Terror Ship

The worlds largest yacht is under construction at a shipyard in Germany as I write this blog, this is not big news as there will always be an abundance of elitist idiots attempting to one up the previous record holder in the size department. What is alarming is the name placed on the back of this boat, it is named the Azzam. If you are the U.S. GOVERNMENT you would like the American Public to believe it is named for the Arabic meaning of determination. This is kind of funny because when i typed this into the Internet, Wikipedia and others reference this to the Muslim leader Abdullah Yusuf Azzam who apparently was a mentor to OSAMA BIN LADEN, and AYMAN AL ZAWAHIRI the architects of the 911 tragedy. Why not just label this ship the SS JIHAD or something more appropriate to its intention, and if it truly means determination I guess ungodly wealth cant buy intelligence in the politically correct department can it?.

Land Of Disparity

As we move towards a new election cycle the change promised by the current administration in addressing the ever present problems of health care, unemployment, education, and equal opportunity for all Americans seems to be stuck in "neutral" due to the continued escalation of partisan politics. In fact the widening gap between the wealthy and the poor is now jeopardizing economy's worldwide, and the United States will undoubtedly be blamed for an era of systemic austerity like conditions that are destabilizing governments around the globe. Many feel that capitalism is no longer working for them and that they are merely servants of capitalism. The dissent expressed by the Occupy Wall street movement is the most recent example of this, and even the President himself has jumped on the bandwagon of sympathetic political strategy calling for a share the pain tax hike on those individuals making over One Million Dollars a year. The bailout of big banking, unfunded pension liability's, and huge national deficits will be passed to our children and grandchildren as fast as a baton at the finals of an Olympic relay event. The true blame must lie squarely on the shoulders of the boomers that reaped great pension and portfolio rewards participating in the greatest ponzi scheme ever developed the U.S. STOCK MARKET, leaving future generations to take the hit.

Perception Is Everything

The United States Of America has become a great Nation for many reasons, it has maintained its status for over one hundred years as a global leader by impressing upon other nations the need for a free and Democratic society. That all people are created equally and deserve the same opportunities. The fact that we are one of the most diverse countries in the world reflects that belief system. This is now in jeopardy as the perception of us changes throughout the globe, as countries begin to believe that we are only out for ourselves and are less concerned for our poor and disenfranchised neighbors. The recent global economic downturn along with technology has morphed this perception at an unbelievably fast pace. Many blame us for the unethical business practices implemented by financial titans here and abroad as the economic destabilization and reorganization of governments spreads worldwide. It is imperative that we mitigate any negative perceptions and regenerate the broken trust that has been hard earned. Nothing can achieve this faster than by starting to work on the problems within our own boarders by addressing such problems as hunger, unemployment, education, and helping the elderly and disabled. As we show concern for our own citizens, the confidence of others will surely follow.

Occupy Induced Recession 2012?.

The catalyst events driving us towards another recession are occurring on a more frequent and consistent basis, the European debt crises, unemployment, slow growth, consumer spending, and now the Occupy Wall Street movement. Weekly demonstrations across the country and the globe are creating an unanticipated drag on already depleted revenue sources by blocking the flow of commerce, and the constant need for law enforcement to maintain the peace and remove established encampments in public areas. As governments bail out banks, corporations, and others that have been coined as the 1% a disconnect between middle America and its own government grows. Bubbles being created to offset today's problems will undoubtedly become tomorrows latest economic dilemma and will destabilize an already shaky world economy. Comprehensive and sustainable solutions are needed soon so that this nation can return to the healthy economic environment we have become accustomed to in recent decades. We have been viewed as innovative world leaders in the past and can achieve this again in the future.

Going Viral

A new dynamic is spreading fast in the form of accelerating video to the masses via the internet. Pictures taken at various rallies across the country and the globe are being broadcast at an extremely fast rate showing injustices made by law enforcement at relatively peaceful demonstrations. Students and others are being pepper sprayed and submitted by baton wielding riot police for such offences as disobeying an order to leave the area. These individuals are expressing their rights to the constitutional act of free speech and dissent. The most recent use of chemical weapons on U.C. Davis students has caused an uproar nationwide, and the demand for the resignation of the schools Chancellor Linda Katehi. This ability will undoubtedly foster a larger and increasingly disgruntled movement nationwide, just as it has done across the globe of late. Social networking will become the new nightmare scenario for governments trying to stem the tide of change. The transparency of greed has caused many an empire to fall, and technology is now its accelerant.

Dead Weight

Unfunded pension liabilities should become an even larger issue in the next few years, surpassing such problems as debt levels, unemployment, gross domestic product, and manufacturing. A massive number of boomers are on the cusp of retirement, and want the lions share of benefits. They believe that their responsibility as working taxpayers has come to an end, and a future of world travel and golfing is in the cards for themselves. Leave the problems of the world to the children and grandchildren to deal with. I find this ironic as they reaped huge financial rewards as active participants in unscrupulous hedge fund activity bolstering their portfolios. There is no way that you could convince even one retiree, that these lavish retirement lifestyles were achieved through any unethical business practices, and its just smart investing they would reply. Ask yourself why truly wealthy individuals like Warren Buffet and others find it necessary to continue to work well into their 80s and contribute when they could easily afford to retire, could it be that they realize that tax revenue from working is essential to a healthy an vibrant economy?. The fact is that if you have more takers than givers the numbers wont jive, and you are left with a depleted economic carcass of an economy.

China Syndrome

U.C. Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi's recently outlined a plan to bolster the foreign student population studying at the University, saying it is essential in developing new revenue to stave off future cuts, help hire 300 new professors, and make other improvements to the campus. According to a recent article in the Sacramento Bee Chinese students now make up the largest percentage of foreign students at U.C. Davis at 560 students with a total of 1,662 students from around the globe altogether. They pay as much as 22,878 a year more than resident students, and the foreign student population attending university's throughout the U.S. has increased ten fold since 2007. At this rate a huge disparity between American and foreign students being received by American University's should happen very quickly. I find this strategy of economic discrimination of American students that pay less, nothing more than pure greed, and it must stop. I can only see this change come as the result of litigation thus mitigating this unfair practice. This reminds me of the onslaught of outsourcing that has plagued the manufacturing sector in the last decade with the decimation of our job base as the net result. How much longer can this country continue to cannibalize its greatest assets in the name of profits?.