Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC are seriously considering the formation of a Western Nation that will include the NW Territories and the Yukon. Sarah Palin has expressed Alaska's interest in joining this alliance. The Maritime Provinces have been lying low in all this until it all sorts out. Major oil findings have just been announced off the coast of Nova Scotia so they just might go the way of Norway.
When last heard from Stephen Crapaud is living comfortably on the coast of Colombia. His very young third wife found the past two years very stressful and decided not to join him. The were subsequently divorced and she is now happily married to her ex tennis coach who has been her good friend for many years.
Latest Report: December 3rd 2012
Stephen Crapaud and an 18 year old woman who was visiting with him at the time have been kidnapped. FARC claims responsibility and has taken them off into the jungle. They are asking for an undisclosed sum from the Canadian Government for their release. The five countries that have replaced Canada have this situation under review.
Announcement by the Right Honourable Stephen Crapaud, Prime Minister of Canada and leader of the Libertarian Party
My fellow citizens we have been elected on a platform to lead a government that recognizes Canadians should be free to run their own lives and to this end there must be a major reduction in the size and power of government. A much smaller government with fewer taxes and regulations will no longer dominate your lives. The remaining members of the Conservative Party who were defeated in their reelection bid in 2010 are in full support of these objectives thus giving us a solid majority to carry out this mandate.
I am therefore pleased to announce our government's plan to continue downsizing and aggressively sell off major federal assets. This first sell-off initiatives will include opening bids for all national parks, lakes and highways. In the spirit of Globalization the bids will be open to foreign investors. Asian, US, Middle Eastern and Venezuelan investment funds have already expressed a keen interest.
This privatization plan meets several important objectives of this government namely;
the reduction in the size of your Federal Government
the privatization of crown assets thus ensuring sound business and profit making objectives are met,
a major reduction in the national debt through this sell-off.
Let me remind you that our successful 2010 campaign was based on a commitment to massively reduce government costs and thereby making it possible to realize our election promise to you of introducing a flat tax at a reduced rate of 8%. May I also remind you that this reform was enthusiastically supported by 65% of Canadian voters. We can take great pride in our accomplishments to date. Major tax reductions have already been achieved by integrating our medical services with the privatized Obama plan of our great neighbours to the south and thus eliminating socialized single payer medicine. We have also begun the process of eliminating the Old Age Pension. It will be replaced by soup kitchens and shelters for our less fortunate citizens. As private citizens you will now be free to choose between private insurers of your choice.
June 26th 2011 Announcing the Sale Of Crown Properties
I am pleased to announce the following successful bids
1. The Dubai Investment Group (DIG) has won the bid to acquire the Trans Canada Highway from Manitoba to the West Coast. After much negotiation a price of 650 billion dollars was agreed upon. Mr Rasheil bin Mahoody, of DIG has been appointed to the Chairman's position and will shortly appoint his board members and executives to run this enterprise.
2. The China Investment Fund (CIF) was the winning bidder for the National Parks located in British Columbia and Alberta. The agreed price was 1.7 trillion dollars and will include all hunting, fishing, timber and mineral rights. Mr Lee Con Lee of Shanghai has agreed to assume the position of Chairman of the Board. He will be bringing his executive team, yet to be announced, from China
As expected the Manitoba and Ontario Governments are raising some objections about selling off their section of the Trans Canada Highway and Ontario adds the Great Lakes and and the St Lawrence River to this dispute. Quebec politicians object to everything and are threatening independence again, but we are nevertheless confident we will resolve all these disputes shortly so that the bidding for these assets can get underway. As for Hudson's Bay and the Arctic Islands and Northwest Passage their sale is off the table for now until disputes between Russia and the USA are resolved.
July 12th 2011 Announcement
We are pleased to announce that the Chairmen of DIG and CIF have jointly submitted to the Federal Government their business plans for developing and managing these acquisitions,. The Trans Canada Highway will become a toll road. The roads, rail lines, pipelines and waterways entering the park will exact revenue from people and vehicles on entry and royalties will be applied to all shipments of minerals, and timber leaving these properties. In order to encourage the high price CIF was willing to pay and in accordance with Libertarian principles these operations will be unhindered by any form of regulation over the exploitation and methods employed. The Greens, NDP and some Liberals are agitating for environmental regulations and demonstrations are planned across Canada. Be assured that our police and military will be in attendance and will firmly deal with any trouble makers. In the spirit of Ayn Rand, the inspiration for Milton Friedman and Alan Greenspan, we have complete confidence that leaders of DIG and CIF will do the right thing.
August 17th 2011 PM's Progress Report
My fellow citizens, I am pleased to announce that DIG report that the tolls on the highway have been working successfully these past months. Traffic has continued to build. It has become clear however that operating costs are above expectations and the DCF Board have decided that it will be be necessary to lay off 40,000 employees to be replaced with less costly labour brought in under contract from the Philippines.
CIF have reported that the Parks are encountering serious problems with many campers and Native People entering via trails and through the brush and refusing to pay the fees. CIF have announced that they have no alternative but to build an electric fence around these properties. This will require 6,700 miles of electrified fencing. We are pleased to announce that a contract has been signed with India Steel of New Delhi to undertake this project.
December 5th 2011 Progress Report
My fellow citizens, this is a plea for the publics cooperation. There have been Native Peoples uprisings and violence over the park fencing project and a large group of unruly leftists have joined them. It has something to do with their hunting rights and the migration of animals. It is unfortunate that the NDP, Green Party, some Liberals and even some Conservatives are supporting their misguided cause. There have been reports of threats and violent confrontations. The employees of India Steel in fear for their lives have elected to go home. The RCMP have been called in to monitor the situation, Dick Cheney has been contracted as a consultant to offer advice on where we go from here (I understand he is very dangerous with a gun) and he is advising that we negotiate with Blackwater to see what can be done. You can appreciate that with the World watching our Global reputation is at stake here.
December 15th 2011 update
DIG report that the highways in Alberta and through Rogers Pass were closed for ten days owing to heavy snow storms. A 175 mile traffic back up of cars and trucks occurred and two sections of the highway have experienced serious avalanches that have yet to be cleared. We now realize that Dubai management and their Philippine staff had never encountered snow before and were staying indoors. We are currently bringing back some Canadian staff on a part time basis to tackle this problem. Needles to say this will be expensive and in order to sustain profit objectives tolls will be increased, Jan 1st 2012 by 30%.
June 12th 2012
Due to the public's unfortunate resistance to our new rates, highway usage has seriously dropped with excessive loads now backing up on secondary roads. DIG reports the TC highway has become unprofitable until this resistance is resolved. We have also learned that some automated toll booths have been blown up and traffic is entering freely, This must stop. Since the RCMP are fully committed to the problems in the parks we have asked the the Canadian Military as peace keepers to monitor the situation along the highways.
June 19th 2012
Mr Rasheil bin Mahoody of the DIG has announced that the toll system has broken down and traffic is defiantly moving freely again despite the presence of the military who are simply sitting by. Without funds the DIG has no alternative but to close the highways and send the Philippine workers home. Many are seeking asylum and the Immigration Department has this under review.
June 26th 2012
As for the parks it has become an all out war with our Native People and their leftist supporters doing battle with Blackwater. This is the height of the mosquito and black fly season and it has been reported that this is causing a great deal of suffering amongst Blackwater's mercenaries who have never encountered such a siege before. They have therefore asked permission to employ Drone aircraft (that have proved to be so successful in killing and terrorizing civilians and a few of the enemy in Afghanistan and Pakistan and can be courageously operated from comfortable offices in Texas). The Royal Canadian Mounted Police in protest and in fear of the Drones have gone on strike. It is their first strike since their mutiny in 1876 to protest against an unsavoury leader in Bow River, a location now known as Calgary, If Blackwater and their Drone attacks fail to win this struggle soon, all national parks will be closed until further notice.
August 7th 2012. Final report from The Right Honourable Stephen Crapaud
My fellow Canadians, I am speaking to you from the bunker under the Parliament buildings. The Native Canadians now supported by so many leftists have taken control of the buildings. I am watching on my television the large, noisy and jubilant crowds outside celebrating this disaster, undoubtedly NDPers, Greens, some Liberals and a few Conservatives. The RCMP and Military are standing aside; simply peace keepers and lacking backbone. My fellow Canadians, you have let this government down, I see on the TV monitor that this mob is now burning me in effigy and I fear for my life. This leaves me with no choice but to accept the Governor General's request for this Government to resign and for me to fly to Columbia in South America where their democratic government will welcome and protect me.
Aftermath as reported in The Globe and Pail. October 22nd 2012
The public is in an uproar. The elections of 2011 based on tax reforms were overwhelmingly supported by wealthy Canadians and most Albertans. Pensioners and the working class were deeply divided and it was looked upon negatively by box store employees and the unemployed. Since this latter group rarely cast a vote, the results from the election were inevitable. As for religious fundamentalists this chaos seemed to have all the signs of the Rapture. The Governor General has called for a temporary coalition government (in my opinion The Tower of Babel) to attend to immediate business until an election can be called.
Quebec announced separation on Sept 17th and has formed a political alliance with France and will be adopting the Euro. Both the English and French populations in Quebec are solidly behind this.
The DIG and CIF ( the sell-off projects) have been declared bankrupt and the Royal Bank and the Bank of Montreal and a host of hedge funds and their bond holders are left holding the bag. These losses combined with the 8% flat tax have left the Feds strapped. They hope to raise four trillion dollars to cover ongoing government expenses and to bail out the banks. Income from the taxpayer will be raised to pay for this. The bankrupt ventures(CIF and DIG),the banks and the government are currently working with a variety of foreign venture capitalists, Russian oligarchs and governments to find solutions.
To complicate matters the Greens, NDP and some Liberals have entered into discussions with Chavez and Morales to join Latin America's Bolivarian Revolution, the Native people have declared Nationhood in the parks, and Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC are seriously considering the formation of a Western Nation that will include the NW Territories and the Yukon. Sarah Palin has expressed Alaska's interest in joining this alliance. The Maritime Provinces have been lying low in all this until it all sorts out. Major oil findings have just been announced off the coast of Nova Scotia so they just might go the way of Norway.
When last heard from Stephen Crapaud is living comfortably on the coast of Colombia. His very young third wife found the past two years very stressful and decided not to join him. The were subsequently divorced and she is now happily married to her ex tennis coach who has been her good friend for many years.
Latest Report: December 3rd 2012
Stephen Crapaud and an 18 year old woman who was visiting with him at the time have been kidnapped. FARC claims responsibility and has taken them off into the jungle. They are asking for an undisclosed sum from the Canadian Government for their release. The five countries that have replaced Canada have this situation under review.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Assessing Obama's First 100 days - conversation with friends
George, thanks for passing on Matts thoughtful note to me. There is no question in my mind that Obama was clearly the best choice for America and it is too early to pass judgement. His words during the campaign raised exceptionally high expectations not only in America but throughout the world, a sense that a remarkable leader was emerging that would vigorously bring about much needed changes. My reading of the first hundred days is that many on the left have been disappointed by his incessant compromising and with some of his selections of key advisers he is listening to. The next hundred days will begin to answer whether this caution reflects a conviction that for political reasons big goals must be achieved by taking small steps, or whether he is simply a clever and moderate man with good intentions but devoid of any deep convictions in contrast to those that guided Jefferson, Lincoln, Teddy and Delano Roosevelt, Gandhi, De Gaulle, Mandela, Trudeau and some others I'm sure you could add to this list. Being less than pragmatic these leaders often blundered but on the whole the world benefited from their leadership and example. Obama has this opportunity. Here is an elaboration of some of my concerns:
* The Banking and Derivatives crisis - My biggest concern is the explosive growth of Hedge Funds and derivative products that have turned the financial world into a gambling casino. There were about 300 hedge funds in the 70's largely geared to managing the futures risk of businesses and currencies. Today there are over 10,000 hedge funds whose trading represents 50 times that of the entire world's GDP. To make matters worse most operate from tax havens. Entry fee to enter the casino is usually about 5 million dollars so if you are rich you can play. These Hedge funds produce nothing of value but someone wins and someone loses in this game; it is simply theft. They can destroy companies and bring down nations and reward themselves with yachts and mansions. Summers and Rubin led the charge to deregulate and merge merchant and conventional banking during Clinton's final days and thus this grotesque result. Its made Summers ( 8 million $ in 2008) and of course Rubin very rich - and Geithner is their protegé. This Casino mentality led to the irresponsible lending and spending frenzy that produced the bubble, impossible risk taking and a worldwide collapse. James Tobin had it right; a small transaction tax - say 0.1% of each transaction would virtually close up the casino. The modest changes lately recommended are a reflection of Obama's acceptance - or maybe lack of understanding - of what is happening. As for the many multi millionaires in congress and those beholding to the casinos, does a voting block actually exist for this to change? If we don't break the back of this and simply repair it, this theft will go on draining the nation's wealth while these thieves get richer.
* Afghanistan: Pakistan - When Obama made the decision to launch a drone attack on the day after his taking office that blew to bits a party of women and children I began to wonder how that loving father surrounded by his lovely family explained to them what he did. Now these cowardly attacks are a regular occurrence with a soccer mom or dad in Texas firing these off before getting back to the kids - an adults video game. Recently 147 more killed in one attack and 47 in another. How are we going to win the hearts and minds of 40 million Pashtuns by randomly killing innocent people. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/17-6 We murdered 3.5 million in Vietnam, another half million in Combodia and then had to flee; Reportedly about a million have died in Iraq , 4 million Sunnis have fled the country and we are still stuck there with no end in sight. Obama listens to his military tacticians who worry no farther than about the next days battles and American casualties so nothing seems to have changed from the Bush era. Oh Yes! there has been one change. He has fired the general in charge of Afghanistan/Pakistan and appointed General McChyrstal, reportedly Cheney's chief assassin http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/18 I suppose the goal is that if we kill everyone who doesn't want us there including blowing up or maiming their women and children those remaining will either be terrified or thankful. What in hell are we trying to do there? http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/16
* Cuba - Obama failing to lift the sanctions with some timid half measures, frightened by ageing Cuban exiles, hangers on from the dictator Batista's days. We recognize a large number of non democratic countries throughout the world plus some unsavoury so called democracies, so why was Obama so cautious in not ending these unjust sanctions. The Miami Cuban vote lost the election for Gore so maybe he has is eye on 2012. Again he has taken a tiny rather than a bold and obvious step that would immensely benefit both countries.
* Guatanamo, Abu Ghraib and Torture - Seems to be a policy of forgetting and forgiving and currently rationalizing while maintaining the military courts. What a disgrace! American justice after WWII ensured that Germany exposed its sins for the world to see and punished its leaders. America walks away from its guilt and the world isn't fooled and websites abound that show many of these pictures. As for the guilty, we jam up the jails with minor drug offenders in America while these murderers and torturers go free. Its off the table. Obama, where are you?
* Misc Internal issues - The big issue is health care and apparently Obama guided by his experts has rejected single payer despite the apparent overwhelming public support for it.http://robertreich.blogspot.com/I guess the political right see Europeans and Canadians as essentially a victimized lot in an evil socialist world. As for gun control, the gun lobby and their nutty adherents devoutly believe that the citizenry must be prepared to rise up against the government at any time. Evidently the latest nonsense is that they will now be able to bring the most modern rapid firing weapons into the nation's national parks. Bears beware! As for paying taxes to pay for anything this is just another government plot; leave those tax havens alone and debt is clearly the way to go (as long as the Chinese are prepared to finance it in return for now making all those things that American workers used to make). In short, Obama has been dragging his feet on some of this although he has taken some easy decisions like approving stem cell research and calling an end to the War on Drugs. Canada ended that nonsense when Trudeau decided that he wasn't going to fill our jails with minor drug offenders. I can take some pride in contributing to that decision when our research firm was commissioned by Trudeau to conduct a study on the Drug Culture and the Law.
* Israel - a real test to see whether Obama becomes the first President since Carter to take a firm stand. Leiberman their foreign minister is just another Le Penn, although much worse. Netanyahu obviously shares his values if he is using Leiberman as his attack dog. This will be a test for Obama. The left will be looking for the end of colonization, a two state solution, no preemptive strike against Iran, and Israel joining the nuclear club rather than remaining a rogue on the outside. If Israel resists then severe sanctions are in order. There will be no peace in the middle east if Obama waffles on this one. Simply rapping Netenyahu on the knuckles will leave the mess in place;
Before the year is out I think we will know whether Obama has the commitment and political power to change the direction in America. America seems to be on a permanent war time footing with an ever increasing military investment that employs directly and indirectly millions of Americans. It is America's Keynesian make work project and fills the air with patriotic fervour. We aren't much for history and have forgotten about Korea, put the unpleasantness of Vietnam out of our mind, are building compounds away from the cities in Iraq to house our permanent troops, because they don't like us there, and it is now on to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The killing toys will change but the wars will go on. Aside from the carnage it is a terrible waste of human creativity, effort and money that could be better employed to compete in an overcrowded and increasingly polluted world.
I was hoping that Obama could begin to lead America out of this wilderness and I am beginning to have my doubts.
Don
From: George
Hi Don,
I took the liberty of forwarding your recent note to Matt _. Matt and Cass recently returned to the States after some 25 years living in Provence. They are both opinionated and passionate leftists who have never toed the Democratic party line. Cass is (was?) an accomplished professional artist, while Matt was an exec in the rag trade. They now live near family in LA. They are good, caring friends who live and breathe politics (in the broadest sense of the word), and I have always found his opinions to be, at least, provocative (like yours)
G
Hi George, I don't think his sentiment is widespread and I do think he's too negative. I do understand what he is saying and agree with him primarily when he criticizes Obama's selections as his economic team as a whole and there he only mentions the big banking decisions..I think Obama is very pragmatic but nevertheless very strong. He dances to his own music and is making some ground(hard to see) with his bipartisanship. He's also preparing to attack using the people who worked for him during his campaign across the country. He's gradually building that resource as a grass roots pressure group which he will use. As for his criticism of not having kept out left wingers, that's a very blind sighted comment. He's surrounded himself, cabinet and tons of his selections in key positions to enforce the principles they've been hired to clean up and also reverse Bush's policies many of which he's already done. His use of the military is not puzzling as he's got to pull out as he's declared but getting out of Afghanistan and having it become a stronghold of terrorism again would be a mistake. Let's give him more time.He has plenty of support from people like Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd and support as well as criticism from Krugman. He never had single payer health plan on the table but always had his own plan which I think is not as good but hey, he's in the drivers seat. Your friend is looking for a miracle and the miracle is Obama. We got the best choice elected, would he have preferred Hillary? I think he knows and thinks better than he's expressing. He's not recognizing that this is a political world and Obama is moving in HIS WAY and I hope he's right. I have many concerns but I also recognize the unbelievable movements he's already made. Don't forget we're dealing with the democratic party which isn't as united and filled with greed and hate at the same level as are the republicans. Step back and keep up the hope, that's the only game we have.. Contribute to the groups he believes in whether they are move-on, PDAmerica, People for The American Way, and others who are lighting candles under Obama to move stronger but don't crawl into a negative inactive hole. I have to convince myself to have patience and watch this president work; they are something and I do respect a number of his close advisers.. Learn to appreciate what you have Don and give him more respect. The world view is a lot more favourable toward him than what you're showing. Did we have a better choice?
* The Banking and Derivatives crisis - My biggest concern is the explosive growth of Hedge Funds and derivative products that have turned the financial world into a gambling casino. There were about 300 hedge funds in the 70's largely geared to managing the futures risk of businesses and currencies. Today there are over 10,000 hedge funds whose trading represents 50 times that of the entire world's GDP. To make matters worse most operate from tax havens. Entry fee to enter the casino is usually about 5 million dollars so if you are rich you can play. These Hedge funds produce nothing of value but someone wins and someone loses in this game; it is simply theft. They can destroy companies and bring down nations and reward themselves with yachts and mansions. Summers and Rubin led the charge to deregulate and merge merchant and conventional banking during Clinton's final days and thus this grotesque result. Its made Summers ( 8 million $ in 2008) and of course Rubin very rich - and Geithner is their protegé. This Casino mentality led to the irresponsible lending and spending frenzy that produced the bubble, impossible risk taking and a worldwide collapse. James Tobin had it right; a small transaction tax - say 0.1% of each transaction would virtually close up the casino. The modest changes lately recommended are a reflection of Obama's acceptance - or maybe lack of understanding - of what is happening. As for the many multi millionaires in congress and those beholding to the casinos, does a voting block actually exist for this to change? If we don't break the back of this and simply repair it, this theft will go on draining the nation's wealth while these thieves get richer.
* Afghanistan: Pakistan - When Obama made the decision to launch a drone attack on the day after his taking office that blew to bits a party of women and children I began to wonder how that loving father surrounded by his lovely family explained to them what he did. Now these cowardly attacks are a regular occurrence with a soccer mom or dad in Texas firing these off before getting back to the kids - an adults video game. Recently 147 more killed in one attack and 47 in another. How are we going to win the hearts and minds of 40 million Pashtuns by randomly killing innocent people. http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/05/17-6 We murdered 3.5 million in Vietnam, another half million in Combodia and then had to flee; Reportedly about a million have died in Iraq , 4 million Sunnis have fled the country and we are still stuck there with no end in sight. Obama listens to his military tacticians who worry no farther than about the next days battles and American casualties so nothing seems to have changed from the Bush era. Oh Yes! there has been one change. He has fired the general in charge of Afghanistan/Pakistan and appointed General McChyrstal, reportedly Cheney's chief assassin http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/18 I suppose the goal is that if we kill everyone who doesn't want us there including blowing up or maiming their women and children those remaining will either be terrified or thankful. What in hell are we trying to do there? http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2009/05/16
* Cuba - Obama failing to lift the sanctions with some timid half measures, frightened by ageing Cuban exiles, hangers on from the dictator Batista's days. We recognize a large number of non democratic countries throughout the world plus some unsavoury so called democracies, so why was Obama so cautious in not ending these unjust sanctions. The Miami Cuban vote lost the election for Gore so maybe he has is eye on 2012. Again he has taken a tiny rather than a bold and obvious step that would immensely benefit both countries.
* Guatanamo, Abu Ghraib and Torture - Seems to be a policy of forgetting and forgiving and currently rationalizing while maintaining the military courts. What a disgrace! American justice after WWII ensured that Germany exposed its sins for the world to see and punished its leaders. America walks away from its guilt and the world isn't fooled and websites abound that show many of these pictures. As for the guilty, we jam up the jails with minor drug offenders in America while these murderers and torturers go free. Its off the table. Obama, where are you?
* Misc Internal issues - The big issue is health care and apparently Obama guided by his experts has rejected single payer despite the apparent overwhelming public support for it.http://robertreich.blogspot.com/I guess the political right see Europeans and Canadians as essentially a victimized lot in an evil socialist world. As for gun control, the gun lobby and their nutty adherents devoutly believe that the citizenry must be prepared to rise up against the government at any time. Evidently the latest nonsense is that they will now be able to bring the most modern rapid firing weapons into the nation's national parks. Bears beware! As for paying taxes to pay for anything this is just another government plot; leave those tax havens alone and debt is clearly the way to go (as long as the Chinese are prepared to finance it in return for now making all those things that American workers used to make). In short, Obama has been dragging his feet on some of this although he has taken some easy decisions like approving stem cell research and calling an end to the War on Drugs. Canada ended that nonsense when Trudeau decided that he wasn't going to fill our jails with minor drug offenders. I can take some pride in contributing to that decision when our research firm was commissioned by Trudeau to conduct a study on the Drug Culture and the Law.
* Israel - a real test to see whether Obama becomes the first President since Carter to take a firm stand. Leiberman their foreign minister is just another Le Penn, although much worse. Netanyahu obviously shares his values if he is using Leiberman as his attack dog. This will be a test for Obama. The left will be looking for the end of colonization, a two state solution, no preemptive strike against Iran, and Israel joining the nuclear club rather than remaining a rogue on the outside. If Israel resists then severe sanctions are in order. There will be no peace in the middle east if Obama waffles on this one. Simply rapping Netenyahu on the knuckles will leave the mess in place;
Before the year is out I think we will know whether Obama has the commitment and political power to change the direction in America. America seems to be on a permanent war time footing with an ever increasing military investment that employs directly and indirectly millions of Americans. It is America's Keynesian make work project and fills the air with patriotic fervour. We aren't much for history and have forgotten about Korea, put the unpleasantness of Vietnam out of our mind, are building compounds away from the cities in Iraq to house our permanent troops, because they don't like us there, and it is now on to Pakistan and Afghanistan. The killing toys will change but the wars will go on. Aside from the carnage it is a terrible waste of human creativity, effort and money that could be better employed to compete in an overcrowded and increasingly polluted world.
I was hoping that Obama could begin to lead America out of this wilderness and I am beginning to have my doubts.
Don
From: George
Hi Don,
I took the liberty of forwarding your recent note to Matt _. Matt and Cass recently returned to the States after some 25 years living in Provence. They are both opinionated and passionate leftists who have never toed the Democratic party line. Cass is (was?) an accomplished professional artist, while Matt was an exec in the rag trade. They now live near family in LA. They are good, caring friends who live and breathe politics (in the broadest sense of the word), and I have always found his opinions to be, at least, provocative (like yours)
G
Hi George, I don't think his sentiment is widespread and I do think he's too negative. I do understand what he is saying and agree with him primarily when he criticizes Obama's selections as his economic team as a whole and there he only mentions the big banking decisions..I think Obama is very pragmatic but nevertheless very strong. He dances to his own music and is making some ground(hard to see) with his bipartisanship. He's also preparing to attack using the people who worked for him during his campaign across the country. He's gradually building that resource as a grass roots pressure group which he will use. As for his criticism of not having kept out left wingers, that's a very blind sighted comment. He's surrounded himself, cabinet and tons of his selections in key positions to enforce the principles they've been hired to clean up and also reverse Bush's policies many of which he's already done. His use of the military is not puzzling as he's got to pull out as he's declared but getting out of Afghanistan and having it become a stronghold of terrorism again would be a mistake. Let's give him more time.He has plenty of support from people like Frank Rich, Maureen Dowd and support as well as criticism from Krugman. He never had single payer health plan on the table but always had his own plan which I think is not as good but hey, he's in the drivers seat. Your friend is looking for a miracle and the miracle is Obama. We got the best choice elected, would he have preferred Hillary? I think he knows and thinks better than he's expressing. He's not recognizing that this is a political world and Obama is moving in HIS WAY and I hope he's right. I have many concerns but I also recognize the unbelievable movements he's already made. Don't forget we're dealing with the democratic party which isn't as united and filled with greed and hate at the same level as are the republicans. Step back and keep up the hope, that's the only game we have.. Contribute to the groups he believes in whether they are move-on, PDAmerica, People for The American Way, and others who are lighting candles under Obama to move stronger but don't crawl into a negative inactive hole. I have to convince myself to have patience and watch this president work; they are something and I do respect a number of his close advisers.. Learn to appreciate what you have Don and give him more respect. The world view is a lot more favourable toward him than what you're showing. Did we have a better choice?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
We Broke it and Have to Change to Fix it
"The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs" by Aesop
A man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it. Then, they thought, they could obtain the whole store of precious metal at once; however, upon cutting the goose open, they found its innards to be like that of any other goose.
Sounds just like the story of our bankers and CEO's. Their greed tore apart the system that had worked and they "killed the goose that laid the Golden Egg". That Goose was the buying power of 300 million Americans. When the bubble burst and they lost 16 trillion dollars in the stock market and housing meltdown (an average of 50 thousand dollars for every man woman and child)they couldn't keep the Goose alive.
The economy has gone into the tank and we are investing trillions worldwide into quick starting a recovery to return everything back to what it was, but it can't return to what it was because we face two insurmountable problems:
1. Globalization in its present laissez-faire form has undermined the earning power of consumers in America and Western Europe, namely their domestic workforce, while shifting the nation's wealth into the hands of a small favoured elite. With the collapse of the housing bubble there simply isn't enough earning power in the hands of the public to sustain these economies. A handout in terms of tax relief or mortgage support might temporarily put off the damage but greed at the top has seriously crippled the very financial system that made them wealthy in the first place.
2. The American way of life is admired and copied around the world and this small planet can't handle it. The issue here is a progressively deteriorating environment and with it human suffering and dislocation, and eventually the issue of human survival. We simply must reshape how we intend to live and get on with it now.
In short, the system is badly wounded, we can' return to what it was before, and we have only a limited time to fix it.
A man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it. Then, they thought, they could obtain the whole store of precious metal at once; however, upon cutting the goose open, they found its innards to be like that of any other goose.
Sounds just like the story of our bankers and CEO's. Their greed tore apart the system that had worked and they "killed the goose that laid the Golden Egg". That Goose was the buying power of 300 million Americans. When the bubble burst and they lost 16 trillion dollars in the stock market and housing meltdown (an average of 50 thousand dollars for every man woman and child)they couldn't keep the Goose alive.
The economy has gone into the tank and we are investing trillions worldwide into quick starting a recovery to return everything back to what it was, but it can't return to what it was because we face two insurmountable problems:
1. Globalization in its present laissez-faire form has undermined the earning power of consumers in America and Western Europe, namely their domestic workforce, while shifting the nation's wealth into the hands of a small favoured elite. With the collapse of the housing bubble there simply isn't enough earning power in the hands of the public to sustain these economies. A handout in terms of tax relief or mortgage support might temporarily put off the damage but greed at the top has seriously crippled the very financial system that made them wealthy in the first place.
2. The American way of life is admired and copied around the world and this small planet can't handle it. The issue here is a progressively deteriorating environment and with it human suffering and dislocation, and eventually the issue of human survival. We simply must reshape how we intend to live and get on with it now.
In short, the system is badly wounded, we can' return to what it was before, and we have only a limited time to fix it.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
It's an Economic Disaster. Where to Now?
David Says:
Scenario A
- my expectation for the US is 15% unemployment, 15% inflation, 15 months to bottom, 15 years until it feels behind us.
- the rest of the world will suffer too, but in general not as dire.
Scenario B
- there is a risk that things will be much worse than my 15-Plan. What "much worse" means is hard to say, but perhaps inflation in excess of 20% such that it leads to food and petrol shortages, partial closing of the banks (i.e. you can only take out $100 / week), widespread disorder. The outcome of this blacker scenario is that after 15 years the ranks of the truly impoverished will have swollen enormously and many in the middle class will have lost all their savings and now be poor. America may end up feeling more like Argentina or Greece or Thailand -- it's not Kenya or Myanmar but still it's a long way down for many, many Americans.
- how this will affect the rest of the world is hard to say. Still, I think the rest of the world will re-organize so that they don't depend on the US anymore, not unimportant but not enough to hold your whole economy to ransom.
- there is also the possibility that the US would slip into true fascism. Luckily Bush did a good job of discrediting the fascist movement and this may in fact save democracy.
Just to summarize a few generalities that caught my attention:
- political risk means everything is a little to a lot worse than we would otherwise expect
- the US & UK will be driven to high inflation eventually, it's the only way to get rid of the debt
- all in all we are heading for an L recession not a U
- even as we get settled into the L we need to recognize that many aspects of both our national and international economic & political orders are failing.
- Global warming is going to cause even greater political and economic disruption perhaps just as we are at the end of the financially caused L-recession.
- we need ideological, technological and institutional innovation
My Comments and Conclusion
Your Scenario A as the melt down accelerates now seems quite likely. We haven't seen the bottom yet. In today's Reuters (Jan 29th) they report a Goldman Sachs estimate that the cost of restoring confidence in the US banking system could reach four trillion dollars. That amounts to one third of US GDP. If this is true the US banking system is bankrupt so the end is nowhere in sight. If a trillion of this is left on the Federal books they claim that the economy is dead. Its not reassuring to hear that our rich experts in Davos who created this disaster are in a state of utter confusing about this.
Scenario B will happen if Democrats join Republicans in a state of denial and fail to come to grips with the cumulative consequence of a failed culture, values and its excesses. This gluttonous disaster was a long time in coming but when the Russian economy collapsed in the mid 80's a wave of euphoria swept the capitalist world. We had won and led by the USA we set out on a voyage of self indulgence. Reaganomics was in, Ayn Rand an icon, and the Chicago School and Harvard led the ideological charge.
Deregulation, an unsustainable easy credit culture, laissez-faire Globalization and the creation of financial instruments to bury risks became the tools to enhance personal wealth, particularly for the chosen few with power. The business schools of America taught a generation of leaders that finance and marketing is what it is all about and that manufacturing should be shipped off to sub continents to eliminate costly employees, taxation and the nuisance of environmental demands. It didn't take genius to realize how quickly this model shifted wealth in America to the top. It worked so well that business leaders in Great Britain and Europe quickly latched onto it as well. It was all about "ME".
The working class were seduced into participating in this self destructive fiasco by easy credit terms that fed the housing bubble hiding their stagnant incomes beneath ballooning gains in property values. In the final years of this myth of plenty, in order to keep it going "nothing down and payments later" and "credit cards for everyone" encouraged even the minimum wage box store and field workers to climb on board this eternal gravy train. In the meantime the public was diverted by a Keynesian thrust into endless wars that appealed to their patriotic fervour while neglecting those essential public investments that contribute to achieving a fair and civilized society. They willingly set aside investments in the environment, social benefits, education, health care and infrastructure because they represented a government intrusion into their insatiable pursuit of personal gratification. In dumbing down the public they came to believe that these public investments represented a "socialist threat to our freedom".
We have created a worldwide mess that is out of control. Confusion reigns. Can we return things back to where we were by throwing money at it? I don't think so? It would only lead to further collapse of the working class and result in David's Scenario B. Is a new direction for America needed to rebuild the nation? Definitely yes. This is a time for self criticism and finding a better model for running the Nation. I want to believe that Obama has a vision of a very different America calling for an end to cowboy capitalism and demanding that the government plays a much larger and more aggressive role in setting and managing policies and the nation's goals. Americans have to get over their hang ups about words like liberalism and socialism and accept the vital role of a government to lead with vision, policies and regulations and thus serving the interests of its citizens. The past twenty years has clearly demonstrated that CEO's and major shareholders in the private sector preoccupied with personal profits and shareholders equity act in their own interest even if it is at the expense of the nation. The libertarian view that no government is good government is an absurdity. As David points out we urgently need to explore ideological, technological and institutional innovation to find some answers. The system as we know it is broken and we have to find a new one.
Scenario A
- my expectation for the US is 15% unemployment, 15% inflation, 15 months to bottom, 15 years until it feels behind us.
- the rest of the world will suffer too, but in general not as dire.
Scenario B
- there is a risk that things will be much worse than my 15-Plan. What "much worse" means is hard to say, but perhaps inflation in excess of 20% such that it leads to food and petrol shortages, partial closing of the banks (i.e. you can only take out $100 / week), widespread disorder. The outcome of this blacker scenario is that after 15 years the ranks of the truly impoverished will have swollen enormously and many in the middle class will have lost all their savings and now be poor. America may end up feeling more like Argentina or Greece or Thailand -- it's not Kenya or Myanmar but still it's a long way down for many, many Americans.
- how this will affect the rest of the world is hard to say. Still, I think the rest of the world will re-organize so that they don't depend on the US anymore, not unimportant but not enough to hold your whole economy to ransom.
- there is also the possibility that the US would slip into true fascism. Luckily Bush did a good job of discrediting the fascist movement and this may in fact save democracy.
Just to summarize a few generalities that caught my attention:
- political risk means everything is a little to a lot worse than we would otherwise expect
- the US & UK will be driven to high inflation eventually, it's the only way to get rid of the debt
- all in all we are heading for an L recession not a U
- even as we get settled into the L we need to recognize that many aspects of both our national and international economic & political orders are failing.
- Global warming is going to cause even greater political and economic disruption perhaps just as we are at the end of the financially caused L-recession.
- we need ideological, technological and institutional innovation
My Comments and Conclusion
Your Scenario A as the melt down accelerates now seems quite likely. We haven't seen the bottom yet. In today's Reuters (Jan 29th) they report a Goldman Sachs estimate that the cost of restoring confidence in the US banking system could reach four trillion dollars. That amounts to one third of US GDP. If this is true the US banking system is bankrupt so the end is nowhere in sight. If a trillion of this is left on the Federal books they claim that the economy is dead. Its not reassuring to hear that our rich experts in Davos who created this disaster are in a state of utter confusing about this.
Scenario B will happen if Democrats join Republicans in a state of denial and fail to come to grips with the cumulative consequence of a failed culture, values and its excesses. This gluttonous disaster was a long time in coming but when the Russian economy collapsed in the mid 80's a wave of euphoria swept the capitalist world. We had won and led by the USA we set out on a voyage of self indulgence. Reaganomics was in, Ayn Rand an icon, and the Chicago School and Harvard led the ideological charge.
Deregulation, an unsustainable easy credit culture, laissez-faire Globalization and the creation of financial instruments to bury risks became the tools to enhance personal wealth, particularly for the chosen few with power. The business schools of America taught a generation of leaders that finance and marketing is what it is all about and that manufacturing should be shipped off to sub continents to eliminate costly employees, taxation and the nuisance of environmental demands. It didn't take genius to realize how quickly this model shifted wealth in America to the top. It worked so well that business leaders in Great Britain and Europe quickly latched onto it as well. It was all about "ME".
The working class were seduced into participating in this self destructive fiasco by easy credit terms that fed the housing bubble hiding their stagnant incomes beneath ballooning gains in property values. In the final years of this myth of plenty, in order to keep it going "nothing down and payments later" and "credit cards for everyone" encouraged even the minimum wage box store and field workers to climb on board this eternal gravy train. In the meantime the public was diverted by a Keynesian thrust into endless wars that appealed to their patriotic fervour while neglecting those essential public investments that contribute to achieving a fair and civilized society. They willingly set aside investments in the environment, social benefits, education, health care and infrastructure because they represented a government intrusion into their insatiable pursuit of personal gratification. In dumbing down the public they came to believe that these public investments represented a "socialist threat to our freedom".
We have created a worldwide mess that is out of control. Confusion reigns. Can we return things back to where we were by throwing money at it? I don't think so? It would only lead to further collapse of the working class and result in David's Scenario B. Is a new direction for America needed to rebuild the nation? Definitely yes. This is a time for self criticism and finding a better model for running the Nation. I want to believe that Obama has a vision of a very different America calling for an end to cowboy capitalism and demanding that the government plays a much larger and more aggressive role in setting and managing policies and the nation's goals. Americans have to get over their hang ups about words like liberalism and socialism and accept the vital role of a government to lead with vision, policies and regulations and thus serving the interests of its citizens. The past twenty years has clearly demonstrated that CEO's and major shareholders in the private sector preoccupied with personal profits and shareholders equity act in their own interest even if it is at the expense of the nation. The libertarian view that no government is good government is an absurdity. As David points out we urgently need to explore ideological, technological and institutional innovation to find some answers. The system as we know it is broken and we have to find a new one.
Saturday, January 03, 2009
The Israeli/Arab Nightmare
A response to a friend
Your friend in Israel is of course right in saying that fundamentalism is the root problem. Fundamentalism inevitably invites a clash between religion and the state. When neither side has power, chaos is inevitable. Fundamentalists of all faiths, ever since man invented religion, believe that God is on their side and they posses divine rights. There can be no reasoning with Fundamentalists since it is God's hand that guides them. In the US evangelical fundamentalism is a political menace that has destroyed the Republican Party and for insane reasons interferes in Middle Eastern affairs; Israeli Fundamentalists spread colonies throughout the West Bank because it is their Holy Land, and In Muslim countries it is a holy crusade to recapture the Holy Land that was finally lost to them with the partitioning of Israel in 1947.
If God backed out of the picture then I think a solution could be achieved. The Jewish Sate of Israel is a modern state that exists and will continue to exist. Its existence, in a rational world would provide an immense and beneficial influence to its Arab neighbours. And in return for safety guarantees for The Jewish State the settlers who have spread their colonies throughout The West Bank would pack up and go home. No country in the world would accept this unwelcome intrusion. Will the Arabs and Israeli's agree to this? No, because Fundamentalists have a disproportionate influence on both sides and it has become a Holy war.
I ran our consulting practise in Malaysia for three years. My consultants were a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian - mostly with MA's from British Australian and US Universities - plus myself and one other Canadian. My clients included the Central Bank, The Government of Malaysia, mega large industrial organizations such as the National Oil Company and Airlines, plus clients in other countries in SE Asia. I lived in a modern predominately Muslim world but where other races and religions were tolerated and shared neighbourhoods and power. The Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, firmly stamped out religious extremism and ran the country with a firm hand to create a modern state. All races and religions are welcome members of the Malaysian community. My Malaysian clients and friends would live comfortably in any seaboard part of the USA (not so sure about Utah). Was this easy to accomplish? No. Was he at times dictatorial? Yes, but in the space of twenty years he brought the country from fanaticism to a progressive society. It parallelled what Lee Kuan Yew accomplished in Singapore. Did he make nasty comments about Jews? Yes, but no worse than what I am hearing about Muslims in Europe and North America, and Irene (my Jewish wife) was fully accepted in Malaysia. In short a prosperous and well functioning modern state with the Fundamentalists more on the fringe now than they are in the United States and on both sides of the partitioned State of Israel.
There is a growing belief in the Western World that the Muslim faith is inherently violent and intolerant. We are becoming anti-Muslim. If we look at the last thousand years of Christendom we were a murderous and vengeful bunch as well and it hasn't let up in the past century. Our preachers are just ordinary members of our tribe and our God follows our armies against their God.
The farces of borders in the Middle East were largely drawn up in British and French boardrooms. They imposed leaders that served their selfish commercial objectives and people were thrown together that had little in common. The Pakistan/Afghan border a pure invention. Kabul never was the capital in the eyes of various Afghan factions; Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis were tossed together in half a dozen countries and detested tyrants and rulers like the Shah, Saudi Kings, Saddam and others were either imposed or supported by us to hold it together. In short a breeding ground for fanaticism and unrest as citizens looked to their mosques rather than their hated leaders. To a large extent we have created a Frankenstein and now Israelis and the Arab people and with the support of major nations stepping in, will have to deal with it.
Where I take issue with your Israeli friend is when she states that no imposed solution can have durability. I agree that imposed settlements leave open wounds but there are examples of where they have worked. I can't see the world standing aside as Israelis and Arabs continue slaughtering each other while the hatreds deepen as the conflict spreads to other parts of the Arab world, including Iran. The world is watching with horror and it will surely breed anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic feelings everywhere, a guaranteed recruiting climate for violence and terrorism. As Arab strength grows over time and as hostilities deepen this can only lead to a disastrous end. Both sides must accept an imposed settlement and help with a firm hand from third parties. There is no other acceptable option.
Your friend in Israel is of course right in saying that fundamentalism is the root problem. Fundamentalism inevitably invites a clash between religion and the state. When neither side has power, chaos is inevitable. Fundamentalists of all faiths, ever since man invented religion, believe that God is on their side and they posses divine rights. There can be no reasoning with Fundamentalists since it is God's hand that guides them. In the US evangelical fundamentalism is a political menace that has destroyed the Republican Party and for insane reasons interferes in Middle Eastern affairs; Israeli Fundamentalists spread colonies throughout the West Bank because it is their Holy Land, and In Muslim countries it is a holy crusade to recapture the Holy Land that was finally lost to them with the partitioning of Israel in 1947.
If God backed out of the picture then I think a solution could be achieved. The Jewish Sate of Israel is a modern state that exists and will continue to exist. Its existence, in a rational world would provide an immense and beneficial influence to its Arab neighbours. And in return for safety guarantees for The Jewish State the settlers who have spread their colonies throughout The West Bank would pack up and go home. No country in the world would accept this unwelcome intrusion. Will the Arabs and Israeli's agree to this? No, because Fundamentalists have a disproportionate influence on both sides and it has become a Holy war.
I ran our consulting practise in Malaysia for three years. My consultants were a mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian - mostly with MA's from British Australian and US Universities - plus myself and one other Canadian. My clients included the Central Bank, The Government of Malaysia, mega large industrial organizations such as the National Oil Company and Airlines, plus clients in other countries in SE Asia. I lived in a modern predominately Muslim world but where other races and religions were tolerated and shared neighbourhoods and power. The Prime Minister, Dr Mahathir, firmly stamped out religious extremism and ran the country with a firm hand to create a modern state. All races and religions are welcome members of the Malaysian community. My Malaysian clients and friends would live comfortably in any seaboard part of the USA (not so sure about Utah). Was this easy to accomplish? No. Was he at times dictatorial? Yes, but in the space of twenty years he brought the country from fanaticism to a progressive society. It parallelled what Lee Kuan Yew accomplished in Singapore. Did he make nasty comments about Jews? Yes, but no worse than what I am hearing about Muslims in Europe and North America, and Irene (my Jewish wife) was fully accepted in Malaysia. In short a prosperous and well functioning modern state with the Fundamentalists more on the fringe now than they are in the United States and on both sides of the partitioned State of Israel.
There is a growing belief in the Western World that the Muslim faith is inherently violent and intolerant. We are becoming anti-Muslim. If we look at the last thousand years of Christendom we were a murderous and vengeful bunch as well and it hasn't let up in the past century. Our preachers are just ordinary members of our tribe and our God follows our armies against their God.
The farces of borders in the Middle East were largely drawn up in British and French boardrooms. They imposed leaders that served their selfish commercial objectives and people were thrown together that had little in common. The Pakistan/Afghan border a pure invention. Kabul never was the capital in the eyes of various Afghan factions; Kurds, Shiites and Sunnis were tossed together in half a dozen countries and detested tyrants and rulers like the Shah, Saudi Kings, Saddam and others were either imposed or supported by us to hold it together. In short a breeding ground for fanaticism and unrest as citizens looked to their mosques rather than their hated leaders. To a large extent we have created a Frankenstein and now Israelis and the Arab people and with the support of major nations stepping in, will have to deal with it.
Where I take issue with your Israeli friend is when she states that no imposed solution can have durability. I agree that imposed settlements leave open wounds but there are examples of where they have worked. I can't see the world standing aside as Israelis and Arabs continue slaughtering each other while the hatreds deepen as the conflict spreads to other parts of the Arab world, including Iran. The world is watching with horror and it will surely breed anti-Muslim and anti-Semitic feelings everywhere, a guaranteed recruiting climate for violence and terrorism. As Arab strength grows over time and as hostilities deepen this can only lead to a disastrous end. Both sides must accept an imposed settlement and help with a firm hand from third parties. There is no other acceptable option.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Israel - a Plan to Inflame the Middle East?
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Israeli warplanes retaliating for rocket fire from the Gaza Strip pounded dozens of security compounds across the Hamas-ruled territory in unprecedented waves of airstrikes Saturday, killing more than 200 people and wounding nearly 400 in the single bloodiest day of fighting in years.
Israeli air strikes hit Gaza for a second day, Hamas calls for a third Intifada ...
Is it a coincidence that this attack on Gaza preceded Obama's inauguration by a few weeks? Was this timing preplanned to present him with a fait accompli in Gaza while inflaming the Middle East and in particular Iran? Israel has repeatedly stated their intention to bomb Iran and this will preempt any attempt of Obama's team to open up discussions with Middle Eastern leaders. I suspect that Cheney, Perle, Lieberman and Wolfowitz are popping open the champagne as I write this.
"We need to finish this once and for all and strike back hard," said next-door neighbor ....
Maybe this neighbour has in mind a genocide to kill all of them. After all they are thugs and terrorists to fight back and resist us. Israeli settlers continue their illegal expropriation of land throughout the Palestinian territories. Evidently they claim that Jehovah of the Old Testament has decided this "Holy" land belongs to the Israelites and should be taken away from the Palestinian people. Evangelicals support these beliefs only because their Jesus needs this land as the landing site for his imminent Second Coming when he will descend filled with wrath and all but a chosen few will die in a fiery Holocaust. Not sure how Jesus will work this out with Jehovah (his dad), since he has decided that people of all faiths and non believers will perish.
It staggers the imagination that any functioning human being can believe such utter rubbish but in many democracies the voting strength of this lot wins many elections and they must be treated seriously. In the Americas 90% of the native population was systematically eliminated through genocide and disease following the arrival of European settlers. Our genocide back then was called "God's work" and things haven't changed much since then.
Three weeks is a long time for the Democrats to sit this one out. Hopefully leading nations who have a vital interest in this matter such as Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China and will immediately unite with American, Israeli and Hamas leaders in a common cause to control the damage. The stakes are too high to do otherwise. It's not clear to me what direct role Obama's team will have before his inauguration but I am sure their voices will be heard.
Israeli air strikes hit Gaza for a second day, Hamas calls for a third Intifada ...
Is it a coincidence that this attack on Gaza preceded Obama's inauguration by a few weeks? Was this timing preplanned to present him with a fait accompli in Gaza while inflaming the Middle East and in particular Iran? Israel has repeatedly stated their intention to bomb Iran and this will preempt any attempt of Obama's team to open up discussions with Middle Eastern leaders. I suspect that Cheney, Perle, Lieberman and Wolfowitz are popping open the champagne as I write this.
"We need to finish this once and for all and strike back hard," said next-door neighbor ....
Maybe this neighbour has in mind a genocide to kill all of them. After all they are thugs and terrorists to fight back and resist us. Israeli settlers continue their illegal expropriation of land throughout the Palestinian territories. Evidently they claim that Jehovah of the Old Testament has decided this "Holy" land belongs to the Israelites and should be taken away from the Palestinian people. Evangelicals support these beliefs only because their Jesus needs this land as the landing site for his imminent Second Coming when he will descend filled with wrath and all but a chosen few will die in a fiery Holocaust. Not sure how Jesus will work this out with Jehovah (his dad), since he has decided that people of all faiths and non believers will perish.
It staggers the imagination that any functioning human being can believe such utter rubbish but in many democracies the voting strength of this lot wins many elections and they must be treated seriously. In the Americas 90% of the native population was systematically eliminated through genocide and disease following the arrival of European settlers. Our genocide back then was called "God's work" and things haven't changed much since then.
Three weeks is a long time for the Democrats to sit this one out. Hopefully leading nations who have a vital interest in this matter such as Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China and will immediately unite with American, Israeli and Hamas leaders in a common cause to control the damage. The stakes are too high to do otherwise. It's not clear to me what direct role Obama's team will have before his inauguration but I am sure their voices will be heard.
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