Why fight the labeling of GMOs?

Food and Hippocrates:

So many pundits and experts in medicine say this. It is time tested and has been the main guide line by many authorities, including the Father of Medicine Hippocrates, who said 2500 years ago that “Let food be thy medicine and the medicine be they food”. This dictum is followed closely by generations before us.

New age fast foods:

In the past 200 years many changes have occurred in our life styles. These started with industrialization, railway, use of oil as energy and electricity, advancement of health science with antibiotics, better understanding of hygiene and human body and its functions. These all led to innovations of faster surface and air travels reducing distances, reducing Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and increasing longevity with higher percentage of old seniors in population, explosion of population by three folds in past 100 years and pressures on the need of resources to food, cover and shelter this population burst. Usage of radioactive materials in producing electricity, preservation of foods, increased electro magnetic fields effecting our minds and body, and need of increased yield of crops per acre and unit of efforts put in, like water, seeds, fertilizers etc. became a necessity.

This brings us to fast foods, its preservation by newfound chemicals and increased yield by usage of genetically modified (GM) crops. Fast foods have been around for over five decades because of their conveniences but the have now started showing its ugly side of high calorie content, highly processed carbohydrates, much larger consumption of fats including saturated and trans fats. All these started showing their ill effects in the shape of higher incidences of Heart diseases, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cancers and many other diseases.

GM Foods:

Yet another innovation has been the GM foods. This is the cause of contention over Prop 37 in California. This requires special attention to understand the issue. This is the most recent untested addition to our foods. In 1992 the scientists found that a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis or BT found in normal soil has a toxin to kill pests and can be used as biological pesticide. Genes from the BT was introduced in the genes of seeds of several crops by genetic engineering (GE). Better selections of breeds have been used for centuries for crops and animals. However, use of GE is something new when genetic material from one organism is introduced forcefully into the genes of the other. Most GE is used today are in crops like cotton, soya, beet, and rapeseed and rice and potatoes are perhaps next ones. The GE uses the genes from the soil bacteria in these crops but GE scope has been looking at introducing genes of cold water fish into strawberries to make them frost resistant and other similar applications.

Since the use of GM or GE foods, it is generally alleged and observed that a number of disease incidences have further increased. Conditions like Attention deficit disorder (ADD) that was a rare condition is now found in one in less than 100 births.  Disease incidence has been increasing in the past century, but it has progressed much faster in the past two decades, it seems.

Yet another addition to our food is the use of Human growth hormone called rBGH in the production of beef and poultry. This is used in poultry and beef industries along with GM corn to fatten the animal quickly. For example, only about 50 years ago, a chicken would take almost four months to come to dinner table from its hatching from the egg, This now takes as short as three weeks. Same also holds good for the beef industry’s enhanced production. European Union has not allowed use of rBGH, but it is freely used in the USA.

Activism against GM, or GE or GMO foods:

GM Foods started in the USA and so is rBGH. GM has spread like wild fire because of seemingly better yield of crops. A sizeable number of scientists and people who cared against any adulteration in their food stared taking notice of such tempering with our foods. This accompanied by the apparently increased incidence in many diseases and findings of many new diseases like ADD and Alzheimer’s, which were almost unknown, has given the activists the reason to ask for proper testing of such additives to our food. In some States in the United States, legislation is underway to curb on the GMO food and rBGH usage, one way or other. California takes a lead in such matters usually and it has in this matter also. Californians have gathered enough signatures to put this on the ballot to be voted by Californians on Nov 6^th 2012 elections. It is called Prop 37. The Prop 37 demands that if the food contains any GM or GE material, FDA should enforce its listing on the mandatory label.

Story of GM food becomes more interesting here. Many food producing and agricultural corporations producing or promoting GM foods have come out against the mandatory labeling of foods mentioning GM contents. They are allegedly spending an amount exceeding 40 million dollars for their movement called “No to Prop 37”. Activists who are wanting the labeling of GM should be mandatory have been able to muster up about 4 million dollars for their movement called “Yes to Prop 37”.

My take on this fight:

I am all for science and innovations. But what I read about GM foods is scary. One You Tube link is serious to overlook. I am also for the right of people to know what they are eating and feeding their children. But the proponents of GM foods in the industry make it look that this is a fight by a few who have vested interests. I am simple logician; I wonder why the industries a are spending such a large amount to fight the labeling on excuses that the labeling will be very expensive and that the food will become expensive because of the scare it may cause because it contains GM foods. Personally I think right to know what we are eating is important. So if labeling is made mandatory, there is not much to lose. Those who are against GM are so convinced with the increasing health problems that are becoming evident, combined with the fact that not enough tests have been done to ensure that GM are definitely safe and the fact that EU authorities are strongly against rBGH makes their gut feeling stronger.

Let us see what decision does Nov 7^th bring to us about this labeling issue.

Challenges from Modern Amenities and Simple Strategies to Combat those

AMENITIES AND BLESSINGS OF MODERN ERA:

We are lucky living in these modern times when science has advanced so much to ease our many health related issues. We are now able to take care of our health much better than what we could few decades ago. In past century alone, we had many innovations. For example, antibiotics were discovered, cholesterol is better understood, blood sugar meter invented, tests like HbA1c developed and we now know that peptic ulcers is caused by H. pylori and many such ingenious discoveries and breakthroughs.

CHALLENGES AND ISSUES FROM THE BLESSINGS OF MODERN ERA:

While these inventions and innovations have provided us so many amenities and blessings, they have brought many challenges and issues to our health also. If we understand these issues well, we can protect our health by avoiding many pitfalls that affect our health adversely. I suggest use of simple common sense to combat these challenges. I have explained some of the major issues and challenges and have suggested recommendations and strategies to keep enjoying the amenities and blessings and yet stay in control to preserve and protect our health.

Gun related violence is unacceptable: There has been a spate of school shooting and other gun related incidents in US, the most recent being in movie cinema in Aurora Colorado and a Sikh temple (Gurudwara) in Wisconsin. In the rest of the world, we hear of occasional such incidences; last major one that we can remember was in Denmark last year. In many countries, such a large number of gun violence is almost unheard of. Aurora shooting has left 12 dead and more than 50 injured, Wisconsin has left six dead and several injured. Gun related violence requires serious attention from all of us to do everything possible to prevent such killings of innocents in future. Prudence and common sense demands this as our duty to our children and society. 

Constitution, culture and US politics: Right to carry arm has its roots in the early gunpowder control incident of 1975. The independence movement from British soon inscribed it in populous psychology. Higher courts have always upheld the right of carrying arm for self-defense. The US was won over from the indigenous Indians by way of superior power of guns of early settlers, while Indians only had spears, bow and arrows. Then the westward movement of those settlers also required arms. Hence gun ownership is ingrained in American culture.

US history is witness to the fact that gun owning is a very sensitive issue. Politics and psychology has played it such that second amendment right to carry arm is almost taken to be a mandatory duty and not just a right. Supporters of carrying arms, like National Rifle Association (NRA) and Gun Owners Association of America (GOA), besides the manufacturers and vested interest lobbies have further created a hype of an invisible enemy. 

Need of today: Times have changed since independence of US. We do not have wars with our neighbors and Wild West is no wilder. We all must respect necessity of owning guns for self-defense and pleasure of hunting.  However, common sense tells us that these do not require automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Ownership of gun must be allowed but some common sense rules and laws must be enacted to avoid and prevent accidents and the guns going in the hands of criminals. There should be some rational control for its purchase and records with appropriate authority. Most of the old British Empire (now British Commonwealth countries) has such gun control laws, which works fine. They have minimal accidents with guns because they are simply not around as much as we have in US.

Some relevant statistics:  Some of these tell us the simple truth that it is simply larger number of guns around that creates many of our problems.

• US have about 5% of population of the world but have 50% of all the guns of the world.
• In US there are more than 80 guns per 100 citizens, as compared to less than 10 in most of the world. Even guns, are closely monitored by proper licensing and records with authorities in almost all countries.
• In US there are more than 11,000 homicide deaths per 100,000 populations as compared to around 100 in countries like UK, Japan, Australia and Canada. That means homicides are almost 1000 times more in US.
• The correlation of larger number of guns with big numbers of homicides and accidents is so obvious.
• One reason given for such incidents is that it tis the work of psychopaths and mentally ill people. However, US do not have any disproportionately higher number of such people than the rest of the world.
• The kind of arsenal that we find used in such accidents truly belongs to the soldiers in army and certainly not needed by civilians.

Other relevant facts: 

• Gun related crimes are much smaller in number in countries with good gun control laws
• Gun related accidents are almost unheard of in countries with gun control laws
• One can relate with the groups and people wanting to own guns in this violent world of recent days, but for such needs appropriate weapons for defensive use may be licensed and registered by authorities
• There is no reason that high powered and multi bullet magazines may be allowed beyond some reasonable number of shots in a magazine
• In US there are almost as many guns as the population and some of these are left easily accessible to children causing risk of accidents
• In countries like Switzerland, almost every adult has a gun, but they are all trained in militia and teach their children how to respect such lethal weapon and hence have only rare gun related accidents
• Abundance of gun availability has caused four of our US president’s lives in 11 assassination attempts

Conclusion: It is high time that we legislate some common sense laws about guns within the ambit of constitution instead of living in paranoid fantasy about some non-existent threats. Let us all work on it with our hearts and souls and stop ranting about the constitutional rights of owning arms, which is harming us more than doing good.

We must at least have some common sense laws enacted to ensure that such arsenal do not fall easily in the hands of criminals. Proper permitting procedure and registration of weapons will reduce such possibilities. Substantially. Multiple numbers of guns in majority of the households also poses a risk of accidental injuries to our children because they are not always secured well and children are not trained to respect these lethal “toys”.

We should at least define the following through legislation:

• What criteria should be used to allow the possession of guns?
• What is the largest caliber gun allowed to any civilian?
• What should be biggest magazine capacity for civilian use?
• What kind of arsenal can be owned by anyone?

If we did not define this, the present laws do not clearly tell who can buy and own even larger cannons and nuclear weapons. It is our duty to sort such an important matter in an amicable way and prevent potential risks to our society.

I received an article circulated by email from an old friend Mr. Majyd aziz, who has remained President of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industries, largest organization representing the business community in Pakistan. Without any doubt his views are the views of the business community of Pakistan, which makes up majority of population of Pakistan.

No sane person in this world can condone that two neighbors like India and Pakistan should ever live in a strained relationship, let alone wage several wars more in the past 60 years, not counting many other serious interlocution between the armies on several more occasions. Both countries are nuclear power and a misunderstanding or accident can cause havoc not only for these two countries but for the region and even for the world. Both countries and particularly Pakistan has been spending a substantial part of its GDP on the defense for past many decades because India is considered to be the enemy on the border, thus robbing the poor public of the possible infrastructure, education and health facilities, electricity and even potable water.

Everything that Majyd Aziz has said in the article that is reproduced below, not only stands to reason, I feel it is the deep desire of every common man in Pakistan right from the time of partition despite he fact that many people lost their assets and some lost lives of their loved ones. He has eluded very rightly that emotionally charged attitudes because of personal losses suffered by some people of influence in Pakistan and not being able to see the reason and adopt a logical approach has caused  failure of creating a peace. Kashmir dispute has also remained an ongoing reason for the acrimony between the two countries to increase.

Well, as we write this, thank God we are witnessing the distance between two countries seem to be narrowing. Pakistan has decided to reciprocate the most favored nation status to India. This will help both countries and their citizenry. If anything, the implementation of these moves should be hastened to bring about peace and tranquility to both countries, region and the world. Let us hope that the ever present issue of Kashmir also gets resolved in this friendly atmosphere.

Here is the article of Mr. Majyd Aziz:

Lessons from Indian Army for Indo-Pak Businessmen

 By: Majyd Aziz

Former President Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry

I was attending a meeting as part of the 80-member Pakistan Business Delegation led by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Makhdoom Amin Fahim in September 2011. During the visit I noticed strategically placed billboards by the Indian Army. Each billboard had one of the three touching and significant slogan as it depicted the vision of the Indian Army.

I wrote down these motivating slogans. I realized that though these slogans were about Indian Army, they were remarkably applicable to businessmen of India and Pakistan both, especially with the prevalent “feel good” environment.

Their first slogan is “Empower your dreams”. For so many decades, the Indo-Pak businessmen, as well as their business organizations, have been demanding the normalization of bilateral trade regime and increase in trade and, hopefully, in investment. The desire has always been unhindered movement of businessmen across the border as well as longer duration, multiple visas without any limitations and restrictions. They want to see the day when there would be substantial bilateral trade ensuing very soon into a favorable and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement. This has been the vision for many years and now the time has come for a formidable and sincere campaign to achieve this objective. The visit of the Pakistan Business Delegation in September and the expected 200-members Indian Business Delegation led by Indian Commerce Minister Shri Anand Sharma in February of 2012 would surely be the way in which the dreams would really be empowered.

The second slogan is “They march with melodious precision”. Businessmen and industrialists on both sides of Pakistan’s eastern borders have been on the same page and not only have the yearning to undertake extensive bilateral trade but are passionate about their patriotism and their demand for joint ventures, technical transfers, and a common approach to trading with third countries. They have unanimity of views and are willing to support each other on an individual level and even at international forums. This is imperative as the time has come for them to accept that lot of water has flowed under the bridge while the hardliners and negative forces in both the countries have created a state of despondency, misery, and hatred for far too long. That is one reason why it is important for entrepreneurs as well as workers and employees that the anti-business forces must be silenced and sidelined and that the advancement on the avenue of prosperity, progress and peace is largely dependent if they make headway with their own mind-set of trust, purpose, and strength. This would then truly be a harmonious march.

The third slogan is “Poised for victory”. Fifteen years after India granted Most Favored Nation status to Pakistan, a decision has been taken in Islamabad to reciprocate. Thirty five years passed by before any Pakistani Commerce Minister took a trip to New Delhi. After initially erecting unnecessary roadblocks at WTO against the GSP+ incentives for 75 textile items announced by European Union to assist Pakistan, the Indian government unilaterally decided not only to withdraw objections but also to support Pakistan’s case. Recently, India wholeheartedly assisted Pakistan at the United Nations enabling Pakistan to obtain the mandatory two-third votes essential for becoming member of the Security Council. Inspite of its own infrastructure shortages, India proposed to sell 500 mw of electricity to meet shortages this side of the border. Moreover, Premier Dr Manmohan Singh categorically assured Pakistan’s Commerce Minister that India would honor the Indus Water Treaty. India also is spending billions to upgrade the infrastructure at the Wagah border and this would result in the movement of over 1000 trucks every day.

Pakistan too has moved forward. The frequent meetings of the two Prime Ministers at the sidelines of high profile global forums has thawed the ice and enabled the Ministers and officials to make positive moves for the better. Recently, when an Indian Air Force helicopter entered Pakistan’s territory, the military did not take action but honorably allowed them to return to their base in India. Pakistan needs cheaper oil and favorably priced raw material for domestic industries. Pakistan also requires comparably priced machinery for upgrading its local industries. All these are possible from India. Pakistan understands that India and China have done wonders in bilateral trade and are expected to cross $ 100 billion by 2013 and that the possibility of Pakistan taking advantage of trilateral trade and investment is apparent. Pakistan knows that in the global trade scenario, stagnation and isolation are not prudent because the water is rising and it has to be plugged otherwise there would be the threat of drowning in the global deluge. Thus the only way to plug it is to think global and trade openly.

Yes, businessmen of India and Pakistan must pay heed to the messages on the billboards in the cantonment area of New Delhi. The messages are loud and clear. There is no turning back. At the same time, governments of both the countries must shed their paranoia, at least with regards to facilitation of bilateral trade and investment. India must recognize that a stable Pakistan is also in her own interest. India must also take the lead in accepting that billions spent on defense and security matters means that millions of human beings are kept in perpetual poverty, suffering, and deprivation. Jobs and quality of life should be the paramount priority. And, for the Indian Army, a short and sweet advice, with truly a sincere hope. The next time I am in New Delhi, the third slogan would have been amended from “poised for victory” to “poised for peace” because the two business communities would, by that time, have ensured that for sure.

MAJYD AZIZ November 09, 2011

MHG GROUP OF COMPANIES

D/49, SITE, KARACHI-75700

Cell: (92-300) 826-1969 

Email:  majydaziz@gmail.com

 Greed is the precursor of dishonesty and corruption.

 We need to watch continuously what our elected representatives are doing to ensure that they keep doing good public service.

I was emailed the following article claimed to have been written by Charlie Reese, who has been a journalist for almost all his life. He wrote for Orlando Sentinel and retired in 2008. I tried to verify on Wikipedia and Snopes.com. He seems to have written this column in 1985 under similar head, which was then modified.

Though he wrote this column 25 years ago, it clearly reflects a down to earth true picture of the situation of our country, politics, parties and society today.  Charlie Reese has put the blame fairly and squarely on the elected representatives (congress plus Supreme Court), who are responsible for the decisions, legislations, changes in our cultural and moral values and judgments that impact each one of us every day. However, it must also be remembered that we elect these representatives and it is our duty to watch them to ensure that they continue doing the “right” things and not those things which are against our collective interests.

To achieve this we must insist on transparency and accountability by these representatives. These two elements, it may be said, are the parents of a good democracy and governance. I believe that the electorates are not absolved of their duty by voting once every few years only; they should be continuously vigilant to ensure that the elected representatives are doing what they said they would and act in the best interest of the country and all concerned. Their actions must be transparent and they must remain accountable.

Sometimes personal greed, corporations, interested groups and their lobbyists are always there to deflect honest legislators who primarily wish to do public service. Temptations are too great at times to resist. But with transparency in their action and ongoing accountability, the possibility of deviation under the influence of legal lobbying or corruption may be avoided. If we relax these conditions, we run a risk of those representatives getting a free hand and start making decisions on many issues as they think fit and not necessarily in our best interests. Worse still they may amass a lot of power, become authoritarian and create havoc.

Being a student of history, I do not ever forget that Hitler and Mussolini were also elected by their fellow countrymen but basically because of not having such checks and balances, they became terror for their country and the whole world. Such further examples are seen even today, when a number of such elected or unelected dictators have been facing their deeds in the International Criminal Court in Hague. I would not bet either that many more will not stand in the same court after their misdeeds. I would dare say that many of such misdeeds may be stopped before they occur, if we insist on transparency of work by our elected representatives and their continuous ongoing accountability, thus sparing many innocent people from their tyranny and damages from their unchecked work by citizens.

I am so impressed by Charlie Reese’s understanding of the place of elected representatives in our life that I am tempted to reproduce the whole article I received; here it is:

================
545 vs. 300,000,000 People -By Charlie Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.
Have you ever wondered if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?
Have you ever wondered if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?
You and I don’t propose a federal budget. The President does.
You and I don’t have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.
You and I don’t write the tax code, Congress does.
You and I don’t set fiscal policy, Congress does.
You and I don’t control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does.
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one President, and nine Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federally chartered, but private, central bank. I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a senator, a congressman, or a President to do one cotton-picking thing. I don’t care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash. The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator’s responsibility to determine how he votes. Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common con regardless of party.
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creating deficits. The President can only propose a budget. He cannot force the Congress to accept it. The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House? John Boehner. He is the leader of the majority party. He and fellow House members, not the President, can approve any budget they want. If the President vetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot replace 545 people who stand convicted — by present facts — of incompetence and irresponsibility. I can’t think of a single domestic problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what they want to exist.

If the tax code is unfair, it’s because they want it unfair.
If the budget is in the red, it’s because they want it in the red.
If the Army & Marines is in Iraq and Afghanistan it’s because they want them in Iraq and Afghanistan …
If they do not receive social security but is on an elite retirement plan not available to the people, it’s because they want it that way.
There are no insoluble government problems.

Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom they hire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts and advice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mystical forces like “the economy,” “inflation,” or “politics” that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.

Those 545 people and they alone, are responsible.
They and they alone, have the power.
They and they alone, should be held accountable by the people who are their bosses.
Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own employees…
We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!

============

If most of us keep an eye on daily decisions of the congress, maybe it will remain streamlined and honest. In fact in this day and age of internet, if there is an issue requiring public opinion and sentiments, it can be easily obtained from them on internet. Recently for example when the congress was wrangling over the debt ceiling issue for weeks, the polls showed that the American populace wanted the same settled ASAP. Because it was delayed to the 11^th hour, those good meaning congress members have not only triggered many unforeseen events causing uncertainty in our economy and stock market but have also affected the whole world because of additional European economic weakness. That is clear disservice of the nation by their elected representatives. They may have done that in good faith but not budging from their party political agenda when the national interest is at risk is certainly not accepted by electorates. 

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.

Except perhaps a few lucky ones, we all must have had experienced this in our childhood. There was someone at school or playground, which was feared by many because he had created a reputation of a bully. All knew that if you displease him, he will beat you or get you beaten by his goons. Almost all of us relate to this situation.

I was listening to Nick Davies, the Guardian reporter, who doggedly went after Rupert Murdoch and News of the World story for many years and as we speak he is answering in British parliament. While talking to Amy Goodman on her radio show, Nick used this phrase “bully on the playground” about Rupert Murdoch. Murdoch and his deputies were feared by politicians, reporters and many alike because according to Nick they were capable of causing harm if someone is prying into their wrong doings. The person may find reprisals from Murdoch quarters in the shape of suddenly and accidentally harmful and bad news appearing in media causing the person to lose his/ her credibility or suffer losses from the leaking of their secrets to public. Their ominous presence was felt by all.

We see bullies in all walks of life. We are aware of it but do not take notice of it because we keep minding our own business. I think that is the reason such bullies are created in our society.  Let us see how these bullies come into existence?

I think there are two distinctly different reasons for such bullies hurting us. In both cases the ultimate blame falls on us, the victims. In one we allow power to be concentrated in any one’s hands, without thinking twice of the possible consequences and that person becomes a bully right under our noses. In other, the victims are aware of the nuisance of perpetrator is causing, which is allowed to get progressively worse only to avoid a quarrel, practicing appeasement, while that bully amasses power. This power may be social, political, religious, monetary, or any such permutation.

We have seen such appeasements in history on a larger canvas also. Major examples will be that of Churchill allowing Hitler to invade European countries one by one and not taking enough steps to avert a war. Another would be again the British Empire decorating Robert Mugabe with Knighthood despite evidence of his wrongdoings. Yet others examples will be that of Junta in Myanmar (Burma), many developing countries, many middle Eastern countries, continuing totalitarian and dictatorial regimes in for many decades in Tunisia, and Egypt which is now partly corrected by great sacrifices of people, who were the victims.  Other situations in Middle East are gradually coming to head like in Libya, Syria, and Yemen etc.

Take for example politics of vested interests. In the last three to four centuries, until about 60 years ago, Britain, the mother of democracy, had colonized almost half of the world. Following the British suit other European powers also did the same. Spain was probably most successful. They colonized almost whole of Latin America. This was all done through gun power, muscle, might and being able to divide and overpower the indigenous people one way or the other or in some cases because of appeasement practiced by victims. These are all historical facts.

Even the USA was a British colony until just over 200 years ago. Fortunately US could and did get freed from British earlier than many others. But we should criticize ourselves also; even in the US with a strong constitution protecting citizen’s rights, slavery continued for several decades until 1865 when Abraham Lincoln officially abolished it. Irony is that it took another hundred years to bring the true spirit of emancipation desegregation in practice and provide voting power to African Americans in the US. In between, as everyone knows, 1919 summer was the worst time for lynching young discriminated blacks. We have many such examples almost everywhere in the world. Anyone who is allowed unilateral and totalitarian power can cause havoc for all by getting together some like minded paid hooligans. Hitler and Mussolini are the best examples. Although they both were elected representatives of the people, because they mustered up power by the fear of their personally controlled paramilitary forces, causing Nazism and Fascism to prevail in their countries.

So what we learn is that despite of having democracy, the vested interests do prevail. For example the British, the Mother of Democracy goes around the world and colonizes so many countries, while preaching democracy within their own country. Almost all the countries that have been given independence during the last century, a democratic government were installed. But more than half of those countries have autocratic, dictatorial or totalitarian regimes despite the democracy been installed.

With recent Arab Spring becoming successful the hope of democracy flourishing in many countries has become more viable. However, it must be remembered that democracy does not mean going and giving vote and then going away for a few years and returning again after a few years to do the same. The elected representatives must be made accountable during their whole tenure to keep them working honestly as “social workers” instead of taking up politics as their business for the life and becoming monarchs of their constituencies. This measure added with transparency by usage of modern media networks will root out corruption, legal or illegal, and bring order into the governance overcoming bullies gradually but forever.