In reference to the planned Quran burning..
I do not find this to be productive..Book
burning is always an act that is an indicator
of failed intellectual process, and historically
has been found to be practiced by groups,
people, historically found to be lacking
redeemable qualities.

I'm going to see if I can track down this
groups rational for this act....

O.K. here is what we've found..

The religious leader? who is organizing this
effort has been photographed in front of
signs that say "collectively" Islam, is of the,
Devil" I personally find this message
intellectually suspect. Furthermore.. the reason
stated for this act has been reported to be..
"As a warning to extremist Muslims? who
would try to impose islamic law within the
United States"? I think this religious leader is
being a little over reactionary as to the real
impact of such an effort. I mean here in the
U.S. we are still unable to uniformly provide
an atmospher of religious inclusiveness in
areas of gender, or sexual orientation..
what real chance would extremist Muslims
have to implement this diabolical plan under
the intellectually restrictive environment that
exists in this country today..?

But, this book burning act.... in a free society,
that values free speech protections, I find
that in the public square, it falls under a
protected right/act.

Just as I would find, burning the Bible, Huck
Finn, or the Flag.

The courts you will find I believe support this
position.

Now, in light of our current dialog efforts/focus,
you would also find that in a public k-12
environment that this level of free speech
would not be allowed, so you see that in our
society different regulators/governors can
impact a persons or groups right to free
speech, depending upon the area/organization
or perhaps the people to be impacted.

The aspect of this report that I think people
should be paying attention to, is the groups
that are organizing counter protests, as well
as the group that has offered to purchase a
new Quran for every Quran burned.

These are the people of the United States
that demonstrate, that if the United States
has a claim to greatness as a society..

This is one of the reasons.

Colin Stuart McCoy

Everyone catch Secretary of State Clintons
reference and reasons as to why the deficit
represents a threat to our National Security.

It is extremely important that the republican's
do not regain control of the house or senate
or both in the upcoming elections..

I fear dire consequences if this occurs and
some of the national, as well as global
problems we're tracking, come to pass.

Republican appear to be continuing to operate
under the guidance of "magical" thought
processes similar to those that have helped
lead our nation to it's current state.

Next April, 2011 our nation may see close to
2 million people run out of financial aid, due to
a lack of employment opportunities.

This appears to be time for a convergence of
additional dire economic/global news.

Current grid locks have, I believe kept needed
corrective actions from being implemented.
My concern is that a republican controlled or
gridlocked congress, the same or worse than it
is today, will not be able to provide the needed
leadership our nation will require.

Another thing I'm trying to put my finger on..
"The Glen Beck thing/experience" my concerns
are that what we may see come out of this will
be something that could make the era of
McCarthyism look like the age of enlightenment.

Not sure about this last, need more data..

Dems/ other political organizations need to get
moving to ensure the avoidance of these
potentials.

CSM

Another observation, George Bush Jr. policies
may very likely be responsible for serious
continued problems, as well as the lack of
proper time and resources to respond to said
problems.. I have been critical of similar
Oregon Supreme Court actions in support of
the discriminatory group,  The Boy Scouts,
I found myself thinking about similar steps
taken by the Bush admin/congress in 2002..
I.E. the Boy Scout equal access provisions
added to the "no child left behind act." what
a joke! If ever a needed growth of awareness
was squashed by an act of our government,
this was one of those times...repercussions
still rolling outward.
---------------------------------------------------

But the news is not all bad thank goodness..
Reported research data now clearly
indicated that the USA has been very
successful in the growth of HYPOXIA in our
great lakes and coastal ocean waters. It's
reported that these areas are now 30 times
larger/more common than they were in the
1960's.. well done to all of you "magical"
thinkers. What's hypoxia you ask? Why it's
other wise known as ocean "DEAD ZONES" ,
low oxygen levels kill most of the sea life in
these areas when they hit.

In our quest to continue to point out that
which comes next..We have decided to post
as we find them, supportive legal precedents.
So that people can better see the process
for themselves.

As far as information found on such sites
as face book ect...many employees have
lost their jobs over postings, that while a
perfectly legal exercise of their free speech
rights, were found to pose a negative impact
on the good order? or credibility of the
employer/operations public policy.
Those that have lost their jobs have included
teachers,various government employees, and
police officers.

Robert Henderson, Former Nebraska State
Trooper was fired a few years back for being
a member of the KKK. Case went through the
appeals process, and this firing was upheld
by the Nebraska Supreme Court.

Mr. Henderson had won a reinstatement that
claimed his free speech rights had been
violated...However the state supreme court
overturned the finding of the arbitrator..
stating,"pretty much", that a court cannot
enforce arbitration awards that violate "the
clear and dominant public policy of the state"
(This was posted, or took place on, or around
March 12th, 2009).

While I support the outcome, I'm not sure I
support the rational as I found it stated..I
would have liked to see "dominant public
policy" conditions under which such court
actions could be taken as further defined, I.E.
in support of a government processes fully
supportive, ensuring non-hostile, hate free,
non-discriminatory interactions between
government employees and the diverse
population they are meant to serve.

7/28/10 A Federal Judge has supported the
expulsion from Eastern Michigan University
of Julea Ward from the counseling program
taught their. Julea Ward made statements
that her Christian beliefs mandated that
homosexuality is morally wrong. Federal
Judge supported the expulsion reportedly
due to the fact that Ms. Ward violated school
policy, as well as they ACA code of ethics.

A similar case at another university appears
to have been resolved in like fashion?

Question: If a student can be expelled from
a university for discriminatory beliefs that
lead to actions that violate school policy..
It follows, that so can a teacher.

More to be posted as found

CSM 

Well, another "activist/concerned citizen"
rescued from North Korean detention by a
former democratic president..

Thank you, President Carter, for being willing
to make the effort. 

To those of you thinking about testing the
North Korean border in the future..be advised
We are running out of former Democratic
Presidents that the North Koreans deem
politically acceptable.. The Next U.S. citizen
detained by the North Koreans needs to be
aware that the only thing standing between
themselves and several years of hard labor,
might be former President Bush..

CSM

What is tolerance? It used to be that when you
heard the phrase, what people were talking
about was learning not to discriminate against
those currently being targeted by such activity.

Now it seems that the phrase has been hi-
jacked, and what many of those who now use
it want it to mean is 'That we must now be
tolerant of those who hate or discriminate"

I think we need to restore this phrase meaning
to what it used to mean.

What do you think?

Colin Stuart McCoy

I have been asked about my last post, and
whether I'm familiar with the provisions of
separation of church and state. Namely that
the government shall make no law respecting
the establishment of religion, or prohibiting
the free exercise there of ect, ect..

The fact is that our government has over the
past 200 plus years passed multiple laws
regulating what becomes perceived as being
problematic religious practices. Human or
animal sacrifice, polygamy, faith healing on
children where harm results, ect. 
(Pretty much, the Government is required to
take no position for or against the
establishment of a religion or its practices..
unless those practices are found to cause
harm.) and there's the rub..

I think we have reached a evolutionary fork?,
in the road..we now live in a society where the
last safe refuges for many remaining
discriminatory thought processes lie within
established religion, these areas of
discriminatory thought must be eliminated with
the same vigor with which we have approached
other problematic areas of civil rights
protections, many of which were at the time
also accepted religious tenants.

Consider this:.. when the process of
tolerance becomes not a process of reform in
the effort to include, in an effort to stop
discrimination, when the concept of tolerance
becomes a mutual support group for those
that want to be able to discriminate..well
then, I say the process has has gone down
a wrong path, and needs a kick in the pants
or a shot in the arm.

There will never be, under current control
mechanisms a perfect human society, but
solid room for improvement still exist in
public sector/tax payer/collectively
funded arenas. Fully inclusive.. no
discrimination, no hate, non-hostile.
(The implementation of fully comprehensive
protocols for the creation and maintenance
of non-hostile environments in these public/
tax payer funded programs..)

Keep in mind, legally private organizations
use the concept of their "private" nature
in order to implement policies or protocols
that are either clearly discriminatory or
promote same.  Clearly, not only does the
state of social degradation require it, but
from a legal standpoint...programs that are
meant to serve the melting pot that is our
nation, for that matter on a global basis as
well, programs that are public, that are
funded by a process of taxation...Have a
right, a mandate, a need, to have in place
zero tolerance policies towards discrimination,
and hiring standards to ensure that these
public domains/programs are open to all,
accepting to all, except those beliefs, or
activities that are inappropriately discriminatory.

Support of this process may begin with the
loss of tax exempt status for offending
"private" organizations.

It should also clearly include provisions that
allows for quick and easy separation of those
who adhere to discriminatory beliefs, supported
by public actions, from purely tax payer funded
jobs..Why should a tax payer/citizen have to
be faced with having to deal with government 
employees who think they, the tax payer/
citizen/student, is a second class citizen?
Public schools, our courts, the military, are
pretty clear examples of areas to be protected.
 
This is a sticky situation for a lot of people,
philosophically for me I have resolved these
issues along these lines... If a person has
privately held beliefs that are hateful or
discriminatory, towards categories that have
become recognized as protected, but they take
no actions to publicly support/enforce/spread
or negatively impact others with their beliefs,
then there's not much you can do.

However when they take action, when they
promote or support their discriminatory beliefs
openly, publicly, (on Face Book, ect) then
protective action should be taken in some
cases. It depends on the potential for harm
towards those whom their hate/ignorance
targets. There are already protective measures
available to deal with those that would
promote, or incite violence..but even this in a
free society can become a blurry line. Protective
action in these cases often times has to wait
until the process of words takes a clear step
toward deed.

I believe that we have areas/zones that are
required to be fully inclusive, non-hostile.
some of these zones are very sensitive, like
'public schools" where we nurture and educate
our young peoples minds.

In these area/zone we have always tried as a
society, since the civil rights movement started
gaining needed victories, to be very sensitive,
as sensitive as our growing awarness would
allow.

In these areas we do not allow the same types
of free speech that is acceptable in the town
square, because it would have the effect of
creating a non-acceptable hostile environment.
(See districts policies against hate speech and
discriminatory behavior, bullying ect.)

I believe in these captive audience settings that
ensuring that these areas/zones people who
through their own actions are discovered to be
discriminatory in their thinking, should not be
allowed to taint the learning environment 
by their presence as an employee, a presence
that many would feel intimidated by.

(And just to be clear the issue being addressed
has to do with staff not students, or parents,
codes of conduct are already on the books for
these folks.) Higher standards of conduct has
aways been enforced towards those seeking
"employment" in these instances.)

A hostile environment cannot be created in
the tax payer funded, public sector. If the only
way to reach this accommodation, without
creating an undue hardship upon the
organization, is to remove them from a
particular position, then under these narrowly
defined conditions removal is acceptable.

Although where workable, I would accept the
compromise position related below.

Although I would have to think long and hard
before I would let my children attend or support
financially in any way a university that had as
one of it's instructors a holocaust denier or
supporter of hate based organizations.

So..

We have some interesting case studies that
cover actual events at some of our nations
universities. I believe this is a more suitable
environment for the possible employment of
people with discriminatory beliefs, when no
acceptable alternative exists...

At the University level we have cases where  
professors are holocaust deniers or possible
high ranking skinhead supporters. In these
cases we find the universities while protecting
the free speech rights of these instructors have
been made to offer the exact same classes,
taught at the exact same times, by teachers
not supportive of hateful or discriminatory
beliefs. I would find this an equitable
compromise...at a university, which is
privately funded to a large extent..I do not
know how well this solution would work in a
k-12 environment, or say other government
public service providers? Nor would I find such
a solution in a k-12 environment personally
satisfying.--but I could live with it as a
transitional solution. 

With devastating budget cuts.. school districts
or government employers may be able to put
forth the "hardship" protocols/provisions they
simply can't afford to hire enough non-
discriminational thinkers to accommodate/
provide alternative non-discriminational class
rooms in support of a hiring program that
regularly hires people who discriminate, or
belong to discriminatory groups. Some other
reasons that the university system is better
suited to more vigorous free speech protection
efforts for teachers, when warranted, is that
the student body is more mature and able to
participate in the level of dialog required, two
as being more mature, on an intellectual or
experience level these students are generally 
more capable of standing up for themselves,
or detecting when a line of inappropriateness
has been crossed, also as being significantly
privately funded, students as customers can
take their money elsewhere, whereas in a
k-12 setting you have a captive audience that
in most cases would find relocating to another
school a significant hardship, just on
transportation issues alone.

Under the auspices of free speech you may
have to put up with the occasional Klan rally
or other hate speech event...a necessary evil
in a free society...

Common sense clearly requires that public
environments required to be non-hostile
be made that... 

Believe me, even with a shift in the direction
we explore, there will still be plenty of private
sector areas for the die hard discriminationist
to promote their beliefs.

CSM

Recognizing the growth of such sources as face
book, as well as other "social networking"
Internet resources.

Also recognizing that as parents we are
required by law to have our children in school,
most parents if at all possible will choose a
traditional school type setting over, say a home
school situation if at all possible because we
think it may be the best suited, for the purpose
of giving our kids a social network, community
building experience/opportunity.

(Although the parents this writer has met, that
have fled the Tigard, Tualatin District in favor of
home schooling..Not wanting their children to
become forced into becoming one of the twenty
percenters that do not make it through to
graduation, because they have not received
the support they require, or have fallen prey to
the various aspects of cultural bias in the district,
or have been worn out due to the fact that the
district lacks the interest in having effective
dialog over the issue that effect them.

I have found that these parents have universally
shown they have the creative ability to 
compensate for what ever positive
potential may be missed? by not having their
children in what has become for them a
negative environment/experience.)

Also let us not forget the premise that there are
laws requiring that public school environments
be non hostile places for children from all across
the demographic spectrum.

So here is the problem.. you have faculty
members/staff proudly displaying their
affiliations with religious and social groups that
clearly are discriminatory or sending out
news letters that proclaim or divulge the same
information...

Anybody thinking about the negative impact
this environment would have on students that
belong to a particular demographic group that
is discriminated against by these aforementioned
social groups or churches? I think this process
creates a hostile environment for some students
or families.

You don't make a team, not sure your grade is
reflective of your effort.. perhaps your just not
comfortable being around people that think
your just not acceptable to "God?" "Heaven?"
your just a lessor/misguided human?

People doing the discriminating will of course
say, wait your exaggerating the potential problem,
the harm ect... those of us who have studied
history know full well, and the evidence is clear,
people who discriminate on any basis currently
covered under federal protections or being
considered for same....have regularly done far
worse to those they "look down upon" than just
negatively impact that person scholastic
experience..processes to correct such harms
can be less easily implemented in a public k-12
system than in a university setting.

Most public School Boards get the fact that they
are running a Public School Program, not a
Private School Program... As do most public
school administrators.. Unless they have been
sought out and hired by school boards that have
subtly gone "rogue"?

The issue discussed here today is a problem
that is being repeated in other little "stepford"
townships across the nation.

In Oregon we are faced with the additional
issue that soon our public school employees
may begin to wear religious items in the work
place to a greater extent than allowed before.

A reason given, to promote free speech and
tolerance. Basically that we need to be tolerant
of the existence of some peoples discriminatory
religious affiliations, I guess, I'm not sure that
is the actual reason though...My concern is that
it is actually another attempt by our courts to
undermine the progressive elements of our
communities.

I also believe that what it may actually do, and
this would be a good thing, is promote a
different kind of free speech exercises, a 
discussion about the discriminatory
shortcomings of the various social and religious
groups.. and then help promote reform in
same.

It could, unfortunately, also, provided
the right social forces create a very negative
outcome, or environment for some students/
families, and thus our communities.

I am not comfortable with the negative impact
that this process may have on some students
that belong to discriminated against
demographics.

I think this is a process that may be better
suited for the town square, the universities.

I also tend towards my continued belief that
the public school system needs to operate
under the mandate of our constitution/anti
discrimination laws. As such, because of the
clearly discriminatory nature of some of these
social groups, and religious organizations
that bringing them into a public school
environment violates that mandate and
threatens the progressive advancement in
civil rights, and (thought processes) that so
many have fought and struggled for.

Those that fail to learn from the lessons of
history?

Current surveys/studies indicate that within
a generation, 30/40 years, all these issues
of discrimination being tracked by us in
our dialogs, will have been resolved in favor
of those being discriminated against.

I think it would be a positive if our more
conservative/discriminatory community
elements re-evaluated their positions and
made this evolutionary process as painless
as possible for those currently being
discriminated against.

What is the solution? A more vigorous vetting
process for those that seek to work in a public
school position. I.E. a person who is known to
be a card carrying anti Semite, or Klu Klux klan
member would probably be passed over in the
hiring process. We need to advance the
awareness levels, the sensitivity levels of those
doing the hiring today...If a person does not
support full anti discrimination protocols, as
demonstrated by their personal affiliations, they
should be precluded from being an employee
in a public school setting. Just my opinion,
although as with universities, providing separate
but equal non-hostile, non-discriminational
alternative classrooms could serve as a trans-
itional compromise position.

Serve on a public school board, forget it..need
not apply..make it a position requirement. Part
of the bylaws of any institution accepting tax
payer provided financial support. The reason
why this position is more restrictive then that for
public k-12 employees, is that I see no similar
compromise position as being available to
protect the public from the hostility or harms
associated with a school board comprised of
such thinkers., but I am open to suggestions.

What if they are members of a police
department, running some kind of "Dare"
program.. (although these programs have
faded out in the more progressive communities
as research has shown mixed or failed results
in the programs studied.)

Iwant to add that in Tigard, Oregon the
Dare program appears to be pretty solid? I
have not seen any of the issues most often
criticized is such programs present.

Where I have a problem with this and similar
programs lies in who is doing the "instructing".
In this case a local police dept. with a dubious
- or very week record of demonstrating a
consistent awareness or support of very
important civil rights, non-discriminatory
awarenesses, in my opinion, as supported by
documented events.

Are their not other non-police affiliated folks
capable of teaching these courses?

I have also always been very uncomfortable
with the concept of uniformed police being in
our schools, I have always found it to be more
than just a little creepy. If a police department
will not demonstrate through public disclosure
that their members adhere to anti-
discrimination protocols, or supports systems..
They are to be denied access to public school
property and the students therein.
(Police officers have been fired, and their
terminations upheld for their support or
membership in discriminatory organizations.)

For example, they think the Boys Scouts are a
great social club...the Boy Scouts are a
discriminatory group of folks..(As operated in
the U.S...A potentially wonderful program
that is slowly being wiped out by the
DISCRIMINATORY nature of it's current
managers/policy originators), thus access to
school grounds or students denied.

Because of social/political failures in our
society we now have police officers in our
public schools. Why should parents or students
have to deal with authority figures/with guns,
that are discriminatory in their awareness's,
or civil rights sensitivities.

Side note:.. I would love to have my son in a
program that does the activities that the Boy
Scouts do, I think it would be fun, good for
him. ...but again Boy Scouts discriminate so
that won't work for us. Got to put your money
where your mouth is... In Tigard, Oregon the
price you can be made to pay for such principle
can become a life destroying process for your
family.

Please look around... the system failures that
are opening stress fractures all around you have
been largely produced, or expanded by those
that engage in hateful processes.

When you study the actual history of our nation,
and the harm caused by those carrying little
black books around or maybe other symbols,
like crosses ect..when can we expect a process
of intellectual honesty to kick in to challenge
the "magical" or destructive thinking?

I should probably be careful with what I say..
I live in Tigard, Oregon.. My children will now
probably experience increased processes of
exclusion, or assault, my wife will probably be
accused of all manner of hateful things, and be
called vile names by the local vigilante groups..
Perhaps I'll be framed for crimes not
committed?

Historically, so very often, when you put
people together in large enough groups, and
these people possess, intellectually dishonest
reasoning/processes..And then what you do
is create or recreate barriers that protect these
damaged processes from being properly 
discussed....You end up with the inquisition, or
people being burned at the stake, or maybe
some management types will equate the
ordination of a woman in the same criminal/sin
category as those that are pedophiles?? 

You end up with a planet that is dying, and a
global economic system completely incapable
of meeting the needs of humanity!

Colin Stuart McCoy

I sure hope everyone is paying attention to the
confirmational coverage that is coming out of
various media sources..

I.E. specifically CIA's interrogation tapes that
were not turned over to a congressional
investigation because they were not supposed
to exist!!

Generally, how we have become a society that
honors those that promote hate with the most
zeal and populace fervor...

Additionally the recognition of the hypocrisy
between our faiths? and our actions?

I find these issues to be of the greatest concern
when you study the extent that these processes
behaviors have infiltrated the personnel that
staff our tax payer funded agencies..schools..
courts...local and national political operations.

Lets emplace some blue ribbon panels to
study the problem ;-)

Or perhaps we should form our interactions
around committees..

Both of these processes are typically
emplaced when some wish to avoid liability
or responsibility for processes reflective of
individual failure or incompetence.

CSM

I have long been an advocate for ending the
life destroying era of the drug wars in the
United States. History has shown us that
prohibition type efforts lead to violence and
the growth of other processes that undermine
a free society.

I saw a story today about how Portugal had
legalized "all" drugs if you are a user..
with less than a ten day supply in your
possession. (They did this ten years ago)

Drug dealers and smugglers still face serious
fines and jail terms.

Drug related crimes are down, the number of
heroin addicts has been reduce by more than
half, and HIV related rates of infection have
been reduce by aprox 90%.

CSM

Two middle schools, as well as both High
Schools in the district failed federal standards
related to students with disabilities, and I
believe students using English as a second
language..(Federal - No Child Left Behind
Program)

All the elementary schools passed, which was
a surprise to some..."perhaps" it was because
their reading departments are/may be 
allowed???..

To keep lowering the reading material grade
level upon which students are being tested,
until student can read the offered passages at
the rate/ proficiency targeted??I.E. 3rd grade
students scores posted for reading grade 1.5
level materials??

CSM

It took me a while to get to this...but did
everyone catch the reports concerning
the tests FBI personnel were required to take,
and pass, in order to demonstrate that they
were fully knowledgeable about codes of
conduct, laws and regulations regarding
U.S. civil rights..so that they, the FBI
personell would not violate said rights,
laws, or regulations in the performance of
their duties/interactions with citizens and
residents of the United States..

Apparently a significant number were unable
to pass the tests without cheating...and were
caught doing so.

Unfortunately, totally predictable!

Colin Stuart McCoy

And yes, at least they were caught, so we
must make note of the continued existence
of operational integrity at some level within
the organization. I wonder where the people
that blew the whistle on this situation are
working now..if they have jobs?;-)

Went to the zoo today with family. Then took
the zoo train to the Rose gardens, followed by
a guided tour of the Japanese gardens.

All reflect/represent programs that produce
fantastic results for the funds, efforts 
expended.

At all three locations, not only did my family
and I enjoy our time, but also got to watch
people from every walk of life enjoying their
time as well.

The free tours at the Japanese Gardens...
wonderful...what beauty..such enjoyment from
all the participants. Special.

CSM

I posted the above because I found the well
run programs, and the management of their
particular financial programs an uplifting
example/experience..it can be done.

Well another shoe may be in the process of
dropping. It has been reported that foreign
purchase of long term U.S. securities dropped
in May.

In order to keep being able to turn over our
national debt, and run deficits like we have
been, the U.S. needs to be able to either
continue to sell additional of these securities,
as well as "role over" primary amounts.

In order to keep foreign investors purchasing,
the U.S. may be forced to raise the rate of
return on these securities..This may/will
require that taxes within the U.S. are raised.

With factual unemployment running perhaps
as high as 20 plus %...well...

Need to stay the course.....clock is ticking
Foot race is clearly under way.

Can new economic system be put into place
though international negotiation before
wheels come of bus??

Can U.S. executive branch, congress...
counter special interests and emplace needed
reforms in health care, military, prisons ect

Freeing up trillions?? of $$$ in a timely
enough fashion to positively impact the
situation discussed above??

Colin Stuart McCoy

Question: How does/do media influences relate
to the movie "Idiocracy"?

Answer: 1.) As posted the relationship is as
follows..

The failure of primary/major media source 
"managers/operators/producers" to treat their
various mediums with the respect the resource
deserves has contributed, in my opinion, to the
dumbing down of human society.

The dumbing down, or growth of societal
ignorance factors has been a topic of
growing editorial dialog/debate. 

The movie "Idiocracy" is, in my opinion, a
pretty direct parody of our current societal
direction...Played out to disastrous comedic
conclusions.

Let us read between the lines of the question
and look at how media has contributed to
this condition.

Answer: 2.) Media is an educational/cultural
impactor..capable of directing human societal
developments. easily used for propaganda
purposes that can be of a harmful or
beneficial nature.

A failure of media can be offset by a healthy,
enlightened national educational program..
Something that in the U.S. has been being
systematically destroyed...but thats another
issue..but has been contributory to the current
situation being discussed here.

We can see three things that stand out as
contributory to media not serving the needs
of humanity.

The need for profitability under existing rules..
The failure of our national school systems.
Regulatory failure, such as the removal of the
"Fairness Doctrine".


To be continued......

An interesting question has come to us.

Q.) Given todays economic circumstances
what would you identify as the core economic
problem that we face, and why?

How would you address this problem if you were
the Federal Reserve Chairperson?

A.) I would have to say, that under the rules of
engagement currently in use, the core
problem we face today is one of Government
and private debt. The main reason I say this is
because under the current rules of engagement
we are obligated to address the issue of debt.
(Let us not suggest at this time that this is right
or wrong, at this time..it just is.) As such..

In our attempt to deal with the debt issue, while
at the same time trying to get more from our
"global economic machine" than it is currently
designed to produce---'equitably"...we create
instabilities.

Government debt has gotten out of control due
to failure with our government process, control
systems ect.. Decisions have been made with a
growing unhealthy focus, a focus that has 
allowed the debt situation to get out of control
for reasons that have fallen further and further
away from issues of public interest, and national
security, or necessity, and closer and closer to 
processes that benefit the interests of a few, to
the detriment of the many.

This process of course includes the destruction
of a healthy tax base...

Yes it's the dreaded "special interest" groups.
That we seem unable to deal with effectively
because of the current grip they have been
granted over our governmental/electorial
processes.

B.) The private debt situation has also been
allowed to reach an unhealthy level..Either too
much debt as been created to be safely
serviced or debt has been granted in situations
where it was unwise at any level..both of these
situations are essentially the same problem.

Whereas the government debt problem will
require a new global economic structure to deal
with expenditures that one would traditionally
categorize as created through "deficit spending
in nature", processes.

Private debt is a problem of personal
responsibility, supported by rational..non-
greed based programs and protocols.

Some of this was allowed to occur, and can be
tied into the category of government failures
touched upon above. There is also a greed
based element that one can see time and time
again in a free market, capitalistic society...
These issues blur at times and fold into one
another..I say this because in our body of
operations the government could be seen as
the "god forbid" brains/governor?? or right arm
of the body, the free market, and capitalistic 
societal aspects might be viewed as the heart
and lungs or left arm of the same body or entity.

So the single most pressing issue at this time
has to be the national and international debt
resolution programs adopted for implementation.
Again, because everything we do economically/
-socially is dictated/controlled by the rules of
engagement that dictate the how this part of
the equation is to be balanced.

We need new rules.

C.) 1.)What must the Fed do?? Continue to
engage in aggressive economic stimulus efforts..
seriously improve the efficiency of those efforts
in terms of cost and debt creation, "as much as
is possible". In the U.S. this perhaps could be
better accomplished through management
protocals geared to the individual Fed Reserve
districts. The economic health/activity of the
global populace must be restored. Private sector
regulations must be restored or strengthened.

(As to the issue of debt creation we are really
talking about trying to reduce the amount of
deficit spending in non critical areas... rational
cost cutting protocals within the military, our
nations prisons systems and serious reform
of our national health care systems would
provide annual savings in the multiple 100's
of $$ billions, some calculations show annual
savings would be in the $$ trillions...yes $$
trillions.)

A healthy and historically supportable tax base
must be re-established, as a part of a this
stabilization transitional process. Do not be
overly aggressive in this area. Returning to a
healthy base will not solve the problem, it will
only help create the stability needed for the
transition that must follow.

This effort must be global in nature..

(At the economic summit in Canada you see
reports indicating an either or approach. I.E
debt reduction or continued stimulas from the
G-8..we believe it's not either or but both
strategies that must be embraced.)

2.) Recognize the problems/fall out that will result
both nationally and globally from the "austerity" 
measures required to address the national and
global debt situations.

(Look at the state of our nations infrastructure..
look at our schools.. look at the environment..
Is our planet dying?? Are our current rules of
engagement causing us to kill it?? Look at the
level of human global suffering...)

(Summer was at least a month late in it's
arrival this year in the N.W... farmers are
reporting serious crop problems.)

Now add serious austerity measures or belt
tightening, or unhealthy levels of tax increases
to the process, and watch as the remaining
rivets "pop".

3.) Begin the process of switching over to our
system of "Realistic Monetarism."

I believe trying to address the debt as
something that needs to be retired or payed
down, rather than say...just written off through
a fair process of international negotiations,
could easily be what could cause the human
house of cards to come crashing down in a far
more damaging manner than is acceptable.

We can address smaller scale or regional
issues as well, but this is not the best forum.

CSM

In Oregon complaints/concerns have been
coming up over the new standards to be taught
covering issues of a National nature.

Beginning in grade school a process that
some have begun to recognize as being 
perhaps overly nationalist or propagandist
in nature has begun.

Clearly when these new educational standards
are examined it is not difficult to detect an
indoctrinational aspect to their content.

Indoctrination over education... I guess when
you are having problems with the education
effort, eventually you may land on the
indoctrination approach?

CSM
 

Could it be that all the problems we have had
to face with Iran may have to do with general
interference with Iran's internal affairs by the
west over the past 100 plus years?

Was it greed that set the final nail in the
historic political/social coffin we have been
living with? As I recall a serious point of
contention with the west culminated with an
unfair royalties/profit sharing plan that was far 
less generous than that offered to the Saudi's.

This led, or helped fan the fires of an effort to
nationalize the foriegn oil co's by the
democratically ? elected government of Iran.

Britain and the United States destabilized and 
overthrew this Iranian gov.. over fears that Iran
might fall under communist influences ect.

All this led to the Shah, followed by the
revolution.

Now we watch the brave and articulate, and 
moderate Iranians fight, and die for basic
freedoms in their country. Is there not some
additional effort that could be made here by
the U.S. or west, diplomatically so that the
violence could end/not return, and needed
freedoms granted? 

(The sad fact may be that the U.S. may feel it
must tread softly regarding this situation due
to the number of it's interests in the area that
could be negatively impacted by an agitated
Iranian Gov.??)

Could we not have been a little less greedy?
can we not try to learn from our past greed
based mistakes.

The British Co. behind much of the problems in
Iran is the direct ancestor of B.P. who have now
given the U.S. and global community the oil spill
disaster in the gulf. With help from others no 
doubt. I.E. U.S. Regulators.

CSM

Are we hypocrites? People looking for simple
black or white types of perspectives will very
often find it very easy to lable others as
hypocrites... sometimes it is better to just
take a moment and see if you can see the
process that is being layed out before you.

The other thing is that our world is
complicated enough, and our comunicative
processes flawed enough, that on any given
day it is hard to engage in significant dialog
without some aspect of hypocrisy "seeming" 
to, or actually creeping into the process. 

Sometimes the truth lies in subtle degree's
while not appearing to be of significance,
can and will keep a person or process from
hitting the target due to the "distance"?
needing to be "traveled"?

Our pointing out the intellectual/philosophical
weaknesses in various programs or beliefs
is no more "Intolerant"  in nature than some
poor "glutton for punishment" trying to point
out that the earth is round and not flat!
(See: Copernicus & Galileo)

The importance of this effort is due to the
unfortunate truth that much of what has been
attributed/consolidated into western, or
monotheistic faiths has been significantly
impacted by humans and flawed propaganda
efforts..

Since so many that hate or discriminate use
their faith in todays world to justify their
(hates?, prejudices ect)...If you can get people
to see the inconsistencies upon which they
hang so much of their day to day living,
perhaps they will come to see that
their (hates, discriminations ect) are not a
product of their spiritual existence, but clearly
a product of failures within and created within
themselves. (Can't blame it on God, and
probably should stop hanging their hat there.)

That's the process.

CSM

Also beware of gossip/hearsay, before
embarking upon a process that will harm, better
to have your facts straight...Also if your only
source of information is "governmental/official"
in nature..history indicates that it would make
very good sense to go talk to the source or
targeted individual/group.

The easiest way to cause harm and remain
smuggly confident as you do so, is simple do
not follow the above advice.

So before you go running off to call someone a
hypocrite, take the time to talk to them first,
make sure you have done your best to know
as much as there is to know.

Also don't be quick to jump on the character
assasination band wagon for the same reason.
These processes have been known to be
targeted against groups or people whom
others? may not wish to have you listen to.

I realize I may not have all the information
at this time...but based upon what little I
have seen.. I cannot understand nor support
the level of condemnation that is being
leveled at Israel over the blockade incident.


CSM
  
I have already stated what I consider to be
serious problems with the behaviors of the
primary parties involved. Both have behaved
in a fashion not conducive to peace being
the end product.

Update: 6/22/10  My opening statement above
was predicated based upon the fact that the
event in question was staged/forced an act of
international civil disobedience. In such cases it
is recognized that the organizers of such events
have tremendous responsibility over if the action
will result in violence or not..

Based upon the video footage release it appears
that the action participants behavior fell well
below the needed standards of conduct required
to ensure a non-violent outcome. In fact , video
seems? to indicate behavior on the part of the
actions organizers as being provocative,
instigative ect...

It is for these reasons alone that I made the
opening observation that I did..

In the meantime Israel's claims as to their
blockade allowing full humanitarian and other
supplies needed by a peaceful society to exist
through...Has been shown to be a falsehood?
A stretch shall we say..Much advantage has
appeared to be taken in the duel usage
categories of allowed items.

So the claims of the actions organizers needs
to be stated as having been largely and
significantly and materially true...

The action has to be clearly regarded as a
success in bringing international attention, as
well as what looks like corrective action from
the Israeli Gov..

Was the "violence" needed??? Perhaps... I
would have liked to see what the media and
international response would have been if the
first blockade running attempts were aimed
at a non-violent resolution... If such was
possible?

After the fact, major nations and international
players have now come forward condemning not
only the nature of Israel's response to this action
but significant outrage over the specific aspects
of the blockade.

Where were they all prior to the action being
discussed??

I have the greatest respect for the effort and
courage of the blockade runners..

In a 5/4 decision the US supreme court has
stated that it is no longer necessary for our
nations police officers to advise arrest suspects
of "their Miranda rights", the "right to remain
silent".

Under this decisions people have to be aware
of their rights and request/demand their
enforcement on their own...???

Does not bode well....I have stated in the past
that the U.S. is perhaps becoming the most
sophisticated police state in the world...

Well, maybe we can see now that at some
level any pretext 'At being sophisticated"
about this situation, has been deemed to
be no longer necessary.

In other news.. has everyone been paying
attention to our congress making an effort to
bring the Federal Reserve more under the
control of the people???

What a great idea!! Where have we heard
something like that ??


CSM