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eniwetok

eniwetok's Journal
eniwetok's Journal
September 18, 2016

The Danger Of The Johnson Campaign

I can understand why oppressed groups engage in identity politics but the danger is that they then may place issues of economic justice on the back burner. And for that reason I fear is too many millennials will be attracted by the libertarian position on drugs and other social issues and ignore how dangerous and irresponsible his libertarian economic positions are.

September 18, 2016

Where's Trump's Birth Certificate?

Once we go down the road of birtherism... there's no end to end to the lunacy. So what if we turn it back on him?

So has Trump ever proved who he is with his long form birth certificate? He claimed he didn't know if Obama's birth certificate was genuine so has Trump had his own BC certified as authentic? How would we know? Are there witnesses who went with him to get his BC at city hall? How do we know those city clerks weren't bribed? How do we know we don't have a "fake" Trump impersonating the real Trump who was murdered long ago? Has Trump ever provided his DNA along with that of a sibling to prove they are related? And even if they are related... can they prove they are really Trumps? Hmmmm.... I think we need to dig deeper into the background of this person who CLAIMS to be Donald Trump!! The Constitution demands it.

As I said... once we go down this road... there's no end to the lunacy.

May 16, 2016

CLASSIFIED 28 Pages: Was Bush Protecting His Lies For Iraq War? Is Obama Protecting Bush?

The Congressional Joint Intelligence Committee launched its investigation into the 911 attacks in February 2002 http://fas.org/irp/crs/RL31650.pdf and the final report was release in Dec 2002... that is all but 28 pages classified by Bush Junta.

The thinking has long focused that this section of the report was classified to protect Saudi Arabia. But what if Bush had another motive? And what if Obama does as well for keeping this report classified?

Late 2002 was a critical time for Bush's campaign for his illegal war of aggression against Iraq. The propaganda campaign against the American public had been intensified since the spring. Bush managed to get through Congress approval for a war if certain conditions were met. One condition was to get the approval of the UN Security Consul.

In December 2002 the US was at the UN trying to manipulate the UN Security Consul into approving new WMD inspectors for Iraq. But behind the scene Powell was pushing for language that would allow the US to invade Iraq on its own should Iraq be found in material breach of previous UN resolutions on WMDs. That ploy failed. In January 03 Colin Powell went to the UN to make the case for war. He never had much of a case and his dishonestly haunts him to this day.

And yet domestically the Bush Junta's systematic campaign of lies had worked. Back in 2002-03 about 70% of the US public believed invading Iraq was in retaliation for 911 and about 85% of the GIs going to fight in Iraq did as well.

Would releasing the FULL Congressional Joint Intelligence Committee's report on 911 in December 2002 have undermined the lies Bush was telling about Iraq? Surely it would have. We can understand Bush's motives. But why after nearly 8 years has Obama refuse to release these 28 pages?

We know that even before Obama took office he signaled he'd not investigate possible war crimes and illegal spying domestic activities by Bush.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/12/us/politics/12inquire.html

https://jonathanturley.org/2010/12/02/wikileaks-obama-administration-secretly-worked-to-prevent-prosecution-of-war-crimes-by-the-bush-administration/

Is Obama protecting the Saudi's or his decision not to prosecute members of the Bush administration? Is he protecting the illusion that those 4000 and possibly a half million Iraqi civilians died for nothing?

Like with Obama's refusal to go after Wall Street thieves and sociopaths... we may never know.



April 22, 2016

Trump's Reinvention Of Slavery: Dubai's Trump International Golf Resort.

Trump talks a mean game about globalization... as if it's something he wants to fix. And indeed, he does... in the favor of those who outsource and exploit. His past statements that US wages are too high is proof of that... as is his own outsourcing for some Trump products. But the exploitation goes further... as a new VICE investigation into working conditions at the new Trump International Golf complex in Dubai prove.

http://www.wnyc.org/story/migrant-workers-dubai-deplorable-conditions/

Foreign "guest" workers are routinely lied to about the wages they'll get... and live in deplorable conditions. If they protest, they're deported and go into debt for not fulfilling their contracts.

De facto slavery will never go away. It will always be reinvented.

April 13, 2016

DOOM's Not Dead... it's getting better

Anyone here an old Doomer. Never had it for my old Amiga, but it was the first game I bought for my PSX back in 95.

The original Doom never died. Fans have worked to update the original game's textures, lighting effects, etc adding new weapons, maps and campaigns.

Here's just one of several free versions... called Brutal Doom... and it's more gory than the original. The creatures have more tricks up their sleeves and better AI. Review here: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/06/08/brutal-doom-v20-released/

Download here: http://www.moddb.com/mods/brutal-doom/downloads/brutal-doom-hell-on-earth-starter-pack

It comes as a zip file which you should unzip it to some place you can find. The game is portable, needing no installation. Just click on the gzdoom - PLAY BRUTAL DOOM.exe link.

There's a manual in the folder.... but it might be best to just try playing it. Movement is with the w/a/d/x keys.... E is the action key to open doors. Hint to get out of the first room you need to kick or shoot the switch. To change weapons... once you get new ones.... use F1, F2 keys. Game files from older versions can be added to the folder and played.

I believe this game can be played on line.

April 8, 2016

Here's The Moral Basis For Progressive Taxation

Sorry for the title change... I think this new one better describes the topic...

Bernie often says corporations and the rich need to "pay their fair share"... and sure. Sounds good. But I have no idea what it means. Some seem to think that if I dare suggest such a phrase be fleshed out... that I'm a closet right winger when what I want the left to do is come up with a strong narrative for progressive taxation. So... to borrow what I've posted in the Thom Hartmann forum...

What would Steve Job's concept for the iPhone be worth in an impoverished 3ed or 4th world nation without the prerequisite prior inventions or necessary infrastructure to exploit that idea?

What infrastructure? How about a nation secure from invasion provided by our military? How about law enforcement provided by various federal, state, and local agencies? What about our highways, harbors, and airports that allow for easy transport of product to market? How about a literate and educated workforce? What about a economic system that allows for the existence of limited liability corporations which facilitate business by protecting the private property of business owners and shareholders. What about FREE intellectual property monopolies such as patents, copyrights and trademarks? What about FREE limited liability protection for corporations and shareholders. What would be the added costs if a corporation had to purchase the above as insurance in the private market? What about a judicial system to protect such freebies and oversee contract laws? What about stable monetary and banking systems from which to get credit? What about a regulated stock market that permits corporations to raise capital? What about subsidized capital gains tax rates? Arguably the business was the nations first official welfare program.

What about a system to insure public health... from clean water to vaccination programs to prevent pandemics? What of publicly financed basic research that saves companies money in R&D? What of a system that redistributes wealth so poor states or towns aren't left behind or a nation that permits workers enough income to provide demand for products?

When run well, the public and private sectors bootstrap each other to higher levels of prosperity. Without such infrastructures, that killer idea for Steve Job's iPhone would be worth nothing. Great wealth might not even be possible. And THIS is the moral basis for a strongly progressive tax code... that the rich pay more for their use of these freebies and infrastructure. Perhaps the income tax should be renamed the Opportunity Tax. It's a tax on the opportunity this nation provides to accumulate wealth.

April 7, 2016

Political Catch Phrases Constrict Thought?

When we hear the Right use the term "pro-choice" it contains built-in argument... and implies that anyone who disagrees must therefore be "anti-life". Some do think in such simplistic terms. In reality, it usually means anti-abortion... unless there's some moral consistency being against the death penalty and war. Religious freedom for the Right often just means their right to discriminate or oppress others. "War On Xmas" is another such laughable phrase given that Xmas is our nation's most obnoxious holiday... in our faces for an entire month. "Self made" might fit the category since it implies complete independence in what one has earned... while it sweeps under the rug all those backdoor freebies government gives to business... free limited liability protection for corporations and shareholders, low tax rates for capital gains, free intellectual property monopolies, etc.

So when I hear Dems throw around terms like corporations and the rich must pay their "fair share" in taxes... it's a similar phrase with a built in argument. OF COURSE they should pay their "fair share"... but the phrase doesn't provide any criteria for what "fair share" even means... a topic for another thread, perhaps. "Living wage" is another such phrase... that sounds meaningful and good intentioned... and anyone who disagrees with some arbitrary number must be for predatory employment. Again, it's just a phrase anyone can project anything they want into. Depending on a worker's circumstances a "living wage" might still not be enough, or it might be pure gravy. Democracy is another such phrase that's often used by liberal Dems. But when one scratches the surface almost without exception we find what's being supported is un- or antidemocratic

So I think we should be cautious throwing around such catch phrases that lack operative definitions.



April 6, 2016

Let's pay 16 year olds $31.2k to sweep floors!!!!

Raising the minimum wage to $15 over the next 4-5-6 years in high flying urban areas may make perfect sense. But does $15 make sense as a NATIONAL minimum wage... to be applied to ALL areas of the nation... be they high flying urban areas or depressed backwaters?

Is the owner of Joe's Garage in East Coalcake WV or the owner of the KKK General Store in Jeb Stuartville MS really going to pay some 16 year old $31.2k a year to sweep floors, pick up trash, and clean toilets when those owners may just be getting by on $25k?


15
40 ×
52 ×
--------------------------
$31,200 =

Add to that the employer will have to pay another $1200+ in extra FICA over the current MW.

Of course it's scandalous that Washington has allowed the MW to depreciate from it's highest value... which would be $10.95 today. Someone's been making off with that value that should have been going to workers. But it's oh so easy for some here to say OF COURSE those businesses should pay $15... when it's someone else's money! Anything less is predatory employment! OF COURSE there won't be any disruptions to the economy. If anyone disagrees THEY ARE RIGHT WINGERS: IGNORE!!!

I love Bernie... but I think some of the justifications and accusations I've been hearing on this board for a $15 national MW are just nutty. It's one thing to use it as an opening gambit in negotiations. It's another to believe it MUST be the ultimate goal.



April 6, 2016

Trump's Continued Descent Into Paranoia. (I can't wait for the GOP convention!)

The Trump campaign issued this gracious concession over his loss in Wisconsin yesterday...

Donald J. Trump withstood the onslaught of the establishment yet again. Lyin’ Ted Cruz had the Governor of Wisconsin, many conservative talk radio show hosts, and the entire party apparatus behind him. Not only was he propelled by the anti-Trump Super PAC’s spending countless millions of dollars on false advertising against Mr. Trump, but he was illegally coordinating with his own Super PAC’s (which is illegal) who totally control him. Ted Cruz is worse than a puppet—he is a Trojan horse, being used by the party bosses attempting to steal the nomination from Mr. Trump. We had total confidence that Mr. Trump will go on to win in New York, where he holds a substantial lead in all the polls, and beyond. Mr. Trump is the only candidate who can secure the delegates needed to win the Republican nomination and ultimately defeat Hillary Clinton, or whomever is the Democratic nominee, in order to Make America Great Again.

http://dailycaller.com/2016/04/05/trump-blames-wisconsin-loss-on-party-bosses-attempting-to-steal-the-nomination/

True Trump has every reason to be paranoid given that the GOP is looking for every reason to sabotage his campaign. But he had two choices... to make a gracious concession as Hillary did... or to act like the narcissistic buffoon we know him to be. He didn't disappoint. He's deliberately whipping up his base to make them more hostile to the GOP... and I'm loving it. July can't come fast enough. I can't wait for the GOP convention... and may it be open carry!

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Hometown: Spiritual home: the rocky Maine coast
Member since: Sun Mar 27, 2016, 07:06 PM
Number of posts: 1,629

About eniwetok

Greetings... what can I say? I'm an old time hippie and anti-war activist from the 60's. I was radicalized then and have always remained political. One's politics can have different aspects. Economically I'm an FDR liberal. Socially I believe in the Ninth Amendment that government has no legitimate power to limit some rights such as responsible drug use, the right to choose, or one's sexual behavior. Politically I'm to the left of the Democratic Party. Why? Over the years I realized the focus of activists should not be stamping out brush fires and putting band-aids on problems. The effort must always be to keep in mind the root of most of our problems such as wealth inequality, growing corporate power, voter apathy, climate change, etc... is an electoral system that is incapable of measuring the popular will and a political system that is incapable of implementing it. Sadly, the Democratic Party seems to need a push to find a greater appreciation for... and to work towards, implementing common sense democratic reforms to both those electoral and political systems.
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