WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organization that began back around 2006. They are known to publish secret or classified material from anonymous sources, news leaks or whistleblowers. They became well known in this country when it released in April, 2010 gun-sight footage from a 2007 incident in which Iraqi journalists were among those killed by an Apache helicopter. In November 2010, WikiLeaks began releasing U.S. State department diplomatic cables and more recently in April, 2011 released secret files about prisoners detained in Guantanamo Bay detention camp.
WikiLeaks has attracted many followers who have had suspicions, conspiracy theories & deep mistrust of the U.S. government a place to rally or use as platform to launch their rhetoric as self-evident truth. For example Susan Rice was accused as having her diplomats working as part-time spies, as suggested by documents released to the public through WikiLeaks. Rice was forced to respond to reporters at the United Nations where she was questioned about restricted information that was released. Rice was forced to claim; “Our diplomats are doing what diplomats do around the world every day, which is build relationships, negotiate, advance our interests and work to find common solutions to complex problems.”
My view point is that secret, classified information and private communication is just that. Information not intended for all eyes and should be left as is. Sure there can be abuse when things are kept from public scrutiny. But our system of government has many checks & balances to include oversight committees and an active judicial system. In my opinion if I feel that I cannot trust my government then it is time to vote out who is in office or run for office myself. Unfortunately these days we need to have government keep secrets run plays that are not in the public’s eyes but in the public’s best interests. I will add that the Cold War was fought in very much the same manor. With far more espionage, spies and near exchange of nuclear weapons. In the end did it not turn out in our favor?
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
"Yes we can" over regulate your life!
Should the government tell citizens what they can and cannot buy? Democracy, free market & trade are synonymous with free will and America. Over regulation by big government has always been a concern to Americans from our inception as a nation. The seeds of mistrust of government traces back to our English overseers and is evident in our Constitution. The framers of the Constitution wanted to leave openings for future interpretations. The Bill of Rights was added to protect citizens from the government.
Consumers become irate when they can not purchase what they want. Most Americans want to drive large vehicles. Corporations can make higher profits on SUVs and that category is far less regulated than passenger cars. Therefore flooding the market and roads with gas-guzzlers. Fire arms is another area that people resist government regulations falling back on the 4th Amendment that includes the right to bear arms. For now I would like to focus on the SUV/large vehicle addiction. In the 50’s it was large cars with chrome. In the 60’s it was go fast with the muscle cars. During the 70’s new lines of small cars took to the roads and they were rejected. People wanted bigger! The 80’s and beyond were marked with larger and larger SUVs with greater HP and top speeds! Consumers do not like being told what to drive or regulated. Corporations jump on that bandwagon when they become over regulated or profits are down.
Government has been telling us what we can and can not buy for years through regulated markets, regulating corporations & controlling imports/exports. For the most part it works in our favor by protecting us from misuse, abuse, & corporate greed. Or is it? I say that it is not working. While I do not agree with most that we should buy large vehicles & de-regulate firearms, it is difficult to draw the line when it comes to regulating what consumers want and corporate profit. One of my greatest concerns is seeing how vehicles are wasting fuel on the roads. We should focus on the larger problem of getting SUVs, pick-ups, vans & all large vehicles off gasoline engines, into diesels no larger than 5 cylinder 200hp! Large corporations for the past few decades keep pumping out gas-guzzlers to meet consumer demands and building SUVs are far less regulated than passenger cars. President Carter tried to enforce higher MPG for a manufacture’s car line back in the 70's and auto makers got around it by shifting consumers into SUVs that are not cars so they are exempt from many regulations. I say all vehicles under 20,000lbs GVW and greater than 5,600lbs must meet 25 MPG. It can be done, let the auto companies go figure it out. So Joe the carpenter will not be going 90 mph while towing a boat or going to work in his 4X4 down RT. 93! All passenger cars minimum 30 mpg! Give me a break, go to Europe see how, what they drive. Here when the price of fuel is down out come the SUVs. It is simple, national security should take place over what people want to drive and what corporations want to build for maximum profits. Current oil demands will keep our economy crippled therefor keeping our great nation at risk.
Consumers become irate when they can not purchase what they want. Most Americans want to drive large vehicles. Corporations can make higher profits on SUVs and that category is far less regulated than passenger cars. Therefore flooding the market and roads with gas-guzzlers. Fire arms is another area that people resist government regulations falling back on the 4th Amendment that includes the right to bear arms. For now I would like to focus on the SUV/large vehicle addiction. In the 50’s it was large cars with chrome. In the 60’s it was go fast with the muscle cars. During the 70’s new lines of small cars took to the roads and they were rejected. People wanted bigger! The 80’s and beyond were marked with larger and larger SUVs with greater HP and top speeds! Consumers do not like being told what to drive or regulated. Corporations jump on that bandwagon when they become over regulated or profits are down.
Government has been telling us what we can and can not buy for years through regulated markets, regulating corporations & controlling imports/exports. For the most part it works in our favor by protecting us from misuse, abuse, & corporate greed. Or is it? I say that it is not working. While I do not agree with most that we should buy large vehicles & de-regulate firearms, it is difficult to draw the line when it comes to regulating what consumers want and corporate profit. One of my greatest concerns is seeing how vehicles are wasting fuel on the roads. We should focus on the larger problem of getting SUVs, pick-ups, vans & all large vehicles off gasoline engines, into diesels no larger than 5 cylinder 200hp! Large corporations for the past few decades keep pumping out gas-guzzlers to meet consumer demands and building SUVs are far less regulated than passenger cars. President Carter tried to enforce higher MPG for a manufacture’s car line back in the 70's and auto makers got around it by shifting consumers into SUVs that are not cars so they are exempt from many regulations. I say all vehicles under 20,000lbs GVW and greater than 5,600lbs must meet 25 MPG. It can be done, let the auto companies go figure it out. So Joe the carpenter will not be going 90 mph while towing a boat or going to work in his 4X4 down RT. 93! All passenger cars minimum 30 mpg! Give me a break, go to Europe see how, what they drive. Here when the price of fuel is down out come the SUVs. It is simple, national security should take place over what people want to drive and what corporations want to build for maximum profits. Current oil demands will keep our economy crippled therefor keeping our great nation at risk.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Have & Have-Nots
911 was really more about a clash of the have and have-nots. We here in America have become a beacon to world for over indulgence, over consumption while on the slippery slope of moral decay. Those who wish America harm are leaders who are desperate not to loose control of their populations who have been isolated from true freedom of choice. In some Middle East nations the governments survive because they enforce the religious leaders will on the population while at the same time religions offer legitimacy to that government. In these situations the population is being lead from the true teachings of Islam and duped into a collision course with those who are considered as infidels or enemies of Islam.
In reality when the populations of these nations are exposed to the West they begin to rebel against their harsh oppressive governments. Last summer’s turmoil are very telling. Prior to that the former USSR that fell victim to the perceived corruption of the West. One man Bin Laden waged a war with the former USSR to push them out of Afghanistan, then turning his attention towards America. These same leaders who hate the West for supporting Israel are the same leaders who turn their backs on helping or allowing Palestinians to enter their borders. So to create a smoke screen of intents the have-nots are lead to believe that they must wage a holy war against all those who are perceived as a threat to Islam. In reality the only threat is towards the governments and religious leaders who are hiding behind Islam trying to keep the status quo.
In reality when the populations of these nations are exposed to the West they begin to rebel against their harsh oppressive governments. Last summer’s turmoil are very telling. Prior to that the former USSR that fell victim to the perceived corruption of the West. One man Bin Laden waged a war with the former USSR to push them out of Afghanistan, then turning his attention towards America. These same leaders who hate the West for supporting Israel are the same leaders who turn their backs on helping or allowing Palestinians to enter their borders. So to create a smoke screen of intents the have-nots are lead to believe that they must wage a holy war against all those who are perceived as a threat to Islam. In reality the only threat is towards the governments and religious leaders who are hiding behind Islam trying to keep the status quo.
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