Obama's Dilemma in the Middle East and Here, at Home

February 28, 2011

       As the revolutions unfolded, first in Tunisia, then Egypt, Yemen and Bahrain and now Libya, president Obama was slow to acknowledge the right of the people of that region and those countries to be free from totalitarian  control, with no rights, high unemployment, torture and inhuman neglect.

      In Egypt he waited until the dictator Mubarak was overthrown to finally acknowledge the people's right to be free and now in Libya he is doing the same thing.  He may give the American people and the world the impression he was concerned about the safety of Americans and foreign national in the country and was waiting for them to flee and be out of danger, but that was at the cost of one thousand freedom fighter's lives, an unnecessary precaution compared to the result of inaction.

     In every case we as American and freedom loving people have an obligation to immediately support these fights for freedom since we in turn were also helped in our fight for freedom in 1776, otherwise we may never have won our freedom.

     If we fail to act in support of these people we will lose their respect and confidence forever.

     President Obama has an ulterior motive for holding back support for these people's revolution and the answer is simple.  For the last two plus years, Obama has amply demonstrated that he cares about big business and campaign contributions rather than the plight of the American people suffering under the worst economic recession since the great depression of the 1930's. 

     The American people will never forgive him for helping the banks and financial institutions who caused the mortgage problem which has cost every American to lose their home or about 35% of the value of their homes and other real estate.  This figure applies to both home owners and business owners.  It is obvious he is afraid of a continued backlash as was demonstrated in the last election of 2010, but his hands are tied.  Instead of helping the 15 million unemployed in this country he helped bail out AIG and the domestic auto industry a blatant violation and interference with our honored free enterprise system in this country.  He then stupidly poured a trillion dollar package into pork barrel projects aimed at helping members of congress and city state and federal budgets keep their employees on the payroll only to have them face the same problem a short time later, today.    If he had helped put the 15 million unemployed back to work in permanent jobs, they would be paying the necessary taxes for communities to balance their payrolls. In making this stupid political move, he put our country into a deeper debt with a fifteen billion dollar debt and a yearly budget deficit of, 1.5 trillion no one seems to have the guts to change and balance today.

     The cost of everything has gone up, including the health care he promised to reduce, drugs and gasoline and fuel oil is running rampant to the point food and everything else at the stores is unaffordable.

     Now, the oil cartels and domestic oil suppliers have again extracted huge profits from the people of the world, which will deepen our recession even further in complete disregard of the impact on every fuel oil purchaser.

     Of course, Obama and our congress members care less as long as they continue to obtain huge campaign contribution from the oil and drug companies for their re-election campaigns.  To see gasoline and fuel oil prices rise ten percent in a week for no reason connected to the supply and demand principal of price control is tragic and deliberate pocket picking.

This is controlled by both political parties.

    No one has a plan in place to rid us of our dependence on oil and don't expect congress or the president to have one when they are paid for keeping their hands off their partners in crime.  The oil crooks and manipulators,    everyone knows the oil cartels and greedy investors can control oil prices by bidding up the price of oil at the stock futures market while congress does nothing to stop it.

     The republicans have been in power since the first of the year and their only interest in the United States is to defeat Obama and the democrats while the democrats and Obama are planning the destruction of the republicans.

    Free trade has stripped our country of our manufacturing base; causing 50% of our unemployment problem.  We need a plan to put these unemployed back to work along with the nation's construction industry which is unemployed because of the foreclosure problem.

     The most important problems in this country is unemployment and the cost of oil and health care along with the budget and treasury deficit, in that order, and none of these problems have been addressed by either political party for the last six years.

      Until the American people have their own peaceful revolution at the polls, or the streets, nothing will change and the political parties will hold sway, just as long as the American people allow it to their detriment and demise.    

A SIXTY BILLION DOLLAR CUT IN THE U.S. BUDGET THIS YEAR,

IS A DROP IN THE BUCKET

February 19, 2011

      The republican led House of Representatives, after five weeks of "hard work", only managed to propose a 60 billion dollar cut in the U. S. Budget for the balance of the fiscal year.   After all the campaigning during the 2010  election season, with solemn promises for  balancing the budget and eliminating the 17 trillion dollar deficit, this measly cut  is a drop in the bucket.  When the shoe is on the other foot, politicians, true to form, say one thing and then do another, once in office.

      Considering this token cut of 60 billion against the present budget deficit of 1.3 trillion dollars, it will take about two hundred years to produce a balance budget.  That is so ridiculous because, between the Bush and Obama administrations, it took only ten years to reach this insurmountable imbalance in our federal budget, which represents one third of the budget, the cut must be 30% or 1.3 trillion dollars.

       The sad fact is that these same, "know it all", "fix all" group of republican office holding promises, have yet to tackle the national debt of 17 trillion dollars, representing, six times the annual budget at the present time.  At this rate, assuming the republicans cut, at the same rate each year, they cannot begin to reduce the national debt until the year 2211.  Then, if they continued with the planned 60 billion dollars cut each year thereafter, we can expect the national debt to be eliminated by the year 7511, only four thousand three hundred years more, after the budget is balanced in another two hundred years.   Therefore we can gleefully look forward to our budget being balanced and our total national debt being paid in 6,500 years from today, only a thousand lifetimes.

      Our children and their children's children should not be put to the burden of paying debts that we incurred in our generation.  It is not only unfair it is unsustainable and still have a country that pays its bills at some point the expected services from our country cannot be economically provided and the country will suffer from neglect.

      Obama recently said he was putting a scalpel to the budget rather than a hatchet when he should have used a hatchet in each hand, instead.   The republicans are no better, since they know they will alienate all the public workers if the cuts are implemented, and every American, if the necessary cuts are not implemented, and they will lose their jobs in Washington in either event.  The fact is that these cuts are now vitally necessary, to save us from bankruptcy and an inflation we have never seen before overtake us.  These representatives in Washington must be rooted out because they have caused this mess and they do not deserve re-election.  That includes president Obama and all the democrats and republicans who have been in office before the year 2010.

     Unless we balance the budget by  next July and make arrangements to reduce our national debt at the same time we are surely headed for inflation and bankruptcy in this nation and our country as we have known it, will disappear and end within a few years..    We cannot sustain this debt any longer because it is the American people who will suffer in the end, not the politicians.  They feather their nests every day with campaign contributions from lobbyists who have bought and paid for their votes in their favor rather than the American people who elected them, they have caused this mess we find ourselves confronted with.

      We need a peaceful revolution in this country to take the management of our precious country back from our "do nothing right" politicians in Washington.  If we fail to do this, very soon, we are dooming ourselves to the loss of our country and freedom we have enjoyed for 225 years.  The choice is yours to make. Now is the time to take an active interest in your country to fix its problems since our representatives in Washington have consistently failed to do so and never will.  

IT IS TIME FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO HELP THE PEOPLE OF EGYPT

This article was written on: February 5, 2011

      For nearly the last two weeks, we have seen the suffering but brave people of Egypt, rise up with disappointment and disgust with their government and president to demand the help and freedom they have been denied for many years.

     We have watched, approvingly, their demonstrations in Liberty Square and elsewhere throughout their country.  We saw them pummeled and suffer injury and death, in their steadfast determination to stand their ground and be free from the government of a dictator Mubarak, they are relentless in demanding his resignation and the forming of a new government of, by and for the people of Egypt, before disbanding.

      Still, the government and the president are hanging in there, hoping the demonstrators will tire of this effort, and retreat to their homes as they have in the past, while their government ignores their pleas for help from their bad economy and lack of jobs.

     But, this time the people will not relent or give up, because, things are so bad in Egypt that the people must have the help they need now or they are willing to die fighting for it.

     All this should remind us Americans of the fight we had to gain our freedom and self respect as a nation of people in 1776.  We did not suffer alone, but were helped by other freedom-  loving nations and people like France and Germany who sent troops, arms and money for our cause of freedom.  We could never have survived to be a free nation without their help and support, remember the cry, "Lafayette, we are here!"

     Freedom loving Americans cannot and should not sit by idly watching this sincere struggle continue with our hearts wrenching for these people.  We should be prompted to help them as others have helped us so they may enjoy the God given freedom we should all enjoy today.  A country cannot survive under the yoke of a government whose leaders work for their own interests, instead of the needs and interests of the people they are supposed to represent and provide for.

     Now, this peaceful revolution in Egypt is at a stalemate and the free world must come to the aid of these people at this time, to tip the balance of public opinion and help in favor of the people of Egypt.

     We have a duty, as peace loving free people, to provide as much aid as we can possibly afford to help these defenseless people gain the freedom and help they need to survive as human beings and as the people of a proud and famous nation of people, steep in their history of arts and sciences and human accomplishments for more than 5000 years.

      The government of the USA is doing its best to help the Egyptian people without appearing to interfere in the internal affairs of a country.  However, that does not prevent the American people from voicing our opinions and support for these freedom loving people.

      This would not be the first time the American government and people, came to the aid of Egypt, since in 1942, during world war two, it was the American armed forces who broke the back of the German occupation forces led by the famous German General Rommel, by battling all the way to Cairo, Egypt to liberate them from their occupation by Germany.

      There is no question that the proud and hard working Egyptian people will somehow survive this ordeal.  But, how can the people of America and elsewhere, who have also had to fight and die to gain and keep their freedom, stand back and watch their ordeal without at least complimenting their actions while expressing our sympathy for them and urging them on to victory   better still, we must communicate our support for them as vocally and by our actions, as much as possible into the future, to insure their victory to live amongst us as the free people they are entitled to be as they are our brothers and sisters, too.

     We call upon the free American press and the public medias of all freedom loving nations to voice these feelings of the American people, in favor of the fight for freedom of the Egyptian people, open and vigorously as the Egyptian people have so bravely demonstrated, themselves.

     We cannot expect to help keep their respect and admiration for us as Americans if we do any less for them, as they would do for us in this situation. 

This article was written on: February 5, 2011

With the Military now in Charge in Egypt, it is Imperative for the Egyptian People to Start Meaningful Dialogue and Plans for a Democracy with a Democratic Country in Charge, Quickly

 February 12, 2011

           Now that President Mubarak has resigned from office and left the military in charge of the government, it is time for the people to insist on forming a new democratic government run by the people and not the military.

     This is the danger confronting the Egyptian people at this time, a military leader taking over for Mubarak and using the military to replace him with another military government.

     Because of this danger, the Egyptian people must not relent and insist that a temporary provisional government be set up with only the people as representatives to form a new government and frame a new constitution, free from control of the military, who must be controlled always by the people's government.      

     The present police force must be disbanded unless each member swears allegiance to the people's government and the people's control.  The police force must be made local in every city and town to minimize its power.

     The people should request the United Nations for their help in maintaining order and supervising the work of framing a new people's constitution with the usual provisions for local and federal elections much like the US Constitution as a model.   

      All the present generals of the military, must as of this date swear allegiance to the people's government and recognize their subservience to the will of the people and their new government.  All the generals must be put to that test, of subservience now, to erase any plan or idea from them to take over power in this vacuum.

     It is vitally important for the United Nations to step in now with troops and with the necessary diplomats to assist the people in their tasks at hand and to keep the people in control of their country.   

     In this democratic country, the very first in the near east, every faction must be allowed to participate in the election process and the majority must rule in every event.

      When the new constitution is drafted, it must be put to the vote of the people whose majority shall determine its adoption and no one else.  A second election must be held within 90 days for candidates for office to be allowed the time to campaign for office and make their plans for the country known.

     It is most important for this election process to take place as soon as possible because the Egyptian people need help financially and economically now and cannot wait any more than is absolutely necessary, to turn this country over to the people. 

      The united state must offer food and shelter and assistance to the Egyptian people today and any help must be controlled by the people and no one else other the Red Cross of America and the Crescent Cross of the near east.  Any financial aid contributed by the American people who are most sympathetic to their cause, must be controlled by the Egyptian people themselves and doled out by them, thru charitable organizations.  

      Throughout this tedious task the Egyptian people must keep their demonstrations in place so they control the situation and no one else.  They must keep control of the police and their weapons to prevent them from being turned on the people again as they have in the past.  The only force the army respects and will follow are the people from whom they come.  It is vitally important for them to embrace and support their army, in order to prevent any other general or leader from their control.    

     This is not a plan but the needed advice to the Egyptian people, to hang in there until they have a new constitution and a people's government of people representing the needs and wishes of the people exclusively, now and in the future.

February 14^th, 2011

THE PEOPLE'S PEACEFUL REVOLUTION IN EGYPT

February 3, 2011

          About a week ago, the people of Egypt started a peaceful revolution against its government headed for the last thirty years by its constitutional leader, president. Mubarak.  This famous and  historic country, the largest in the near east, has been ruled with a heavy hand for many years with a strong army funded in part by the USA and a police force who has ruled with and iron fist and abuse of its power against the very people it was duty bound to protect.

          The nation's economy, much like the USA and other countries these days, has suffered a decline, leaving its young generation with little hope for jobs and support, causing the frustrations, desperation and unrest, to be expected in such a situation after years of neglect and deprivation by their government's lack of concern.

          The people, in this dire situation, are to be complimented for their peaceful actions by demonstration against their government in their honest plea for help and action in the form of a demand for the resignation of their president and his government.

          From the size and bitter tone of this demonstration by the country's people, it was made clear they would accept nothing less than a new government, without delay since the relief is needed now, much like the need for jobs in the USA.

          The USA is an unwitting target of distrust by the Egyptian people today because of the close relationship of our government to the sitting president over the years and their collaboration in foreign affairs.  It seems all this attention given to the Egyptian government, although well intentioned and proper in it intent, lost sight of the treatment and plight of the Egyptian people who were being neglected and deprived of basic needs by their own government, over the years.  This was a fault in the negotiations with President Mubarak, since as a condition of USA monetary help of a billion and a half dollars a year, the USA should have felt the pulse of the suffering people of Egypt and seen to it that the people were helped adequately.     Every country must always be aware that a nation is the people not it's rulers and first and foremost the people must be served and made content.

          President Mubarak's attempt to quell the peaceful revolution failed because he did not provide the immediate help the people needed by resigning so a new government could be formed, promises of help by September, when election are due, are mere promises to the masses bent on definitive action today.  Even the attempted help of our president Obama did not fill this need because it sent a mixed message to the determined masses who by their very actions were putting themselves in jeopardy of retaliation by the government.

          After a few days of tension and open demonstration and stalemate   pro-Mubarak forces entered the scene and in confronting the opposition brought the violence feared with death and destruction from rock throwing and beatings until the people drove them back to the fringes of freedom square the symbolic center of the demonstration.  Everyone feared what the army would do, even though they had withheld their intentions and appeared to act more friendly with the revolutionaries, while poised for action.

          This morning, the army finally made their intentions clear, when they positioned their tanks and weapons between the two factions to make the necessary space to effectively stop the stone throwing and molotoff cocktail flames thrown by the pro- Mubarak forces into the midst of the demonstrators.  It is now obvious that the army's choice and sympathy in this confrontation is with the people as it should be because all armies are manned by people and all soldiers are family members not politicians.  They will take orders from the politicians as long as these orders are not against the people of which they are members.

          All the hoped for actions on behalf of President Mubarak to stay in power are now effectively exhausted and spent.  The people now patiently await his capitulation to their demands that he leave office immediately.  It is clear that all his efforts to thwart the will of the people have failed.

          I personally fear for his safety, if he stays in power much longer.  He will be blamed for the bloodshed by the people in this near peaceful revolution and in the end they may seek retribution with the forfeit of his life for his stubbornness and lack of concern for the wishes of the Egyptian people to be free from his tyranny.

          The lesson to be learned is, as has been repeated for many generations in every country visited, that a leader is in power at the pleasure and needs of the people whom he should represent first and always.  When he strays from this principle he is doomed to failure as he should be.  President Obama also painfully learned this last November.   

WHY IS THERE A PEOPLE'S REVOLUTION IN EGYPT?

FREEDOM OVER SUBJUGATION CAN NEVER BE SUPPRESSED.

 February 1, 2011

          What we have been witnessing in Egypt this last week is a revolution of the people seeking that human right of freedom from subjugation from the leaders of a great country.    

          For the last thirty years, this country has been ruled by one man, Mubarak, a former general in the Egyptian army.  He may have been well intentioned and benevolent to his people in the past, but somewhere along the way, his power weakened and his favor dimmed as he lost sight of the fact that a leader must satisfy the needs and honest desires of the masses, the people, if he is to remain in power with the popularity that is most necessary to succeed and survive as it's leader.    

          This man lost sight of this principle and obviously thought his power brought him the might to subjugate the people to his desires rather than what the people needed.  He now finds himself confronted with the will of the people to be free from his rule or die trying.    

          This principle of freedom and justice is innate in every human being from birth, we rebel from the discipline of our parents, our teachers and society at times even though we know it may be wrong, because we love freedom of choice and cannot wait until we become of age and chart our own course in life.  Most of the time we are wrong and must undergo a learning process but the yearning to be free of control never leaves us as humans and eventually we have our chance to experience it, and be free.

       We cannot ever underestimate the power of the people to be free and the strength in their numbers.  It happened in England in 1066 and ended in the signing of the "magna carta" the first people's constitution.  Then it happened in France, with the overthrow of the monarchy in the French revolution.  Of course, we Americans will never forget our forefather's fight for freedom from oppression and taxes which brought the American revolution of 1776 and the unique American constitution, by "We the people."  It happened in Russia in 1916, when the people arose and threw out their monarchy and brought in an experiment in communism.  It also happened in China in 1948 when general Chan kaii sheik was overthown by the people and a communist government of the people installed that still rules today.  Finally, it happened in India where the British rule of more than one hundred and fifty years ended in a peaceful revolution staged by a frail people's leader, named Mahatma Gandhi.

      Each of these revolutions, in the world's biggest nations, sprang from the people's desire to be free from tyrannical power that failed to keep the masses satisfied and happy.  Since it has been repeated also, time after time in lessor nations, it seems the leaders of these countries have consistently failed to realize freedom cannot be suppressed and the people must be made reasonably satisfied with their government if it is to be allowed to continue, by the people.  Government then should learn that they govern at the will of the people who must feel satisfied with their leaders, if their leaders expect to continue to lead the country.

      So it will be in Egypt, after thirty years, the people have risen up and want their leader to "resign, leave office and, get out."  The people will expect no less, once they have collectively made up their minds as the majority.  Even the former general's army and police cannot suppress their hungry cry for freedom.

      It is time for our American government and people to rise up and support these brave Egyptian people at a time when they need our support and help.  There can be no question but that we are duty bound and need to do this, in spite of the assistance and cooperation  its leader may have been to us and the near east area in the past.  Our heritage as Americans demands that we always rise up for the cause of freedom, which gave us our birth and has sustained this great country since 1776.

    We implore our president Barack Obama and the congress to act now, or we will be branded hypocrites by the people of Egypt, very soon.  As it is, we find our country on the precipice between love and respect or hate and damnation by the Egyptian people.