Elections 2016

What the ostensibly in charge political parties or the media may have you think notwithstanding, the oncoming presidential elections of November, 2016 are Republican vs. Democrats in name only. Ignore what I am telling you at your own peril and that of the democracy in which you are privileged to live. This election will be a contest to determine whether our great nation will be a democratic republic controlled by we the people of the United States of America or an oligarchy of the Corporatocracy and Power Elite of the Western World, consisting of the very largest corporations and the very rich and powerful—Democracy vs. Serfdom.

This has been coming on ever so slowly over the past thirty-five years or so, slowly eroding our programs for the people begun in the thirties and progressing to the state of affairs in which we now find ourselves today, i.e. outsourcing of jobs, millions unemployed, homeless and sleeping in cars and on the streets, failing schools—must I go on? The American dream and equal opportunity are literally sifting through our fingers. Our leaders have turned Corporatists. They follow the money. They serve their own interests. Just a few remain who truly have the interests of the people, “us”, at heart.

This threat to the very sovereignty of our nation is the greatest issue facing our nation today. We must take money out of our politics completely, revise our voting and election laws, and amend our Constitution accordingly. Social Security and Medicare for everyone and appropriate safety nets for those in economic difficulty must be the order of the day in conjunction with requisite tax reform. The problems of inequality in income and wealth must be resolved as well along with comprehensive reform in our banking systems. Everyone must pay taxes fairly in accordance with their ability to pay. Corporate welfare and loopholes must be eliminated. Corporations must serve and produce for the people—not rule the people. This nation belongs to we the people—all of us—not just the rich and powerful.

This must change and you, the people, must change it with your vote in 2016.

In the mean time, this is Ronald Miller, www.sageobserver.blogspot.com, signing off. Email me at mtss86@comcast.net.

Edward Snowden

There are traitors and there are whistleblowers. Sometimes there is a fine line in-between. Sometimes there is even an overlap. In the final analysis, the determining factor as to which is which centers on loyalty and intent, i.e. did the “traitor” intend to destroy our country or did he intend to save it. Final judgment of Edward Snowden as to whether or not he is a traitor to our/his country must be based on this. 

I believe Edward Snowden is a whistleblower and not a traitor. He may be even a hero from one point of view. God only knows how far down the thorny path to tyranny our government would have taken us, if not for Edward Snowden. Secrecy and the classification of information in our country (in my opinion) have gone too far beyond the need for national security. One’s political security isn’t covered by the law. I submit to you that the power(s) of the NSA have been significantly abused to the detriment of our democracy, at times leaving even our Congress out of the “Loop”.

While I’m writing this, I want to make one additional observation. In legalese, there are the terms, de jure and de facto. De jure means “according to the law”, the way things are supposed to be. De facto means “in fact or in practice”, the way it’s really done or works in practice. What does this have to do with anything? It has to do with everything! I take exception with those who claim that Snowden had other courses which he could pursue in order to call this problem to the attention of government. Right—in terms of de jure, he did. Wrong!—in terms of de facto, he did not.

Did any of you read the recent article (last week) in the New York Times concerning the alleged abuse of employees by Amazon? Mr. Bezos, CEO of Amazon, responded by requesting his employees to report the abuses to management and they would be “looked into” (not good English—paraphrased, but you get the idea, I’m sure). Check out Amazon.com on Wikipedia and “click on” item 13.2, Working Conditions. It appears their problem with working conditions began in 2011. This is 2015. Do you really believe their de jure system for reporting to the top is working? From other cases about which I have read, it appears we aren’t enforcing the whistleblower laws we presently have on the books—so much for that other route to reporting.

Thank you, Edward Snowden. You have done a service to your country. When you came into office, Mr. President Obama, you promised transparency in government. I presume, consistent with your promise, you are in agreement with me.

In the mean time, this is Ronald Miller, www.sageobserver.blogspot.com signing off. Email me at mtss86@comcast.net.

  

The Next War

As I watched and listened to the debates last Thursday night, there was one recurring theme that, among some others, seemed to prevail throughout—WAR.

In the past, i.e. WWI, II, Korea, Vietnam, etc., etc., we fought, we killed, we destroyed, and we rebuilt. In WWIII, we will fight, we will kill, and we will NUKE. We will NOT REBUILD! There will be nothing left! WWIII will be a nuclear war! It will take hundreds, if not thousands, of years for the resultant radiation to dissipate. Also, if for no other reason, we cannot afford a conventional war. Just look at the national debts of all the nations involved. For all practical purposes, we are all broke. Can you imagine our country with a population of 320 million people taking on China with a population of 1.4 billion people in a conventional war? Are you kidding me? There is another thought which I wish to lay upon you. As most of you are aware, over the past many years we have been placing satellites in space to replace many of the analog systems we have used to control our electrical grids, internet, GPS, telecommunications, etc., in the past. I submit to you that World War III will probably begin with a strike on our satellites—possibly disarming us before we even start; and it could begin as quickly as the blink of an eye.

This world is under so much stress and disruption, so much greed and corruption, we may have another war no matter what we do—no matter whom we elect; but, come election time, be careful as for whom you vote. There are those who don’t mind who else’s son or daughter is killed as long as they can continue to make a profit from their blood.

In the mean time, this is Ronald Miller, www.sageobserver.blogspot.com signing off. Email me at mtss86@comcast.net.