Spartan Daily
Saturday, April 30, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E Spartan Daily
American culture: A race to the gutter
The Real Deal
By Melissa Sabile
One thing I've noticed lately is that the state of American culture is getting more and more absurd as the days pass.
If you look closely at the entertainment in our country, the majority of what you will find is outrageous amounts of trashy, semi-pornographic displays of pop culture, urging the people of our nation to be just as asinine.
It's everywhere: music, television, movies and magazines.
We can't escape it.
Both Lady Gaga and Ke$ha's first singles and music videos were songs about partying and getting so drunk they couldn't function – like it's the cool thing to do.
TV shows, such as "16 and Pregnant" and "Teen Mom," are essentially showing that teen pregnancies are played up and you just might become a star if you become a young mother.
Sadistic horror films show gratuitus amounts of violence, blood and gore, yet we still line up and spend a ton of money to watch them on the big screen.
Magazines and tabloids expose the lives of celebrities and we can't wait to see whose relationship is about to come crashing down or what secrets of theirs we can expose to the world.
Then there's reality TV, which is a category by itself and the epitome of trash on television.
Reality TV shows, such as "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" and "Jersey Shore," glorify specific groups of people who are famous for nothing other than simply being famous – and for some reason, we yearn to look and be like them.
It seems that the more sick, stupid, out-of-control train wreck a person or group is, the more we love to watch them.
A few years ago, I was coaching summer camp and we had kids between the ages of 5 and 13 enrolled in gymnastics camp for weeks at a time.
A 7-year-old girl was jumping around singing a song and dancing some pretty risqué dance moves.
When I asked her why she was dancing like that, she said to me that she wanted to be like Paris Hilton when she grew up.
I quickly explained to her that she really shouldn't want to be like Paris Hilton, and told her to pick a new role model like Shawn Johnson or Nastia Liukin, because they were Olympic gymnastics champions.
It is disappointing to me that we idolize these people, and these shows take precedent over what really matters in our country.
In 2007, Jordin Sparks won American Idol with more than 74 million votes tallied. Overall, 609 million votes were tallied for the entire season – about 10 times as many votes as President Bush received in the 2004 presidential election (62 million votes), according to CNN.
Granted, a person can only vote in an election if they are registered and 18 years or older and to vote on American Idol you only need a phone or the Internet. But the fact of the matter is more people cared about who would be the next American Idol than who would be the next president of the United States.
What we should be doing is focusing our time and energy on things that can make a difference in our lives.
If you want to listen to music, find something classical or songs without derogatory lyrics.
If you must turn on the TV, turn it to PBS, the Discovery Channel or the History Channel.
If you're going to read a magazine, pick up Reader's Digest or National Geographic.
If you're going to watch a movie, find a documentary about the earth or technology.
All this money we are feeding into the sleazy entertainment business is one of the reasons our nation is going to hell in a hand basket.
If we continue to idolize people like Lady Gaga, the Kardashians and the cast of Jersey Shore, it will only yield a society that is as mindless and ridiculous as the celebrities we see in the media.
"The Real Deal" is a weekly column appearing on Thursdays. Melissa Sabile is a Spartan Daily Sports Editor.
1 comments
Sat Apr 30 2011
Meanwhile, the discouraged, defeated, despondent, disheartened, disillusioned and despairing youth of America who failed to respond to their call sank back in total hopelessness into the slough of the same System from which they had tried to rise, the mud and the mire of America's manmade miseries, and were lost--"The day the music died!" But let us renew a new generation of the lost and the last, and a happy, joyful, exuberant and totally effective alternative to youth's drugs, vice, crime, violence and hopeless despair.
Ted Rudow III MA
Class of 1996
Saturday, April 30, 2011
The only democracy?
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Your Right To KnowSunday, May 1, 2011
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The only democracy?
Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
The Daily Star
Your Right To KnowSunday, May 1, 2011
Home Business Sports Arts & EntertainArchive Magazines The Star
Editorial Metropolitan National International Op-Ed Letters
Sunday, May 1, 2011Letters
The only democracy?
Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Friday, April 29, 2011
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SATURDAY, 30 APR 2011 01:20 AM Beirut time Weather Beirut19 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
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Follow us on: Advanced Search Columnist Obama eloquently defended his beliefs on spending April 19, 2011 By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
President Barack Obama made one of the most important speeches of his presidency last week. It was an eloquent defense of his basic approach to government and outlined specifically how he would tackle the nation’s long-term debt problems. For people who have been searching for Obama’s core beliefs, this speech is perhaps the best place to start, though it fell short in one important aspect.
Obama revealed himself to be a left-of-center Democrat, but not very far left. To begin with, he accepted the proposition that the deficit was America’s biggest challenge. He proposed a set of measures that would reduce the deficit, with large spending cuts and – crucially – suggested a fail-safe so that if the deficit targets are not met, Congress would immediately cut spending further or raise more taxes.
This last feature may be the most important specific proposal in Obama’s plan, and a sign of its credibility, because it addresses the glaring flaw in almost every budget proposal: magical assumptions about economic growth, tax revenue, efficiencies and cost cuts. On paper, of course, these assumptions show the deficit falling drastically. A fail-safe ensures that if the assumptions don’t work out – which is highly likely – and the deficit expands, Congress is forced to act.
Obama presented a vision of an activist government that will make important investments in education, infrastructure and research. These investments have been as much a part of American history, he noted, as a vibrant market economy. Without such government support, there would be no American semiconductor industry, no early adoption of computers, no Internet, no global-positioning system.
Obama also pointed out that other countries are investing heavily in these areas. Since 1998, for example, China has tripled the percentage of its gross domestic product devoted to education. The number of its college students quintupled, from 1 million in 1997 to 5.5 million in 2007. Public funding for universities is collapsing in America while growing massively in China. In this increasingly competitive landscape, should we further cut education?
On taxes, the president’s position is correct and inevitable. For a generation, the United States has kept taxes low as spending crept ever higher, and it made up the difference by borrowing. Republican Representative Paul Ryan’s budget plan is honest in showing that if these low rates are maintained and, indeed, reduced further, domestic discretionary spending would have to decline to levels not seen since the 1920s. As Martin Wolf of The Financial Times has pointed out, it would mean the virtual elimination of the Defense Department. America’s tax burden will have to rise; the real debate is simply in what manner. Tax reform – closing loopholes and deductions – is clearly the best approach.
Then there are the entitlement programs. Here, Obama was at his most eloquent but least pragmatic. He made a passionate case for maintaining a basic social safety net for all, particularly the elderly and the poor, that I think will resonate with most Americans. But he lost his courage in proposing sensible reforms to these programs. The number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare will double by 2030. At that point, those two programs plus Medicaid will take up about 60 percent of the federal budget. We need radical thinking to make them affordable, if only to be able to spend on all the investments that Obama believes in.
The president argues that his approach to cost-cutting in health care is better than Ryan’s approach, which shifts costs onto individuals – and assumes that individual choice will magically get costs to plummet. Probably true, but the nation will probably also need to try every approach – using Medicare’s buying power to force costs down, shifting from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-outcomes approach, and having consumers pay more – to truly drive down costs. For Social Security, the U.S. should also raise the retirement age, means-test benefits and change the indexing formula. As a society, we must determine roughly what percentage of the federal budget will pay for entitlement programs rather than simply allowing demographics and escalating costs to drive these costs ever higher.
I praised Paul Ryan for his courage in presenting a budget that takes risks and proposes painful cuts. It has also had the effect of spurring Barack Obama to present his own serious proposal. I prefer Obama’s approach – which is also closer to that of the Simpson-Bowles commission – with more cuts to entitlements. But what’s crucial is that, finally, after years of kicking the can down the road, we are having the national debate about America’s future.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 23, 2011
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/Apr/19/Obama-eloquently-defended-his-beliefs-on-spending.ashx#ixzz1KxB5WUZr (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
SATURDAY, 30 APR 2011 01:20 AM Beirut time Weather Beirut19 °C The Daily Star News Business Opinion Sports Culture Technology Entertainment Local News Politics Middle East International Analysis Environment Health
Lebanon International Middle East Analysis
Editorial Commentary Columnist
Basketball Football Motor Sports Tennis Golf
Performance Art Film Lifestyle Music Books Travel & Tourism
International Regional
Movie Guide Sudoku Str8ts
Follow us on: Advanced Search Columnist Obama eloquently defended his beliefs on spending April 19, 2011 By Fareed Zakaria The Daily Star
President Barack Obama made one of the most important speeches of his presidency last week. It was an eloquent defense of his basic approach to government and outlined specifically how he would tackle the nation’s long-term debt problems. For people who have been searching for Obama’s core beliefs, this speech is perhaps the best place to start, though it fell short in one important aspect.
Obama revealed himself to be a left-of-center Democrat, but not very far left. To begin with, he accepted the proposition that the deficit was America’s biggest challenge. He proposed a set of measures that would reduce the deficit, with large spending cuts and – crucially – suggested a fail-safe so that if the deficit targets are not met, Congress would immediately cut spending further or raise more taxes.
This last feature may be the most important specific proposal in Obama’s plan, and a sign of its credibility, because it addresses the glaring flaw in almost every budget proposal: magical assumptions about economic growth, tax revenue, efficiencies and cost cuts. On paper, of course, these assumptions show the deficit falling drastically. A fail-safe ensures that if the assumptions don’t work out – which is highly likely – and the deficit expands, Congress is forced to act.
Obama presented a vision of an activist government that will make important investments in education, infrastructure and research. These investments have been as much a part of American history, he noted, as a vibrant market economy. Without such government support, there would be no American semiconductor industry, no early adoption of computers, no Internet, no global-positioning system.
Obama also pointed out that other countries are investing heavily in these areas. Since 1998, for example, China has tripled the percentage of its gross domestic product devoted to education. The number of its college students quintupled, from 1 million in 1997 to 5.5 million in 2007. Public funding for universities is collapsing in America while growing massively in China. In this increasingly competitive landscape, should we further cut education?
On taxes, the president’s position is correct and inevitable. For a generation, the United States has kept taxes low as spending crept ever higher, and it made up the difference by borrowing. Republican Representative Paul Ryan’s budget plan is honest in showing that if these low rates are maintained and, indeed, reduced further, domestic discretionary spending would have to decline to levels not seen since the 1920s. As Martin Wolf of The Financial Times has pointed out, it would mean the virtual elimination of the Defense Department. America’s tax burden will have to rise; the real debate is simply in what manner. Tax reform – closing loopholes and deductions – is clearly the best approach.
Then there are the entitlement programs. Here, Obama was at his most eloquent but least pragmatic. He made a passionate case for maintaining a basic social safety net for all, particularly the elderly and the poor, that I think will resonate with most Americans. But he lost his courage in proposing sensible reforms to these programs. The number of people eligible for Social Security and Medicare will double by 2030. At that point, those two programs plus Medicaid will take up about 60 percent of the federal budget. We need radical thinking to make them affordable, if only to be able to spend on all the investments that Obama believes in.
The president argues that his approach to cost-cutting in health care is better than Ryan’s approach, which shifts costs onto individuals – and assumes that individual choice will magically get costs to plummet. Probably true, but the nation will probably also need to try every approach – using Medicare’s buying power to force costs down, shifting from a fee-for-service to a fee-for-outcomes approach, and having consumers pay more – to truly drive down costs. For Social Security, the U.S. should also raise the retirement age, means-test benefits and change the indexing formula. As a society, we must determine roughly what percentage of the federal budget will pay for entitlement programs rather than simply allowing demographics and escalating costs to drive these costs ever higher.
I praised Paul Ryan for his courage in presenting a budget that takes risks and proposes painful cuts. It has also had the effect of spurring Barack Obama to present his own serious proposal. I prefer Obama’s approach – which is also closer to that of the Simpson-Bowles commission – with more cuts to entitlements. But what’s crucial is that, finally, after years of kicking the can down the road, we are having the national debate about America’s future.
Fareed Zakaria is published twice monthly by THE DAILY STAR.
Comments Ted Rudow III, MA April 23, 2011
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment.
Read more: http://www.dailystar.com.lb/Opinion/Columnist/Apr/19/Obama-eloquently-defended-his-beliefs-on-spending.ashx#ixzz1KxB5WUZr (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb)
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Democracy
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Wednesday
April 27, 2011
Front Page
Opinion
Columnists
Arts & Entertainment
Contents
Full Text
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Wednesday April 27, 2011
Tax Refunds Held by City of Berkeley; Library Lawsuit; Worth Repeating: Democracy; School Project Query; Curiosity; Confidence Game; Republicans; Budget
Democracy
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonization, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people.
Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship--Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."-
The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathizing with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Wednesday
April 27, 2011
Front Page
Opinion
Columnists
Arts & Entertainment
Contents
Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 27, 2011
Tax Refunds Held by City of Berkeley; Library Lawsuit; Worth Repeating: Democracy; School Project Query; Curiosity; Confidence Game; Republicans; Budget
Democracy
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs. By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonization, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people.
Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship--Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land.
The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."-
The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathizing with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Monday, April 25, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Monday, April 25, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
It's time for moderate Muslims to come out of their closets
On The Contrary
By Salman Haqqi
Published: Sunday, April 24, 2011
Updated: Monday, April 25, 2011
printWindow
Salman Haqqi
Pastor Terry Jones is a misguided bigot, we know that.
The part-time preacher and part-time used-furniture salesman has done his damndest to earn that title, using his role as the leader of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., to create more controversy than any poorly funded hate group.
The trouble began last year, when Jones and his followers planned to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones' intentions were widely publicized and sparked international outrage, which eventually led to the cancellation of the event dubbed "International Burn a Quran Day."
Jones apparently could not help himself, however, and decided to preside over a March 20 "trial" in which the Quran was convicted for "inciting terrorism" and executed — by burning, of course.
This time, the outrage was real as well.
Protests erupted in Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people of which seven were United Nations staff.
American politicians and religious leaders scrambled to repudiate the actions of both Jones and the violent protestors, and some went so far as to place the blame for the deaths on Jones himself.
Jones' credentials as a poorly informed polemicist were well-established prior to his Quran burning.
He first came to nationwide prominence by placing a sign on the church's lawn that read "Islam is the Devil." To top it off, Dove World Outreach participated in a joint protest last year with the ultimate provocateurs at the Westboro Baptist Church, who are known for their inflammatory signs and protests at U.S. soldiers' funerals.
That being said, Jones is not a murderer.
Shifting the responsibility for these deaths to anyone other than those who committed the murders is irresponsible because it disallows us from examining this issue in its entirety........
The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be this: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you.
Of course, the truth is often more nuanced, but this is about as nuanced as it ever gets — Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we peaceful Muslims cannot be held responsible for what our less peaceful brothers and sisters do.
When we burn your embassies or kidnap and slaughter your journalists, know that we will hold you primarily responsible and will spend the bulk of our energies criticizing you for "racism" and "Islamophobia."
It's long past time to call a spade a spade and have the moderate Muslims of the world grow a spine and call out the extremist voices for what they are.
"On The Contrary" is a weekly column appearing on Mondays. Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.
1 comments
Mon Apr 25 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
It's time for moderate Muslims to come out of their closets
On The Contrary
By Salman Haqqi
Published: Sunday, April 24, 2011
Updated: Monday, April 25, 2011
printWindow
Salman Haqqi
Pastor Terry Jones is a misguided bigot, we know that.
The part-time preacher and part-time used-furniture salesman has done his damndest to earn that title, using his role as the leader of the Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla., to create more controversy than any poorly funded hate group.
The trouble began last year, when Jones and his followers planned to burn copies of the Quran on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Jones' intentions were widely publicized and sparked international outrage, which eventually led to the cancellation of the event dubbed "International Burn a Quran Day."
Jones apparently could not help himself, however, and decided to preside over a March 20 "trial" in which the Quran was convicted for "inciting terrorism" and executed — by burning, of course.
This time, the outrage was real as well.
Protests erupted in Afghanistan and Pakistan, resulting in the deaths of more than 20 people of which seven were United Nations staff.
American politicians and religious leaders scrambled to repudiate the actions of both Jones and the violent protestors, and some went so far as to place the blame for the deaths on Jones himself.
Jones' credentials as a poorly informed polemicist were well-established prior to his Quran burning.
He first came to nationwide prominence by placing a sign on the church's lawn that read "Islam is the Devil." To top it off, Dove World Outreach participated in a joint protest last year with the ultimate provocateurs at the Westboro Baptist Church, who are known for their inflammatory signs and protests at U.S. soldiers' funerals.
That being said, Jones is not a murderer.
Shifting the responsibility for these deaths to anyone other than those who committed the murders is irresponsible because it disallows us from examining this issue in its entirety........
The position of the Muslim community in the face of all provocations seems to be this: Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we will kill you.
Of course, the truth is often more nuanced, but this is about as nuanced as it ever gets — Islam is a religion of peace, and if you say that it isn't, we peaceful Muslims cannot be held responsible for what our less peaceful brothers and sisters do.
When we burn your embassies or kidnap and slaughter your journalists, know that we will hold you primarily responsible and will spend the bulk of our energies criticizing you for "racism" and "Islamophobia."
It's long past time to call a spade a spade and have the moderate Muslims of the world grow a spine and call out the extremist voices for what they are.
"On The Contrary" is a weekly column appearing on Mondays. Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.
1 comments
Mon Apr 25 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes especially in the West Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Occupancy
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/25/18677988.php
Occupancy
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 25th, 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Occupancy
by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 25th, 2011
As the conventional wisdom goes – especially in the West – Israel is the "only democracy" in the Middle East. And that is so, particularly for its Jewish citizens. However Israel has been anything but democratic for the indigenous people of the land, the Palestinian Arabs.By nature and precedence, foreign military occupation is temporary. Colonialism on the other hand, and more precisely civilian colonisation, is a socio-political system of ruling over another people. Israel is really a police state. If they don't put you in jail, they at least put you out of your job for saying anything they don't want you to say. They claim they don't have censorship-- Possession is nine-tenths of the law. Occupancy is very difficult to overcome and Israel has already got the Palestinians' land. The only way they will ever give it up is if they're thrown out. There is no other way that they'll ever give back the Palestinians their share of the land. It's encouraging to see how divided the Jews are amongst themselves, "A house divided against itself shall not stand."- The Palestinians are a lot more together than any of them, at least they're united--the Christians and Arabs. I'm glad to see a lot of the Jews are sympathising with the Arabs.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Thursday, April 21, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
The times, they are a changing?
By Francisco Rendon
Francisco's Chronicles
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Updated: Thursday, April 21, 2011 }
Francisco Rendon
Imagine if President Obama ordered the arrest of 25 members of the Senate.
This is the situation in Zimbabwe, where longtime dictator Robert Mugabe has ordered the arrest of more than one quarter of the country's parliament.
Mugabe, who has been in power since 1988, is credited with driving Zimbabwe's previously self-sufficient economy into the ground and rigging elections to maintain power, according to the CIA website.
Despite being defeated in Zimbabwe's most recent parliamentary election, Mugabe agreed to share power with members of an opposing party, as long as he could remain Prime Minister.
Then he sent his parliamentary opponents to jail.
The situation is absurd, without a doubt, and yet it is the reality confronting the 12 million people living in Zimbabwe.
Thousands gathered in Harare, the country's capital, on Saturday of last week to protest the escalating violence, but were dispersed with force by the police.
While Zimbabwe is a unique political climate, cries for reform are rising up in Uganda, Yemen and Syria, mirroring the protests that restructured government in Egypt and Tunisia and garnered international involvement in Libya.
All over the world, people are deciding they want to change the way society is run.
Masses pour out into streets across the globe to speak out against oppressive governments, to try and make their world better.
And many people are doing what they can to be a part of that.
One has to wonder, how much better off are we in this country?
Yes, we still have the biggest guns, supermarkets lined with food and lots of shiny cars, but what if we want something else.
Are there things that we actually want to change, or is our society perfect?
We have incredible freedom in this country, we can say and do almost anything we want.
This brings forth a paramount question: Is it even possible to make the world better?
I firmly believe that the betterment of the world can be accomplished, but only through pure deeds and commendable conduct.
The choices we make everyday have a clear impact on others, do they not? Our deeds reverberate and ripple in countless indirect ways which we can never predict or understand.
In regards to the protests being held in other countries, it seems clear that perpetrating acts of violence does not lead to peace, only to more violence, and has rarely proven a path for meaningful reform.
Yet, there is clearly a consciousness rising around the world that there is a need for a change, and people are increasingly expressing their desire to contribute to the transformation of our global society.
So while we live comfortably in this country, and President Obama will probably not be locking away his opponents in Congress anytime soon, perhaps now, we as student at San Jose State can begin thinking about how we will change the world.
This is a special appearance of "Francisco's Chronicles." Francisco Rendon is a Spartan Daily Staff Writer.
1 comments
Tedriii Thu Apr 21 2011 Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't.Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
The times, they are a changing?
By Francisco Rendon
Francisco's Chronicles
Published: Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Updated: Thursday, April 21, 2011 }
Francisco Rendon
Imagine if President Obama ordered the arrest of 25 members of the Senate.
This is the situation in Zimbabwe, where longtime dictator Robert Mugabe has ordered the arrest of more than one quarter of the country's parliament.
Mugabe, who has been in power since 1988, is credited with driving Zimbabwe's previously self-sufficient economy into the ground and rigging elections to maintain power, according to the CIA website.
Despite being defeated in Zimbabwe's most recent parliamentary election, Mugabe agreed to share power with members of an opposing party, as long as he could remain Prime Minister.
Then he sent his parliamentary opponents to jail.
The situation is absurd, without a doubt, and yet it is the reality confronting the 12 million people living in Zimbabwe.
Thousands gathered in Harare, the country's capital, on Saturday of last week to protest the escalating violence, but were dispersed with force by the police.
While Zimbabwe is a unique political climate, cries for reform are rising up in Uganda, Yemen and Syria, mirroring the protests that restructured government in Egypt and Tunisia and garnered international involvement in Libya.
All over the world, people are deciding they want to change the way society is run.
Masses pour out into streets across the globe to speak out against oppressive governments, to try and make their world better.
And many people are doing what they can to be a part of that.
One has to wonder, how much better off are we in this country?
Yes, we still have the biggest guns, supermarkets lined with food and lots of shiny cars, but what if we want something else.
Are there things that we actually want to change, or is our society perfect?
We have incredible freedom in this country, we can say and do almost anything we want.
This brings forth a paramount question: Is it even possible to make the world better?
I firmly believe that the betterment of the world can be accomplished, but only through pure deeds and commendable conduct.
The choices we make everyday have a clear impact on others, do they not? Our deeds reverberate and ripple in countless indirect ways which we can never predict or understand.
In regards to the protests being held in other countries, it seems clear that perpetrating acts of violence does not lead to peace, only to more violence, and has rarely proven a path for meaningful reform.
Yet, there is clearly a consciousness rising around the world that there is a need for a change, and people are increasingly expressing their desire to contribute to the transformation of our global society.
So while we live comfortably in this country, and President Obama will probably not be locking away his opponents in Congress anytime soon, perhaps now, we as student at San Jose State can begin thinking about how we will change the world.
This is a special appearance of "Francisco's Chronicles." Francisco Rendon is a Spartan Daily Staff Writer.
1 comments
Tedriii Thu Apr 21 2011 Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't.Ted Rudow III, MA
Class of 1996
Taxes
Wednesday April 20, 2011
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Front Page Opinion Columnists Arts & Entertainment Contents Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 20, 2011
Republicans Again; “The General Welfare” and Other Meaningless Abstractions; Federal Budget; The Budget; Sunday Morning Funnies; The Truth; A Sad Case; Needy; Priorities; Unions; Bees; Republicans Again
Taxes
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations.
"Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens."
--British journalist Nicholas Shaxson
They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars.
It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't. Ted Rudow III, MA
The Berkeley Daily Planet
Front Page Opinion Columnists Arts & Entertainment Contents Full Text
Letters to the Editor
Wednesday April 20, 2011
Republicans Again; “The General Welfare” and Other Meaningless Abstractions; Federal Budget; The Budget; Sunday Morning Funnies; The Truth; A Sad Case; Needy; Priorities; Unions; Bees; Republicans Again
Taxes
As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations.
"Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens."
--British journalist Nicholas Shaxson
They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars.
It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Needy IHSS, a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 % across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their IHSS clients. As of Feb. 1, IHSS cut another 3.6%, so the total is 12%
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives. There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun! So they didn't. Ted Rudow III, MA
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
If Trump ruled the United States
By Jordan Liffengren
Caturday Night Live
Jordan Liffengren
A world in which fire hydrants are made of gold and doughnut holes are served on silver plates is where our new president, Donald Trump, would reside.
Our new leader's hair would rise above us and all opinions against his own.
The lattice-like comb-over that spans his oversized Irish scalp will symbolize the wealth he will spread among only his tightly knit circle of D-list celebrity friends and models injected with more Botox than lumpia at a Filipino potluck.
Our vice president would be the cheeky and daringly sexy Sarah Palin, dressed in a red pleather catsuit at all times.
She would arrive to each state address riding a faithful moose named Jeep Palin.
Carseats would be attached to the animal.
There would be a dungeon under the Sparkle House, whose name would replace that of the White House seeing as it is no longer white, but laden with unicorn tears, something worth much more than diamonds.
This said dungeon would house only the most dangerous, untrustworthy disgraces to America, of course, like Barack Obama, Whoopi Goldberg and especially Rosie O'Donnell or the "loser and failure," the new name Trump has bestowed upon her.
His presidential staff would consist of young women between ages 21 and 27 from Central Europe — no exceptions.
This utopia will be awash with resorts and towers of Trump instead of silly parks or bike trails.
The only American pastime would be professional wrestling — sometimes golf.
We'd never know whether our leader was a Republican or a Democrat, not because he couldn't decide, but because he's Trump — he does what he wants and if you question him he will indeed fire you.
Television, airwaves and newspapers would be called Trumpvision, airTrumps and newsTrumps since he would own all forms of media, even surpassing the power of the almighty Oprah Winfrey.
Every stripper in the country would be invited to join the Miss America Pageant because, goddamnit everyone deserves a seventh chance and this man will allow any woman to compete no matter what, out of the sheer goodness of his heart.
I can't think of anyone more thoughtful.
The only departments still in existence would be Neiman Marcus and Men's Warehouse, because everyone would dress for a night in Vegas.
No matter what day it is, the American people will be wearing suits and fur coats, gambling away their money at the nearest Trump casino.
Babies will be allowed to gamble as well because Trump does not discriminate against age.
Aside from all of these significantly important changes, he'd take our troops out of Iraq.
The war would be over.
He'd also put a 14.25 percent tax on personal estates and trusts more than $10 million, which would raise an estimated $5.7 trillion toward the retirement of national debt.
Taxes would be cut for the middle class and he'd supplement Social Security funds, Medicare and Medicaid.
Not like that stuff matters, though.
I just hope he names the beast that rests upon his head and teases us with the hope that those duck-shaped lips will forever purse in the Oval Office.
"Caturday Night Live" is a column appearing on every other Thursday. Jordan Liffengren is a Spartan Daily A&E Editor.
Ted Rudow III
The cycle of recession and rebound is what you would call a confidence game, perpetrated by the biggest con man and swindler. He has succeeded very well, and the economic world has a false foundation today, a paper one, which could go up in smoke if the right match were applied to it. They seeks to trick and swindle as many people as possible. Accord to the Wall Street Journal, hedge funds are bounding back, with return-hungry investors pumping up the industry to a size not seen since before the financial crisis laid it low. Total hedge-fund assets are approaching $2 trillion and are soon expected to surpass their peak in early 2008, according to industry analysts. .The resurrection of hedge funds, which invest money for wealthy individuals, pension funds and other large investors, marks yet another sign that the effects of the financial crisis are receding."So, little by little, the skeptics are won over to invest their funds, to take a chance on making more money. And there is a rebound, for there are still people to be convinced that things will keep going up—indeed, must keep going up. And one day, the downturn will become another recession, the recession will become a depression, and the depression will become another the Crash. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
News Opinion Letters Sports A&E
If Trump ruled the United States
By Jordan Liffengren
Caturday Night Live
Jordan Liffengren
A world in which fire hydrants are made of gold and doughnut holes are served on silver plates is where our new president, Donald Trump, would reside.
Our new leader's hair would rise above us and all opinions against his own.
The lattice-like comb-over that spans his oversized Irish scalp will symbolize the wealth he will spread among only his tightly knit circle of D-list celebrity friends and models injected with more Botox than lumpia at a Filipino potluck.
Our vice president would be the cheeky and daringly sexy Sarah Palin, dressed in a red pleather catsuit at all times.
She would arrive to each state address riding a faithful moose named Jeep Palin.
Carseats would be attached to the animal.
There would be a dungeon under the Sparkle House, whose name would replace that of the White House seeing as it is no longer white, but laden with unicorn tears, something worth much more than diamonds.
This said dungeon would house only the most dangerous, untrustworthy disgraces to America, of course, like Barack Obama, Whoopi Goldberg and especially Rosie O'Donnell or the "loser and failure," the new name Trump has bestowed upon her.
His presidential staff would consist of young women between ages 21 and 27 from Central Europe — no exceptions.
This utopia will be awash with resorts and towers of Trump instead of silly parks or bike trails.
The only American pastime would be professional wrestling — sometimes golf.
We'd never know whether our leader was a Republican or a Democrat, not because he couldn't decide, but because he's Trump — he does what he wants and if you question him he will indeed fire you.
Television, airwaves and newspapers would be called Trumpvision, airTrumps and newsTrumps since he would own all forms of media, even surpassing the power of the almighty Oprah Winfrey.
Every stripper in the country would be invited to join the Miss America Pageant because, goddamnit everyone deserves a seventh chance and this man will allow any woman to compete no matter what, out of the sheer goodness of his heart.
I can't think of anyone more thoughtful.
The only departments still in existence would be Neiman Marcus and Men's Warehouse, because everyone would dress for a night in Vegas.
No matter what day it is, the American people will be wearing suits and fur coats, gambling away their money at the nearest Trump casino.
Babies will be allowed to gamble as well because Trump does not discriminate against age.
Aside from all of these significantly important changes, he'd take our troops out of Iraq.
The war would be over.
He'd also put a 14.25 percent tax on personal estates and trusts more than $10 million, which would raise an estimated $5.7 trillion toward the retirement of national debt.
Taxes would be cut for the middle class and he'd supplement Social Security funds, Medicare and Medicaid.
Not like that stuff matters, though.
I just hope he names the beast that rests upon his head and teases us with the hope that those duck-shaped lips will forever purse in the Oval Office.
"Caturday Night Live" is a column appearing on every other Thursday. Jordan Liffengren is a Spartan Daily A&E Editor.
Ted Rudow III
The cycle of recession and rebound is what you would call a confidence game, perpetrated by the biggest con man and swindler. He has succeeded very well, and the economic world has a false foundation today, a paper one, which could go up in smoke if the right match were applied to it. They seeks to trick and swindle as many people as possible. Accord to the Wall Street Journal, hedge funds are bounding back, with return-hungry investors pumping up the industry to a size not seen since before the financial crisis laid it low. Total hedge-fund assets are approaching $2 trillion and are soon expected to surpass their peak in early 2008, according to industry analysts. .The resurrection of hedge funds, which invest money for wealthy individuals, pension funds and other large investors, marks yet another sign that the effects of the financial crisis are receding."So, little by little, the skeptics are won over to invest their funds, to take a chance on making more money. And there is a rebound, for there are still people to be convinced that things will keep going up—indeed, must keep going up. And one day, the downturn will become another recession, the recession will become a depression, and the depression will become another the Crash. Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
Poor get poorer
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Peninsula readers' letters: April 20
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 04/19/2011 05:50:27 PM PDT
Updated: 04/19/2011 11:25:58 PM PDT
Poor get poorer
Dear Editor: In-Home Supportive Services is a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, and provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 percent across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their In-Home Supportive Services clients. As of Feb. 1, In-Home Supportive Services cut another 3.6 percent, so the total is 12 percent.
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives.
There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun. So they didn't.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
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Home
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obituaries
crime and courts
bay area news
data center
science
earthquakes
politics / government
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letters
blogs
Site Web Search by YAHOO!
Peninsula POWERED BY
Latest Peninsula news
Peninsula readers' letters: April 20
From Daily News Group readers
Posted: 04/19/2011 05:50:27 PM PDT
Updated: 04/19/2011 11:25:58 PM PDT
Poor get poorer
Dear Editor: In-Home Supportive Services is a $5.8 billion program that relies on county, state and federal funds, and provides services to about 440,000 low-income elderly, blind and disabled Californians. Advocates say many enrollees would otherwise use more costly care at nursing facilities, paid by Medi-Cal. In an effort to trim state costs estimated at $1.3 billion this fiscal year, the Democratic governor proposed slashing services by 8.4 percent across the board. He wanted to stop paying for domestic services provided by caregivers who live with their In-Home Supportive Services clients. As of Feb. 1, In-Home Supportive Services cut another 3.6 percent, so the total is 12 percent.
Democrats shelved cuts pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown in favor of alternatives backed by allies in organized labor. Brown proposed saving $365 million by reducing In-Home Supportive Services across the board and eliminating paid domestic services provided by live-in caregivers, often relatives.
There are a few rare examples of real Christians or magnanimous rich or rich about to die who want to make a few peace offerings to the poor. But the poor get poorer in cutting the program. But I've said time and again the rich will never give up their riches unless forced to at the point of a gun. So they didn't.
Ted Rudow III, MA
Palo Alto
Saturday, April 16, 2011
We need reform
MercuryNews.com eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSS Home News breaking newsobituariescrime and courtsbay area newsdata centerscienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / world Peninsula POWERED BY Latest Peninsula news Peninsula readers' letters: April 16 From Daily News Group readers Posted: 04/15/2011 05:29:34 PM PDTUpdated: 04/15/2011 11:52:36 PM PDT We need tax reform Dear Editor: As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday's deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. According to British journalist Nicholas Shaxson, "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization since the 1970s that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military. No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That is why the U.S. debt is now running around $14 trillion. We need a budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home; that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations; that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure; and that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending. Ted Rudow III, MA Palo Alto
Friday, April 15, 2011
The Tax men
Palo Alto Weekly Sign up for ExpressNew from Palo Alto Online, Express is a daily e-edition, distributed by e-mail every weekday.Sign up to receive Express! PaloAltoOnline.com Town Square Login RegisterSign up for eBulletinsJoin UsFollow Us HomeNews Palo Alto Weekly The Almanac Mountain View VoiceFogster ClassifiedsTown Square Forums E-mail this topic. Print this topic. The Tax men Ted Rudow III, MA, a member of the Palo Alto High School community, As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." British journalist Nicholas Shaxson They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars. It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending.
The Tax men
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/15/18677237.php The Tax men by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Friday Apr 15th, 2011 As millions of Americans prepare to file their income taxes ahead of Monday’s deadline, corporations and the wealthy use offshore banks and tax havens to avoid paying taxes and other governmental regulations. --> "Tax havens have grown so fast in the era of globalization, since the 1970s, that they are now right at the heart of the global economy and are absolutely huge. There are anywhere between $10 and $20 trillion sitting offshore at the moment. Half of world trade is processed in one way or another through tax havens." British journalist Nicholas Shaxson They'll pay them anything, because they're the ones that rake in all those billions of dollars that the U.S. Government has available to throw around and waste on arms, missiles, atom bombs and a huge paid military! No one is any longer a poor underpaid soldier. That why the U.S. debt is now running around 14 trillion dollars. It is the only budget plan that calls for a responsible end to the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, bringing our troops and our tax dollars home. It is the only plan that calls for real tax reform, addressing the giveaways to billionaires, millionaires, and corporations. It is the only budget plan that calls for continued and substantial investment in job creation, education, and infrastructure. And it is the only plan that won't destroy or severely restrict critical social spending. Ted Rudow III, MA
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The World of oil
MercuryNews.Com eEdition / Subscriber ServicesMobile Mobile Alerts RSSHome News breaking newsobituariescrime and courtsbay area newsdata centerscienceearthquakespolitics / governmentcalifornianation / worldspecial reports Latest Peninsula news Peninsula POWERED BY Latest Peninsula news Peninsula readers' letters: April 9 From Daily News Group readers Posted: 04/08/2011 04:09:49 PM PDTUpdated: 04/08/2011 11:25:31 PM PDTIt's all about the oil Dear Editor: U.S. law professor David Crane informed The Times of London that prosecutors intended to charge Moammar Gadhafi, who Crane said is "ultimately responsible for the mutilation, maiming and/or murder of 1.2 million people."But the charge was not to be. The United States, United Kingdom and others intervened to block it. Asked why, Crane said: "Welcome to the world of oil. It is America that has really made Gadhafi -- her money and her need for oil. What the West seeks is what Bush announced: control, or at least dependable clients, and in the case of Libya, access to vast unexplored areas expected to be rich in oil.Without petroleum oil, all these cars wouldn't be possible and all these people wouldn't be getting killed in them, all these trucks wouldn't be belching black smoke polluting the atmosphere. Petroleum oil is what really caused the Industrial Revolution. It seems to me that instead of a blessing, petroleum oil has become a curse to the world. Ted Rudow III, MA Palo Alto
Friday, April 08, 2011
A Curse?
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/08/18676710.php A curse to the World by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Friday Apr 8th, 2011 The chief prosecutor, U.S. law professor David Crane, informed The Times of London that the prosecutors intended to charge Moammar Gadhafi, who, Crane said, “was ultimately responsible for the mutilation, maiming and/or murder of 1.2 million people.” --> But the charge was not to be. The U.S., U.K. and others intervened to block it. Asked why, Crane said, “Welcome to the world of oil. It is America that has really made Gaddafi--her money and her need for oil! What the West seeks is what Bush announced: control, or at least dependable clients, and in the case of Libya, access to vast unexplored areas expected to be rich in oil. Without petroleum oil all these cars wouldn't be possible and all these people wouldn't be getting killed in them, all these trucks wouldn't be belching black smoke polluting the atmosphere. Petroleum oil is what really caused the Industrial Revolution, cheap fuel. It seems to me that instead of a blessing, petroleum oil has become a curse to the World! Ted Rudow III, MA
Tax cuts
Weather Dhaka T: 28C H: 49% The Daily Star Your Right To KnowFriday, April 8, 2011 Home Business Sports Arts & En The Star National International Op-Ed LettersFriday, April 8, 2011Letters Tax cuts Ted Rudow III, MA, Encina Ave, Palo Alto, CA As many as 500,000 protesters marched in London on Saturday to protest Britain's deepest cuts in public spending since World War II. The protests came after U.K. officials estimated corporate taxes would be reduced even as it tackles a $235 billion deficit and plans to cut more than 300,000 public sector jobs. Meanwhile, in the United States protesters gathered in 40 cities on Saturday to oppose tax cuts for the wealthy amid budget cuts in public services. When you're rich and lose money on a leveraged investment, you are a victim of the bad economy and deserved to be bailed out. When you're poor and lose money on a risky investment, you're a financially incompetent yahoo who chases get-rich-quick schemes.
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Spartan Daily
Spartan Daily Home Wednesday, April 6, 2011 News Opinion Letters Questioning U.S intervention in Libya On The Contrary By Salman Haqqi Published: Sunday, April 3, 2011 Updated: Tuesday, April 5, 2011 14:04 Salman Haqqi These days it's hard not to think the world has gone nuts. The U.S. is "saving civilians" in Libya via Tomahawk missiles. President Obama is still touting nuclear energy even in the face of the Fukushima disaster and Donald Trump wants to run for president. The absurdities of the world today remind me of the "theater of the absurd," which I learned about in a literature class and where I got to study the work of great writers such as Samuel Beckett, Eugene Ionesco and Albert Camus. Their writing was their way of reacting to a world that seemed out of control and out of its mind. Significantly, the word "theater" is used for places where plays are produced and the lands upon which we conduct our wars. The battlefield is considered as much a "theater" as a venue on Broadway. Without waxing philosophically and commenting on the many unknowns that so obsessed Donald Rumsfeld, our modern day philosopher-king of the Pentagonian school, you almost have to abandon logic and rationality to try to make sense of what is happening in front of our eyes. The man who led the disastrous invasion of Iraq, and who expected that war to be a "cakewalk," now calls the latest U.S. attack in Libya "worrisome." Rummy may have a point this time............. Not only does war unleash all manner of latent enmity and violence, but decades of abusive treatment by ruthless dictators fuels pathologies that only fully manifest themselves when the lid of control pops off. Pro- and anti-Gadhafi tribes could square off against one another, and Gadhafi could unleash the jihadists he once trained to wreak violence both at home and abroad. So you wouldn't want to bet on a happy outcome in Libya, you'd want to do whatever you could to help deliver one. It behooves those of us who have argued for the intervention now under way to give serious thought to what form that help should take. As Cornel West of Princeton University said in a recent interview, if Libya had artichokes instead of oil, our attitude toward Libya would probably be different. As a result, any honest debate on Libya should not be based simply upon the question as to whether foreign military intervention is necessary to stop widespread repression. It should be as to whether the best way to overthrow dictators is through a foreign-backed armed uprising or — as demonstrated in Egypt, Tunisia, Serbia, Chile, and dozens of other countries — whether the people of the affected countries themselves be allowed to do so through the power of mass strategic nonviolent action. This is a special appearance of "On The Contrary." Salman Haqqi is the Spartan Daily Executive Editor.1 comments Wed Apr 6 2011 The reality is there's a lot of, frankly, loose talk about some of these military options. And lets just call a spade a spade. As Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said: A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses. It is not merely Libya's sweet crude oil the globalists are itching to get their hands on. In fact, physically capturing Libya's oil plays a minor role. They are interested in not only destabilizing the entire Middle East, including the crown jewel Saudi Arabia, but also sending the world economy into a death spiral. A $200-a-barrel oil price will surely do more damage to the world economy than any other single event Ted Rudow III, MAClass of 1996
PP&J
Peninsula Peace and Justice Centerwww.PeaceandJustice.org Eyewitness Report: Aristide Returns to HaitiTuesday, April 5, 7:00 PM Tonight!Community Media Center900 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto FREE and open to all Aristide Returns, Earthquake Recovery, Fraudulent Elections - A conversation with Robert Roth, Seth Donnelly, and Los Altos Altos H.S. students who have just traveled to Haiti. I phoned it and told my tale of living in the Caribbean for a few years and how we need to write letter to the editor about the tragic tale of Haiti! http://peaceandjustice.org/programs/Eyewitness_Update_From_Haiti/ Other Voices TV can be seen live at 7:00 PM on the first Tuesday of each month on mid-Peninsula cable channel 27. The program is also streamed live on the internet (select channel 27). Related April 7: Los Altos High School students report on their recent trip to build a school in Haiti. http://peaceandjustice.org/calendar_event.php?eid=20110330162915284
Monday, April 04, 2011
Gazan civilians
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/04/04/18676286.php Gazan civilians were deliberately targeted by Ted Rudow III, MA ( Tedr77 [at] aol.com ) Monday Apr 4th, 2011 South African judge Richard Goldstone says he no longer believes Gazan civilians were deliberately targeted as a matter of Israeli policy during the war which left up to 1,400 Palestinians dead. An internal Israeli military investigation into 400 separate incidents found that Israel's military had only acted with misconduct in nine cases. The leaders of Hamas, who rule Gaza, Goldstone wrote, had done nothing to investigate their own actions. --> Hamas’s response in Gaza has been much different. "His retreat does not change the fact war crimes had been committed against 1.5 million people in Gaza," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri Palestinian Authority Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki said Goldstone's comments did not change a thing. "The report was as clear as the crimes that Israel committed during the war," he said, "The U.N. General Assembly should meet to debate the original Goldstone report." Key findings in the U.N. report–that “Israeli armed forces had carried out direct intentional strikes against civilians” in eleven incidents examined in detail and that Israel destroyed civilian infrastructure like the Sawafeary chicken farm in a systematic and deliberate fashion–is muddied up by Goldstone’s claim that “civilians were not intentionally targeted as a matter of policy. ”This deliberate doctrine leads to the deaths of civilians and civilian infrastructure. The Lebanon war “resulted in at least 1,109 Lebanese deaths, the vast majority of whom were civilians, 4,399 injured, and an estimated 1 million displaced,” according to a Human Rights Watch report. The examples are endless, but what they make clear is that the Israeli persecution of Palestinians documented. Ted Rudow III, MA
The Daily Star
The Daily Star Home About Us Advertise Archives Forum Classifieds ePaper Live TV Contact us Search Daily Star Sections Middle East Lebanon Middle East News Politics Business Editorial Opinion Readers' Letters Reader's feedback published on 04/04/2011The Daily Star is pleased to provide a forum for debate on a range of subjects, from local cultural activities to international politics. Dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of letters fall into the editor’s mailbox daily. In order to keep the letters timely, The Daily Star generally produces a special letters section. When the influx of letters is particularly large, extra space is made available accordingly.If you would like to submit a letter for publication, please remember to include your full name (first and last) and address, including city. The Daily Star typically only publishes letters under 400 words, and these are subject to editing. The Daily Star will not acknowledge unsolicited submissions.Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/letters.asp?edition_id=10#ixzz1IZaehdnP (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) March 25, 2011They were always recognized by the Lord as separate independent countries and they’re mentioned in the Bible as well. Even Syria was never given to the Jews, except for one part of Syria that the Syrians have now occupied which was once a part of Eretz Israel under Solomon. Then the part of Syria that Israel grabbed was the Golan Heights and a whole lot more.They’ve got no scriptural Biblical right at all - by even the wildest stretch of the blessings – to Lebanon, or to Jordan, or to all of Syria.It won’t solve Syria’s problems either, because if Israel invaded Lebanon, why wouldn’t she also invade Syria? Syria was being “fattened for the kill” – set up as the next likely U.S. target in the Middle East, even though they play it down. Of course Syria’s getting nothing, Lebanon anything, Jordan nothing at all, but Israel is promising – Israel’s always promising to “negotiate” the rest, meaning stall until it’s hers.Ted Rudow III, MAPalo Alto, California, United StatesInternational Herald Tribune and The Daily Star are available every morning in: Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Oman Read more: http://dailystar.com.lb/letters.asp?edition_id=10#ixzz1IZaIllib (The Daily Star :: Lebanon News :: http://www.dailystar.com.lb) __._,_.___
Friday, April 01, 2011
The Stanford Daily
The Stanford Daily HomeNewsrm Home » Opinions » Seeing Green: Good Nuke, Bad Nuke Seeing Green: Good Nuke, Bad Nuke Thursday, March 31st, 2011 By Holly Moeller If you’ve ever seen “sunburns” on the skin of a cancer patient after radiation therapy, you’ve seen the hazards of radioactivity. If you’ve seen a picture of a mushroom cloud, you’ve seen the dangers of nuclear weapons. And if you’ve watched the news from Japan over the last few weeks, you know how fragile human control of nuclear power can be. For those of you who haven’t, I offer this ripped-from-the-headlines summary: Earthquake. Tsunami. Failed cooling systems at a coastal nuclear power plant. (Here, reports diverge. On the one hand, Japanese news outlets and the plant’s operators may be downplaying the situation — whether to maintain calm or for self-preservation. Meanwhile, Western accounts — at some points suggesting imminent catastrophe — may be catering to the opposite extreme. The true story, when it emerges through the plumes of steam, will have its heroes and its failures, likely including some loss of life — though paling in comparison to the thousands killed outright by the tsunami.) But for those of us who have also seen — and believed — the evidence of the impact of rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (climate change and ocean acidification) on our planet, there are some things more terrifying than a reactor on the loose. How many homes will be lost to sea level rise? How many livelihoods will be devastated by shifting patterns of rain and drought? How tenuous will humanity’s existence become, not just in zones of radioactive fallout, but on the entire planet? Nuclear power’s promise is its generation of electricity without the emission of a steady stream of greenhouse gases (and other, acutely toxic pollutants), thus slowing the increase of atmospheric CO2. Today, some thirteen percent of global electricity comes from nuclear power, to the carbon-savings tune of 2.5 billion tons of CO2 emissions each year. Still, nuclear power is nonrenewable. -------We’ve come a long way since the days when the “Firecracker Boys” of Operation Plowshare proposed the peaceful (and ludicrous!) use of nuclear weapons to blast Alaskan harbors, widen the Panama Canal or level inconvenient mountain ranges. But we should not let the pendulum of public opinion swing too far in the opposite direction without modulating its path with wisdom. One nuke, two nuke; red nuke, blue nuke. We hope this Daiichi thing’s a fluke. Send thoughts, comments and anti-nuke propaganda to Holly at hollyvm@stanford.edu. Ted Rudow III, MA says: April 1, 2011 To arguing for $180 billion to and then arguing for $180 billion to modernize the nukes–$100 billion for modernize the nukes–$100 billion for the weapons carriers, $80 billion for the weapons carriers, $80 billion for new warheads? What kind of nuclear new warheads? What kind of nuclear free world is this? He should have free world is this? He should have had the decency, when Norway made had the decency, when Norway made the mistake of giving him the Nobel the mistake of giving him the Nobel Peace Prize, of saying, “I graciously, Peace Prize, of saying, “I graciously, gratefully decline. haven’t earned it gratefully decline. I haven’t earned it yet. Let’s come back when possibly yet. Let’s come back when possibly I have earned it. He didn’t say that, and have earned it.” He didn’t say that, and dispensed with the prize money in dispensed with the prize money in a disgraceful way.
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