FINANCE: Crisis Pits Vatican Against Offshore Bankers December 23rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
The suicide of Rene-Thierry Magon de la Villehuchet of Access
International Advisors LLC today may be a part of this story. He ran a
Luxembourg Fund that was 100 percent invested in one of Madoff’s
funds. Until recently, that fund was administered by UBS.
Here is a message I posted on an Investor Village message board a
little bit ago. There may be a story here.
RIGHTS: “Sodomy Laws” Rooted in British Colonialism December 23rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
The article is interesting and was surprised that the USA administration that claims to having liberated the Iraqis refused to sign the UN Gay Rights document. It’s a hypocritical administration as the gay community in the USA is not recognized equally as the heterosexual community. The founding liberties have been disregarded and the USA does not come close to Canada’s regard for the gay community. However mighty and democratic the US preaches to other countries it has a lot dirt to clean up in its own land. No doubt we are hated by so many people in the World.
HEALTH-ASIA: Harried by Sporadic Bird Flu Outbreaks December 22nd, 2008
Dear Editors,
You should begin looking for answers to avian influenza outside of government offices. It should be plain enough for anyone to see that culling and giving birds shots is not even working in more developed parts of the world. Here is what is being missed.
Traditionally, getting ready for Lunar New Year drives the mutation of influenza. Millions and millions of farmers, small and large, grow chickens, duck and geese, as well as pigs to be sold “live” for families who want to celebrate Lunar New Year and assure prosperity for the New Year. Poultry pass along the avian virus via manure, saliva, and sweat - hence having millions in live markets creates an annual “laboratory” for a new flu.
Add to that, the new thousands; upon thousands of farmers who have joined the global poultry market in the last ten years, as well as new dams in India and China which have altered feeding grounds for wild birds, and you have a formula for a new pandemic and wannabe pandemic avian influenza of the current type. Culling leads to hidden birds by small and medium size farmers who want to stay in business.
Millions of Asians are not going to switch to cut up refrigerated poultry - they want their birds live. Vaccination of billions of birds is not something that can easily done in developing nations.
However, collecting manure and urine at the live markets on a daily basis and “cooking” it in inexpensive methane digesters designed by engineers in India could make huge dent in the flu cycle and provide new income and energy by selling the electricity produced or heat produced by extracted methane. The digesting process kills the virus!
Ned Hamson
Want Peace? Work for Justice.
Want Justice? Work for Peace.
Want Peace and Justice? Love and Work for Mercy - Today!
Intercommunity Justice and Peace Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, US
http://www.ijpc-cincinnati.org/
RIGHTS-INDIA: New Anti-Terror Laws Draconian Say Activists December 22nd, 2008
Dear Editors,
I have a few questions, instead of putting spokes to laws every time by opposing them, why can not these activists come up with suggestion to improve the laws? For example
1) Why does no one argue for the case of an effective witness protection program?
2) Why can we not have an attorney assigned to the accused, meaning, either he can hire one he wants or state provides him as soon as he is arrested and allow “in camera” confessions ONLY in the presence of his attorney?
3) Why not introduce some sort of plea bargaining to at least the less serious offences?
POLITICS: Staunch Critic of Israel at U.N. Reports Death Threats December 21st, 2008
Dear Editors,
Israel is committing war crimes and has become a rogue nation. Bravo
to D’Escoto for telling the truth. Shame on the Israeli Zionists for
their behaviors. This UN leader is a brave man, and must be
protected from the assassins, and applauded for his courage to speak
the truth. Israel has become a renegade nation that deceives both
itself and others in its pretense of democracy. It has lost its mind
and heart, and holds up the holocaust to justify its own brutality.
They must move on, and let go of the past, to heal their psyche and
move towards peace and justice in the ancient land of Palestine/
Israel. UN member states must stand their ground against the
atrocities being committed by Israel, and react accordingly.
Death threats against D’Escoto are yet another proof among endless
proofs of the sickness that has taken control of the Israeli
psychology. The illusion is over and the west cannot be brainwashed
by holocaust guilt anymore. Israel is committing war crimes.
Palestinians are being murdered and collectively punished daily.
Anyone who dares to speak out against them is threatened, arrested,
beaten up and/or deported… or (if you are Palestinian) murdered.
Thank you Mr D’Escoto for speaking the truth as shown by the actions
of the Israelis and for speaking out.
ENVIRONMENT: Costa Rica at a Crossroads December 20th, 2008
We have visited your country and admired its beauty and it’s commitment to the environment and thought of it as a place to retire which we will probably be doing in the next couple of years. This open pit mine is quite a disappointment to us as we don’t want to live in a place that has been stripped of it’s natural beauty. I guess we will look elsewhere and also be telling our friends about this devastation.
POLITICS: Global Community Shies Away from Volatile Somalia December 17th, 2008
Dear Editors,
The UN will first have to restructure under a independent body complete with its own institutions, constitution, courts, law enforcement and military enforcement administration. Its budget will have to be paid fully by those using its services based on their membership, not contributions to its operations.
All member states will have to pay their membership fees based on GDP and a sliding scale that reflects their past five year GDP figures. No payment of fees in full equals no sitting or voting power. The membership of all nations, states, and sovereign administrations of the world would be equal voting members and not the current vote-veto powers held by the few. This would level the playing field and make all interested parties signatures to the International Standards of Conduct and held accountable under the UN Charter in the form of fines or disbarment if in breach of the standards.
The Iraqi Oil for Food debacle and the illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq by the US-UK crime syndicate must be the guiding example of the UN’s complicity in violating its on historical neutrality where the UN was drawn into collaboration with the murder, thief, destruction, and genocide of the sovereign nation of Iraq. This association with the US-UK crime syndicate in my estimation destroyed and or tainted the moral authority of the UN and will continue to lessen its problem solving and moral mandate as everyone sees the resulting Iraqi and Palestinian theaters slowly strangled of freedom, prosperity and self-identity just to serve an criminal external syndicate of resource occupation forces.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon frightens me, because like most Orientals here in the US, they seem more prone to be subservient to white male points of view and power than having a world view that is based on personal experience with the vast non-white populations that are not light-skinned. Even within his own ethnic oriental racial heritage their are extreme forms of racism classism and ethnic conflict, which tells me that any African or Arab concerns will be shied away from and funding will be diverted to areas where his white masters are more profitable in the short term.
Somalia and Palestine do not posses great oil and other market ready prospects like Iraq, so in conclusion I think that Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is lying out of his teeth when he says; he’s frustrated with so much limitations of his office, when I have not heard a comprehensive international speech by him or the UN that actually paints a “reality” that is obvious as the nose on his face…get some independent balls and show real leadership.
ENERGY-US: Obama Faces Hungry Nuclear Industry December 16th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Thank you for your story. I am formerly from IL and lived near the
nuclear power plants. Since 2005 we have been asking for help
regarding all of the serious leaks and the increased incidence of
children with brain cancer (my little Sarah, one of them) and leukemia
following these serious leaks into our groundwater. I have met
personally met with Mr. Obama, who promised that “when I am President
I can help you find answers.” I have met and spoken with numerous
members of Congress and US NRC Commissioner and representatives about
the health concerns living near nuclear power plants. I will not go
into detail but we have been met with intimidation and stall tactics,
deception and ridiculous characterizations of the serious leaks/
incidences and health by the various agencies whose mission is to
“protect and serve the public.” You are very right. There serious
concerns including but not limited to waste and proliferation. What
are the cumulative and synergistic effects? The National Academy of
Sciences BIER VII report states there is no safe level of radiation
exposure. In Jan. 2009 a report is going to be released regarding
radiation protection standards and the use of reference man. We are
asking for it to be changed to reference family…to include
protecting women, children, and the elderly as well everyone else who
does not fit the reference man category of a Caucasian, 170 pound male
between 20 and 30 yrs of age. It is time for our antiquated (as
stated by US NRC) standards and regulations be brought up to date with
current science.
My husband, a physician, and I are concerned and afraid. We moved away
from the area out of fear because our neurosurgeon told us our Sarah’s
cancer was environmentally induced and no one within any of the
governmental agencies could provide credible scientific, peer reviewed
data to tell us we were safe. The scientific data sent to me by NRC/
DOE was an article out of “The New Yorker.” I cannot say that these
leaks caused my daughter’s cancer but I am concerned about what role
they might have in the serious increases of cancer in that small
populated area. The statistics gathered from IDPH in the 15 mile
radius around the plants in IL are alarming. I have been told that the
area will never be “statistically significant”…well, I consider my
little girl and all the other children/people significant and not just
a statistic. I will continue to seek answers to my questions. I have
legitimate documents to support everything I state. Your articele was
very good but it has only touched the surface of the problems.
I thank you for your time and consideration. I ask that you keep my
Sarah in your prayers; she was one of the few who has survived. I wish
all of you a Merry Christmas and health and joy in the New Year.
CLIMATE CHANGE: “Things Happen Much Faster in the Arctic” December 14th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Record low temperatures are being recorded all over the globe, and sea levels are no longer rising. What is the “tipping point” at which everyone admits the world is growing colder, and we apparently face an ice-age? Science please, not bombast.
DEATH PENALTY: Calls for the Return of Capital Punishment in South Africa December 14th, 2008
Dear Editors,
At the outset let me say that I believe that reinstating capital punishment may solve many of our country’s problems; such as poverty. Nobody will argue that crime is chasing away many would be job providers. It is also having an adverse effect on the tourism industry.
We are losing skilled personnel, such as doctors, artisans and many more. Would be investors are also fearful of coming to South Africa because of crime.
Poverty can only end when crime is dealt with effectively. The criminals have no respect for our lives so why should we respect theirs. Few will argue that countries where crime is punished effectively have much less crime. Poverty can only be reduced when crime is reduced.
I am a gun owner and I will be the first to say that any crime committed with a firearm should be punishable by death. Reducing the number of guns in circulation by targeting the lawful gun owner is not the solution. In fact it suits the criminal element. Areas where crime is more prevalent should be allowed more fire power to protect themselves. The police have proved often enough that they are not getting the job done. In fact police themselves are often found to be collaborating with criminals. The words “false profits and wolves in sheep’s clothing’ come to mind. I read in one newspaper that the military are going to be deployed at shopping malls over the Christmas period to protect us from the criminals. What a joke and at what cost? 2010 is just around the corner. Billions have been spent. I think the time has come to make the crime capital of the world a little safer. Let us start by creating a little global confidence. Let’s hang a few of these bastards!
I also believe that drug lords should be executed. How many lives are they destroying? Perhaps we could start with Selebi? Unfortunately, it seems that if you are a politician or a high ranking government official you are immune to the judicial system. Whether you are caught for drunken driving or guilty of fraud and corruption; you will get off the hook.
Ok, the sun is still shining and there’s a cold beer in the fridge. It will be another great day in South Africa.
All the best for the festive season.
Dr. Roger V. Powell
PS: Subsistence crime needs to be dealt with as a separate issue where these people are given the opportunity of being taught skills perhaps in a ‘Kibbutz type environment.
US-CUBA: Business Support for Dismantling Embargo December 12th, 2008
Dear Editors,
I am so pleased to read Jim Lobes article on the proposed lifting of the embargo and reinstatement of relations with Cuba. I agree that it would build a much more favorable image in Latin America and the time is ripe.
I find that the stance towards Cuba is very hypocritical when compared with our stance towards China. I agree that a more healthy view of US citizens is needed in Latin America. I think that the election of Barack Obama has greatly enhanced our ability to enhance our reputation in Latin America. Our President elect is in an enviable position to begin a new day of improved relations with Cuba.
I would like to be able to legally visit the land where I was born and have not seen for 48 years. Please keep me posted of any good news to come.
RIGHTS: Politics Still Reign Over Principles at U.N. December 12th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Human Rights in Larger Freedom
Rene Wadlow*
Our age which has often been so cruel, can now pride itself on having witnessed the birth of a universal human rights movement. In all walks of life brave individuals are standing up for their brothers who have been reduced to silence by oppression or poverty. Their struggle has transcended all frontiers, and their weapon is knowledge…Defending human rights today means above all bringing the most secret crimes to light. It means trying to find out and daring to speak out with complete objectivity, something which requires courage and occasionally, even heroism… The United Nations is cognizant that, for human rights to be more fully recognized and respected, the awareness and support of all are required. Javier Perez de Cuellar
As we mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 10 December — marking the day in 1948 when the Declaration was adopted in Paris, it is inevitable that we look at the large gap between the aims and the practice. It is easy to grow cynical at governmental double standards, politically selective hypocrisy and tactical alliances. Yet success in the human rights field depends on a continuing commitment to outwit those who have a vested interest in keeping the UN weak and unable to act effectively. It is important to note the land marks of progress. These are some of the victories where intense effort and creative cooperation among representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), UN Secretariat, independent experts, and a few representatives of progressive governments created awareness, got resolutions adopted, and built structures for follow up. Each case would merit a fuller analysis and character sketches of some of the players, but that would be a book rather than an article.
I list 10 victories which seem to me to be real advances. Others would no doubt make different lists, but as an NGO representative to the UN in Geneva, I had participated in each of these advances and knew the key players. Governments, who alone have the ability to vote UN resolutions in the end, happily take credit for advances. Yet in these cases, progress was made by ideas coming from NGO representatives, helped by UN Secretariat who must keep a “low profile” and the representatives of some governments where an issue touched them personally — and did not go against their government’s policy.
1) Awareness of the rights and conditions of indigenous and tribal populations. When this issue was first raised in the early 1980s “indigenous” were considered to be only the Indians of North America who had come in force to present their case in Geneva. Some governments finally went along thinking that such analysis would be a subtle criticism of the USA without costing them anything. However, the International Labour Organization Convention N° 109 on indigenous peoples speaks of “indigenous and tribal”. Thus, it was possible to raise issues of tribal groups in south-east Asia such as the Chakma of Bangladesh, who are not “indigenous” having migrated from south China over the last 2000 years but have a tribal society. Much of the advances in the field are due to the skills and dedication of Ms Erica Daes who for many years chaired the Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Now, the indigenous and tribal issues cover a wide number of countries and have moved to center stage.
2) Torture. When the use of torture was first raised in 1973, it was thought to be a rare practice limited to a small number of countries. It turns out that it is, in fact, widely used by a large number of countries. Getting torture to be a recognized issue and having the Commission on Human Rights create the post of Special Rapporteur on Torture owes much to Sean MacBride (1904-1988) at the time chairman of the Amnesty International Executive Committee (1961-1974) and Nobel Peace Prise laureate (1974). MacBride had been the Foreign Minister of Ireland (1948-1951) and knew how governments work. He had also been a long-time member of the Irish Republican Army (1917-1936) and knew well how police as well as insurgencies work. MacBride called torture an ‘epidemic’ perpetrated by regimes ‘to control dissent and maintain power.’ The well-organized campaign against torture brought together numerous NGOs to pressure governments in the UN General Assembly to take action.
3) Death Penalty. The efforts for the abolition of the death penalty also owe much to Amnesty International and its long-time Secretary-General Martin Ennals. His role, often in the background but always on key issues, is an example of how NGO impact can be made.
4) Conscientious objection to military service. Conscientious objection as a human rights was a long but successful fight on the part of a small number of NGOs such as the Quakers, the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the International Peace Bureau. It was led by the representatives of Ireland, Canada and Austria — all of which have armies but whose representatives went “that extra mile” to overcome opposition and get the resolution passed.
5) Child Soldiers. The attention now given to the human rights violations from the existence of child soldiers — both the fact that children are taken as soldiers and the human rights violations that they are forced to commit was brought to the attention of the Commission on Human Rights by the Quakers and the NGO Defense for Children. This led to the creation of a Special Representative on Children in Conflict as well as attention at the UN Security Council and the International Criminal Court.
6) The Right to Housing. The right to housing and especially the destruction of houses in the process of slum clearing, often done without re-housing, owes its place on the human rights agenda to a small number of NGOs but who had dramatic examples of abuses. There is now an active Special Rapporteur on the Right to Housing.
7) Freedom of Religion and Belief. It was a 20-year effort to get the adoption in 1981 of the Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance Based on Religion or Belief. It was an effort kept alive by a small number of States and NGOs. It is not sure that as far-reaching and complete a Declaration could be drafted today. The Declaration serves as a guideline for the right to belief in many of the current religious-based tensions.
8) The Rights of Women. It is always strange how difficult it is to get proper attention to the rights and condition of women since they are half and probably more of humanity. Nevertheless, it has been a long effort largely carried by NGOs. It is a multifaceted effort and was helped by a series of UN-sponsored conferences on women. Geneva-based NGOs such as the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom have played key roles. The concept that women exist and thus have rights has brought together NGOs who are often divided on other issues.
9) Systematic rape. The awareness of systematic rape as a crime against humanity has grown as part of the broader effort on the equality of women mentioned in point 8. Many of the NGOs concerned with equality of women have been concerned with domestic violence as well. Thus, they reacted strongly to reports of systematic rape during the conflicts in former Yugoslavia. This issue has also been raised concerning the conflict in Darfur, Sudan, and in the eastern provinces of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
10) Human Rights Defenders. I leave for last our auto-defense: the efforts to protect human rights defenders on the front lines. Raising human rights issues in a good number of countries can get you into trouble. Even writing to Amnesty International is not a danger-free practice in some places. The killing in Moscow of Anna Politkovskaia, a journalist critical of the conflict in Chechena, is there as a symbol of all those on the front lines of human rights efforts. Thanks to NGO efforts, the UN has created a Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders — a constant reminder to governments and in some cases non-governmental militias that they are being watched
All these victors are fragile, and there are governments who would want them reversed or forgotten. But on Human Rights Day, we can welcome these advances, remember those whose drive, skills and determination helped bring forward these issues which many would have left in the dark. We need to prepare for the next battles which are not far away.
Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens
SWAZILAND: Fighting Gender Violence With Financial Freedom December 11th, 2008
Dear Editors,
How might I send a contribution to the organization that helps the Swazi women? I have spent some time in Swaziland and am delighted to know that the women there are finding independence in their male-dominated culture.
CULTURE-CUBA: Rock n’ Roll Fanzine Fights Prejudice December 9th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Nice screed, but you have to hand it to Fidel for keeping the rock/schlock meisters at bay. At least there is ONE place on planet earth where that (lowest common artistic denominator) din is held at bay.
With all the great Cuban jazz, son, flamenco, folklorico, etc., the average Cuban’s refined taste should keep “rock” music in its rightful place.
Great site by the way. Your Latin America pages are “SPOT ON”
Young Ed
www.planetflamenco.com
Cochabamba, Bolivia
US-CUBA: Business Support for Dismantling Embargo December 8th, 2008
Dear Editors,
It seems that the owners of the casinos and hotels in Cuba want them back. They will probably demand reparations as a condition for normalization of relations with Cuba.
POLITICS-THAILAND: Court Gains No Glory by Banning Ruling Party December 8th, 2008
Dear Editors,
You express a tremendous amount of concern about the speed of the verdict against the PPP and its coalition partners as well as the banning from politics of many of its executives. I maintain there was nothing unusual about the speed of the verdict nor its consequences. Khun Prasit says he is troubled by the speed of the verdict having never seen anything like it anywhere in the world. I can only assume Khun Prasit has very little experience witnessing trials in America at either the state or federal level. It is not at all unusual for a judge to declare that the court has heard enough testimony from any one side especially when that testimony is nothing more than a repeat of what has already been said.
No new evidence is allowed during a closing argument consequently the judges could have already made a decision. The big difference between the Constitution Court here in Thailand and American courts is that most all trials conducted in America are with a jury present to decide guilt/innocence and an appellate process. There are certain instances where a Bench Trial is allowed where the judge acts as both judge and jury but they are few and far between.
Once all testimony has been taken the jury will decide the guilt of the individual. This process could take nothing more than 30 minutes but may also stretch into days and weeks depending on the complexity of the case. The judge may deliver a sentence immediately after receiving the verdict from the jury or study the case further to determine an appropriate sentence.
As you can see there is very little difference when you compare the two systems (American & Thai) short of the jury. The Constitution Court judges received the case from the Election Commision which had already extensively investigated the case for quite some time. The Constitution Court heard the evidence presented by the parties involved reviewed the evidence prepared by the EC and reached its decision quickly because I can assume they had enough evidence to reach a decision. A closing argument is not the proper place to introduce new evidence it is the place to sum up what has been said. The judges told the parties involved that they could present their closing statements in writing or orally if they wanted but the court had heard enough testimony. There is nothing unusual about any of the above from my perspective.
The verdict was based on the latest constitution. As an observer of Thai politics for many years I can see the rationale behind this kind of punishment as a way of trying to “clean up” a very dirty electoral process. The “dirty politics” of corruption made popular by Mr. Thaksin and his TRT party have now seeped into all levels of Thai government. I suspect the Thai courts are doing their best to clean things up.
RIGHTS-MEXICO: Children Paid to Strip at Rural Fair December 7th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Lovely. Child abuse and animal abuse, both presented as “entertainment.” Cesar Chavez, late founder of the United Farm Workers, was onto something when he wrote the following to me in December 1990:
“Kindness and compassion toward all living things is a mark of a
civilized society. Conversely, cruelty, whether it is directed against
human beings, or against animals, is not the exclusive province of any
one culture or community of people. Racism, economic deprival,
dog fighting and cockfighting, bullfighting and RODEOS (emphasis added)
are cut from the same fabric: violence. Only when we have become
nonviolent towards all life will we have learned to live well ourselves.
Words to live by. God help the animals and the children alike.
Sincerely,
Eric Mills, coordinator
ACTION FOR ANIMALS
Oakland, California
DR CONGO: Activists Slam World’s “Grotesque Indifference” December 7th, 2008
Dear Editors,
Wonderful text! I wished there were more women and men as Eve Ensler to care. She fallowed rapes in former Yugoslavia, were women’s bodies were served as battle fields and systematic rapes were tools for mapping new political borders… Rapes in Congo should be responsibility of all of us.
Rada Boric,
Cenetr for Womne’s Studies Zagreb, Croatia
DEATH PENALTY-MALAYSIA: Hundreds of Migrants Face Execution for Drug Crimes December 6th, 2008
Dear Editors,
I submit that not one of the convicted and hanged has re-offended, therefore the death sentence is a deterrent, but I know your intent was future offenders, - they know what the penalty is: deal with it if you are stupid enough to try, pay the price. As an American, where drug use is out of control, we must do something to protect our children from this insidious disease — dealers are in it for one reason —money.
POLITICS: U.N. Assembly Head Hailed for Blasting Israel December 3rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
Thanks for bringing attention to the humanitarian disaster of the siege of Gaza! The actions of Israel and the US without whom Israel could not continue its irrational, immoral, illegal, self-destructive policies, do not help the Jewish people or anyone.
Peace,
Father Benjamin J. Urmston, S.J., PhD
Peace and Justice Programs
Xavier University
Cincinnati, Ohio
www.xu.edu/peace/ben.htm
ENVIRONMENT: Health - a Victim of Climate Change December 3rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
IIRC, malaria, cholera, and amoebic dysentery (the last two both cause diarrhea) were all but completely eliminated from North America by deliberate destruction of wetlands in favor of sanitary water and sewer systems.
U.S.: Obama Urged to Quickly Engage Iran, Syria December 3rd, 2008
Dear Editors,
NOW: The warmongers claim a nuclear program in Iran is for the purpose of developing nuclear weapons. Iran claims it is to provide affordable energy for their country.
THEN: The warmongers claimed Iraq was in possession of “weapons of mass destruction.” Iraq claimed it did not.
Our government lies to justify their terror attacks on countries that have not attacked us. Apparently no one reads the U.S. Constitution anymore.
RM
We have sent this to several Senators and Representatives. We have no idea why this hasn’t been considered. We have started a blog hoping to get some feedback and perhaps some thoughts out there? Any ideas about the proposal?
“Why does the money from the “bail-out” go to Government infrastructure and private business when it could be better used in the hands of the people? If an impactful stimulus check were given to each registered taxpayer, would the economy not be better stimulated intrinsically? As a taxpayer $600 or $800 isn’t big enough to make a dent in the economy as it is right now. A considerably larger sum to each person, totaling far less than the current projected/proposed bail-out amount, would trickle “up” with a much quicker effect.
If I have a substantial stimulus “check” I will buy a house, and a car, and furniture, and hire someone to do landscaping, and get medical attention that has been postponed. In other words I would be bettering not only myself but those in my community. Farther out, my actions would impact the banks with the funds I would invest in savings, 401K, and stocks, and pay more taxes directly back to the government, etc.
I would like to propose an amount of one million dollars per taxpayer. While that sounds at first like a lot of money wouldn’t it be far less than the 700 billion currently on the table? The effect on the economy would be instantaneous and positive. This would lessen the “regulation and control” on agencies that are being “created” to implement the “rescue” and would put the forces of the natural economy back in balance and in the hands of those who drive it.
Please don’t spend my money on GM, Ford, Chrysler or any other company that has been grievously mismanaged. Their record of fiduciary responsibility speaks for itself; they have already demonstrated the behaviors won’t change.”
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