The Ukrainian Parliament approved a treaty allowing Russia to extend the lease on a naval base at a Ukrainian port on the Black Sea until 2042. This move was bitterly opposed by pro-Western lawmakers. Why? I have no idea. As an official policy, do those of us in the West have any idea that not allowing Russia to have a port on the Black Sea would increase or decrease the possibilities for peace? However, for reasons that are unknown to me, this was a highly-charged debate, and those who opposed the extension on the lease sent off smoke bombs and hurled eggs at the Speaker of the Parliament. The scene disintegrated to where members were throwing punches and grappling during a nationally televised session. Several legislators were hospitalized and, in the end, the extension passed.
This is what I call good government! Let the Congress of the United States slug it out and we will have a better and more efficient government.
*****
Does anyone remember Black Hawk Down? Here was a disaster that could not work from its inception. There were, and still are, strongly Al-Qaeda-linked militants who are opposed to the government that is backed by the United Nations. In the Black Hawk episode, the local government was under attack, and we sent our troops (actually under a UN flag) to quell the violence. There was an unfortunate glitch in the plan, vis-a-vis, the UN troops could not utilize tanks without permission of the Grand Poobah. After several days of fighting, the numb-nuts got around to authorizing the use of tank, and the violence was quelled.
Now, the army of Somalia is deserting in large numbers to join the Al-Qaeda forces. Since there is no food available and no pay available to them, I wonder how are they being paid by Al-Qaeda–and is Al-Qaeda providing food? One of the bases, Camp Jazira, does not have any toilets, a clinic, or a perimeter fence. The soldiers believe that their wages have been intercepted by senior officials and used to support the luxurious lifestyle for themselves.
Imagine that. Someone in government stealing money from the populace. That is the first time in the history of civilization that has happened, and I certainly hope that does not become a trend.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
An unpaid soldier
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
(326) ACCIDENTAL POLITICS
I have owned, for several years, a book entitled King of the Mountain: the Nature of Political Leadership by Arnold M. Ludwig.
It is heavy-duty and cannot be read casually, so I have been taking it in little snippets for a long period of time. The thing that has recently surfaced in my consciousness is the way that fortuitous circumstances have long-term consequences–usually catastrophic.
In Germany, the Industrialists were afraid of the Communists and, therefore, paved the way for Hitler to seize absolute power in Germany. The result was a catastrophic destruction of Germany and large segments of the rest of the world. Let some egomaniac with ego-centric ideas take control, and it is a recipe for disaster. However, that is not what I read about this weekend. My weekend reading was about Vladimir Lenin and his ascension to the throne in Russia, and the consequences of his death.
Lenin protested and had a crazy idea that you could actually have a classless society. He was imprisoned, released, worked in other countries, and, finally, after Russia engaged in a bizarre war with the Japanese in 1904, the road to power had been paved. The world at-large could not believe that a small island nation could defeat the mighty Russian Empire. The Czar of Russia personally led his troops in battle and they were slaughtered. At the end of the war, Russia was in shambles and the Czar’s approval rating hit rock-bottom. Next, Russia got in an ill-advised war with Germany. There were so many mutual-defense agreements that were breached that it would take an encyclopedia to examine all of the treachery and back-stabbing that triggered World War I. Regardless of the cause, Russia found itself at war with Germany. Lenin had risen to the top of one of the many dissenting parties, and, because the public was weary of war, he came to power in a bloodless coup when he promised peace with Germany. And there was peace until World War II.
After Lenin became the Grand Poobah, the internal world of Russia was still in turmoil, and an assassin shot Lenin in 1918. He survived, but his health deteriorated and he suffered a severe stroke on May 25, 1922. He was weak and partially paralyzed and never fully recovered. He died on January 21, 1924. During the time that Lenin was in power, a psychopathic scumbag named Josef Stalin had risen to second-in-command. He brutally crushed dissent, listened to no one, and killed people even within his own Bolshevik Party. He was an absolute dictator and remained so until his death.
All of this illustrates what I have been saying (and no one in power has listened) that all human endeavors involve some type of power struggle. Philosophy, logic, and free thinking have almost nothing to do with the outcome–and when the massive change occurs, it is good luck for the person achieving power and bad luck for the populace.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
A toothless tiger
It is heavy-duty and cannot be read casually, so I have been taking it in little snippets for a long period of time. The thing that has recently surfaced in my consciousness is the way that fortuitous circumstances have long-term consequences–usually catastrophic.
In Germany, the Industrialists were afraid of the Communists and, therefore, paved the way for Hitler to seize absolute power in Germany. The result was a catastrophic destruction of Germany and large segments of the rest of the world. Let some egomaniac with ego-centric ideas take control, and it is a recipe for disaster. However, that is not what I read about this weekend. My weekend reading was about Vladimir Lenin and his ascension to the throne in Russia, and the consequences of his death.
Lenin protested and had a crazy idea that you could actually have a classless society. He was imprisoned, released, worked in other countries, and, finally, after Russia engaged in a bizarre war with the Japanese in 1904, the road to power had been paved. The world at-large could not believe that a small island nation could defeat the mighty Russian Empire. The Czar of Russia personally led his troops in battle and they were slaughtered. At the end of the war, Russia was in shambles and the Czar’s approval rating hit rock-bottom. Next, Russia got in an ill-advised war with Germany. There were so many mutual-defense agreements that were breached that it would take an encyclopedia to examine all of the treachery and back-stabbing that triggered World War I. Regardless of the cause, Russia found itself at war with Germany. Lenin had risen to the top of one of the many dissenting parties, and, because the public was weary of war, he came to power in a bloodless coup when he promised peace with Germany. And there was peace until World War II.
After Lenin became the Grand Poobah, the internal world of Russia was still in turmoil, and an assassin shot Lenin in 1918. He survived, but his health deteriorated and he suffered a severe stroke on May 25, 1922. He was weak and partially paralyzed and never fully recovered. He died on January 21, 1924. During the time that Lenin was in power, a psychopathic scumbag named Josef Stalin had risen to second-in-command. He brutally crushed dissent, listened to no one, and killed people even within his own Bolshevik Party. He was an absolute dictator and remained so until his death.
All of this illustrates what I have been saying (and no one in power has listened) that all human endeavors involve some type of power struggle. Philosophy, logic, and free thinking have almost nothing to do with the outcome–and when the massive change occurs, it is good luck for the person achieving power and bad luck for the populace.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
A toothless tiger
Friday, April 23, 2010
(325) HOMOPHOBIA & HYPOCRISY
A homophobe named John, who lived in San Francisco, took it upon himself to destroy all of the available homosexual literature and, thus, prevent any impressionable young person from stumbling upon it and being induced into a life of sin, where there is no salvation, only burning in Hell. In order to fulfill his self-imposed obligation, he attacked the public library and began destroying anything that had the name ‘gay’ associated with it. In his stupid, paranoid zeal, he tore up a book about the Enola Gay.
This moron can vote and his vote counts the same as yours and mine. Is it any wonder that we are gradually going down the drain?
*****
We have crossed over into the Twilight Zone. The new health-care bill imposes a $1,000 fine on Americans who do not have insurance coverage. That constitutes nearly four million Americans who are in what is generally referred to as the middle class. Why the people stand for this mind-numbing nonsense is beyond my ability to comprehend.
If we were just talking about a $1,000 fine, that would be horrific, but it is much worse. Has anyone thought about how the government is going to establish who has and who does not have insurance? Do insurance companies have to furnish a list to the government of all of those who are insured, then this is pushed into a gigantic computer and it kicks out all the names of people living in the United States who do not have insurance? Once it is established where the four million people are who don’t have insurance, a bureaucrat moves in and assesses the fine. Is there a right to appeal? If a person is unable to pay the fine, does he go to jail? Also in the equation is the issue of people who don’t have enough money to buy insurance. The Joint Committee on Taxation, another Congressional boondoggle, estimates that there will be 21 million people who are not elderly and uninsured by 2016. However, the government gleefully reports that most of those people will be exempt from the penalty because their income levels are low. Hence, we have yet another bureaucracy–someone who decides what income level is low and then decides whether to waive the penalty or not. The end result will be another 100,000 bureaucrats meddling in the private affairs of its citizens.
*****
Also of interest today, some Senior Attorney at the SEC was found to be perusing the internet for pornography eight hours a day. He downloaded thousands of images and made DVD’s of his favorite images. I am 100% on his side. The government has no business meddling in the private affairs of its citizens. If he wants to sit home and watch Lolitas have sex, that is his business, not the bureaucrat next door. However, he should be fired for not doing his job.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your Moral Compass
This moron can vote and his vote counts the same as yours and mine. Is it any wonder that we are gradually going down the drain?
*****
We have crossed over into the Twilight Zone. The new health-care bill imposes a $1,000 fine on Americans who do not have insurance coverage. That constitutes nearly four million Americans who are in what is generally referred to as the middle class. Why the people stand for this mind-numbing nonsense is beyond my ability to comprehend.
If we were just talking about a $1,000 fine, that would be horrific, but it is much worse. Has anyone thought about how the government is going to establish who has and who does not have insurance? Do insurance companies have to furnish a list to the government of all of those who are insured, then this is pushed into a gigantic computer and it kicks out all the names of people living in the United States who do not have insurance? Once it is established where the four million people are who don’t have insurance, a bureaucrat moves in and assesses the fine. Is there a right to appeal? If a person is unable to pay the fine, does he go to jail? Also in the equation is the issue of people who don’t have enough money to buy insurance. The Joint Committee on Taxation, another Congressional boondoggle, estimates that there will be 21 million people who are not elderly and uninsured by 2016. However, the government gleefully reports that most of those people will be exempt from the penalty because their income levels are low. Hence, we have yet another bureaucracy–someone who decides what income level is low and then decides whether to waive the penalty or not. The end result will be another 100,000 bureaucrats meddling in the private affairs of its citizens.
*****
Also of interest today, some Senior Attorney at the SEC was found to be perusing the internet for pornography eight hours a day. He downloaded thousands of images and made DVD’s of his favorite images. I am 100% on his side. The government has no business meddling in the private affairs of its citizens. If he wants to sit home and watch Lolitas have sex, that is his business, not the bureaucrat next door. However, he should be fired for not doing his job.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your Moral Compass
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
(324) THE ANTI-CHRIST
Recently, the marshals raided and arrested a militia group. Upon being interviewed after the fact, the group said they were getting together a military force to deal with the Anti-Christ when he arrived. The scary thing is that these fruitcakes may believe that there is such an entity as the Anti-Christ, and they may further believe that he is on his way in some shape or form, however, that is not the really dangerous part. The really dangerous part is that they believe they can stop the Anti-Christ.
For the purposes of this epistle, I checked with Las Vegas to find out what the odds were and, if the Anti-Christ shows up, he is a 2,000,000-1 favorite to defeat the local militia. So, if you’re going to bet, get your money down on the Anti-Christ.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your Eschatological Bookie
For the purposes of this epistle, I checked with Las Vegas to find out what the odds were and, if the Anti-Christ shows up, he is a 2,000,000-1 favorite to defeat the local militia. So, if you’re going to bet, get your money down on the Anti-Christ.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your Eschatological Bookie
Monday, April 19, 2010
(323) NO PATIENCE FOR PATIENTS
There was a metropolis idiot (a village could not accommodate his ignorance) on XO News the other day, extolling the virtues of President Obama’s health-care plan. He opined that the plan was good because it gave protection to a lot of people who were once uninsured. Then almost as an aside, he said, ‘The plan, of course, would increase taxes.’ But he, quickly, added that regular folks would get a rebate to help them cover the cost of the added taxes. Now the fun begins. Who is going to get the refund or rebate? Obviously, the have-nots, instead of those who work and pay their own way, would get the rebate/refund.
But, for the moment, let us assume that everyone would get the rebate. Every solution offered by the government always (and this means always) is attached to more government. Under the rebate plan, there must be a bureaucrat charged with the collection of the taxes, and another bureaucrat charged with distribution. These folks need to be paid, so the money collected would, first, go to cover bureaucratic salaries. The amount allowed for each treatment must be parsed and carefully measured and considered. Is Patient X getting too much bull-dung, while Patient Y is getting too little bull-dung? There will be complaints and appeals of decisions that will take so long that many patients will die while waiting. Next, the estate of the dead patient sues the government, only to learn that the government is immune from suit. Who cares if it takes until two weeks after the patient has died for the government to decide that the patient is entitled to the treatment? Every time the government promises a benefit, you know there are going to be some serious (steel cable) strings attached.
Now, compare that to a plan that allows a deduction from your income for ALL medical costs. If the citizen makes less than $20,000 per year, the government should issue a medical card that would cover all medical expenses. Sounds expensive? Compared to another bureaucracy, this would be a bargain, and everyone would have better medical care.
Nothing like this can happen unless you take pen in hand and write your Representatives and Senators. Only fear of not getting re-elected will change anything.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your home-town village idiot
But, for the moment, let us assume that everyone would get the rebate. Every solution offered by the government always (and this means always) is attached to more government. Under the rebate plan, there must be a bureaucrat charged with the collection of the taxes, and another bureaucrat charged with distribution. These folks need to be paid, so the money collected would, first, go to cover bureaucratic salaries. The amount allowed for each treatment must be parsed and carefully measured and considered. Is Patient X getting too much bull-dung, while Patient Y is getting too little bull-dung? There will be complaints and appeals of decisions that will take so long that many patients will die while waiting. Next, the estate of the dead patient sues the government, only to learn that the government is immune from suit. Who cares if it takes until two weeks after the patient has died for the government to decide that the patient is entitled to the treatment? Every time the government promises a benefit, you know there are going to be some serious (steel cable) strings attached.
Now, compare that to a plan that allows a deduction from your income for ALL medical costs. If the citizen makes less than $20,000 per year, the government should issue a medical card that would cover all medical expenses. Sounds expensive? Compared to another bureaucracy, this would be a bargain, and everyone would have better medical care.
Nothing like this can happen unless you take pen in hand and write your Representatives and Senators. Only fear of not getting re-elected will change anything.
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your home-town village idiot
Thursday, April 15, 2010
(322) LESSONS FROM VERDUN
February 21, 1916. The Germans attacked at Verdun. It was a location that had no strategic value, but the Germans believed the French would defend it at all costs–and they did. The French motto was, "They shall not pass." At the same time the Germans became obsessed with capturing Verdun.
The British novelist, Robert Graves, described the front as the "sausage machine" because it was ‘fed with live men, churned-out corpses, and remained firmly screwed in place’.
On the German side, Erich von Falkenhayn believed Germany could win if, for every two German soldiers that were killed, five French soldiers were killed, and France would be bled dry.
When the United States made some suggestions for ending the war and the Siege at Verdun, all of the proposals were rejected. In the end, it was a totally useless battle that lasted 10 months.
It was trench-warfare at its worst with rats and vultures eating the dead, and lice eating the living. The war to end all wars cost millions of lives and accomplished nothing except setting the stage for World War II.
In the end, 27 countries had casualties. Britain lost 885,138 military deaths and 109,000 civilian deaths. France lost 1,397,800 military deaths and 300,000 civilian deaths. Italy: military deaths 641,000, civilian deaths 859,000. Russian Empire: 1,811,000 military and 1,500,000 civilian deaths.
The United States, which was late arriving in the war, had military deaths of 116,708 and civilian deaths of 757.
Does any of this sound like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq? As my trusty Paralegal noted, "We are all collaterally damaged by war."
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your war historian
The British novelist, Robert Graves, described the front as the "sausage machine" because it was ‘fed with live men, churned-out corpses, and remained firmly screwed in place’.
On the German side, Erich von Falkenhayn believed Germany could win if, for every two German soldiers that were killed, five French soldiers were killed, and France would be bled dry.
When the United States made some suggestions for ending the war and the Siege at Verdun, all of the proposals were rejected. In the end, it was a totally useless battle that lasted 10 months.
It was trench-warfare at its worst with rats and vultures eating the dead, and lice eating the living. The war to end all wars cost millions of lives and accomplished nothing except setting the stage for World War II.
In the end, 27 countries had casualties. Britain lost 885,138 military deaths and 109,000 civilian deaths. France lost 1,397,800 military deaths and 300,000 civilian deaths. Italy: military deaths 641,000, civilian deaths 859,000. Russian Empire: 1,811,000 military and 1,500,000 civilian deaths.
The United States, which was late arriving in the war, had military deaths of 116,708 and civilian deaths of 757.
Does any of this sound like Korea, Vietnam, Iraq? As my trusty Paralegal noted, "We are all collaterally damaged by war."
Respectfully submitted,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Your war historian
Friday, April 09, 2010
(321) STRANGE DAYS
Every day I say, ‘What on Earth was that all about?!’
This morning I read that Lonnie Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali, has been appointed to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bio-ethical Issues. I think Lonnie Ali is a delightful human being, however, I am not sure about the committee. I am sure that we need more committees, but, perhaps, this one could be omitted.
*****
Luigi Pirandello observed that life is paradoxical in nature, "Because we have ourselves without being able to know why." Because we are in the process of besting, we are condemned to deception. I am not certain I am on the same page with Luigi, but some of his stuff is thought provoking, and I do not have enough brain cells to reach a conclusion, thus, I am left in a perpetual state of contemplation. Not a bad place to be.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
In Contemplation
This morning I read that Lonnie Ali, wife of Muhammad Ali, has been appointed to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bio-ethical Issues. I think Lonnie Ali is a delightful human being, however, I am not sure about the committee. I am sure that we need more committees, but, perhaps, this one could be omitted.
*****
Luigi Pirandello observed that life is paradoxical in nature, "Because we have ourselves without being able to know why." Because we are in the process of besting, we are condemned to deception. I am not certain I am on the same page with Luigi, but some of his stuff is thought provoking, and I do not have enough brain cells to reach a conclusion, thus, I am left in a perpetual state of contemplation. Not a bad place to be.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
In Contemplation
Thursday, April 01, 2010
(320) HOW MANY RAISINS ARE ENOUGH?
I thought over my position on the word "energy" (see ‘Blog 318), and I have decided, to save some energy, I’m going to take a nap.
*****
Donna has done it again. This morning she wrote: "The government wants you to pay and obey." That could be a slogan for someone’s next political campaign.
*****
My friend, David Schwanzengruber, told me an amazing story. He and I frequently marvel about the insatiable appetite for expansion and encroachment by the government. He advised that he had recently bought a toilet brush. Attached to the brush was a warning label. It stated the brush should not be used as a tooth brush. I asked if we could groom eye-lashes or brush our fingernails, or use it as a back-scratcher or an ear cleaner? David said those events were not on the warning label, therefore it must be safe to do so.
Earlier the same day, my astute son, Edward, presented me with a package of raisin bread. According to the package of Sun-Maid Raisin Bread, "The government demands that there be minimum amounts of raisins in each loaf of raisin bread. But this is not good enough for Sun-Maid. Our bread has 50% more raisins than the government asks for."
First, always be cautious when anyone gives you a percentage. For instance, the case in point. If the government requires two raisins per loaf, and Sun-Maid puts in three raisins per loaf, then Sun-Maid can truthfully say they put 50% more raisins in each loaf. Don't dazzle me with percentages, just tell me the actual number of raisins the government requires and the number of raisins that Sun-Maid puts in.
What is the government doing counting raisins? How many people are on this committee? How long did it take for them to make a decision? How often is the raisin decision reconsidered? While Rome is burning, we are fiddling. The United States government has the largest collection of fools in the history of the United States, who are out to control every aspect of the human experience--and it is all done under the guise of protecting the public. It is for your own good.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Someone Who Wants a Job as a Raisin-Counter
*****
Donna has done it again. This morning she wrote: "The government wants you to pay and obey." That could be a slogan for someone’s next political campaign.
*****
My friend, David Schwanzengruber, told me an amazing story. He and I frequently marvel about the insatiable appetite for expansion and encroachment by the government. He advised that he had recently bought a toilet brush. Attached to the brush was a warning label. It stated the brush should not be used as a tooth brush. I asked if we could groom eye-lashes or brush our fingernails, or use it as a back-scratcher or an ear cleaner? David said those events were not on the warning label, therefore it must be safe to do so.
Earlier the same day, my astute son, Edward, presented me with a package of raisin bread. According to the package of Sun-Maid Raisin Bread, "The government demands that there be minimum amounts of raisins in each loaf of raisin bread. But this is not good enough for Sun-Maid. Our bread has 50% more raisins than the government asks for."
First, always be cautious when anyone gives you a percentage. For instance, the case in point. If the government requires two raisins per loaf, and Sun-Maid puts in three raisins per loaf, then Sun-Maid can truthfully say they put 50% more raisins in each loaf. Don't dazzle me with percentages, just tell me the actual number of raisins the government requires and the number of raisins that Sun-Maid puts in.
What is the government doing counting raisins? How many people are on this committee? How long did it take for them to make a decision? How often is the raisin decision reconsidered? While Rome is burning, we are fiddling. The United States government has the largest collection of fools in the history of the United States, who are out to control every aspect of the human experience--and it is all done under the guise of protecting the public. It is for your own good.
Sincerely yours,
Donald M. Heavrin,
Someone Who Wants a Job as a Raisin-Counter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
