On #Democracy: What one of the Titans of our Time Reminded Us All (A Thought 4 the Week)

Remembering a Titan of our times....

On This 9/11: On Service, Responsibility & Open Internet

Today is Patriots' Day in the United States.   There are many of us who remember where we are 13 years ago on that tragic day.    To celebrate it, the folks @ http://www.911day.org/ have spreadheaded efforts to encourage volunteerism.    I look forward to supporting recycling efforts at my Son's School starting in a few hours.

On this day, though, another tragic event happened.    The United States engineered the overthrow of the elected Allendee Government in Chile that brought in a era of repression that in many ways Chile is trying to shake off even today.  It is a tribute to the People of Chile, though, that the daughter of one of those who stood up to the tyrant Pinochet is now President.    As America will not and should not forget, The World should also not forget.

The struggle for Freedom, also, has no bounds.    The US Federal Communication Communication is mulling over Open Internet Rules.      On the eve of Patriots Day, leading sites spreaheaded a slow down to try and underscore what would happen in the event that new FCC rules do in fact go into effect.     The FCC has asked for new rounds of comments as noted in their twitter feed:

Next Monday 9/15 is the deadline for the 2nd round of #OpenInternet comments. Submit via openinternet@fcc.gov.
— The FCC (@FCC) September 10, 2014

The need to maintain a sense of openness is ever so vital here and now.

View of the Week: On #Leadership; #ServantLeadership & Other Brief Thoughts

It has been a very challenging 24 hours yet again.    The scenes from Pakistan and India has been horrific in the aftermath of the floods.   I just saw Prime Minister Sharif of Pakistan committing to do whatever it takes to make things right.  

In the midst of all such challenges, I was on the prowl as I work away.   This moving story which I shared comments on earlier while on the "Social Grid" which is ever so  a sense of #ServantLeadership and the beauty of celebrating a sense of purpose:

Post by Mike Pouraryan.

We have to keep hope alive and celebrate such achievements.

Eradicating the Menace in Iraq & Syria: Brief Thoughts On the #POTUS roadmap

 

It has been a very busy few days at the White House as #POTUS geared up for a pivotal speech on the chaos engulfing Iraq and Syria right now.   He saw the key Congressional Leaders on September 9 and met the National Security Team in the White House Situations Room before he spoke to the Nation for 14 minutes.   The Speech itself is available by visiting www.whitehouse.gov.

The strategy has been set to after to eradicate the cancer of the so-called Islamic State.    The punditry will have its' run of continued analysis--as epitomized by an article on the Daily Beast whether the war itself is illegal or not.     The President's Follow-Up letter is noted below:

Good evening, I just addressed the nation about what the United States will do with our friends and allies to degrade and destroy the terrorist group known as ISIL. Let’s be clear: While this group may call itself the "Islamic State," it is not "Islamic." No religion condones the killing of innocents, and the vast majority of ISIL's victims have been Muslim. Nor is it a "state." It is not recognized by any government, nor by the people it subjugates. This is nothing but a terrorist organization with no vision or goal other than to slaughter all who stand in its way. While we have not yet detected specific plotting against our homeland, these terrorists have threatened America and our allies. And the United States will meet this threat with strength and resolve. Already, our military has conducted more than 150 successful airstrikes over the past month against ISIL targets in Iraq -- strikes that have protected American personnel and facilities, killed hundreds of ISIL fighters, and helped save the lives of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. Going forward, our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counterterrorism strategy. Here is what that strategy looks like. First, we will conduct a systematic campaign of airstrikes against these terrorists. Working alongside the Iraqi government, we'll expand our efforts beyond protecting our own people to hit ISIL targets as Iraqi forces go on offense. And we will continue to hunt down terrorists who threaten our country, whether in Iraq or Syria. They will learn what leaders of other terrorist organizations have already learned: If you threaten America, you will find no safe haven. Second, we will increase our support to the forces fighting these terrorists on the ground. We will send an additional 475 service members to Iraq to support Iraqi and Kurdish security forces. These American forces will not have a combat mission. But they are needed to support Iraqi and Kurdish forces with training, intelligence, and equipment -- and tonight, I again called on Congress to give our military the additional authorities and resources it needs to train and equip the Syrian opposition fighters. Third, working with our partners, we will continue to draw on our substantial counterterrorism capabilities to prevent ISIL attacks. Working with our partners, we will redouble our efforts to cut off its funding, counter its warped ideology, improve our intelligence, strengthen our defenses, and stem the flow of foreign fighters into and out of the Middle East. And fourth, we will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the innocent civilians displaced by this terrorism organization. This includes Sunni and Shia Muslims who have borne the brunt of this terror, as well as tens of thousands of Christians and other religious minorities. I have the authority to address the threat from ISIL. But I believe we are strongest as a nation when the President and Congress work together. So I welcome congressional action to support this effort in order to show the world that Americans are united in confronting this danger. This mission will not be like the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It will not involve American combat troops fighting on foreign soil. This effort will be a steady and relentless approach to take out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting our partners on the front lines. This is American leadership at its best: We stand with people who fight for their own freedom. And we rally other nations on behalf of our common security and common humanity. When American forces helped prevent the massacre of civilians trapped on Mt. Sinjar, here is what one of them said: "We owe our American friends our lives. Our children will always remember that there was someone who felt our struggle and made a long journey to protect innocent people.” That is what the United States of America does. That is the difference we make in the world. And moving forward, our own safety and security depends upon our willingness to do what it takes to defend this nation, and uphold the values that we stand for. Thank you, President Barack Obama The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111

The question is if the 4-step strategy will be able to stop and reverse the troubling developments as the War continues.

A "Thought 4 the Week": A Very Good Admonition To Remember

It was quite a day yesterday.    This "moment of zen" is worth noting...
Onward!!!

"Don't forget to do something for other people." -Marc Benioff at #TCDisrupt http://t.co/pQFiZUsA8P
— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) September 9, 2014

On Iraq & The United Kingdom: Tough & Ever so Challenging To Be Witness To

It is the eve of another speech by President Obama on Iraq. This is as ISIS continues to wreck havoc on Iraq and Syria with no near end in sight. US Officials (including President Obama) have said that it will take at least three years to get this thugs defeated. This is a continuation of the so-called perfect storm" that was noted in a classified memo for Colin Powell when he directed the memo to be prepared. The memo is still classified. The current "Perfect Storm" is chronicled by one of the most perceptive analysts of The MIddle East Today, The Wilson Center's Robin Wright in her New Yorker Article noted here for reference.

Robin Wright's article has a link to a 2009 article that shared insights from one of the ablest diplomats America has ever produced: Ryan Crocker. That article (which I tweeted out as a "Blast From The Past") underscored the profound strategic mistakes the United States made that began with the infamous Axis of Evil Speech that scuttled the momentum that was at hand right after 2001. I would go as far as underscore the fact those very strategic mistakes--including rejecting Iranian overtures at the time--set back the cause of peace in that part of the World and gave rise to 8 disastrous years of an Administration that left Iran in ruins that has been noted throughout the write-ups here. The current Iranian President, Mr. Rouhani, has been trying to do what he can to transform Iran despite overwhelming odds.

The World seems to realize that the thugs of an Islamic State are a profound problem. There is no doubt of it as they have become a defacto State within a State. There has been a lot of misinformation, political posturing and grand-standing by many in the United States who seem to think that they somehow know the answer.One first has to understand the nature of these thugs and their claims. Max Fisher of Vox has done a very fine job of laying out the historical evolution of Islam and has totally debunked the claims made by these thugs and the reality:

It is gratifying to have seen President Obama commit to degrade, shrink and destroy ISIS as he noted in his interview with The US Network NBC News. It is also of note that the subtle cooperation between Iran and the United States has continued which has been underscored recently by comments from former President Rafsanjani. The need to cooperate is ever so crucial to be able to eradicate the ISIS Cancer that continues to be the menace at hand. John Kerry has left for the region to forge the coalition.

What is of profound concern is the current Iraqi Government. The Iraqi Government has been formed. But the key ministries of Defense and Interior are yet to be chosen. This is as some former power brokers are back in Government. The one that was frankly shocking to see Ahmad Chalabi back in Government. He was one of the main culprits that created the very "Perfect Storm". As the drama in Baghdad continues, bombings continue and ISIS continues to be at the gates of Baghdad. The Kurds, in the meantime, are at the forefront of the fight as various Kurdish factions (Including the PKK from the Turkey and the PYD from Syria) have entered into the fight. It was quite an eye opener to see one of the key officials quoted on the situation on the ground: Qubad Talabani. He is the son of the Former Iraqi President who served as the de-facto Kurdish Ambassador in the United States at the height of the Iraq War and got more airtime on US Television that the nominal Iraqi Ambassador. Kurdistan is gearing up for independence--which is a dream that the Barzani Family and the Talabani family have had for the past 50 years. As the struggle continues, the ordinary Iraqi continues to suffer which was brilliantly noted by this young Iraqi Christian.   Fred Abrahams of Human Rights Watch underscored this in his tweet as well:

 

School starts tomorrow in #Iraq, but not in 2,000 schools used to shelter the displaced. http://t.co/DvR2k6UPbe pic.twitter.com/UrXz9E9ffg
— Fred Abrahams (@fredabrahams) September 9, 2014

As the war continues in the heart of the Middle East, there is another war brewing: a political war for the future of the United Kingdom. There has been a massive shift to the "Yes" vote for Independence. It has caused a massive sense of uncertainity which will not bode well for the future of the United Kingdom as we know it. Alex Salmond, the Scotland First Minister, spoke of the desperation by the "Westminster ELite" as George Osborne announced new devolution powers upon a "No" vote. Prime Minister's Question time was cancelled so that David Cameron and Ed Miliband go up to Scotland to campaign. What is also just as critical is the position of the UK in the World Stage. What will happen to England? What will happen to Wales? Will the Northern Ireland peace process fully unravel and pressure for a United Ireland once again be prevalent?

What must also be noted is that The United Kingdom is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council and its' status will be brought into profound question. It was striking how David Cameron noted how he "wants desperately want Scotland to stay". Even if "No" wins, bringing the country together will present a profound challenge. Why did David Cameron and Ed Miliband wait this long?

Tough to be Witness to History....

An "Outsiders" Newsflash (9/8/2014): The View from the Economist on a Sustained Economic Recovery

Economic growth is a profound challenge right now--exemplified by the August 2014 job growth numbers in the United States.   With Job Creation slowing down a bit and Europe hitting a wall yet again, it was quite a case that the Economist Made on how things can change.     Despite the horrendous scenes from India and Pakistan on the floods in Kashmir, Senses in India hit highs of 27,225 and Nifty has hit all time highs.   So far so good for Prime Minister Modi.

As the "Fight for 15" is continuing to gather steam in the United States, The question is whether the pay squeeze will end or not?

Mike Pouraryan saw this and thought of you!
The Economist@TheEconomist A sustained economic recovery in the rich world will remain elusive until the pay squeeze ends econ.st/WgLVA7pic.twitter.com/PFxRrN9vjt 03:05 AM - 08 Sep 14

View of the Week: So powerful a Call to Action

I am working away on a new Course I am taking @ Novo Ed which I will be commenting on in the Education Blog Channel.   However, this TedTalk which is one of the lectures is so a powerful talk about a different way to look at the World by being moral, and living a true life of immersion.    Listening to this 17 Minute talk is sending shivers through my spine as I remember why I began the Daily Outsider:

Her call to action is ever so eloquent to live a life of immersion.  It can be possible

Thought 4 the Week: A Sentiment For the Week-End

This great sentiment courtesy of the team @ SimpleTruths underscores a sense of hope..as we move onward....

“Our greatest happiness does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

On the US Political Scene & Other Thoughts: Notations For the Week-End

It was another challenging week around the World.    Nothing, though, was more hilarious as the Election Season formally got under way.     The foolishness of it all was underscored by the ever so perceptive one, Jon Stewart:

The Daily Show

Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Indecision Political Humor,The Daily Show on Facebook 

It has also been so interesting to see the polls out there.    Congress is ever so despised--yet over 90% of all incumbents will be re-elected.      The dynamics of the US Senate though will continue to keep the pundit class preoccupied as Nate Silver and the folks over at the Princeton Election Consortium (among others) will be in a duel among each other to figure out who is actually going to gain control of the US Senate.    Kansas got the latest buzz--and it was fun read to see it as the punditry all of a sudden figured out that somehow Kansas may hold the key to the future of the US Senate.

What was gratifying to observe was one trailblazing development in California.  The California Legislature banned plastic bags and Governor Brown noted that he would sign it.   Many cities (such as Dana Point, California) had already banned it and this trend was acknowledged as California approved this.  This from the Story of Stuff Project underscored the challenge that was bravely overcome by the California Legislature: 

Over 14 billion plastic bags are handed out each year, and in California only three percent are ever recycled. This regulation will have an enormous impact, removing hundreds of millions of bags from the waste stream annually. More than that, it sends a powerful message to the waste-creation lobby that we are sick of allowing it to trash our planet.

Led by plastics manufacturer Hilex Poly, the plastic lobby dumped nearly $13 million in ads and lobbying on Sacramento. The lobby had killed off five other attempts at passing bag bans in previous years, but it couldn't stop the rising call for regulation. Last week, the bill was stalled out by one single vote. That's when our members sprang into action, calling up their representatives in key districts and helping the legislation get written into law....

Governor Brown and the Republican Candidate for Governor, Neal Kashkari, had a debate.  It is the only debate that they would have.    The reviews were not that kind to Governor Brown.   But, unless something drastic happens, Governor Brown will be re-elected for a second time in  view of it.  November.    What was quite striking was how Mr Kashkari adopted the word of the manufacturing .  The toher challenge in California is the drought.   California is running out of  and it is taking out water from the ground at an alarming rate.   It may cause the San Andres Fault to be even more unstable.  industry and 

As the election season gathers steam,  one solid resource to consult is what the team @ the National Priorities Project does.   They have done some interesting work on the budget and a  realization of the realities as Congress continues to be faced with gridlock with no apparent end in sight.   Excepts of their guidance on it is noted below: 

That's why National Priorities Project is excited to share with you our 2014 Voter's Guide to the Federal Budget. We've examined 13 critical election issues and created tip sheets that outline fast facts, implications for the federal budget, and key questions to ask your Congressional candidates. Jump directly to the issues you care about using these links: Federal Spending Deft & Deficit Education & Student Aid Health Care & the Affordable Care Act Military & War Spending Social Security & Unemployment Insurance Taxes, Corporate Taxes & Revenue Data Transparency One very interesting development had to observe was the so-called fight for 15.   Fast Food workers all across the country went out on a one day strike to request a living wage.   The Real News had commentary on it on its' network: 100+ Arrested as Fast-Food Workers Escalate 'The Fight For $15' Workers and advocates hold sit-ins and rallies in 150 cities to demand a living wage and the right to unionize Go to story | Go to homepage

The challenging business environment is also a problem.    The jobs reports for August (at 142,000 new jobs) were below expectations.   This is as Europe is going in reverse in terms of its' Economic Growth.    The President of the European Central Bank came out and basically reaffirmed the zero interest rate in effect--and imposed a penalty on banks so that they can start lending and sprucing up business activity.     This is as the United Kingdom faces uncertainty with the Scottish Independence World that is also coming up--with profound implications for NATO and the United States if the Scots decide to go it alone.    The business climate itself has also been ever so a topic of discussion.      It is challenging to start a business and maintain it in lieu of all the regulations and the taxes.   It is understandable (purely from a business standpoint) when companies decide to do inversion deals--as Burger King and Tim Horton's Have done.    What was noted in a note from Verne's Insight addressed this: 

Inversion Deals -- Burger King and other large corporations are buying foreign companies, like Tim Horton in Canada, as a tax strategy. Rather than lambast these firms as President Obama is doing, the US should fix the problem and dramatically lower or eliminate corporate taxes - they are regressive, anti-competitive, and job killers. KPMG calculates that corporate tax costs are 46.4% lower in Canada than the US. Here's a list of corporate tax rates throughout the world. Yes, US corp's have various tax breaks and these should be eliminated as well.My full views are best articulate by Brett Arends in his recent column in Forbes. 

The challenge is that companies seem to be more interested in Financial Engineering (As Burger King has been with a multitude of changes) vs. actually being creative.     If one visits a Burger King establishment, one is disappointed to say the least.    There are also profound changes going on with the rise of designer burgers and more health conscious customers which seems to have caught the industry off guard.  It is part of the broader challenge of change that seems not to be embraced by all sides--and the end result is simply rhetorice and hot air.

America, though, somehow always overcomes.     The story of Wilson is just one example--as he noted that he was forcing the people "To Think": 

It was also quite striking as I had a chance to watch the depiction of another underrate President of the United States, Andrew Johnson having been so brilliantly portrayed by Van Heflin.

As the domestic political scene continues to be challenging and dynamic, the World is ever so tumulous as well.    One country that is pivotal right now is Brazil.  It is also in the midst of an Election season that is bound to give the incumbent a run for the money.  The former Environment Minister, Marina Silva, is leading in the polls.  If she wins, it will be a profound win for the Environment especially as Brazil is home to at least 80% of the Amazon--what I view as the World's Heart.      

Never a dull moment in the life an ordinary face.....