BDS Perspectives

This Section made during Bush-era (but increasingly applies to Obama also):

Words to Remember: Truths; Wisdom; Insight How Others Think(beware some of these people)....

How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it.
-- Henry David Thoreau

. At the Nuremberg war trials, Herman Goering, head of the German Air Force, gave one of the most lucid explanations of how this process worked (as quoted by Howard Zinn):
"Naturally, the common people don't want war. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the peacemakers for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country."

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Key Bush adviser Henry Kissinger's view on US supported Chilean military coup of democraticaly elected Allende government:
"I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people. The issues are much too important for the Chilean voters to be left to decide for themselves." ', as sourced in Ask Kissinger About Pinochet's Regime.                               _______________________________

When you know history, you know that governments lie, as I.F. Stone said. Governments lie all the time. (from talk by Howard Zinn on "..The Uses Of History ...")[buy Bill Moyers PBS DVD Buying The War]
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' "The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy: that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." -- John Kenneth Galbraith
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Here is US General Thomas Power speaking in December 1960 about things like nuclear war and a first strike by the United States: "The whole idea is to kill the bastards! At the end of the war, if there are two Americans and one Russian, we win!" The response from one of those present was: "Well, you'd better make sure that they're a man and a woman."  ' from Willam Blum article

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Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your governmant when it deserves it....Mark Twain

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The Zion-Cons follow the Goebbels principle

"The Big Lie repeated often enough can convince the stupid masses." From Iran War:US Military vs Israel Firsters


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Current Events:

Summary of Special "events" and BDS views:

(Nov 2013) Republicans on Obama-care: Stupid policy; stupid strategy. Stupid policy in undermining the objective of universal affordable healthcare, instead of proposing some great improvements and actually working to make it work. Stupid strategy, because the achilles heel of Obama-care is getting enough young and healthy people to signup to offset the federal subsidy costs to states expanding Medicaid to cover millions of low income poor people.Yeah, they have lame misinformation advertising to sway young people (but facts will ultimately overcome spin-- at least among smart people), and most all Republican governors hae opted not to expand the almost 100% federal funded Medicaid expansion in their states.So they incur the wrath of their poor voters by not proviving basically free healthcare,and at the same time reduce the cost burden on Obama-care. So Democrats can blame the shortfall in covering many currently uninsured on the Republicans, and at the same time Obama-care economics will be better,Peersonally,I believe only a single-payer like system (Medicare for all or at least a Public option) are the only ways to insure everyone and at the same time reduce costs to a sustainable long-term level. WIth Obama-care it at least looks like our dysfunctional political system is slowly drifting in the right healthcare direction.Give it another 10 years or so, and we might equal almost all other modern western countries (and some Asian ones),

(June 2013): Political "tribalism" runs rampant in the US just as surely as religious, racial, hereditary, economic status does in other countries. Whatever the type, a common feature is the ignoring or misrepresentation of all evidence contrary to the "tribal line". Note that this "tribal line"might also be contrary to the interests of many members of the tribe even if they are deluded into thinking not.For instance Republiucans are currently myopically invested in several conspiracy campaigns alleging/hoping for impeachment level wrongdoings by Obama with absolutely no interest in substantive underlying issues important to the national interests.I consider this simply "irrational/rabid" payback for public "investigation" of serious political crimes against the principles of our democracy by Nixon/Reagan which they have never accepted and moved on. And Democrats (including prominent senators like Diane Feinstein) fallback to the defense "all is/was 'legal' " because they also supported enabling legislation like the "Patriot Act" ()initially enacted under Bush in response to 911).The Patriot Act is "used" as legal cover for policies like black prisons, indefinte imprisonment in places like Guantanamo, policies that internationally qualify as inhumane, killing of anyone/anywhere solely on the "authority" of the president, and government routinely (I mean yesterday, today,tomorrow) storing every telepnone conversation and email made in the US in a stupendously large government database for further potential future investigation. And the worse indication is that a large fraction of legislators and the general public are not surprised, indignant, appalled, "pissed". And the Supreme Court is just as content with the situation. The "fourth estate" (the press) basically no longer exists functionally----truth is too diluted with untruth for the average tribal public to be forced to accept the anti-tribal-line.

And it all comes back to that. Ultimately we get the level of dysfunctional government the public is williinmg to accept---and apparently "we" are willing to accept damn well more than I would ever imagine.

Tribal political aficianados of any persuasion can "interpret" the writings of (often the same)  economic/[political theorists to explain this failing of democracy:

For example consider this except from a Wikipedia article quote from the "father" of modern economics Adam Smith's " ..  Wealth of Nations  ...":

"Smith also explained the relationship between growth of private property and civil government:

"Men may live together in society with some tolerable degree of security, though there is no civil magistrate to protect them from the injustice of those passions. But avarice and ambition in the rich, in the poor the hatred of labour and the love of present ease and enjoyment, are the passions which prompt to invade property, passions much more steady in their operation, and much more universal in their influence. Wherever there is great property there is great inequality. For one very rich man there must be at least five hundred poor, and the affluence of the few supposes the indigence of the many. The affluence of the rich excites the indignation of the poor, who are often both driven by want, and prompted by envy, to invade his possessions. It is only under the shelter of the civil magistrate that the owner of that valuable property, which is acquired by the labour of many years, or perhaps of many successive generations, can sleep a single night in security. He is at all times surrounded by unknown enemies, whom, though he never provoked, he can never appease, and from whose injustice he can be protected only by the powerful arm of the civil magistrate continually held up to chastise it. The acquisition of valuable and extensive property, therefore, necessarily requires the establishment of civil government. Where there is no property, or at least none that exceeds the value of two or three days' labour, civil government is not so necessary. Civil government supposes a certain subordination. But as the necessity of civil government gradually grows up with the acquisition of valuable property, so the principal causes which naturally introduce subordination gradually grow up with the growth of that valuable property. (...) Men of inferior wealth combine to defend those of superior wealth in the possession of their property, in order that men of superior wealth may combine to defend them in the possession of theirs. All the inferior shepherds and herdsmen feel that the security of their own herds and flocks depends upon the security of those of the great shepherd or herdsman; that the maintenance of their lesser authority depends upon that of his greater authority, and that upon their subordination to him depends his power of keeping their inferiors in subordination to them. They constitute a sort of little nobility, who feel themselves interested to defend the property and to support the authority of their own little sovereign in order that he may be able to defend their property and to support their authority. Civil government, so far as it is instituted for the security of property, is in reality instituted for the defence of the rich against the poor, or of those who have some property against those who have none at all." (Source: The Wealth of Nations, Book 5, Chapter 1, Part 2) "

That is from the 18th century!  It still sounds eerily relevant to Romney's "47 %" rant, and also the government's massive bailout the the financial industry that nearly crashed the world financial system without any criminal prosecutions of those "1%" (or 0.1 %  or o.o1 %) that wildly profited--all at public expensE.

When/if the public is willing to entertain why our many claimed enemies have seemingly irrational intent to do "us" harm, then maybe we will demand rational policies---and thereafter when the other "sides' " public(s) also learn to do the same ,then maybe the "poor" of the world will demand theit fair "cut".

One last comment on Romney's "47 %" comment.He told it wrong,and unfortunately many people accept the typical harangue: in actuality the real rewards of the 1% far exceeds their contribution due to our particular unfair implementaation of the so-called free market capitalism. I submit that according to Adam Smith's ideas in his "Wealth of Nations" it's way past time for government intervention to curtail the unfair spoils of the super-rich.Although I do not subscribe to the paradigm that the best economic/political system maximizes monetary wealth (itself a societal construct), or even that that maximizes physical goods and services ( we have passed the time when the world could be able to provide for all its citizens if we had a just political/economic system,and indeed the excesses of the current system are on a path to destroy human civilization. As "proof" I submit that whereas currently the federal tax rates on the richest are (nearly) the lowest in history, that if we return to previous rates as high as 60% (still not near the highest of 94% !), that the supposed capital creators will be undeterred in their quest for more wealth and society would be better off.

Fat chance---the public is that smart..... or that near revolution ....yet ...

(Nov 14,2012): Election over. Same lying Republicans with social parasite policies (ie proteect the richest from paying their fair share ---see BDSonWS99 )avoided by Romney failure. Now await Obama "Grand Sellout" in keeping with his history. Hope not. Otherwise little change from previous listings below.

(Nov 2011) Obama continues the Bush disregard for international law and fundamental precepts of justice upon which the country is founded.[Glenn Greenwald; "With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful", lecture in book and DVD formats]   Adopting the rogue nation stance of Israel allowing the unilateral murder/assassination of people without due process anywhere in the world without regard for national sovereignty, law, or moral principles. Examples are the use  of unmanned drones to kill people (a truly stupid and negative feedback program regardless of other issues); the murder of Osama bin Laden on sovereign Pakistan soil without bringing to trial (wherein some measure of moral redress could have been snatched from an otherwise stupid war in response to basically a criminal event)( http://www.guernicamag.com/blog/2652/noam_chomsky_my_reaction_to_os/ ); the promised US veto of the Palestinian security council bid to be recognized as a sovereign state (the one opportunity to earn his Nobel prize and go down in history as a transformative world figure ,that cannot be blocked by party politics or Congress, and thereby accomplish more in his then-assured one term presidency than any modern president did in two terms.(Like FDR he should take resultant pride in becoming the most hated person by US politicians as proof that he would have done something very very right. Unfortunately there is a real chance he could join Lincoln as a modern "martyr".)  On the positive side Obama is beginning to stop catering to Republicans and realizing they (along with many Democrats) are the "enemy" and he cannot count on any cooperation from them regardless of the secondary (to them) benefit to the country. Also, I give Obama much credit for his use of the US military in support of NATO and its support of the Libyan people in deposing Khaddafi in their quest for a more democratic country. (Note that undoubtedly many like McCain/Republicans would have jumped at any military excuse to "settle" old scores with Khaddafi , and I don't know what backdoor deals had to be made with Russia and China not to veto the UN resolution---but, whatever,I give him immense credit here. Iraq withdrawal is welcome but way too late ;a similar hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan is not forthcoming but would be best.Prosecution of major actors in the banking scandal and breaking up too big to fail business/financial entities, and ending unproductive financial activities like most derivatives,  hedge funds, and wall street trading only for the sake of trading profits alone, along with ending fractional reserve banking , and bringing the printing of money from the Federal Reserve to within the government, are all needed activities far from the perspective of government myopia at present.Maybe the best we can hope for is avoiding another unnecessary, immoral and stupid war with Iran.

(OCt 2011) Occupy Wall Street; 99 %- ers: BDSonWS99

Fundamentals of world status substantially unchanged from articles listed below; so BDS discontinued monthly listings in favor of periodic special "events" and BDS views above:

July 2010-Feb 2011       June_2010      May_2010      Apr_2010     Mar_2010       Feb_2010         Jan_2010     Dec_2009       Nov_2009        Oct_2009     Sept_2009   Aug_2009    July_2009       June_2009        May_2009      April_2009    March_2009   Feb_2009    Jan_2009     Dec_2008       Nov_2008    Oct_2008      Sept_2008      Aug_2008       July_2008     June_2008      May_2008      April_2008     March_2008       January_2008     December_2007    November_2007    October_2007     September_2007     August_2007  July_2007      June_2007     May_2007    April_2007     March_2007    February_2007      January_2007   December_2006    November_2006   October_2006   September_2006   August_2006   July_2006

BUSH Legacy: Still glad to be American (economics,freedoms) but no longer proud. A philosophy professor summarizes why. ...... (another similar perspective) ... America's Blinders  ... View1 ... View2   View3

IRAQ WAR: Illegal, Immoral, Unnecessary. WMD/9-11 Link   lies to stoke public support for plan for regime change in IRAQ. No US intent to withdraw from IRAQ, just to calm US public and install compliant IRAQ pro-US regime and docile IRAQ public. Goal is permanent US bases in Middle East to support Israel and US corporate oil interests.Best road forward: no good choices for IRAQ or US; bring all US troops home --NOW! Assemble a UN force under UN control to aid IRAQ in whatever capacity emerges.US to admit errors and fund UN at same current $200 million per day (!) being spent on Iraq war, for years. View1 ...  View2   All Government's Lie

BUSH (George the Bastard): Revealed Enron type corrupt mentality when a corrupted Supreme Court installment dashed respect for true democratic principles in 2000. Skillful administration manipulates disparate public sectors on key issues while policies are failing in almost all areas when viewed clearly. A failure in all key respects; the worst President in US history;  (Jimmy Carter:Bush Administration is Worst in US History) :No one has done more to discredit US moral imperatives, world respect, US self-respect, civil liberties, the environment, long term security .... Deception and lies promoting IRAQ war to Congress, UN, US citizens makes him guilty of treason and a war criminal ,Let's stop there---you can only be hanged once. (War criminal associates:Tony Blair; Wolfowitz;Bolton; Rove; Rice; Powell, Ashcroft, Cheney,Rumsfeld ...) View1 Ohio-2004-A-2000-Repeat View2 View3 View4 VIew5 View6  View7      Bush Worst President per 238 Presidential Scholars

BDS View on Iran Fiasco ! , Sept 2005 ...View1 View2 View3 View4 View5 View6

BDS View on North Korea (DPRK) and Nuclear Standoff ,Sept 2005 AnotherView1

BDS View of Israeli / Palestinian Conflict ,Sept 2005 View1 View2 View3 View4    Cause:Israeli's Stealing Palestinian Land:See: Ali Abunimah's book "One Country:A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse";   President Jimmy Carter's book:"Palestine,Peace Not Apartheid",  The One State Solution Sounds Like a Good Plan , but ...    UN Partition Plan and Arab Catastrophe   Why the US and Israel Should Lose Middle East Wars   Zion-Power and War    Endless Israeli War Chronology   Univ Tel Aviv Professor Shlomo Sand's Book: The Invention Of The Jewish People     Does Israel Really Have A Right to Exist?  Jewish Critics of Zionism and Israel's Treatment of Palestinians

BDS View on What a Real Alternative to Current Administration Would Be Like ,Not BDS words ,but we cannot say it better. Another View.

Supreme Court :Roe vs Wade Lost; Time to abandon "Lesser Evil" strategy and Wishy-Washy Democrats But ..My 2008 vote for President will not be for Russell Feingold ,Dem Senator from Wisconsin;although he voted against the Iraq war, against the Patriot Act(and Renewal); for Bush censure/impeachment review for domestic spying ....because he is still another "Lesser Evil" vote..... Feingold embraces the doctine of pre-emptive war to prevent countries like Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons capability (while the US threatens the world with nuclear stikes as a "birthright"); and, supports a US war to protect the ethnic-cleansing pariah nation Israel.I am convinced nothing fundamental will change (in foreign pocicy especially) without the emergence of more significant parties to break the stranglehold of big-money on a two-party system.I will vote the "Peace and Freedom" party in 2008; I suggest you pick any third party close to your views.At this point it doesn't really matter which one,we just need to break up the political monopoly.View1 View2  Kucinich-Most-Gutsy-Democrat View3 View4 View5  USA-Fascism   The Axis of Lesser Evilism

M ... The illusion of a woman (Clinton) or black (Obama) president is but a shadow of real change. Either just shows that "minorities" have (finally) been fully integrated into the US typically white ,male power structure. Arguably even that is cause for patriotic pride. But I require more from my country that is responsible for over a million unnecessary Iraqi deaths, destruction of a country, wanton pursuit of a new generation of nuclear arms,threatening further international aggression on pre-emptive strike principles, inhuman torture, undermining of confidence in international justice (and UN) by unprincipled support of Israel in stealing Palestinian lands and apartheid,starting a new nuclear race by trying to develop a defensive missile system that could protect it even if it engaged in unlawful international aggression,continued stupid self-defeating policies toward Iran,DPRK,Cuba,Venezuela ....,waffling on global warming,International Criminal Court,un-American domestic spying (bypassing FISA),Guantanamo,unlawful rendition,Patriot act,...,(despite Democratic incremental prospects on universal healthcare,taxation-balanced budget-social welfare net, overemphasis on immigration red herring) ....(See Helen THomas) "Democrats Need to Take A Stand

So I still will vote for Kucinich (Primary) Peace & Freedom (general election) and not Obama ... (not lesser evil) ... B

PS: I suppose one could vote for Obama in the hope that he is pursuing a public campaign necessary to get elected ,and will pursue a more real change ala the above if elected. However that prospect is so unlikely as not to get my vote.

[28 Jan 2008....Kucinich has dropped out....so I am considering voting for Obama in primary....but I doubt he will get the democratic support to implement real change...so I expect I will still vote third party...Bill]

June 2008: I plan to VOTE For Obama; I will give the man a chance.

The Most Important Book I Ever read; Exposing the Fairytale: Howard Zinn's "A Peoples History of the United States;1492-Present",2003

(This book should be required history reading in our schools. If you do not accept this book you will become the fodder of today's and tomorrow's repeating history---Vietnam and Iraq are examples and nothing new ....what is new, is that perhaps a critical proportion of people might actually become aware of the situation and effect a change...(... see Amrica's Blinders ...) . my opinion/Bill Rowe) (After being awaken,be sure to read:"Overthrow:America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq", by Stephen Kinzer) View1

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Consistently lauded for its lively, readable prose, this revised and updated edition of A People's History of the United States turns traditional textbook history on its head. Howard Zinn infuses the often-submerged voices of blacks, women, American Indians, war resisters, and poor laborers of all nationalities into this thorough narrative that spans American history from Christopher Columbus's arrival to an afterword on the Clinton presidency.
Addressing his trademark reversals of perspective, Zinn--a teacher, historian, and social activist for more than 20 years--explains, "My point is not that we must, in telling history, accuse, judge, condemn Columbus in absentia. It is too late for that; it would be a useless scholarly exercise in morality. But the easy acceptance of atrocities as a deplorable but necessary price to pay for progress (Hiroshima and Vietnam, to save Western civilization; Kronstadt and Hungary, to save socialism; nuclear proliferation, to save us all)--that is still with us. One reason these atrocities are still with us is that we have learned to bury them in a mass of other facts, as radioactive wastes are buried in containers in the earth."

If your last experience of American history was brought to you by junior high school textbooks--or even if you're a specialist--get ready for the other side of stories you may not even have heard. With its vivid descriptions of rarely noted events, A People's History of the United States is required reading for anyone who wants to take a fresh look at the rich, rocky history of America. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Venezuela: BDS views Hugo Chavez as the best thing that has happened to Venezuela democracy.  Buy Citgo gas.     View1     Dec06:A Look at Chavez's Venezuela   On Venezuela's Bolivarian Revolution    Venezuela Doing "OK": Bolivarian Republic Of Venezuela