http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/11/21/arizona.abuse.arrests/index.html
The complete psychological idiocy displayed by parents is disheartening. And yet, we wonder why children are broken today. This isn't just a crime in the United States, abuse and neglect are rampant everywhere. And the effects are lasting.
It's time for parents to grow up, act correctly, and if they do not-they absolutely do not deserve to participate in their children's lives. Parenting is a right and a responsibility. Parents do NOT have to right to emotionally abuse, physically abuse, or neglect their children. EVER. Perhaps we ought to put our "fmaily values" money where our mouths claim they are.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
Why my reading drives me crazy.
Delightful statements from one of my more charming books on globalization and personalized pithy responses.
-The whole section on "exploitation of labour in developing countries"
-"There is a huge range of sophisticated products-pharmaceuticals, electronics, advanced machiniery, sophisticated aircraft and so forth-that only high-income countries can make". My sass filled retort follows: "Thank you for stating the obvious. However, it is the unequal distribution of such technology that stilts industrial growth."
-Equal care must be taken over the fashionable crusade for the elimination of child labor." Word choice Wolf, word choice.
Intelligent observations:
"It is unquestioningly correct that developing countries need to be allowed to use instruments which help them overcome the many obstacles of backwardness-the absence of knowledge of what to do-and how to do it-that is the essential characteristic of that backwardness. "
-"Developing countries are able to make the policy decisions needed to promote their long-term development." (Trade liberalization and what the WTO fails to do)
And then Stilgitz offers actual pragmatic ideas about development, outlining how to couple economic growth with infrastructure investment, education, health, and the human capital needed to make equity work for transforming a failed state into a growing state. Oh-and don't measure success by GDP.
-The whole section on "exploitation of labour in developing countries"
-"There is a huge range of sophisticated products-pharmaceuticals, electronics, advanced machiniery, sophisticated aircraft and so forth-that only high-income countries can make". My sass filled retort follows: "Thank you for stating the obvious. However, it is the unequal distribution of such technology that stilts industrial growth."
-Equal care must be taken over the fashionable crusade for the elimination of child labor." Word choice Wolf, word choice.
Intelligent observations:
"It is unquestioningly correct that developing countries need to be allowed to use instruments which help them overcome the many obstacles of backwardness-the absence of knowledge of what to do-and how to do it-that is the essential characteristic of that backwardness. "
-"Developing countries are able to make the policy decisions needed to promote their long-term development." (Trade liberalization and what the WTO fails to do)
And then Stilgitz offers actual pragmatic ideas about development, outlining how to couple economic growth with infrastructure investment, education, health, and the human capital needed to make equity work for transforming a failed state into a growing state. Oh-and don't measure success by GDP.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
What is the journey of human development?
As I sit here, trying to do some reading in the comfort of the library, I realize how truly lucky I am. I have an amazing family who would hold up the earth for me. I have a safe place to sleep, food to eat, friends who love me, and healthy outlets for my emotions.
In COMPLETE contradiction, let us turn to "failed states", those with chaos, violence, poor water sanitation, sickness not health, the communities where life is uncertain and grim, with sexual assault, child abuse and exploitation, severe resource shortages. Does we pause to consider the psychological ramifications of being born into such depravity? When your life is not your own, because you've been born into a cycle of poverty-and cannot seem to muster the energy to create a new path? There are a million remedies for the human condition, but we are seemingly drawn to those policy prescriptions that don't always consider the importance of human spirit-and that's what community development and building is about.
What the IMF is not-a feel good organization. Economic liquidity into a bankrupt economy-how about some heart and soul restoration? Where are the people who inject a little love into a community ravaged by destitution?
We ought to consider where we are on our own personal journeys, the path laid out-but the destiny unbeknownst to us. Everyone can pull themselves through a difficult time-but when we get ourselves back together again-it's our responsibility to nurture another's spirit. We Americans have it easy.
Just because we don't have to live paycheck to paycheck still, nor consider if we are going to get enough to eat one day, doesn't mean we can as a society completely ignore the world around us. We have cyclical domestic poverty-but everywhere does. And it's the everywhere I urge us to consider. Everyone has a journey-but what we do with ours as we live temporarily on this earth must be thought about-beyond a simple payment of taxes or charitable donation.
I believe that our lives are threads woven together in a tapestry. What picture they make at the end of our lives, our generation's existence-that creation of legacy is up to us.
In COMPLETE contradiction, let us turn to "failed states", those with chaos, violence, poor water sanitation, sickness not health, the communities where life is uncertain and grim, with sexual assault, child abuse and exploitation, severe resource shortages. Does we pause to consider the psychological ramifications of being born into such depravity? When your life is not your own, because you've been born into a cycle of poverty-and cannot seem to muster the energy to create a new path? There are a million remedies for the human condition, but we are seemingly drawn to those policy prescriptions that don't always consider the importance of human spirit-and that's what community development and building is about.
What the IMF is not-a feel good organization. Economic liquidity into a bankrupt economy-how about some heart and soul restoration? Where are the people who inject a little love into a community ravaged by destitution?
We ought to consider where we are on our own personal journeys, the path laid out-but the destiny unbeknownst to us. Everyone can pull themselves through a difficult time-but when we get ourselves back together again-it's our responsibility to nurture another's spirit. We Americans have it easy.
Just because we don't have to live paycheck to paycheck still, nor consider if we are going to get enough to eat one day, doesn't mean we can as a society completely ignore the world around us. We have cyclical domestic poverty-but everywhere does. And it's the everywhere I urge us to consider. Everyone has a journey-but what we do with ours as we live temporarily on this earth must be thought about-beyond a simple payment of taxes or charitable donation.
I believe that our lives are threads woven together in a tapestry. What picture they make at the end of our lives, our generation's existence-that creation of legacy is up to us.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Dirty elections: To the rigger the spoils | The Economist
Dirty elections: To the rigger the spoils | The Economist
The study reveals many observations. Namely-rigging has an economic effect and nothing we do can stop it.
"So rigging makes the economy less important to a president’s future—a rejoinder to the Chinese claim that in developing countries “managed democracy” is better for growth than an electoral free-for-all."
This is quite an interesting conclusion..."And aid makes almost no difference. Even if outsiders are keeping the entire country afloat, their influence is patchy."
So does foreign aid matter in helping to promote democratic elections over rigged ones? Evidently not. So what on earth are we doing overseas with the "democratic freedom iniatives" if elections are going to be continuously rigged.
The study reveals many observations. Namely-rigging has an economic effect and nothing we do can stop it.
"So rigging makes the economy less important to a president’s future—a rejoinder to the Chinese claim that in developing countries “managed democracy” is better for growth than an electoral free-for-all."
This is quite an interesting conclusion..."And aid makes almost no difference. Even if outsiders are keeping the entire country afloat, their influence is patchy."
So does foreign aid matter in helping to promote democratic elections over rigged ones? Evidently not. So what on earth are we doing overseas with the "democratic freedom iniatives" if elections are going to be continuously rigged.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
How to respond to the Global Financial Crisis?
It is clear that the United States has sparked the 2008 global economic crisis, with severe impacts persisting despite international response. The past 12 months have forced the international economy to see the “deep interconnections that have come to exist between different areas of the world, especially those between Europe and the U.S.” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Why Europe Matters).
With the burst of our nation’s housing bubble, subprime mortgage crisis, and eventual financial system collapse had a contagion effect on the world. So, the question is “How as a nation of many businesses should respond, and prevent such a crisis from repeating again?” Should we continue to work with Europe, Mexico, Asia, Africa, and South America?
The American commercial ties with Europe have created a market for goods and services, domestic employment for European firms, generator of growth and income, and opportunity for investment. Our Europe-Eurasia team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “seeks to further trade and investment, remove regulatory barriers, and improve transatlantic regulations at all levels.” ((U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Why Europe Matters). Joseph Stilgitz argues that many of the ad hoc methods of crisis response have hurt the U.S and the global economy in the past.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recommends that we continue our international engagement specifically with regards to trade, foreign investment in the U.S., and U.S. investment overseas. However, we must continue to develop international trade given that “Ninety-seven percent of America's exporters are small businesses, not large, multinational corporations” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). Importing “Keeps inflation low and expand the array of choices available for American families. Tariff reductions in the 1990s increased the typical family's purchasing power by as much as $2,000.” Do we seek to stabilize the purchasing power? Should foreign companies continue to invest in the U.S. marketplace? Yes. However, if our financial markets are not safe, these foreign companies will pull out. Joseph Stilgitz stated, “Unfettered financial markets do not work, and the current regulation and regulatory institutions failed — partly because one is not likely to get effective regulation when there are regulators who do not believe in regulation.”
Finally, U.S. investment overseas must continue, for the beneficial effects of sales to continue generating profits and create jobs. Despite the desire for protectionist trade policy, international engagement benefits extend across the world. Cooperation among governments and central banks around the world must continue. We want to encourage monetary easing, but careful evaluation of the potential fiscal stimulus. We believe that another “short-term stimulus could have serious longer-term effects on inflation and interest rates” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). In a time of economic uncertainty, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks to increase global engagement. Such engagement “has also improved the state of the world, promoting peaceful exchange and lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty through more open markets and trade-generated growth” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).
With the burst of our nation’s housing bubble, subprime mortgage crisis, and eventual financial system collapse had a contagion effect on the world. So, the question is “How as a nation of many businesses should respond, and prevent such a crisis from repeating again?” Should we continue to work with Europe, Mexico, Asia, Africa, and South America?
The American commercial ties with Europe have created a market for goods and services, domestic employment for European firms, generator of growth and income, and opportunity for investment. Our Europe-Eurasia team at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “seeks to further trade and investment, remove regulatory barriers, and improve transatlantic regulations at all levels.” ((U.S. Chamber of Commerce: Why Europe Matters). Joseph Stilgitz argues that many of the ad hoc methods of crisis response have hurt the U.S and the global economy in the past.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recommends that we continue our international engagement specifically with regards to trade, foreign investment in the U.S., and U.S. investment overseas. However, we must continue to develop international trade given that “Ninety-seven percent of America's exporters are small businesses, not large, multinational corporations” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). Importing “Keeps inflation low and expand the array of choices available for American families. Tariff reductions in the 1990s increased the typical family's purchasing power by as much as $2,000.” Do we seek to stabilize the purchasing power? Should foreign companies continue to invest in the U.S. marketplace? Yes. However, if our financial markets are not safe, these foreign companies will pull out. Joseph Stilgitz stated, “Unfettered financial markets do not work, and the current regulation and regulatory institutions failed — partly because one is not likely to get effective regulation when there are regulators who do not believe in regulation.”
Finally, U.S. investment overseas must continue, for the beneficial effects of sales to continue generating profits and create jobs. Despite the desire for protectionist trade policy, international engagement benefits extend across the world. Cooperation among governments and central banks around the world must continue. We want to encourage monetary easing, but careful evaluation of the potential fiscal stimulus. We believe that another “short-term stimulus could have serious longer-term effects on inflation and interest rates” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce). In a time of economic uncertainty, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce seeks to increase global engagement. Such engagement “has also improved the state of the world, promoting peaceful exchange and lifting hundreds of millions of people out of poverty through more open markets and trade-generated growth” (U.S. Chamber of Commerce).
What should we actually do about the crisis?
http://www.globalissues.org/article/768/global-financial-crisis#ReformingInternationalTradeandtheWTO
Anyone have an answer?
Anyone have an answer?
Monday, November 2, 2009
Who's to blame?
“What the hell happened?” is what financial journalists Paul Muolo and Matthew Padilla seek to answer with their book, Chain of Blame: How Wall Street Caused the Mortgage and Credit Crisis. Opening with critiques of the many actors that caused the housing bubble expansion and ultimate burst, the book analyzes the multiple factors that caused the subprime industry meltdown and ultimate bank failure. Ultimately, the book’s chapters force readers to consider the “swarm of spectators, real estate agents, mortgage brokers, and lenders” that inflated and burst our international economy.
Muolo and Padilla trace the history of housing markets, paying particular attention to the period of 2000-2007, with the increased influence of subprime lenders beginning to cooperate with Wall Street firms. Peter Cugno poignantly observes the investment bankers from New York buying up subprime loans left and right as he states, “That was the beginning of the end as I remember it-when they started to see the potential for them to get hip-deep in this biz and suck our some serious money. But their mistake was that to do that, they needed to no longer be someone who put other’s together-but to saddle up, own the lender, and take on some serious risk.”
Business Week points out that “Thanks to brokerage firms such as Friedman Billings Ramsey and later all the big Wall Street houses, the subprime business mushroomed into a multi-trillion dollar orgy of sketchy loans, securitizations and all manner of financial exotica that we now see collapsing all around us” (Business Week Analysis November 24, 2008).
Scattered throughout the meltdown story is the theme of risky loans. Wall Street’s loan pool creation, the exception based loans, and willingness to underwrite despite noncompliance with guidelines, forced the companies to turn a blind eye even when the grading of loans took a downturn (Muolo and Padilla). The authors weave a tale of privatization, risky Adjustable-rate mortgages, selfish actors, and much more.
The domestic connection to the international economic downswing is concisely summarized in Muolo and Padilla’s chapter, “We Buried (Some of) our Garbage Overseas”. The brokers who took on loans, buying them up vigilantly, failed to realize how they sparked a worldwide credit crisis with the sale of bundled mortgages to European and Asian investors. In particular, the “overseas banks and investors were now suffering because the subprime collateralized debt obligations (CDOs) they had purchased from Wall Street firms were now defaulting, causing huge losses” across the Atlantic.
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