Showing posts with label World. Show all posts

Well here is an update about things going on with the LibertyCast. In absence a new project has been in the works. We will see a new change in the next few upcoming months. Everything is being redesigned to become a new network of information, connectivity, and resources.

We are becoming self hosted under the banner of a new blog that is more journalism centered on national and world economies. LibertyCast will still be available as the editor's blog so no fears the LibertyCast isn't going anywhere.

However, this isn't all. A new specialized Wiki will come that is economics focused built on MediaWiki. We will also incorporate a new social network that will be designed to help others to not only be educated about economics and world economies but also do it in a sense that helps people better themselves. The social network allowing for communication abroad will give opportunity for all to discuss problems worldwide and attempt to come up with solutions that can be effective and realized.

Other ideas are being hatched, including the possibility of going non profit, for philanthropic and charitable efforts.

Please stay tuned into the LibertyCast for progress and updates.

What If?

That's a great question to ask America and its constituents...

What would the world be like if we didn't have military bases across the world policing it's countries?

What if we didn't have a base in Germany or South Korea or so many others?

What if we weren't in Iraq?

What about Afghanistan or Pakistan?

What if we remembered why our founders wanted a more non interventionist foreign policy?

What if we stopped wars relying on special interests?

What if we stopped the partisan bickering and worked together?

What if?

But before we can get to what if we must all stand together and ask our leaders:

Why?



Now I agree with this almost entirely, but not quite 100%. I think we do need to pull back heavily on our interventionist policies, be more defensive than offensive, and need more worldly cooperation to act as outward as we do. But I also think that the War on Terror is justified to the extent in that we do not let terrorists keep taking shots at us for free. Iraq did not fly planes into the World Trade Centers; it was not an intelligent move and indefinitely a wrongful choice from the beginning. We should have focused all our resources to Afghanistan and Pakistan. This could cause us lots more problems, and this should have been the "long haul" decision we made from the very beginning. At this point I'm not sure we have the real resources, morale, or support to pull it off any time soon. Right now we all need to turn to Washington and keep asking our leaders...

Recently Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela, has become electable an infinite number of times as a constitutional referendum has removed limits to the terms served by their presidential office. This has attracted a lot of attention due to his authoritarian nature. Historically, presidents in the same situation (eg, Saddam Hussein) have coerced, fear mongered, and even killed for votes to stay in power. Regardless of ethics this is a reality there and now.

But what would this have to do with America?

Nothing directly. But now, though unlikely, we may find ourselves in the same position. Rep. Jose Serrano D-N.Y. filed H.J. Res. 5. If this is passed then it will repeal the 22nd Amendment to the US Constitution making presidents electable to an infinite number of terms.

Thomas Jefferson warned that presidents not bound by term limits could use their popularity and power to become kings. We found this come to fruition with Franklin D. Roosevelt who served 4 terms! Is was through this that it is that the 22nd Amendment cam to life. We finally found out what this would mean.

With this ponder the following: 4+ terms of George W. Bush or now likely 4+ terms of Barrack Obama. If you are not a member of the standing party how will you feel with your voice being muffled for more than a decade or even a lifetime?

It is not surprising that this was filed after Barrack Obama won the election and a Democrat was in office, but this does not make it a right decision. If you would not want lifetime power of a Republican then it is equally not fair to present opportunities for Democrats. Just as we saw an empire of Bush between two members non consecutively we could see an empires out of Obama or the Democratic party in general. It has gone from being referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and now lies with the Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. And now we wait from here to see what happens. I have faith that this will not come to life and will not pass.

However, if you do not want to see this do not lay quietly about it. Call your Representative and speak your outrage! Hold their re-election dependent on voting Nay if necessary.

For more information on this bill go here.

There is increased piracy in Somalia as many can see throughout the news in the past few years which has been building up since the civil war in the early 1990's. This in turn affects trade significantly and also the food reserves being sent to Somalia due to their extensive droughts and food shortages.

So what do we do about this situation? Some countries through NATO have giving naval assistance to provide protection. However, some these ships are too large to maneuver past their speedboats and come underarmed and thus are not effective.

Another option is to, not necessarily control arms sales but to at least hold the sellers accountable. Most arms transactions are reportedly made through Yemen. And even though at a cost of becoming pro-actively involved with Yemen it is debated whether or not applying pressure would have much effect if any at all...


Copyright BBC 2008


Copyright CNN 2008

Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somali_pirate
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4584878.stm
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/10/01/piracy.terror/index.html
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2008/09/mystery_surrounds_hi.php