Here are topics for this week's blog: the hereditary presidency; the world's 1%; Alphonse and Gaston; the "Freedom Trail;" old terrorism; Mr. Cub; veterans in the 114th Congress
Who's on first....... To use the first line from the enduring Abbott and Costello routine, columnist Dana Milbank recounts how a surprising number of our prominent political figures have belonged to a relatively small number of families. More than you might imagine.
Who is the richest in the land? Startling statistics about the world's wealth. From a friend's email:
NO MORE NEED BE SAID. All of us, liberals or conservatives, working people and middle class folks (where most of our parents came from!!) are victims of these hideous situation.
Overall wealth of the richest 1% will outpace that of the other 99% by next year
"The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering," Oxfam director says
(CNN)Turns out, the rich really are getting richer. And they'll soon own more than the rest of us put together.
So says a new report, which estimates that the richest 1% will have as much wealth as the other 99% combined by next year.
"The richest 1% have seen their share of global wealth increase from 44% in 2009 to 48% in 2014," Oxfam says in a report Monday.
At that rate, the wealthiest will own more than 50% by next year, according to the report.
"Do we really want to live in a world where the 1% own more than the rest of us combined?" asked Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the international aid agency.
'Global inequality ... simply staggering'
Byanyima will co-chair the annual World Economic Forum in Davos this week.
She plans to use the platform at Davos to call for urgent action on the rising inequality.
The 80 richest people on the planet have the same wealth as the poorest 3.5 billion people, the report says.
"The scale of global inequality is quite simply staggering; and despite the issues shooting up the global agenda, the gap between the richest and the rest is widening fast," she said.
"It is time our leaders took on the powerful vested interests that stand in the way of a fairer and more prosperous world."
While 1% of the population owns 48% of the world's wealth, a majority of the remainder follows the same trend.
"Of the remaining 52% of global wealth, 46% is owned by the rest of the richest fifth of the world's population," the report says.
The remainder of the population only possesses 5.5% of global wealth.
No, please, you first. The president's State of the Union message reinforced the feeling that he and Congress are involved in an "Alphonse and Gaston" routine about how to go about formalizing the obvious: the US is leading the world's resistance to IS.
Gateway to Freedom. The Underground Railroad was the route used by many African Americans to escape slavery. Ever northward, often to Canada and, for some, then across the Atlantic. Eric Foner has written yet another book, subtitled "The hidden history of the Underground Railroad." There are, undoubtedly, still stories yet to be unearthed. In the 1980s, near my hometown in northwestern Jamestown, PA, two women bought an modest old mansion with an eye to turning it into a B&B. During renovation, a secret room above the lobby portico was discovered which confirmed long-held local rumors that the wealthy owner (a dentist) had been a link in the Underground Railway between Pittsburgh, Erie, and then across Lake Erie to freedom in Canada.
Europe and terror. As this op ed piece by noted columnist/author Anne Applebaum indicates, terrorism is not a new phenomena to Europe. Today's characters and locations are different, but there is an element of sameness about recent events in France. She closes by noting, "In the end, terrorism works only if it creates terror. An overreaction
is precisely what the jihadists want. We should deny that to them by
resuming ordinary life as soon as possible."
Further, she reminds us that, "The people who carry out these attacks are not only ideologues, they are
also suicidal sociopaths. Nevertheless, the chances of being killed by a
terrorist bomb remain less than the chances of being hit by a car while
crossing the street."
For the record, Ms. Applebaum experiences with European history are extensive. Her first book, Between East and West, is a travelogue, and was awarded an Adolph Bentinck Prize in 1996. Gulag: A History (2003), on the Soviet prison system, was awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction writing. Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe 1944–56, was published in 2012 by Doubleday in the USA and Allen Lane in the UK. In 2013, it was shortlisted for the PEN/John Kenneth Galbraith Award.
The passing of a gracious gentleman. While the football world dealt with the scandal (?) of deflategate, followers of America's older favorite pastime sadly noted the death of Ernie Banks, so fittingly nicknamed "Mr. Cub." A member of baseball's Hall of Fame, Banks played his entire career in a Chicago Cubs uniform. He was the first African American player to don a Cubs uniform and, like Jackie Robinson, Larry Doby, and others, gracefully endured the segregation of the is his first years in MLB.
Veterans in the 114th. From Roll Call, Jan 29th: "The new Congress has the fewest military veterans since World War II,
but recent veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars are on the rise.
NewsHour’s Judy
Woodruff talked to Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., a former Air Force
colonel and pilot, and Rep. Seth Moulton, D-Mass., a retired Marine
captain."
Thank you for reading and I hope your upcoming week goes well.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Here are to topics for this week's blog. 1965 revisited; conversation at the dinner table; "winter" in Denver; Capitol rules
"A country trapped in 1965's ambitions." This the title of an informative op ed piece by Charles Lane (Washington Post, Jan 14). Indeed, the unforeseen fiscal consequences of the 89th Congress's Great Society legislation are coming home to roost fifty years later as the 114th Congress convenes. These well meant programs have, like Harriet Beecher Stowe's fictional Topsy (Uncle Tom's Cabin), just "growed" and are now straining the nation's budget.
Lane writes that "[i]n 1970, Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote that the true 'test of a program . . . is not input but output. [For example, he said,] it is interesting, and at times important, to know how much money is spent on schools in a particular neighborhood or city. But the crucial question is how much do the children learn.' ” These sorts of unknown consequences now haunt our budget.
War and peace at the dinner table. In a recent column, liberal columnist Mark Shields talked about the desire of all presidents to have unfettered ability to use the military and Congress's corresponding hesitancy to declare war. There has been no formal, nationally-unifying declaration of war since December 8, 1941, when Americans instantly identified the enemy, President Roosevelt ask for, and one day later the Congress declared war on Japan. FYI: There was only one dissenting (pacifist) vote against that declaration and all subsequent WW II-related declarations were unanimous. Our overseas involvements since then have been far less black and white.
Shields goes on to note a fundamental consequence of ending the draft in favor of a professional military. "Without the draft and every family's potentially having a son, nephew, cousin or niece who could be put in harm's way by military service, national foreign policy has been less and less a topic at the American dinner table. Citizenship has ceased to involve an individual's responsibilities but emphasized instead our personal rights. Self-sacrifice is out, and self-absorption and self-fulfillment are very much in."
Winter. Here in Denver much of the last week has been delightfully warm in the day, sometimes barely below freezing at night, all with no snow. Even our north facing driveway is clear. Many imagine Denver winters to be quite cold and snowy. Actually, the average temperatures in January 2014 hovered between 31F and 46F, with a high of 62F and a low of 5F.
Capitol rules. New regulations went into effect this week regarding who may/may not be on the grounds of the US Capitol, new ride-sharing services, and the use/parking rules for bicycles. The new rules are all very up to date and take into account current security concerns.
A very long time ago I remember driving onto the Capitol grounds with a local photographer on the night of a full moon. We parked to photograph the Capitol dome, beautifully back-lit by the moon. We were approached by a Capitol policeman, who politely told us that without a permit from the office of the Speaker of the House, we could not use a tripod on the grounds. We obviously looked perplexed, so he gently suggested a folded coat on the car's roof might work just fine! Duh....
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the long MLK, Jr., holiday weekend.
"A country trapped in 1965's ambitions." This the title of an informative op ed piece by Charles Lane (Washington Post, Jan 14). Indeed, the unforeseen fiscal consequences of the 89th Congress's Great Society legislation are coming home to roost fifty years later as the 114th Congress convenes. These well meant programs have, like Harriet Beecher Stowe's fictional Topsy (Uncle Tom's Cabin), just "growed" and are now straining the nation's budget.
Lane writes that "[i]n 1970, Daniel Patrick Moynihan wrote that the true 'test of a program . . . is not input but output. [For example, he said,] it is interesting, and at times important, to know how much money is spent on schools in a particular neighborhood or city. But the crucial question is how much do the children learn.' ” These sorts of unknown consequences now haunt our budget.
War and peace at the dinner table. In a recent column, liberal columnist Mark Shields talked about the desire of all presidents to have unfettered ability to use the military and Congress's corresponding hesitancy to declare war. There has been no formal, nationally-unifying declaration of war since December 8, 1941, when Americans instantly identified the enemy, President Roosevelt ask for, and one day later the Congress declared war on Japan. FYI: There was only one dissenting (pacifist) vote against that declaration and all subsequent WW II-related declarations were unanimous. Our overseas involvements since then have been far less black and white.
Shields goes on to note a fundamental consequence of ending the draft in favor of a professional military. "Without the draft and every family's potentially having a son, nephew, cousin or niece who could be put in harm's way by military service, national foreign policy has been less and less a topic at the American dinner table. Citizenship has ceased to involve an individual's responsibilities but emphasized instead our personal rights. Self-sacrifice is out, and self-absorption and self-fulfillment are very much in."
Capitol rules. New regulations went into effect this week regarding who may/may not be on the grounds of the US Capitol, new ride-sharing services, and the use/parking rules for bicycles. The new rules are all very up to date and take into account current security concerns.
A very long time ago I remember driving onto the Capitol grounds with a local photographer on the night of a full moon. We parked to photograph the Capitol dome, beautifully back-lit by the moon. We were approached by a Capitol policeman, who politely told us that without a permit from the office of the Speaker of the House, we could not use a tripod on the grounds. We obviously looked perplexed, so he gently suggested a folded coat on the car's roof might work just fine! Duh....
Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the long MLK, Jr., holiday weekend.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
The topics for this week's blog: France's 1/07/2015; European anti-immigration movements; Russia's new non-drivers;114th Congress; population growth; lovely drive;
France's 9/11 is 1/8/2015. The planned attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the French satiric magazine, has put France and much of western Europe on high security alert. Unless French police have not altered their tactics in recent years; they do not "play nice with others," especially in light of the execution-style slaying of three police officers, one a woman. Recent technological advances played a large role in the manhunt. The resounding national response of solidarity was over and above what might have been expected.
The far right and anti-immigration in Europe. This article from the Washington Post conveys one of the possible results of the attacks in/around Paris. Europe's anti-immigrant movement has never been far underground. Now its anti-Muslim component has been given a boost.
Homophobia run wild! If you were at all worried about homophobia here in America, the Russians will go-you-one-better. It seems that transgender and transsexual persons are so dangerous they will no longer be able to get driver's licenses. "Pathological" gamblers and compulsive thieves are also on the list. Will these "undesirables" be forced to use public transportation? I guess that means that all the new multimillionaires/billionaires will have to have chauffeurs. One wonders, could those small seismic tremors being recorded at the US Geologic Survey offices in Boulder, CO, be Lenin and Stalin spinning in their Kremlin Wall crypts?
The 114th Congress is off and running. Leadership styles differ in the House and Senate and managing party renegades is central to a productive Congress. Twenty-five House Republicans voted against Rep. Boehner's (R, OH) re-election as Speaker of the House; he retaliated against several. But, in the Senate, where one senator's filibuster can bring business to a stand still, majority leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY) has a much different row to hoe. Let us hope for better results this time around.
Selective population growth. Is there a parallel between France's horrific Charlie Hebdo situation and the increased feeling of powerlessness among some groups around the world? This topic treads, perhaps, a tad too close to the political correctness. Nevertheless.........
No matter the country in which you reside, do you feel yourself part of a group with dwindling political clout? Fear that your current privileged status may soon be in doubt? What if you attribute your lessening power to simply being outnumbered by "them?" Low birth rates are a fact of life among American Anglos and northern Europeans, hence, barring some unforeseen calamity, your minority status is certain somewhere down the road.
In the US, there are data to suggest that while some Republicans feel a need to broaden their party's base of support, this political reality rubs up others the wrong way among those who dislike the idea of "the shoe being on the other foot." In Europe, the recent influx of immigrants from Africa and Asia, with their high birth rates, has produced similar uncertainty and given rise to far right political parties.
A immediate case in point is the current unease in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim population. France's controversial 2010 law barring the veil and burqa further heightened internal tensions among more conservative Muslims, especially young males. The western proclivity for satire does not always sit well, either, and is often viewed as downright blasphemous, worthy of retaliation. Hence, Charlie Hebdo (firebombed in 2011, attacked again just now) and Jyllands-Posten (Denmark, 2005) for their satiric characterization of the Prophet.
A frosty drive. When the weather is good, the drive from Denver to Breckenridge along the I-70 corridor is a mundane meander up through the foothills towards, then over, the continental divide. However, last Wednesday afternoon the first half of the drive offered spectacular scenery: frost-covered the trees sparkled in the bright sunshine under cobalt blue skies. As we drove higher the temperature actually warmed and soon the trees were frosted only on their shaded north and east-facing sides, looking for all the world like half-flocked Christmas trees. Sadly, Denver's small buffalo herd was too far away to see, but I'm sure their shaggy faces and coats would have been similarly frost-covered.
Thank you for reading. Enjoy the week ahead.
France's 9/11 is 1/8/2015. The planned attack on the offices of Charlie Hebdo, the French satiric magazine, has put France and much of western Europe on high security alert. Unless French police have not altered their tactics in recent years; they do not "play nice with others," especially in light of the execution-style slaying of three police officers, one a woman. Recent technological advances played a large role in the manhunt. The resounding national response of solidarity was over and above what might have been expected.
The far right and anti-immigration in Europe. This article from the Washington Post conveys one of the possible results of the attacks in/around Paris. Europe's anti-immigrant movement has never been far underground. Now its anti-Muslim component has been given a boost.
Homophobia run wild! If you were at all worried about homophobia here in America, the Russians will go-you-one-better. It seems that transgender and transsexual persons are so dangerous they will no longer be able to get driver's licenses. "Pathological" gamblers and compulsive thieves are also on the list. Will these "undesirables" be forced to use public transportation? I guess that means that all the new multimillionaires/billionaires will have to have chauffeurs. One wonders, could those small seismic tremors being recorded at the US Geologic Survey offices in Boulder, CO, be Lenin and Stalin spinning in their Kremlin Wall crypts?
The 114th Congress is off and running. Leadership styles differ in the House and Senate and managing party renegades is central to a productive Congress. Twenty-five House Republicans voted against Rep. Boehner's (R, OH) re-election as Speaker of the House; he retaliated against several. But, in the Senate, where one senator's filibuster can bring business to a stand still, majority leader Mitch McConnell (R, KY) has a much different row to hoe. Let us hope for better results this time around.
Selective population growth. Is there a parallel between France's horrific Charlie Hebdo situation and the increased feeling of powerlessness among some groups around the world? This topic treads, perhaps, a tad too close to the political correctness. Nevertheless.........
No matter the country in which you reside, do you feel yourself part of a group with dwindling political clout? Fear that your current privileged status may soon be in doubt? What if you attribute your lessening power to simply being outnumbered by "them?" Low birth rates are a fact of life among American Anglos and northern Europeans, hence, barring some unforeseen calamity, your minority status is certain somewhere down the road.
In the US, there are data to suggest that while some Republicans feel a need to broaden their party's base of support, this political reality rubs up others the wrong way among those who dislike the idea of "the shoe being on the other foot." In Europe, the recent influx of immigrants from Africa and Asia, with their high birth rates, has produced similar uncertainty and given rise to far right political parties.
A immediate case in point is the current unease in France, home to Europe's largest Muslim population. France's controversial 2010 law barring the veil and burqa further heightened internal tensions among more conservative Muslims, especially young males. The western proclivity for satire does not always sit well, either, and is often viewed as downright blasphemous, worthy of retaliation. Hence, Charlie Hebdo (firebombed in 2011, attacked again just now) and Jyllands-Posten (Denmark, 2005) for their satiric characterization of the Prophet.
A frosty drive. When the weather is good, the drive from Denver to Breckenridge along the I-70 corridor is a mundane meander up through the foothills towards, then over, the continental divide. However, last Wednesday afternoon the first half of the drive offered spectacular scenery: frost-covered the trees sparkled in the bright sunshine under cobalt blue skies. As we drove higher the temperature actually warmed and soon the trees were frosted only on their shaded north and east-facing sides, looking for all the world like half-flocked Christmas trees. Sadly, Denver's small buffalo herd was too far away to see, but I'm sure their shaggy faces and coats would have been similarly frost-covered.
Thank you for reading. Enjoy the week ahead.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
The topics for the first blog of 2015: New Year's eve; lessons from Ebola; the middle class; 114th Congress; holiday music; weather forecasting; the internet, twitter, et. al; historic passing; 2014 according to Foreign Policy and Dave Barry's look at 2014.
New Year's eve. For the first time in a number of years we went out, but only next door! Lovely party with excellent food and company.
Our interconnected world. The ongoing Ebola epidemic in west Africa has produced lessons that should be remembered when we face the next 21st century emergency situation.
80/80/92 & 1.The new 114th Congress, sworn in on January 6th, will be 80% white, 80% male, and 92% Christian. The US Census Bureau finds the population to be roughly 77% white, 76% Christian, but only 49.2% male. Should it surprise that male chauvinism reigns? The "1" is for Elsie Stefanik (R, NY), the young 30 year-old woman elected from upstate NY. Good luck and, if necessary, remember to emulate "Give 'em hell, Harry" from an earlier era.
Holiday music. Is it just me, or does everyone experience a bit of a holiday music hangover? Christmas Day comes and goes, but the music keeps playing in my head for a while. When I taught at Mullen High School, there was a congenial colleague who faithfully ushered in the upcoming holiday season by humming Christmas carols -- immediately after Thanksgiving break.
The death penalty. As one of his last acts, the Democratic governor of Maryland used his executive authority to commute the death sentences of the state's four men remaining death row inmates to life without parole. His incoming successor (a Republican) has indicated he would probably not seek to overturn this decision. I have long opposed the death penalty.
Cuba. There are two aspects of our policy toward Cuba that interest me. First, there are the overt political considerations of normalizing relations with our island neighbor. Charles Krauthhammer's recent column covers the pros and cons of that aspect of normalization.
The second aspect concerns the human side of the diplomatic coin. Krauthhammer's points not withstanding, what changes will be wrought when tourists begin to flood into Cuba? There will undoubtedly be more frequent visits by Cuban Americans with relatives still living there. Human interactions are far different than mere trade and diplomatic exchanges.
Krauthhammer mentions China and Vietman, where democracy has not followed an economic opening to limited capitalism. But, Cuba is not China or even Vietnam. This small nation is so very close to America that even if Cuban authorities do not want to admit it, in spite of the fifty + year boycott, Americans and Cubans have continued to share more than a little. Cubans have not been totally isolated and much more than baseball has "leaked through." I think the majority of Cubans and Cuban Americans are ready for change.
Be advised: if you want to see Cuba as it has evolved since 1958, you would be well advised to travel soon; get there before the new, mega Love Boats arrive.
Weather forecasts. Are you eternally fretful, wondering if it will it really rain/snow/etc. In this opinion piece, two degreed meteorologists talk about the "five myths about weather forecasting."
A noted icon remembered. Former US Senator Edward Brooke (R, MA) passed away this past Saturday at the age of 97. In 1967, Brooke became the first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote. His numerous awards included a Bronze Star (for service in Italy in 1943 with the segregated 366th Infantry Regiment), the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, as well as 34 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.
Prior to the enactment of the 17th Amendment, both Hiram Rhodes Revels (R, MS, 1870-1871) and Blance Kelso Bruce (R, MS, 1875-1881) were appointed by the governor of Mississippi.
Oops, foot in mouth? From Foreign Policy magazine comes heir yearly selection of "Oh, really??" quotes. Politics is convoluted, so even the best and brightest can be excused for the occasional mis-speak. This past years quotes run the gamete from Rep. Michelle Bachman (R, MN) who worries about Yemenis, Iranians, and Iraqis "leaking through" our southern borders to other head-scratching statements from President Obama and his Secretaries of State and Defense.
Dave Barry's humorous review of 2014. Finally, after looking over those more serious pronouncements from Foreign Policy, you can use this link to look back on 2014 with Dave Barry's traditional madcap remembrances of the Year That Was. Colorado was mentioned four times, three poking fun at our marijuana law.
Thank you for reading. May your New Year be peaceful, fulfilling, and helpful.
New Year's eve. For the first time in a number of years we went out, but only next door! Lovely party with excellent food and company.
Our interconnected world. The ongoing Ebola epidemic in west Africa has produced lessons that should be remembered when we face the next 21st century emergency situation.
- Rely on local leadership
- Be sensitive to peoples' cultures
- Simple changes can yield significant results
- Speed and agility matter more than size
- We're all interconnected -- and unprepared for the consequences
- An ounce of prevention
- Keep fear in check
80/80/92 & 1.The new 114th Congress, sworn in on January 6th, will be 80% white, 80% male, and 92% Christian. The US Census Bureau finds the population to be roughly 77% white, 76% Christian, but only 49.2% male. Should it surprise that male chauvinism reigns? The "1" is for Elsie Stefanik (R, NY), the young 30 year-old woman elected from upstate NY. Good luck and, if necessary, remember to emulate "Give 'em hell, Harry" from an earlier era.
Holiday music. Is it just me, or does everyone experience a bit of a holiday music hangover? Christmas Day comes and goes, but the music keeps playing in my head for a while. When I taught at Mullen High School, there was a congenial colleague who faithfully ushered in the upcoming holiday season by humming Christmas carols -- immediately after Thanksgiving break.
The death penalty. As one of his last acts, the Democratic governor of Maryland used his executive authority to commute the death sentences of the state's four men remaining death row inmates to life without parole. His incoming successor (a Republican) has indicated he would probably not seek to overturn this decision. I have long opposed the death penalty.
Cuba. There are two aspects of our policy toward Cuba that interest me. First, there are the overt political considerations of normalizing relations with our island neighbor. Charles Krauthhammer's recent column covers the pros and cons of that aspect of normalization.
The second aspect concerns the human side of the diplomatic coin. Krauthhammer's points not withstanding, what changes will be wrought when tourists begin to flood into Cuba? There will undoubtedly be more frequent visits by Cuban Americans with relatives still living there. Human interactions are far different than mere trade and diplomatic exchanges.
Krauthhammer mentions China and Vietman, where democracy has not followed an economic opening to limited capitalism. But, Cuba is not China or even Vietnam. This small nation is so very close to America that even if Cuban authorities do not want to admit it, in spite of the fifty + year boycott, Americans and Cubans have continued to share more than a little. Cubans have not been totally isolated and much more than baseball has "leaked through." I think the majority of Cubans and Cuban Americans are ready for change.
Be advised: if you want to see Cuba as it has evolved since 1958, you would be well advised to travel soon; get there before the new, mega Love Boats arrive.
Weather forecasts. Are you eternally fretful, wondering if it will it really rain/snow/etc. In this opinion piece, two degreed meteorologists talk about the "five myths about weather forecasting."
- Whenever the forecast calls for record lows, it undermines the case for global warming.
- It’s possible to accurately predict the weather weeks or months in advance.
- Local weather forecasters copy the National Weather Service.
A noted icon remembered. Former US Senator Edward Brooke (R, MA) passed away this past Saturday at the age of 97. In 1967, Brooke became the first African American elected to the Senate by popular vote. His numerous awards included a Bronze Star (for service in Italy in 1943 with the segregated 366th Infantry Regiment), the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Congressional Gold Medal, as well as 34 honorary degrees from various colleges and universities.
Prior to the enactment of the 17th Amendment, both Hiram Rhodes Revels (R, MS, 1870-1871) and Blance Kelso Bruce (R, MS, 1875-1881) were appointed by the governor of Mississippi.
Oops, foot in mouth? From Foreign Policy magazine comes heir yearly selection of "Oh, really??" quotes. Politics is convoluted, so even the best and brightest can be excused for the occasional mis-speak. This past years quotes run the gamete from Rep. Michelle Bachman (R, MN) who worries about Yemenis, Iranians, and Iraqis "leaking through" our southern borders to other head-scratching statements from President Obama and his Secretaries of State and Defense.
Dave Barry's humorous review of 2014. Finally, after looking over those more serious pronouncements from Foreign Policy, you can use this link to look back on 2014 with Dave Barry's traditional madcap remembrances of the Year That Was. Colorado was mentioned four times, three poking fun at our marijuana law.
Thank you for reading. May your New Year be peaceful, fulfilling, and helpful.
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