Secession, Afghanistan and The CIA

It is a lovely spring day sun shining, birds singing their happy songs. I can even hear the sound of my morning doves. All so very lovely and soothing! I did ruin my delightful mood by turning on my computer to check my e-mail and read the news.

Let us start with Governor Rick Perry and secession. I know that this is only an of the cuff statement. I know that he is not serious… maybe? I guess he could be and that is fine too. However in today’s environment of hypersensitivity and extremist leanings maybe this is not the best time to through out any kind of idea.

Governor Perry is coming into a reelection cycle. He has stiff competition from his own party. He also accepted unemployment stimulus dollars. Could it be that he hopes to court the conservative right? No, maybe the ultra conservative right? This is just enough to get the wild-eyed started on a path of myopic zeal. Conservative or Liberal I do not care but zealots are a dangerous group. This can be very dangerous and can often cause casualties of innocents.

Then there is the Taliban in Afghanistan. This is from an AP article

Angry Afghans protest over new marriage law

“The law, passed last month, says a husband can demand sex with his wife every four days unless she is ill or would be harmed by intercourse — a clause that critics say legalizes marital rape. It also regulates when and for what reasons a wife may leave her home alone.”

To quote Mel Brooks “it’s good to be the king” or in this case a male if you are a Shiite in Afghanistan. Yes, I think I would like sex to be my responsibility every four days whether or not I am so inclined too. Wow, isn’t that an idea that makes marriage seem wonderful! Add to that that your marriage is arranged you may never have met the groom and he may be a real looser. As a woman you most likely are not be able to read or write and can’t leave the house of your own accord. What a great life for a female!

Then I get to the Tea Party. Okay I will admit taxes are not fun but they are a necessary evil. Do I agree that government is large? Yes! Do I admit that “Our” government is in need of fiscal responsibility? I will be polite and just use the word yes. However, we have become a country of entitlement. As individuals we pick and choose what we feel are worth taxes.

Many are incensed by “welfare” but few ask questions about the billions paid in farm subsidies. Many are incensed by tax breaks offered to large companies yet no one asks why is unemployment taxed?

Our infrastructure is on the verge of collapse. Schools, colleges and universities now there is something I can get behind. Children with health care another good thing. How about structures to deal with children who are harmed or exploited? Many are pro-life but what happens when an unwanted child is born? They stay with us they do not disappear.

Here is one how about paying the national debt? That would be good too. To be honest I do not mind paying taxes. I think of it as a service. I pay for clean water and such but this company leaves some thing to be desired. How does all this fit together?

Back too Afghanistan talk about tax dollars gone amuck! Here is just a little something to think about. Many years ago there was a country called Afghanistan that was invaded by The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Yes, the USSR had their own Vietnam too. Since the USA was still in the depths of the cold war President Carter gave aid to the people fighting the invasion of their county buy the Soviets! All good to coin a phrase... The US gave weapons, training and military advice. Great! We will help Afghanistans force the communist back to their wayward land and bring democracy to this desert county.

Well it did work in an odd kind of way. The USSR did leave with its tail between its legs BUT there were other issues. Who was fighting the Soviet threat? The Mujahideen. You remember when then President Ronald Reagan praised mujahideen as "freedom fighters". Then they were now not so much.

The United States Central Intelligence Agency trained the Mujahideen on tactics to bring down the Russian threat. The CIA instructed in how to work in small groups or cells. The CIA offered training on how to use minimum weapons for the greatest impact and how to hide from superior forces. Did I also mention that Osama bin Laden was a part of these well-trained forces? Did I also mention the Mujahideen have always been Islamic extremists?

Yes, bin Laden was and now we have a jihad against the west. Using the tools and training that the US gave freely with tax dollars. Now we have an armed conflict in two countries in the Middle East. Military stretch to the breaking point. No foreseeable way out. Spending billions weekly to keep all this moving… What have I learned today?
Weapons and training, cold war mania, religious extremist? Priceless

repo men/women, AIG and immediate gratification?

I read this and I felt the need to write. No matter what side of the isle you stand on these questions will make you think about the current economy and what the past has done and the future does hold……

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2009/03/17/DI2009031701148.html
Transcript
Public Outrage Over AIG
Fed Decided Payouts Couldn't Be Stopped
Jonathan Macey
Professor of Corporate Law, Corporate Finance and Securities Law, Yale Law School
Tuesday, March 17, 2009; 1:00 PM

Here I sit with a job! Thank the God of your choice. I have a home. I managed to keep it. Most of my family is working, as are many of my friends. I should sit here and think well this isn’t about me… Well guess what it is about me and you and that fellow over there. T’aint over in fact we are just beginning.

I like many am outraged that anyone in this current market is receiving bonuses. Out side of auctioneers, repo men/women and appraisers I cannot think of anyone who is having a stellar year. I do understand that under contractual law bonuses must be paid. Fair enough I understand that the legal system is what makes us different. We could after all be wild-eyed idealist who would round up those we deem corrupt, unworthy, lacking in socially acceptable values and shoot them or maybe send them away for reeducation? WARNING!!! It has happened before it could happen again.

Back to the point, I sat and pondered why are bonuses expected? Isn’t a bonus something earned for hard work and profit? Then it hit me! Yes they are. In the past when industry boomed a bonus was paid without question. Okay, a raise given and all was well. My question is what is the cost of this system.

Nothing if you follow an ethical value system. Before you start thinking I have gone soft I have not. I am not talking about sexual morality, drinking or others forms of leisure. I leave that too religion and personal choice/responsibility. I am talking about right and wrong or personal gain over the losses of many, hundreds, thousands and millions.

Business has played a game of chance. When you roll 7 11 is not always the way the dice land. Sometime you do get snake eyes and you do not make your point. The there is Business Hedonism! When did hedonism become the mantra? I am just a guilty I like pleasure and dislike pain but not at the cost of others. In order to get those lovely gold coins you must put all else aside and look only to lining your own pockets.

No one asks the simple question at AIG or many other companies what does this action mean for next month? Next year, next decade and so on... There in lies the rub. AIG is a VERY large reflection of the problem. As a nation no as a world we are about self-gratification. Executives become multi-millionaires because of a company success. Still when the company is not successful they still become millionaires go home and need not work again.
Now add to that that bonuses are driven by a company’s bottom line. Sounds good but what if a business puts aside good judgment and only looks to income in order to gain that bonus. I know that I am selling something that is horrific but the mark up is good the return easy and the profit marvelous. I have made a mint and my bonus is stellar. I think I will go buy a vacation home in Tuscany and drive a sports car!

Then sometime after I find that I have made brown fields, caused cancer in consumers using my product and am now in the middle of crippling lawsuits. My company lets me go for my efforts. I still have my bonus from days past, I still get my buy out and I am still living a pleasant life in Tuscany and driving a new sports car.

As far as I can tell there is no down side unless of course you work for said company. You know those 8 hour a day five days a week people. Who are now jobless, getting buy on unemployment and wondering what happen? I was doing my job and then wham here I am.

So AIG makes some bad investments (gambling). They at first make a mint. They write contracts for employees so that bonuses are no long earned but an expectation. Want to make more money take high risks they pay off well. Gamble with the money of others you will be well rewarded but if you fail no problem those 8 hour a day five day a week former employees will bail you out from the tax dollars they are paying from their lowly unemployment checks….
Can I hear a cheer for immediate gratification?