Category: bad news

my gun stance

On By Rick McIn bad news, education, ethics, firearms, government, happiness2 Comments

In Yemen.

Rick gun

Guns are tools. Tools that can be used for right or wrong.

The nations with the most guns / capita:

United States 88.8
Serbia 58.2
Yemen 54.8
Switzerland
Cyprus
Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Finland

More guns = more accidents. More gun murders.

Everyone mourned the 20 children of Newton. Know that 260 school children were killed in Chicago over a 3yr span. It happens all the time.

But doesn’t hit the mainstream media each time.

Still, the U.S.A. is only 10th on the list of firearm-related deaths. Switzerland is 5th. Mexico is 9th.

It’s not an exact correlation. Guns in the U.S.A. prevent some killings.

Dana and Fred recently moved from Vegas to Regina, Canada. There’s far less chance for their son to be hurt by guns in Regina than Vegas. I really believe that.

… If I could wave a magic wand and render all the hand guns in the world ineffective, I would. There would be a net calming effect, I predict.

Perhaps I’m wrong.

In any case, there is no magic wand. We must deal with the cards on the table now.

Actually, I don’t believe the pro gun nuts and the anti gun zealots are all that far apart.

Aside from the worst extremists, the majority would agree that it should be legal for hunters to own hunting guns. That it should be legal for people to defend their families and homes.

Most would agree there’s no need for an assault weapon for hunting nor home defense.

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee:

“An AK-47 is a Russian-made weapon that is made for war. An AR-15, which is an answer to the AK-47 . . . these high-capacity [guns] . . . you can shoot 50 to 60 rounds within a minute. Within a minute you can literally shoot through brick, shoot through steel.”

Speaking at a news conference with Rep. John Conyers and myself, Chief Godbee expressed dismay that there has been no action to revive the assault-weapons ban that was allowed to expire in 2004 when George W. Bush was president. …

Police chiefs are right: Ban assault weapons

That ban should be put in place. And enforced.

Penalties should be very strict.

Release the marijuana smokers from U.S. prisons to free up space for those carrying illegal weapons.

Bring the troops home. Use the money for Home Defence. Especially defending Americans from assault weapon attack.

Use the money to take better care of the mentally ill.

Use the money to improve the lives of the poorest of the poor in the U.S.A. 

Not family handouts. But improved schools.

We’ll still have mass shootings, but hopefully fewer.

Personally, I feel it’s time for the N.R.A. to moderate their positions.

Critics of the N.R.A. have some very good points.

I admire George H. W. Bush for resigning from the N.R.A. in 1996.

He was right.

In fact, looking back with 20/20 vision, George H was more often right than wrong. His son, just the opposite.

takeaways from the American election …

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, GOP USA, government, things getting worse1 Comment

After this, I’ll try to shut up.

• President Thomas Jefferson coined the phrase — Separation of church and state

Republicans need embrace the concept.

• U.S. Republicans can learn from Canada’s Conservatives

Neither American party is fiscally conservative. I truly believe Romney would have run up an even bigger debt than will Obama.

• Donald Trump is an ass

• Michael Moore‘s heart is in the right place, but he’s as dangerous a left wing zealot as right wing extremists like Trump. I disagree with more than half of what he says.

• Romney’s a good guy. But was forced to associate with Evangelic extremists, bigots, billionaires, bankers and other unsavory characters. Pray for his sold soul.

Mitt’s quite the chameleon. Has any other politician flip-flopped so many times and almost gotten away with it?

I’ll be entertained by the many books with titles like: Why Romney Lost

His math-illiterate, vague platform was an insult to any thinking voter. The only possible reason to vote for him was … ABO (anybody but Obama)

• “Let Detroit Go Bankrupt” was not the title of the editorial he wrote for the NY Times. Whomever penned that catchy headline — Obama owes him a drink

• the worst decision of the Supreme Court in a long, long time was Citizens United. Corporations are not people. Campaign spending should be limited, difficult as that is to do.

• men talking about rape is a very, very bad idea

In fact, a good rule of thumb for men — DON”T talk about women’s bodies on the campaign trail.

• I loved how Chris Christie blew off partisan politics when his own people were in crisis. He’ll never be the Republican candidate.

• the trend is towards approve Gay marriage. Get used to it.

• the trend is to a more diverse population. Politicians anti-immigrant, racist and those surrounded by white advisers will lose. Expect Asian and Hispanic Americans to get more vocal.

• John McCain’s daughter, Meghan, calls for the GOP to #evolve

More than a few dinosaurs need go extinct

• most Tea Party and Occupy proponents simply protest — they don’t have much to offer as politicians. I hope both movements fizzle over the next 4yrs. The Tea Party has done more damage than good.

• young people are most influenced politically by two TV programs on the Comedy Network: Daily Show & Colbert. Both are left wing. (Colbert is my favourite show, so I must be young at heart.)

Republicans need a candidate who can handle youth culture and social media —  McCain and Romney? … Not so good.

• voters watching Fox News and MSNBC know less about government than those who watched any other news source. Or none. Folks who watch NPR and the Daily Show know most.

The right wing pundits at FOX really seem to believe their talking points. That’s surprising. O’Reilly is not a fool.

• Read my lips: Republicans need stop signing Grover Norquist’s NO TAX Pledge. It hamstrings.

• the trend is towards legalized marijuana. Colorado & Washington have legalized recreational use. It’s inevitable that ganja will be as restricted as alcohol.

Personally, I think the USA is doomed. I can’t see any way out for their polarized government. The debt and deficit will continue to balloon.

The trillions in debt will grow. I can’t see any way they can repay with both parties refusing to raise revenue.

Where are new trillion dollar industries going to come from?

Potential for American growth is limited to small business.

America could do better than Barack Obama; sadly, Mitt Romney does not fit the bill

future

• there’s some chance Obama will end the expensive, ineffective war on drugs

• accelerate troop withdrawals. QUIT putting boots on the ground in other nations. Bring the troops home and have them work on infrastructure.

• some day, hopefully within my lifetime, women will take over politics. And I trust women more than I trust men. In 2012 Americans elected a record 19% women to the Senate.

19% !! — WOW … That’s something to celebrate 😦

Tammy Baldwin made history when she became Wisconsin’s first female senator and America’s first openly gay senator. (VIDEO) … Homophobe Paul Ryan’s neighbour.

Next President?

Best would be a bilingual (Spanish & English) woman. Fiscal conservative. Advocating a very minimum social safety net. Requiring individuals who live or work in the USA to pay taxes. Requiring corporations earning money in the USA to pay taxes. Advocating a major reduction in the military. Focused on improving the American infrastructure: roads, rapid transit, sewage, etc.

Increasing regulations of banks.

… In the meantime, this guy’s got problems.

I wish him well.

Sincere thanks to everyone who engaged in the issues of the American election. I learned a lot.

Thanks also to the gluttons for punishment who decided not to HIDE me on Facebook.

Note the very, very few in 2012 who are willing to voice political support online for either Democrats or Republicans. It’s very divisive.

There truly are two Americas. If you could wave a magic wand, something like this wouldn’t be a bad idea.

Folks would have to MOVE. Like they moved between Pakistans and India when that nation broke up.

Why Obama Now

On By Rick McIn bad news, government, things getting worseLeave a comment

The best pro-Obama video so far is convincing.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Yet the man of Hope and Change was a disappointment over the past 4yrs. Why wasn’t he able to do more to FIX those many problems he’s citing ??

So, … should the USA take a chance on Romney?

Or “double down” on Obama?

Obama would be slightly better over the next 4yrs, I feel. Romney — how could anyone know?

He’s such a flip-flopper there’s no telling what the Republicans would do. Start a war when their popularity dips, I fear.

Therefore I’d advise, vote Obama. I’m about 13% confident he’ll maintain a peaceful world for another 4yrs. About 10% confident in Romney.

More likely they’ll be some sort of global catastrophe under either.

They’re somewhat the same politician. Both went to Harvard. Neither will raise taxes much. Both signed similar Health Care bills in the past.

Neither will much cut military. …

Debt and deficit out of control under either.

Best start stocking your survivalist bunker. 😦

Bernie Sanders on income inequality

On By Rick McIn bad news, economics, government, things getting worse1 Comment

In the USA the rich are getting richer. The poor, poorer.

This can’t continue indefinitely. How will it end? … Civil war in the States? 😦

Bernie evangelizes on the problem forcefully. And powerfully.

Click PLAY or watch his killer speech from 2010 on YouTube.

… “Today,” he said, “the wealthiest 400 individuals own more wealth than the bottom half of America – 150 million people. Today, the six heirs to the Wal-Mart fortune own more wealth than the bottom 30 percent. Today, the top one percent own 40 percent of all wealth, while the bottom sixty percent owns less than 2 percent. Incredibly, the bottom 40 percent of all Americans own just 0.3 percent of the wealth of the country.” …

PolitiFact checked those statistics. Their truth-o-meter finding his numbers true.

Thinking that income inequality can continue indefinitely is like believing the value of your home is going to increase indefinitely.

Bernard “Bernie” Sanders (born September 8, 1941) is the junior United States Senator from Vermont. …

He is the first person elected to the U.S. Senate to identify as a socialist. Sanders caucuses with the Democratic Party and is counted as a Democrat for the purposes of committee assignments, but because he does not belong to a formal political party, he appears as an independent on the ballot. …

I invite Bernie to move to Canada. We’re not perfect. But none of our financial institutions collapsed due to greed in 2008. I don’t know anyone in the Great White North underwater on their home.

Every World Press Photo Winner From 1955-2011

On By Rick McIn bad news, photosLeave a comment

… most are horrific, be warned.

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Bibi Aisha, an 18-year-old woman from Oruzgan province in Afghanistan, fled back to her family home from her husband’s house, complaining of violent treatment. The Taliban arrived one night, demanding Bibi be handed over to face justice. After a Taliban commander pronounced his verdict, Bibi’s brother-in-law held her down and her husband sliced off her ears and then cut off her nose. Bibi was abandoned, but later rescued by aid workers and the U.S. military. (Jodi Bieber)

see the rest on BuzzFeed

(via Kottke)

Hiroshima

On By Rick McIn bad news, travelLeave a comment

Like millions before me, I made pilgrimage to the Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima.

A-Bomb Dome

by Jonas in China

Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound

A visiting choir sang in front of the Cenotaph for the A-Bomb Victims. Very touching.

by colm.mcmullan

I was brought to tears at the Hiroshima National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims. For some reason I had this museum to myself though all the other buildings were busy.

The highlight is the Peace Memorial Museum (平和記念資料館 Heiwa Kinen Shiryōkan)

… heart-wrenching … documents the atomic bomb and its aftermath, from scale models of the city “before” and “after” to melted tricycles and other displays and artifacts related to the blast. Some are extremely graphic, evocative, and quite disturbing. The rest of the museum describes the post-war struggles of the hibakusha and an appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons in the world today. Be warned: a visit here, while absolutely worthwhile, will ruin your day. …

wikitravel

But I particularly liked copies of protest letters from the mayor of Hiroshima to the leader of each nation each time they test a nuclear weapon. There were 3 to Obama on display.

Though I wasn’t much in the mood for taking pictures, by luck I captured a couple of good ones. We live for hope.

nuclear radiation in Japan

On By Rick McIn bad news, travelLeave a comment

A nation that can run Bullet Trains safely bungles Nuclear Power. Surprising.

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster has been a tourism & public relations disaster too, of course.

There’s as much confusion as information. Bloomberg cites the highest radiation levels yet, while the Financial Times tells that levels around Greater Tokyo have fallen.

Politicians are driven to publicity stunts like this — drinking a glass of water taken from puddles inside the damaged plant.

Personally I’ve not been worried at all for my safety over 7wks here.

The government is handing over $64 billion to Tokyo Electric Power. Part goes for compensation to 89,000 people.

That company needs to be nationalized, temporarily, at least. Japan needs power.

This is what gives me nightmares.


more photos of Hiroshima on The Big Picture

If you want to worry about something, worry about what will happen when some dictator or terrorist uses a nuclear weapon. It would be highly unlikely that the attacked nation would not retaliate in some way shape or form.

If you had told me when I was age-20 that I’d be visiting Hiroshima at age-54, I’d have laughed out loud. I was convinced that the world would be destroyed by now, by Nuclear war.

… yet somehow the planet has lasted this long.

Hiroshima had been left largely untouched by American bombing campaigns; that was, however, intended to ensure a more accurate measurement of the atomic bomb’s effect.

On Monday, August 6, 1945, “Little Boy” was dropped … directly killing an estimated 80,000 people. By the end of the year, injury and radiation brought total casualties to 90,000–140,000.

For those killed immediately (mostly women and children), it was a fast death. For the rest — horrific.

Three days later a second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. Another 80,000 were dead by the end of the year.

details on Wikipedia

… I’ve always wondered whether it was necessary to drop the second bomb so soon after the first. Yet it was another 6 days before Japan surrendered. Emperor Hirohito requested an end to the war personally.

Another big factor in the Japanese surrender was the Soviet Union launching surprise attacks at the same time.

Actually, the USA had a timetable for more bombs. We’re lucky that only two were used.

… Secretary of War, Henry L. Stimson, had honeymooned in Kyoto and argued to keep it off the list for as long as possible. One small blessing.