The True Picture of Discretionary Spending

I saw this chart on Think Progress which shows the lie to some of the talking points of the GOP - particularly when the GOP continues to look out for the interests of the top 1% of income earners while the rest of us are kicked under the bus. Rescinding the Bush tax cuts, of course, would pay for roughly 55% of the discretionary spending set out in the chart above.

America Needs to Be Aware of Its Own Decline

The "real Americans" of the GOP who worship insularity and ignorance of the world typified by Sarah Palin and other politicians who know little of the world outside of the USA's borders and who seem to have no interest in educating themselves on anything beyond slogans and sound bites on Fox News or Rush Limbaugh's radio rants are causing real harm to the nation and its future. The world is changing and the USA needs to recognize these changes - the emergence of China, the inherent instability of the political systems in the Middle East, etc. - and change itself along with unstoppable forces driving change around the globe. Instead, these folks want to cling to a 1950's and 1960's mindset and a version of America that never even really existed. An article in The Atlantic looks at this dangerous phenomenon and makes the case of why it needs to change. Here are some highlights:
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I think it's important, as the age of U.S. unipolarity ends, for American conservatives to see the world in terms of an international society and not just a Hobbesian, dog-eat-dog system. . . . . The reason it is especially important now for Americans to recognize the societal dimension of international life is that America is in decline.
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That's not a statement of opinion and is not intended to suggest that America's current economic malaise is permanent, because that probably isn't the case. But no matter how strongly the U.S. bounces back, it is a mature economy and unlikely ever to match China's growth rates. China also has a much larger population, so it can overtake the American economy even while its citizens remain much poorer; by some measures, China is already the world's largest economy.
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If you're thinking America has previously faced down a peer competitor (the Soviet Union) and won handsomely, keep in mind that China is already a much larger economic force that Soviet Russia ever was, and that China is not done yet. Nor is India, or Indonesia. In fact, the "great convergence" between developed and developing economies is the economic and strategic story of our age.
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[I]n the multipolar order to come, international society will be far more important to the U.S.
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[I]nternational political life has its own laws, institutions, traditions and norms, which can be knitted together into a loose "constitutional" order. In an environment where one great power is rising and another is in decline (a situation that, historically, almost always creates conflict), such an order will be far more convivial than one marked by a naked contest of power. And given that traditions and institutions, by definition, take generations to establish, the U.S. cannot begin building them soon enough.
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Now, if there are any conservatives left reading this post, they may well be thinking that this all sounds rather ... well ... progressive. In my next post, I want to explain why conservatives can't just dismiss this as a lefty CINO (conservative-in-name-only) plot.
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A refusal to accept objective reality be it in the realm of economics, international relations or societal change is a hallmark of today's GOP and its Christianist and Tea Party allies. Ignoring the truth doesn't somehow magically make it untrue. Proper change in policies and institutions can only prosper when one is willing to recognize objective fact - something the GOP no longer even pretends to do as it panders for short term gain with no view to the future.

Will Iran Follow Egypt's Path?

Within not too many weeks, all of the old views on the Middle East seem to have been turned on their head as entrenched regimes in Tunisia and Egypt have been overthrown and now turmoil and demonstrations have moved on to other countries. Obviously, one key to autocrats retaining power is the the willingness of the military to fire on and kill citizen protesters. Once that willingness dissolves be it in Tsarist Russia, Egypt or elsewhere , the autocrats are in serious trouble. News out of Iran raises an interesting specter of a growing unwillingness of the Revolutionary Guard to shoot and kill protesters. Without the effective threat and use of deadly force, one has to wonder what may happen. Here are some highlights from The Telegraph:
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Senior officers in Iran's Revolutionary Guards have written a letter to their commanding officer demanding assurances that they will not be required to open fire on anti-government demonstrators.
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Following the recent violence that occurred during anti-government protests in Egypt, the officers argue that it is against the principles of Shi'ite Islamic law to use violence against their own people.
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In a suggestion of a major split within the Islamic Republic's ruling hierarchy over its handling of anti-government protests, the letter has been circulated widely throughout the ranks of the Revolutionary Guards, the body responsible for defending religious system.
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During the violent anti-government demonstrations that followed the disputed presidential election in June 2009, which saw President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad elected to serve a second four-year term, the government relied heavily on the Basij to suppress the protests over fears that it could not rely on certain Guards units.

But in the letter, which is signed by senior officers commanding Guards units in Tehran, Qom, Isfahan and Tabriz, they urge Major Gen Jafari to "use your authority over the Basij to order them to leave their truncheons at home next time." It goes on to state unequivocally, "We promise our people that we will not shoot nor beat our brothers who are seeking to express legitimate protest against the policies and conduct of their leader."
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Western diplomats, who have also seen the letter and confirm its authenticity, say it has now been passed to Mr Ahmadinejad and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country's Supreme Ruler, although no official response has been forthcoming.
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It goes without saying that I would very much like to see the current theocracy overthrown.

Langley General (and others) Could be Punished for Role in Christian Video

I have been increasingly alarmed by the manner in which high ranking military officers have been recruited into the Christianist ranks and then seem unable to distinguish between the fact that this is a secular nation, not a theocracy. This story in the Virginian Pilot involves one general - Maj. Gen. Jack Catton (pictured at left) - almost literally in my back yard (http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=129880&ran=143555&tref=po). Here are some high lights:

A general at Langley Air Force Base could face discipline for violating regulations by wearing his uniform in a fund-raising video for an evangelical Christian group, according to a government report. Maj. Gen. Jack Catton, a director at Air Combat Command, improperly promoted Christian Embassy, the Inspector General of the Department of Defense concluded after a seven-month investigation. Seven Air Force and Army officers appeared in video segments filmed in the Pentagon, according to the 45-page report.

Catton remains at his job, which includes planning for planes and parts, said Maj. Thomas Crosson, a spokesman for the command. He said Catton announced July 5 that he will retire on New Year’s Day after 31 years of service. According to the report, released late last month, the Pentagon Chaplain’s office sponsored a group from Christian Embassy in 2004.

The nonprofit group is dedicated to evangelical Christian teachings and relies on donations, according to its Web site. It hosts weekly prayer meeting at the Pentagon and is affiliated with Campus Crusade For Christ International.

The group filmed at the Pentagon over several months, despite receiving permission for a single day of shooting, inspectors found. The video showed various military scenes, emblems and symbols, spliced with interviews of uniformed officers in Pentagon offices. Appearing in the video, the report said, were Catton, Air Force Maj. Gen. Peter Sutton, Army Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, Army Brig. Gen. Robert Caslen Jr. and retired Army Chaplain Ralph Benson.

I urge every reader in the USA to contact their representatives in Congress and urge them to take action that will firmly punish service members who endorse religious organizations while in uniform. This phenomenon is only one of many which has been allowed - if not encouraged - by Chimperator Bush's regime. Meanwhile the Chimperator threatens to veto legislation providing health coverage to poor children and gays in the military need to live in the closet.

Military Officers Flocking from Military Service

Chimperator Bush and company are continuing to destroy the US military. Despite claims of “supporting the troops,” one needs only see the stress placed on military families by continual deployments to realize that Bush’s misguide war in Iraq is driving qualified and dedicated people from the military. Living in an area with a huge military presence, I know individuals who have already been to Iraq three or more times. Each time the stress is worse and the horrors they see more terrible. Not surprisingly many of them plan to leave the military at the first available option. A few gays in the military have actually “outed” themselves rather than be faced with going to Iraq on another deployment. This trend is not unique to the greater Norfolk area as shown by this CNN report:

CNN reported on Friday about the "alarming number" of mid-level army officers leaving the military as soon as they complete their initial commitment, many of them citing family reasons and multiple deployments. The army has been forced to offer new incentives for re-enrolling, including bonuses and extra training.

The percentage of career officers deciding not to stay in the military is the highest it has been since the Vietnam War and includes many West Point graduates, "creating a brain drain in the top ranks." A general interviewed by CNN expressed concern that "we're losing the next generation of future combat leaders for the army."

Again, I cannot blame these individuals from leaving the military, particularly since serving with honor has been made impossible by a President who has authorized torture and wants to disregard the Geneva Convention. Bush most assuredly is the worse president in US history.

More Anti-Gay Bigotry in the Military

PageOneQ is reporting that notwithstanding his talent and service to his country, Jason Knight is getting thrown out of the Navy for a second time:

The United States Navy will discharge Petty Officer Second Class Jason Knight less than one month prior to the end of his commitment, reports the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network. Knight was recalled to duty in 11 months ago and recently completed a tour in Kuwait, where he served as a Hebrew linguist. Knight was repeatedly praised by those who worked alongside and was out of the closet to his commanders and fellow officers.

Navy commanders became aware of Knight's story when he gave an interview to Stars and Stripes. The interview may be read here.

“He’s better than the average sailor at his job,” Knight's supervisor told Stars and Stripes in an interview published Sunday. “It’s not at all a strange situation. As open as he is now, it was under wraps for quite a while. It wasn’t an issue at work,” added leading petty officer Bill Driver.

Meanwhile, Bush and Cheney who have undermined the U. S. Constitution and taken the country to war based on deliberate lies remain in office. What a wonderful country!