I watch with stunned feelings the following issues faced by mankind on our planet earth:

a)     Increase of disease load in last century, like diabetes, obesity, heart problems, metabolic syndrome, depression, Alzheimer and cancers.

b)     Man made radiation has increased our exposure to it by almost 25% in the past century or so.

c)     Population explosion on this planet; from few millions about 2000 years ago, to about one billion 200 years ago, to just over 2 billion in 1950, to seven billion in 2011, projected to rise to ten billion in few decades.

Here are my suggestions of possible response to the above issues as follows:

1. We humans are most intelligent on this planet. We must try connecting the dots and start having some plans to intelligently face this and correct our course. I am convinced that the disease conditions are caused by our modern sedentary life style, excessive intake of calories with high intake of starch, sugars and fructose, Vit D deficiencies, genetically modified foods, artificially fattened animals and poultry with corn and bovine growth hormones, and intake of chemicals via excessive use of fertilizers, pesticides and preservatives and byproduct waste of industries reaching our drinking water.
2. Our experience with radiation is only about 100 years old. Yet we are dealing with ionizing radiation of nuclear energy so very casually despite the fact that we all know of proven association of radiation with cancers. We seem to disregard the disastrous outcome of nuclear exposures in wars and accidents compared with its limited use in energy generation, medical diagnostics and irradiation.
3. For population increase I do not have any specific answers because it is an emotive issue. However, we all know this is already causing stress on all our needs and resources aside from conflicts and wars due to that. This issue is differently perceived by nations. In Western world the population has either negative growth or is increasing very slowly. In developing world the increase is very fast. Some countries are taking measures to slow it by family planning but attitudes differ vastly. Best example is Pakistan and Bangladesh, which were one country only about 40 years ago. Pakistan is one of the fastest increasing populations, whereas Bangladesh (formerly East Pakistan) has slowed down their increase very successfully by inculcating right attitude particularly amongst women who practice family planning.

Then there are other issues that have been identified of late. They are:

• Global warming and green house gases causing wild climate changes. This issue needs to have a global consensus, as to how do we address this. Every country has to agree to the right methods practiced together to succeed.
• Industrial waste being discharged into rives causing chemicals and mercury build-up in sea foods making them unfit for human consumption. Many pundits are predicting the wars for drinking water. Despite the fact that two thirds of planet surface is water, the potable water is scarce and we need to find ways to make more available to us.
• Monarchies and dictatorships disappearing giving way to democracies, hence liberating populations with or without experience of governance and economy like in China and former USSR. Again the UNO needs to have a plan to train the new nations on how to govern themselves equitably to avoid further wars and destruction.
• US bill of rights is the hall mark of aspiration for all suppressed people in the world. But it also being misused in the shape of too much freedom with very little responsibility. Unless the freedom is exercised with responsibility and moderation it will go awry and become the enemy of itself.

These topics need to be discussed by all concerned and intelligentsias; and a definition of moderation in all respect ought to be spelt out.

We all need to think through and definitely change our life styles to avoid diseases and cancers. First step would be to eat right, raw and natural as our ancestors did. Personally cancers weigh heavy on my mind because of personal losses in family. I also suggest we reconsider our relationship with nuclear energy. Going through the medical literature and history, I am convinced that most of these diseases are preventable and even reversible.

It is important to preserve and promote health and well being of mankind and our progeny. This may allow us to enjoy blessings of benefits of recent innovations of past two centuries and affluence that we enjoy because of it. I believe if we did not act wisely now, we may endanger the life on this planet by ongoing deterioration of health, invitation to diseases, scarcity of resources, wars due to it and /or a nuclear accident. This sounds apocalyptic but we all know that this is not only a distinct possibility but some of this is already happening. With possibility of such disastrous outcome, we need to approach all this with comprehensive strategy to avoid reaching a point of no return.

At a central level like that United Nations, all countries need to practice its charter and assist each other to avoid mutual suspicion and problems arising from that.

Downgrading of the US rating: An awakening call for Americans to rectify many long overdue issues.

Introduction:

Let me reveal that I am not a politician. I am an independent scholar. I support every representative in the USA congress that wants to do public service. I am wary of those who go there with ego and idealistic agenda, even if it hurts the national interests. When I wrote earlier in the wake of mad specter of parties not settling the issue, despite the risk of downgrading, to sack the whole congress, maybe it was a bitter reaction to their agonizingly fruitless wastage of time on whether or not to raise debt ceiling. The real issue is excruciating debt level itself and NOT the raising of debt ceiling, Debt needs to be reduced urgently before it is too late.

This website:

I have started this website to focus on our health issues arising out of modern life style. The ugly specter of useless debate was the cause of downgrading of our credit rating first time ever will have an adverse effect on our life style through further weakening our economy and job situation. Hence I am following up with another post since now the subject is more relevant to the purpose of this website.

Credit downgrading; is this real?

First off let us talk about the action of S&P and why did they do this?

Grid locked congress: I am paraphrasing what S$P has said. They waited for the congress to agree to lower the debt level substantially. This they did not. Instead congress kicked can few months down to the so called 12 member congressional super committee. That means problem is not solved. It will hang on our head as the sword of Damocles.

Irresponsible statements and posturing by congress members: Many of them hid behind their mandate of not raising tax. They went on to even saying that it does not matter if we did not pay our obligations on time and default. Are they living in the real world? Yes, one should have principles and ideologies, but when the nation is passing through the worst economic downturn and there are indications that risk of more trouble is on way, every sane person needs to compromise and settle in the best national interest. Every one need to rise above personal and party’s vested interests to minimize further damage. This was not done.

Result was the disgraceful downgrading of US from AAA to AA+ rating. Nation is humiliated. The congress should be mortified. But they seem not to be. Instead of getting together to join hands and find an acceptable solution, they are busy finger pointing, who is to be blamed. They are interested in appointing the person on that 12 member committee, who may serve their “ideals”.

Default by the USA: There is no possibility of default by the USA. As a last resort Feds can print money and pay. The problems that the US facing today is no different than Ireland, Portugal, Greece, Italy and Spain.  They all like us have problems of low growth, unemployment, living beyond their means and decision makers bickering with each others, so as not to let their vested interest be hurt. However the big difference between all those and USA is the fact that the size of their economy is only a fraction of the size of the USA. Yet another big difference is that US Dollar is international currency, whereas none of the currencies of the country mentioned above come anywhere near being international. So let us first establish that US is in no danger to default on its obligation but it will certainly have to put its house in order to stop such worries and rumor.

Standard & Poor or S & P: this itself has been partly the cause of the situation. You will all remember that they are the ones who provided AAA rating to many investment banks and credit instruments like swaps and mortgage securities, which in fact caused this recession and economic downturn in 2008. Even in this downgrading they have been challenged by treasury department of a mistake in their worksheet of the tune of two trillions, which was pointed out and still they went ahead with downgrading. It smells of “rotten fish”. So much for S & P.

Nevertheless it is a fact that our economy is not in the best of the state today. We as a nation in a largest debt ever, our unemployment rate is over 9%, new job creation is very small to reduce unemployment. We need to have more revenue, which republicans are dead against. We need to reduce expenses, which can only be done by reducing entitlement of social security and Medicare, which means crushing elderly and sick, which is immoral and democrats are against it. This leaves only defense spending which may be reduced in moderation without impacting our security adversely.

Conclusion:

I believe that those who make politics their business for vested interests of their own or their lobbyists to make money in the name of public service makes a mockery of the public service and politics both. So let us not sack the whole congress. But let us make sure that we elect only those who are there for public good and not to shine their political ideals.

WE MUST PERHAPS INTRODUCE TERM LIMITS FOR HOUSE AND SENATE ALSO TO ENSURE THAT OUR REPRESENTATIVES DO NOT MAKE BUSINESS OF THEIR POSITIONS FOR THE LIFETIME EMPLOYMENT IN CUSHY JOBS AND BECOME “KINGS” IN OUR DEMOCRACY.

We should have referendum to dismiss all congress members, have re-election and elect only those who are coming for public service and are responsible persons.

Read this and most likely you will agree with me.

When FAA is disabled because of congress’s inaction the congress members are on vacation and when the debt ceiling debate was on they were having fun!!!!

Let us re-elect only those who are responsible.

Someone sent me this photo yesterday. I do not vouch for authenticity but I do not get surprised either watching the circus and drama on the TV over the debt ceiling for the past few weeks.

At that time I was watching the news that Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has been disabled and cannot work because congress has not reached any agreement, their time was spent mostly on a “non-issue” debate of raising the debt ceiling. How childish?

As soon as that was done the congress went for a five week vacation without dealing with matters of FAA leaving all related matters in a limbo. This caused almost 65,000 construction workers put out of job because the matter was still under discussion in congress, which now will be discussed after they come back from vacation!!

How irresponsible on the part of congress members? This is when Americans needs jobs so badly.

And then this photo, which shows them playing solitaire, surfing web, enjoying FaceBook and watching spots score, when House Minority Leader Lawrence F. Cafero Jr., R-Norwalk, pictured standing, far right, is speaking and presumably the house was in session at some kind of serious work!!

This is unbelievable. When the debt ceiling debate is underway, these members are at their own chosen jobs, at our cost; they are on the payroll of tax payers!! Do they not think they have a moral duty to their voters and people needing jobs to bring bread to the table for their family? Is this the wisdom that our elected representatives show?

Here are their offenses:

• Being not attentive when the serious debate, which is likely affecting the reputation of the USA is underway
• Debate itself was self created pastime by them, since the money was already spent under the congress approved budgets in the past and hence conceptually the debt was approved with budget. Debate was about the payment of that debt, which was already created. This is the height of irresponsibility showing to the world that the USA is likely to say no to payment of the debt undertaken and spent? No responsible person does it in private life. If the congress even discussed that possibility, which they did, they do not represent our value system and we should not have them representing us.
• Then they go away on vacation putting 65,000 people out of work and FAA in disarray, causing safety issue to the air transport, loss of revenue and bread on table for thousands of workers?.

CONCLUSION: They should all be dismissed and sent home. We should have a referendum to be able to do that if needed. Have new elections. I am sure some of them are really good and have become congress members because they have pain of public at heart. They who are there for public service and have people’s confidence will be re-elected and other will stay home and do what they are doing in congress at our expenses and our pay roll. We will surely find someone else who is responsible and do the job that they are sent here for.

“The Hayek vs. Keynes” raps on Youtube.com

“Fear the Boom and Bust\” a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Anthem

Fight of the Century: Keynes vs. Hayek Round Two

I have watched and listened to both raps “The Hayek vs. Keynes” on Youtube.com, links of which are above here. Very interesting and very humorous. Howsoever funny they sound, we all need to go deeper in our habits and the way we live. We should try and understand what is going on now and where we have gone wrong on our way to find better ways of living and higher standards of living. Also this should tell us what wrong have we done to the economy as a whole of countries that have been very rich and now some of them in different kinds of trouble including almost coming to the verge of bankruptcy. This state of affair is in many countries of Europe and US also. Third world countries seem to have sustained the shocks of meltdown of western economies fairy well.

I am convinced that the speculators and vested interests, perhaps including market makers have made it difficult for even academic economists to consider all the aspects of the moving parts, which results in a particular outcome of any action taken. Add to that the unforeseen terrorism, accidents and uncertainty caused by, say 9/11 or by the Seal 6 operation taking out Osama causing crash of commodity markets and you have a recipe for which no one can predict whether the result will be a Christmas pudding or a burnt out barbecue in the stock market or commodity markets. The pundits and speculators both have created a psychological balloon, which gets burst or manipulated by such important and ordinary events alike, more at the mercy of manipulators. But there is a reason for all this. It is obvious that we have been doing many unusual and totally not thought through things to know what will be the outcome. It may work sometime, but the accidents are likely to happen and that too serious, because we are sailing in uncharted territories.

Academician’s worries are real; they worry about unforeseen and nightmarish events, which may make their projections look like joke and make them look foolish.  These are more real in recent times when the information flow is far too faster than we can imagine. However, the forecasts, be it because of the economists or despite of them, sometime work as if the forecaster was the prophet of some kind, or fails miserable completely, making a stupid of so many pundits. Fact is that common sense always wins. I have come to conclusion that whatever a lay man does in an uncomplicated situation is perhaps the correct direction, if he uses his street smart wisdom and common sense.

These decisions are so common sense based that they almost do not fall in category of issues and decisions that may require the professional knowledge of an economist. These are what we have learnt as “default” decisions. For example, if I have a fixed income, I must remain within the limits of the income and should not overstep my limits. If despite of following this dictum, I need to borrow some money, I must pay it back ASAP, preferably within a month. This situation has changed because even with limited income people can obtain easy borrowing through his credit card, which has become a norm. Another example would be borrowing heavily and if one is not able to pay, filing a bankruptcy under bankruptcy protection law. Both these examples have a lot of abuses from many concerned people. But what is more important is the fact these new ideas of the past century has changed the whole picture of even trying to understand Hayek or Keynes.

There are many such examples, but these two most common ones suffice because these have not only changed the way the business is done, but has changed the ideology and misuse has been rife in both these cases.

If despite the insistence of vested interests and particularly the commercial and investment banks, things were kept simple, we would not have suffered the kind of shock that we did by the number of derivatives that were allowed. Unfortunately, as described earlier, these went wild and out of control by not having enough supervision on those vested interests. Regulators may have been involved in the financial benefits, which we do not know.

To keep ourselves, our society and our financial health in order, we all need to look for the general betterment than personal ones. Follow simple guidelines and use common sense to live within our means. Keep our debts to minimum. Keep paying back all debts in time. If we did that we surely can use the academician’s and economists’ advices with some benefit. Otherwise there will be theories of different experts and we shall be continuing to wonder which is correct and which one to follow.

Let us rap on such resolves, rather than raping on the things that we do not understand that well. Even those who write theories may not be able to answer and justify their position too well, because if they did then there would not have been another acceptable theory to negate theirs. What we need from the experts is to have some definitive guidelines and unanimity in those directions.