American Exceptionalism

Concerning the un-going political discussion about the "exceptionalism" of American society, I found this item of interest  "Americans under the age of 50 are more likely to  have poor health and die prematurely than people in 16 other developed countries".  This according to the National Research Council (whoever they are) which adds that our life expectancy rate is "comparatively low" in regard to the other countries in this study; including Canada, Australia, and many Western European countries.

(Source:  From the Los Angeles Times and reported in The Week for 1/25/13).

Reagan and Obesity

This file will include my research into the connection between obesity in the US and the policies of the Ronald Reagan administration.  It is here rather than in my history blog because my bias against RR might skew my research.  

An online site by the Thom Hartmann Progran-a radio show-made the following claim on Ap 30, 2012.  His take is that the unequal distribution of wealth could be one factor in the increase in obesity in this country.  His argument is that wealth has been flowing from the bottom to the top since the Reagan tax cuts-cuts that were continued, in most part, up to the present day-leaving those at the bottom of the economic ladder with less money to spend.  This resulted for the lower economic classes a choice on the spending of what money they had.  It could go for gas in their cars to get to work, to health insurance or to a better-albeit more costly-diet, which would have limited the weight gain in the lower classes.  He noted in general that the "more unequal the wealth rate is in a country the higher the level of obesity".  Hartmann has a web site; www.thomhartmann.com. 

Another site I found noted that during the Reagan admin legislation was passed that placed a limit on imported sugar cane in an effort to protect a domestic industry.  This legislation was lobbied for by Archer Daniels Midland (ADM), an agribusiness giant.  This resulted in the drastic increase in "high fructose corn syrup" in place of sugar.  It is this substance in food-like soda-that has caused the rapid weight gain among those not always able to make the best choice in foods.  This information comes from the "OB Rag" or Ocean Beach, California 92107 online site from 1/13/09.

The Church

I've been reading the Winter of the World by Ken Follett and noted his comment that in order for Adolf Hitler to gain enough votes in the Reichstag to form a coalition government in 1933, he needed the votes of the Catholic Centre Party; he got them and we know what happened then to free government in Germany.  I remember from history reading of the agreement the Catholic Church made with Mussolini in Italy in the 1920's-the Concordat-it guaranteed the place of the Church in Italy and gave the Fascist government needed support among the populace.  

This past month we have read about the new Pope-Francis-of Argentina.  It is disturbing to read that he may have acquiesced in the "Dirty War" there that saw countless Argentinians disappear as victims of the military government there.  Some think even some Catholic priests fell victim to the terror.  And there was the issue of Pope Benedict and the sexual abuse scandal that victimized children in the US and Ireland.

These are not easy comments to make for someone who was raised in the Catholic Church but as a student of history they present difficult issues and thoughts of betrayal.

""Cannon Fodder", Industrial Chum

It has been my believe since teaching American History that the common man in this country is either cannon fodder or industrial chum.  The former because all the wars we have fought have required large number of young men to shed their blood and lose their lives for the economic benefit of the large corporations and wealthy elite in this country.  The term "cannon fodder" is not my original thought as the phrase has been around and in general use for a good many years.  As for the latter term, I also believe that the common man has been used to run the machines-grease them, if you will-with their labor, and lives in many cases, at a low rate of pay so that these same corporations and wealthy elite can earn profits way more than any person needs for a very comfortable life style.  As the fisherman will throw small pieces of bait into the water to attract the larger, more profitable fish so to the corporations will do basically the same with workers.  They are "chum" in both cases.  As to the origin of this term, I believe it is mine alone. .

Now with the quest for equality in this country-which I favor generally-it is not the common man who is being so used but the common woman, due to her presence on the battlefield and in the factory.  Is this the price we pay for a more equal society?

On re-reading this I wonder if I am having a bad day and being more cynical than I need to be.

"Magic Lantern"

I came across this item while watching a re-run of the Law and Order TV program; this one dealing with a computer company that was selling information about a person's private life to anyone who asked for it.  It so happened that the one asking was a stalker and the person who's private life was divulged wound up dead.  The program noted that the federal government had a similar program-called "Magic Lantern"-that allowed the federal government to gain access to a person's email account and know what they were thinking and saying even as they were saying it.  This program came about under the US Patriot Act passed after 9/11.  What happens is that the government can plant a computer virus on a computer and then read everything being recorded there; even what I am now writing.  I believe a warrant is needed but it might come from a FISA court not an open criminal court.  There is some comment here about a "Enhanced Carnivore Project" that is meant to detect terrorist suspects.  The ACLU and others have fought this authority but to no avail (as I understand it).  An internet site-"Cotse.Net" stated that the program "...was useless against suspects clever enough to encrypt their files".  I admit, my knowledge of computers and this program are limited but the overall idea sounded really dangerous to me.

War Costs

I came across this info on the costs of the Iraq war on line at Reuters.com and I thought it worth noting here. I am one who has believed for a long time that we spend way too much money on "defense" and that a good part of that is not for our defense but the profit margins of some major corporations with political connections.  I also think this spending has been going on for as long as we have been a country.  Just look at the fortifications up and down the eastern seaboard of our country.  Just about none of them has ever fired a weapon in anger.  Anyway, the cost for the most recent war follow.

Brown University "Cost of War" Project reports the war cost for Iraq at $ 1.7 trillion (US dollars) plus another $ 490 billion in benefits yet to be paid out.  Overall cost could increase to $ 6 trillion over 4 decades.  On the human side they report that 134,000 Iraqis have been killed and that figure "be four times that".  In 2011 a Watson Institute (?) study said the cost of wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq was at least $ 3.7 trillion.  That figure included the cost for war vets medical and disability care.  Their update put the cost at $ 4 trillion.  (This info taken from the internet and Reuters.com on 3/16/13) 

Medical Care in Canada vs US

I noted recently in a former face book "friend" post that the medical care in Canada was worst than in this country because "you can not find a doctor".  I researched the issue and found the following.  The number of doctors in the US is reported to be 2.4 docs per 1000 people while in Canada it is 2.0 docs per 1000 people.  The average income for docs in the US is "almost double" that for docs in Canada, causing experienced doctors to move to the US to make more money.  Doctors in Canada are younger with less experience and doctors from abroad.  More recently it is noted that more docs are returning to Canada than going abroad.  This info came from "google" on 3/15/13.

Government Spending

The Pentagon and conservatives in congress want a new fighter plane, its called the F-35.  Problem is the DAMN THING DOESN'T WORK.  However, we have guaranteed spending on the program before the plane was fully tested and are now "stuck" with the boondoggle.  The plane has to fly fast enough for the Air Force, be able to land on carriers for the Navy and take off and land vertically for the Marines.  Some in congress even want the plane to wipe your ass.  Ops, maybe I should not have said that, but nobody reads my shit anyway so why worry.  Does that qualify as a pun?

Defense Spending

The paper today reports that the Navy is going to decommission a guided missile frigate that was put into service in 1985.  Its last mission was to "support a multinational effort to target drug trafficking" that began in June.  Why does the ship have to be scrapped?  Do the drug runners have something more formidable that would out gun The Carr?  Hell, I ran a Pontiac for almost as many years before I scrapped it.  With all the talk of the budget deficit and the need to cut back on spending, this ship couldn't have continued on in service against a outlaw force?   Instead some hawks want to cut social security and medicare.

(Source:  "Guided Missile Frigate Carr in Decommisioned" in The Virginian Pilot on 3/14/13)

Politics and Foreign Policy

There are a number of issues regarding our foreign policy currently and it is interesting to see which one is getting most of the play.  First, there is the issue of sexual assaults by members of our armed forces upon female personnel they work with and the lack of executive action to correct or punish such attacks.  Second, is the evidence of the US policy of torture of prisoners that came out during the confirmation hearings for Brennan as CIA director.  The talk on that issue was about drones and their targets but nothing about torture as a element of US policy.  Third, is the ongoing issue of the deaths of four Americans-one an ambassador-in  Libya at the consul office in Bengazi.  Guess which of these three the conservatives want to talk about to the exclusion of the other two?  I don't think I have to answer that question.

Current Issues

The movie Argo has gotten a lot of awards this year and I guess a lot of people are singing the praises of the CIA for its daring plan to rescue those embassy employees.  However, it would also be nice if we remember that the take-over of the embassy was sparked-in the minds of Iranians-by years of interference in the affairs of Iran by the CIA and our country.  The Shah was placed on the throne by military takeover from a democratically elected government because the oil companies wanted more profit from the oil they were taking from Iran.  The CIA trained and participated with the SAVAK (Shah's CIA) to limit descent and jail or kill opponents.  The US embassy was the symbol of that interference in the domestic affairs of Iran and for them it was the logical place to take revenge.  Yes, the rescue of the employees was a good and brave thing but lets also remember there were events that occurred before it that would present a broader picture of the story.

The Church

With all this talk of late about a new Pope I thought I would record some of my opinions on a the subject.  The issue should not be who is going to be the next Pope, but what the church can do to improve its image (at least in my mind) in the world today.  The Church has to own up to its stand-or lack thereof-on the abuse of children in the US, Ireland an God knows where else.  Pope Benedict did not become the first Pope in hundreds of years to resign because he "wanted to spend more time with his family".  It seems to me the abuse scandal was getting close and he had questions to answer.  The issue of child abuse and the covering of it up is just unacceptable on the part of one of the major religious faiths in the world.  As for the laity, where is their outrage?.

The Church needs to do the following.  1) make a complete and truthful accounting of the abuses.  2) pay the victims for the crime committed against them.  3) turn the leadership of the Church over to the lay ministers and laity (Deacons).  Personally, I know two who I believe would be better religious leaders than what we have now.  4) increase the role of nuns in the leadership.  5) should speak for the poor and not the dictators, the forgotten not the elite.  6) they should lead on issues that would make the world a better place than it currently is and not follow the power-mongers.  It is time for change, real change not just a Pope from other than Europe.
Update:  I read today in The Virginian Pilot newspaper the two full page bio of Pope Francis.  Of all that coverage the sexual abuse scandal got one sentence; the last one.  I guess it is not the issue I think it should be.