Category Archives: UK

Mitt, We Need You-In UK!

During the past election, Mitt Romney and fellow Republicans, warned the American people that to follow Obama economic ideas was the road to serfdom and poverty. Mitt insisted the solution was to cut, cut, cut, and embrace austerity as the model for ending our recession. There has been a monthly increase of new jobs averaging at least 150,000 and today’s figure for February was–198,000! However, European nations like the UK, Spain or Greece report DECLINE in the number of jobs and continual loss so that in Spain, the unemployment figure is about 24% for youth. Oh, the report also reveals that 24,000 more jobs were created in January than initially reported.

Health costs declined since the Affordable Health Act was passed. The economy is growing about 1.8% but it is  growing, not declining as in  Engand. Perhaps it is time for Mitt to head for the UK and assist the efforts of Prime Minister David Cameron to increase unemployment and make certain there is a stagnant economy.

Press Freedom-Not In Turkey

The modern Turkish tragedy is denial of freedom of the press to those who write for the media. Hundreds of reporters and editors are currently in jail on grounds they violated the Anti-Terror Law which literaly makes criticising any government action as inciting people to violence. Naturally, the government decides what is  meant by “encouraging” violence. At present it decides criticism of policies is violence or not liking the ideas of Prime Minister Erdogan as an example of terrorism. Turkey currently is among the leading nations in the world which has imprisoned writers for writing.

Turkish deputy Prime Minister BuilentArinc, announced the government was proposing a new law that would decriminalize expressions of opion and cease making them a crime. He hopes to announce this month “that even if a person makes propoganda, as long as  it doesn’t steer the masses toward weapons and violence, it will no longer be considered a crime.” Hopefully, this leads to releasing journalists currently in jail.

I AM THE LAW

Every so often a world leader explains his views on life, on power, and on how peace can be furthered which results in wonder at which planet this individual currently inhabits. President Bashar al-Assad comes from a noble family. His father was dictator, his father murdered thousands of fellow Muslims, and his father inhabited a palace in which only those who agreed with his ideas were allowed to continue living. Bashar offered to the world  his interpretation of what was going on in Syria. It goes like this:

1. I am a noble son of Syria.

2. I am willing to negotiate with anyone, including militants who will surrender their  weapons to me.

3. I will not negotiate with any militant who will not surrender to me.

4. British colonialists will not be welcome in my palace.

5. The people of Syria adore and worship me–except for a few who are in Syria but really are not part of Syria.

6. I trust this is clear to one and all.

ONLY IN PUTIN RUSSIA

There is a land on this planet which is ruled by a man whose concept regarding human rights is simply out of this world. And, when we write, “out of this world,” we mean out of this world. William Browder, whose father was a famous leader of Communism in America, built a business career in Russia after his dad’s friends lost power. His company, Hermitage Capital Management, came in contact with evidence of corruption in government. Browder hired Sergei Magnitsky to investigate this corruption and he uncovered evidence that hundreds of millions were being stolen. Naturally, in a land where Putin has power, the only result of this discovery was to arrest the man who found corruption. Magnitsky was jailed, beaten and finally died.

Browder fled to the United Kingdom knowing that former billionaire Mikhal Khodorsky had been sent to prison for a decade due to challenging the corrupt regime of Vladimir Putin. The years have passed and the world knows all about the death  of Magnitsky.

A trial will begin this week in Russia. It is a trial whose goal is to let the world know that Sergi Magnitsky was a thief. There will be two empty chairs in the courtroom, one for Magnitsky and one for Browder. My only question is whether Magnitsky will be compelled to respond to questions.

US Troops In Europe-Why?

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago there was something termed a Cold War between the Soviet Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. The assumption was there was need for American troops in Europe in order to make clear to Soviet leaders that an attack on West Europe would involve an attic on the United States of America. In 1991, the nation then known as the Soviet Union, collapsed and ceased to exist. The current Russian army would encounter problems fighting Georgia-as it did. The question of the hour is-why are there American forces in Western Europe?

The Cold War ended two decades ago. There is NO  threat from the East. There is NO threat from Russia. Ami, it is time to pack up and Go Home! It is time to end relics from the past.

UKip Scares UK

Ukip is a political party in England which preaches fear and freedom at a time when many English people fear their world has come to an end. David Cameron and his Conservative party have practiced good old fashioned American Republican party values of austerity, protect the wealthy and things will come out OK. Yesterday, in a by-election for a seat that ordinarily would have gone to the Conservative party, voters elected the Liberal Democratic candidate and sent Labor into a fourth place behind Ukip. Cameron still does not grasp the need for stimulus, NOT austerity is the road to recovery. Ukip  insists a  libertarian approach  which supports small business and takes England out of the European Union is the solution.

The European Union has problems and there is need for rethinking its austerity approach towards Greece or Spain. To leave the EU might backfire on England since it could also lead to economic problems when their former partners decide to treat England as a foreign nation  which is subject to trade restrictions.

How about Cameron learning from the American experience. Our economy is growing, it is producing more jobs and life is slowly getting better.

Tony Blair-Was I Wrong??

Ten years have passed since Tony Blair, then prime minister of England, joined with his colleague, George Bush, in advocating the invasion of Iraq. He still insists that Saddam Hussein was ready to unleash chemical or biological against his own people or the outside world. He insists the choice of not invading or to invade was “ugly”but he is still certain the overall choice for war was correct. However, he now  realizes the situation that resulted in Iraq is “not nearly”what he anticipated. He accepts that divisions today in Iraq were not anticipated but he has given up trying  to prove that he was  wrong.

There are those who prefer fantasy. Just about every day, bombs kill Iraqi people. Just about every day those seeking evidence of WMD seek and do not find. During the 1980s, President Reagan and President Bush remained silent when Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons against his own people. Tony Blair is a murderer!

Not So Gay Times In UK

Prime Minister David Cameron of England decided to have his nation join modern societies by supporting gay and lesbian rights. Unfortunately, about half of his Conservative party is rather conservative and prefers inhabiting a world in which if you are not straight, then you are a crooked person in need of psychological help. Those who opposed the “gay bill” are not happy about being termed “homophobic.” One can assume a high percent of  those opposing gay rights were raised to regard those who were homosexual as “strange.”

One can readily understand fear and anxiety from those fearing gay rights. I guess they are worried that a son or daughter will  wind up “queer.” Not to worry, better to be queer than a gun nut who wants to kill people. Now, they are “queer folk!”

UK Conservatives Not Gay Today

Prime Minister David Cameron and his fellow conservatives have argued for three years that economic ideas akin to those of Mitt Romney would result in a booming economy. The economy is stagnant and there is scant evidence of job growth. Cameron and his Liberal allies decided to introduce a bill that would allow same-sex marriage, at least it would provide evidence that Conservatives are thinking in 21st century terms. Alas, it has  sparked anger among many Conservatives who claim supporting gay rights will anger the British people. A group which calls itself, “Conservatives Grassroots” insists that Europe and the people of England have no desire for gay rights.

Conservatives want more time, they want more discussion. I wonder what would have happened if Cameron had spent more time and had more discussion prior to imposing his  austerity economic ideas which have stalled the British economy?

Go Or Stay Questions Cameron?

David Cameron is prime minister of England and a very intelligent man. He has worked hard to implement the ideas of Mitt Romney in the UK and the results are in-the British economy is contracting, not expanding. Mr. Cameron is upset a tthe European Union, no one pays much attention to his brilliant economic ideas, no one listens to his advice on how best to contract an economy so he wants to get out of the damn European Union. Oh, he is willing to remain if  other members agree to rewrite the rules of the EU and provide England with special rights. As German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle noted, there are no rights without  responsibilities, and members can not “cherry pick” what they will adhere to and what they will ignore.

Many Conservatives want to leave the EU and regard Cameron as their hero. Actually, most polls indicate most people in England want to remain.