It was reported by the Washington Post on January 19, 2007 that China had “used a ground-based missile to hit and destroy one of its aging satellites orbiting more than 500 miles in space… The test of anti-satellite technology is believed to be the first of its kind in two decades by any nation and raised concerns about the vulnerability of U.S. satellites and a possible arms race in space.”
Now, just 13 months later the United States has shot down an aging spy satellite we had put into space. The stated reason we shot down this satellite was because there was concern that there could be harm brought to people living in the area of that crashing projectile.
Honestly, I do not believe this scenario. The U.S. probably did shoot down a satellite but the reason this was done was to send a message to China. That message is we too have the capability of shooting down satellites.
The Washington Post article went on to say, “The Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) said the Chinese action makes it essential that the administration begin negotiations to stop any possible space arms race. "The Chinese anti-satellite test is terrible news for international stability and security, and could presage the dawn of a new arms race -- this time in space," Markey said. "American satellites are the soft underbelly of our national security, and it is urgent that President Bush move to guarantee their protection by initiating an international agreement to ban the development, testing, and deployment of space weapons and anti-satellite systems."
Is this an opportunity for John McCain to bring up the topic of national defense and the need to have someone of his experience in the White House? Absolutely. He just might do that. Then again may be he is wise enough to not scare the American population. In any case, star wars is here.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Balkanizing America
Kosovo has declared itself an independent nation. This has been a Serbian province for centuries. However more than 90% of Kosovo's population of two million people are ethnic Albanian. Their faith is Muslim. The remaining Serbian population of 6 ½ million people is Christian. The hatred between Christians and Muslins resulted in the Balkan War in the late 1990s. Ultimately there was bombing by NATO in 1999 to stop the fighting between the two groups.
Within hours of the declaration, Russia called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for later on Sunday and said it would ask it to declare Kosovo's claim to independence "null and void" -- a request that was unlikely to succeed as the U.S., France and Britain all have vetoes in the Security Council and support Kosovo's independence bid.
Meanwhile in the U.S.A. the Latino population, which is primarily Mexican, has been growing for decades. In 1970, California's 2.4 million Latinos represented less than one-eighth of the state's total population. The 7.5 million Latinos counted in the 1990 census represented a quarter of California's residents. By 2005, more than a third of all Californians were projected to be Latino. The city of Los Angeles is now 40% Latino.
Could the Latino population in the southern part of United States decide that they want to succeed and form their own nation or perhaps reunite with Mexico? This is not as far fetched as you might think. The primary Latino groups deny that they support any idea of separation from our country according to their web sites. Those groups are National Council of La Raza (NCLR), MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán), NCLR claims it does not support “Reconquista”, returning the southern USA to Mexico. They acknowledge that the accusation does exist. They could change their position on this subject in an instant.
Would the United States go to war to stop a succession? The answer is yes! The Civil War defined the view that this nation is indivisible. Why then is it acceptable for Kosovo to separate from Serbia? I wish I knew the answer.
Within hours of the declaration, Russia called an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council for later on Sunday and said it would ask it to declare Kosovo's claim to independence "null and void" -- a request that was unlikely to succeed as the U.S., France and Britain all have vetoes in the Security Council and support Kosovo's independence bid.
Meanwhile in the U.S.A. the Latino population, which is primarily Mexican, has been growing for decades. In 1970, California's 2.4 million Latinos represented less than one-eighth of the state's total population. The 7.5 million Latinos counted in the 1990 census represented a quarter of California's residents. By 2005, more than a third of all Californians were projected to be Latino. The city of Los Angeles is now 40% Latino.
Could the Latino population in the southern part of United States decide that they want to succeed and form their own nation or perhaps reunite with Mexico? This is not as far fetched as you might think. The primary Latino groups deny that they support any idea of separation from our country according to their web sites. Those groups are National Council of La Raza (NCLR), MEChA (Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán or Chicano Student Movement of Aztlán), NCLR claims it does not support “Reconquista”, returning the southern USA to Mexico. They acknowledge that the accusation does exist. They could change their position on this subject in an instant.
Would the United States go to war to stop a succession? The answer is yes! The Civil War defined the view that this nation is indivisible. Why then is it acceptable for Kosovo to separate from Serbia? I wish I knew the answer.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Is This Government Rebate a Good Idea?
Congress has voted to add $168 billion to the deficit over the next two years. It’s for an economic aid plan because of a perceived recession. I know, there is an election coming in November. Neither political party wants to be accused of not caring about the citizens. The problem is that the Federal government has no excess money. The national debt now exceeds $9 trillion. In 2000 that number was $5.6 trillion. My source is the Office of the President http://www.gpoaccess.gov/usbudget/fy01/guide04.html.
We will have to borrow the $168 billion dollars that will be given to the citizens. It’s not all rebates because the final plan will give money to retired people on social security and disabled veterans. We have not paid for the Iraq War or the various earmark spending projects passed by Congress and signed into law. John McCain avoided voting for or against this give away by not returning to Washington, D.C. He was correct in not voting for tax reductions that lacked compensating reductions in spending.
The real sorry part of this story is that many people will not be spending that money on anything new. Most of us will be receiving only $600 or $1,200. Many people, like me, will be using the money to pay prior existing bills.
Furthermore, inflation is a real. I believe it is much worse than the reported CPI inflation index. The most flagrant proof is the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for ten people that rose by 11% between 2006 and 2007.
As the government floods the nation with more cash, the Federal Reserve is now starting to say inflation may be the next big issue. That translates to no more interest rate cuts and perhaps an interest increase. Yikes, they just lowered the interest rate. Does anyone know what they are doing?
We will have to borrow the $168 billion dollars that will be given to the citizens. It’s not all rebates because the final plan will give money to retired people on social security and disabled veterans. We have not paid for the Iraq War or the various earmark spending projects passed by Congress and signed into law. John McCain avoided voting for or against this give away by not returning to Washington, D.C. He was correct in not voting for tax reductions that lacked compensating reductions in spending.
The real sorry part of this story is that many people will not be spending that money on anything new. Most of us will be receiving only $600 or $1,200. Many people, like me, will be using the money to pay prior existing bills.
Furthermore, inflation is a real. I believe it is much worse than the reported CPI inflation index. The most flagrant proof is the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for ten people that rose by 11% between 2006 and 2007.
As the government floods the nation with more cash, the Federal Reserve is now starting to say inflation may be the next big issue. That translates to no more interest rate cuts and perhaps an interest increase. Yikes, they just lowered the interest rate. Does anyone know what they are doing?
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