“Which is worse, ignorance or apathy,” the lad asked. “I don’t know and I don’t care,” he responded. “The only response is to not think and to not feel,” he proposed. Bush’s observation that his war is “straining the American psyche” is observant. Bush’s power springs from his ability to keep the public in a constant state of fear and dread and anxiety. Bush is terrorizing the populace. The fear paralyzes thought and stifles dissent. If the restive public is given a rest, it may reflect. Bush will proudly proclaim that America is at war as he lifts off from the White House lawn in Marine Corps One in January, 2009. His war; his legacy. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder now afflicts the populace not just tens of thousands of returning vets. Roosevelt’s perspective on fear itself and his reassurances to the public are the marks of a true leader. The world needs hope not fear.
Archive for August, 2006
The Residue of Unrelenting Fear: PTSD Afflicts The Populace (August 28, 2006)
Posted in Bush, Society on August 28, 2006 by e-commentary.orgThe Zero Sum Game in the Mideast/World (August 21, 2006)
Posted in Bush, Middle East on August 21, 2006 by e-commentary.orgHezbollah: 0 (or + 1/4 ?)
Israel: 0 (or – 1/4 ?)
Iran: 0 (or + 1/8 ?)
United States: 0 (or – 1/4 ?)
Britain: 0
North Korea: 1
China: 2
Darfur: -1
The Free World: -9
It does not add up.
Bush responds by declaring that Hezbollah lost. He is inspiring them. We don’t need him to challenge them to “Bring it on.” They will. Napoleon is said to have observed: “If you start to take Vienna, take Vienna.” Israel took Vienna and got taken. Nietzsche is said to have said: “That which does not kill me only makes me stronger.” Among Hezbollah and their cohorts, that which kills them only makes them stronger. As a policy, dropping bombs is bombing.
The United States is one of the few if not the only country that can broker a resolution. Bush is focused on escalating hostilities. Bush triggered World War III. Bush has abandoned his command and repeated that the next president must clean up his mess. This situation could be considered disquieting.
The Terror In The Skies (August 14, 2006)
Posted in Bush, Foreign Policy on August 14, 2006 by e-commentary.orgBush has spent much of his time in office flying around the world in Air Force One above and beyond the cares of the world. Those who must fly must deal with the consequences and fallout of the worst foreign policy blunders in American history.
The Arab world is united in their hatred of Bush; the non-Arab world is disunited except in their hatred of Bush. All the hatred and anger is coming home to fester. The lack of terrorist activities over the last five years is surprising. However, the enemy is patient in planning its attacks against an impatient people. A gin and tonic is today’s Molotov cocktail. Practice safe flying, we are now directed, don’t use condiments on board. Ketchup in a plastic container is the new weapon of mess destruction. It’s not just for putting under car tires anymore. Passengers cannot carry contact lens solution because Bush cannot see clearly. The enemy has enough chutzpah to keep attacking the one transportation sector–aviation–that has attracted the most security screening resources. The next likely move is against the ports.
The Fed: Deal with “Stag”; Deal with “Flation”? (August 7, 2006)
Posted in Economics, Federal Reserve on August 7, 2006 by e-commentary.orgThe economy has been heading toward stagflation for over a year. The trade deficit reflects the fact that America does not make anything other than houses that are consumed domestically. Inflation is taking off with a vengeance. Calculating the core price index without accounting for food and energy prices assumes that citizens do not eat or travel or heat and air condition their homes and businesses. The rising cost of energy will act synergistically to drive up the cost of food.
The Fed meets tomorrow. The Fed must not raise the Federal Funds Rate (FFR) because it would exacerbate the stagnation. However, the Fed must raise the FFR to dampen the current and impending inflation. In his academic writings, the Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke refers often to “price stability” as the primary goal of the Fed. Raise the rate .25 percent? Or defer to those on Wall Street who are more concerned about the slowing economy and leave the rate unchanged? Inflation is the graver threat. Raising the rate .25 percent is painful but necessary.
e-commentary 