Since the beginning of the revolution in Libya in February 2011 and the months following the intervention of the coalition forces of United Kingdom, France, United States and Canada, the world has been fixed on the events that has crippled the 42-year rule of Muammar Gaddafi. His strong rule of the country began with the ousting of King Idris I in 1969 and the abolishment of the 1951 Constitution. Monarchy was replaced with Kleptocracy, whereby he and his family benefited from the wealth of the country. Although social programs thrived in Libya, these were used to coerce votes and bribe support of his propaganda brain-washing of the poor and middle-class citizens. Unlike Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Gaddafi was sutle with his use of force on the people and used it to control uprises by opponents wanting to reestablish the former constitution while he governed the country.
So why is it necessary for the World's Super Powers to intervene now? The United States could have crippled Gaddafi in the 1980's under President Ronald Reagan and controlled Libya's oil reserves. Gaddafi's history with Human Rights could have had him exiled by the United Nations (with military force). All things considered, the Super Powers did not need his resources in the 1980s -- just lower oil prices. Attention on Iraq and internet technology was the focus in the 1990s. After 9/11, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Osama bin Laden and the War on Terrorism was the concern in the last decade. Meanwhile in the past 30 years, Gaddafi witnessed how Western and European governments conducted international business. He built up his wealth, increased his military and solidified his influence with neighboring countries to mimic Western and European coalitions. He was working on a plan for an African monetary standard that would be shared like the Euro. This idea would isolate Europe, which needed Libyan oil. With 140 tons of gold and rich investors from African nations, this would be Gaddafi's anti-imperialist move on the chess board of the African continent.
The 2008 recession of United States and European banks had left these economies looking for relief. The old cries of Human Rights violations are heard again from the poorest of Libyan citizens. But, now they are listened, because the Western and European governments have a need (a greed) to balance a ledger of international deficits. Nations that based their economy on credit instead of gold now seeks what they do not have -- a true treasury. These nations have found Gaddafi and seek to oust him similar to his 1969 coup.
Yes, Gaddafi is guilty for the Human Rights mistreatment of Libyan citizens.
Yes, the upper class benefited from Gaddafi's propaganda rule.
Yes, Gaddafi wanted to strengthen the African continent economically.
Yes, the Libyan central bank was seized as payment to nations that continue to support the Libyan rebels.
Yes, Imperialism continues to exist.
Yes, there is no honor among thieves.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Dead Thorns Still Prick
During the Spring/Summer months those with the special gift of the green thumb plant and cultivate their gardens. Others use decorative plants to improve the aesthetics of their home with interior/exterior flowers, shrubs, bushes, trees, etc.. Some of the most beautiful arrangements can be produced with the right mixture. It is recommended to trim or prune these plants occasionally in order to control growth and remain appealing. The debris is left to be swept up as trash. One of the most popular of these plants is the rose bush, especially when in bloom because of the sweet scent. Another popular plant is a shrub from the barberry family; vibrant with mauve, green and violet colors. These plants share a commonality: thorns.
In the international community, super powers tend to use the same gardening tactics with 2nd and 3rd world countries. If a country grows too power too fast, it is viewed as a threat; pruning is applied. The United Nations (UN) is act as shears that are used to impose sanctions or embargoes on countries that want to impose upon there neighbors. This is a necessary activity to prevent another Hitler from rising in the world.
With the world attentive to terrorism, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are viewed as international threats. These groups do not represent a nation by which the UN can apply commerce tactics that have been effective for the past 65 years. Military force has also been used by the UN to suppress aggression, but again terrorism does not have political land boundaries.
With Osama bin Laden's death in May, 2011, the United States removed a 10-15 year threat to its national security. Recently, Al Qaeda's #2 Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was killed by a drone operated by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This is another celebrated international victory against terrorism, but should we be let are guards down.
As landscape and garden activities continue during seasons throughout the year, debris from roses and barberries may not get cleaned up as accurate as expected. This oversight results in dead leaves or flowers that wither and die, but not thorns. Dead thorns must be handled just as live thorns -- cautiously!
Likewise, sovereign nations cannot let there guards down, because the threat of terrorism is still there and it takes one suicide bomber, one missile strike, one political unrest, etc. and the prick of this event will spill blood that a medical gauze cannot withstand the pain. The UN must remain vigilant to find these terrorist thorns of the world and cast them away.
In the international community, super powers tend to use the same gardening tactics with 2nd and 3rd world countries. If a country grows too power too fast, it is viewed as a threat; pruning is applied. The United Nations (UN) is act as shears that are used to impose sanctions or embargoes on countries that want to impose upon there neighbors. This is a necessary activity to prevent another Hitler from rising in the world.
With the world attentive to terrorism, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are viewed as international threats. These groups do not represent a nation by which the UN can apply commerce tactics that have been effective for the past 65 years. Military force has also been used by the UN to suppress aggression, but again terrorism does not have political land boundaries.
With Osama bin Laden's death in May, 2011, the United States removed a 10-15 year threat to its national security. Recently, Al Qaeda's #2 Atiyah Abd al-Rahman was killed by a drone operated by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). This is another celebrated international victory against terrorism, but should we be let are guards down.
As landscape and garden activities continue during seasons throughout the year, debris from roses and barberries may not get cleaned up as accurate as expected. This oversight results in dead leaves or flowers that wither and die, but not thorns. Dead thorns must be handled just as live thorns -- cautiously!
Likewise, sovereign nations cannot let there guards down, because the threat of terrorism is still there and it takes one suicide bomber, one missile strike, one political unrest, etc. and the prick of this event will spill blood that a medical gauze cannot withstand the pain. The UN must remain vigilant to find these terrorist thorns of the world and cast them away.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Before Electronic Distractions
It began with the invention of the light bulb. Thomas Edison's usage of Benjamin Franklin's electrofying discovery accelerated electronic technology. Historians tracted this post-industrial revolution period as one of the most progressive since the discovery of fire and the engineering of the pulley. These electrical advancements birthed the invention of LEDs, automobiles, transistors, radios, motion pictures (movies), television, cargo airplanes, computers, space ships, etc. happened within a 50-year period.
What hasn't been tracted is the decline in social interaction. The Sony Walkman, which was a portable cassette music player exclusively listened through a singular set of earphones. Since then, DVD and MP3 players have dominated the market for small electronics.
With the reduction in carpools, increased gas and taxi prices, driving solo in automobiles designed for 5 passengers is seen as normal. To further promote isolationism, many ride public transportation to save money but are plugged into electronic devices. Texting to people that are not present while ignoring those who are has become acceptable. Many cannot identify the people they sit next to during a 30-minute ride on mass transportation. Why? Passengers are too busy interacting with an inanimate device that provides entertainment for the short attention span generation.
So what was our culture before the electronic distractions? People read the newspaper and books, which sparked 'conversation'. Children learned in schools without the potential of interference of cellphones. What is the purpose of a smartphone if the user is not smart enough to know there is a time and place for everything... especially if this type of interaction is during a company staff meeting. The thin line between distraction and disrespect has often been breached with the anytime usage of PDAs and touch phone apps. It is time to have a balance with our neglected social and addictive electronic interactions.
(composed using Opera Mini 6 on a boostmobile web-enabled cellphone while taking a mass transit bus. LOL.)
What hasn't been tracted is the decline in social interaction. The Sony Walkman, which was a portable cassette music player exclusively listened through a singular set of earphones. Since then, DVD and MP3 players have dominated the market for small electronics.
With the reduction in carpools, increased gas and taxi prices, driving solo in automobiles designed for 5 passengers is seen as normal. To further promote isolationism, many ride public transportation to save money but are plugged into electronic devices. Texting to people that are not present while ignoring those who are has become acceptable. Many cannot identify the people they sit next to during a 30-minute ride on mass transportation. Why? Passengers are too busy interacting with an inanimate device that provides entertainment for the short attention span generation.
So what was our culture before the electronic distractions? People read the newspaper and books, which sparked 'conversation'. Children learned in schools without the potential of interference of cellphones. What is the purpose of a smartphone if the user is not smart enough to know there is a time and place for everything... especially if this type of interaction is during a company staff meeting. The thin line between distraction and disrespect has often been breached with the anytime usage of PDAs and touch phone apps. It is time to have a balance with our neglected social and addictive electronic interactions.
(composed using Opera Mini 6 on a boostmobile web-enabled cellphone while taking a mass transit bus. LOL.)
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Why did HAMP fail?
In 2009, the Obama Administration introduced a government program for struggling homeowners called the Homeowners Mortgage Assistance Program(HAMP). This program had two purposes: 1. reduce interest rates for high interest or interest-only mortgages for homeowners current on mortgage payments and 2. provide loan modification assistance for homeowners who had fallen behind on payments or at risk of foreclosure. The House this week killed funding for HAMP, although Senate passage is unlikely. In addition, 50 House Democrats wrote Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urging him to reform HAMP. Why is reform needed?
3.4+ Million homeowners were suppose to benefit from this program, but after 2 years, the population of an average size professional football stadium (approximately 500,000 homeowners) have been assisted successfully. I've heard valid arguments from Democrats and Republicans about the need to complete or delete the program; they don't understand that the HAMP failure lies with the implementors: the banks and mortgage companies.
The same banks that were bailed out from the 2008 crisis are now asked by the government to give homeowners the grace of a fixed interest loan or a small interest loan modification. Some of these homeowners endured unemployment or bad credit in order to stay current with the necessities of food, shelter, clothing and utilities -- forgoing the luxuries of credit card shopping (and paying credit card bills). The banks and mortgage companies do not recoup an advantage on a 6-month loan modification when a 12-, 18-, 24-month loan modification is more profitable. Banks cannot sell the foreclosed property, so why not let it draw more interest until the market is favorable.
House Representatives and Senators are unaware of the viscous cycle that begins with falling behind 2-3 months on mortgage payments. An homeowner may have at least 1 month's payment available to apply to the present mortgage. A reimbursement program is introduced after filing an income/expense worksheet. The homeowner waits until receiving approval and sent paperwork to return the payment as a money order or certificate of deposit. The homeowner may not receive the paperwork until after another month has past. The bank or mortgage company may state that the paperwork was returned without a valid address and the homeowner is disqualified for the reimbursement program. Next, another income/expense worksheet is performed for the entrapment of a loan modification. This is promoted to homeowners like a used car salesman. "The current loan interest rate will be reduced significantly, while we process an additional loan on what is owed". This is trouble on a runaway train that no one can get off of.
Homeowners do not want to pay anymore interest! Homeowners don't desire another entry on a credit report! Homeowners don't look forward to paying another mortgage on their property! There is no advantage in killing one mortgage with two loans.
A favorable statistic to acquire is how many homeowners remain in the HAMP process and how many were rejected. It is my speculation that approximately 1 million homeowners remain in the cycle of attempting to qualify for a program that the banks and mortgage companies do not wish to implement. Banks and homeowners are stuck; homeowners can't pay, banks can't sell.
3.4+ Million homeowners were suppose to benefit from this program, but after 2 years, the population of an average size professional football stadium (approximately 500,000 homeowners) have been assisted successfully. I've heard valid arguments from Democrats and Republicans about the need to complete or delete the program; they don't understand that the HAMP failure lies with the implementors: the banks and mortgage companies.
The same banks that were bailed out from the 2008 crisis are now asked by the government to give homeowners the grace of a fixed interest loan or a small interest loan modification. Some of these homeowners endured unemployment or bad credit in order to stay current with the necessities of food, shelter, clothing and utilities -- forgoing the luxuries of credit card shopping (and paying credit card bills). The banks and mortgage companies do not recoup an advantage on a 6-month loan modification when a 12-, 18-, 24-month loan modification is more profitable. Banks cannot sell the foreclosed property, so why not let it draw more interest until the market is favorable.
House Representatives and Senators are unaware of the viscous cycle that begins with falling behind 2-3 months on mortgage payments. An homeowner may have at least 1 month's payment available to apply to the present mortgage. A reimbursement program is introduced after filing an income/expense worksheet. The homeowner waits until receiving approval and sent paperwork to return the payment as a money order or certificate of deposit. The homeowner may not receive the paperwork until after another month has past. The bank or mortgage company may state that the paperwork was returned without a valid address and the homeowner is disqualified for the reimbursement program. Next, another income/expense worksheet is performed for the entrapment of a loan modification. This is promoted to homeowners like a used car salesman. "The current loan interest rate will be reduced significantly, while we process an additional loan on what is owed". This is trouble on a runaway train that no one can get off of.
Homeowners do not want to pay anymore interest! Homeowners don't desire another entry on a credit report! Homeowners don't look forward to paying another mortgage on their property! There is no advantage in killing one mortgage with two loans.
A favorable statistic to acquire is how many homeowners remain in the HAMP process and how many were rejected. It is my speculation that approximately 1 million homeowners remain in the cycle of attempting to qualify for a program that the banks and mortgage companies do not wish to implement. Banks and homeowners are stuck; homeowners can't pay, banks can't sell.
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