Allegheny County is appealing the decision by Judge Olson regarding the $12 million dollar surplus from the drink tax. In what County officials are calling "activist legislation by the courts" (which caused me to wonder if Newt Gingrich had landed a consulting job with the Onorato administration), the Judge decided that tax revenues levied fro the benefit of "transit systems" should be used for (wait for it!) Transit Systems!
Of course, the County Council has approved the County budget which used the excess money to repair the roads and highways which are not the same thing. I think it is clear that the intent of the legislature was that this tax was to go towards the Port Authority, not paving roads in South Park or maintaining County-owned bridges. The argument that buses use the roads or bridges is specious to say the least.
It would seem to this writer that the $12 million would be very useful to fund the re-opening of rail service to the Mon Valley, or purchasing equipment that would allow revisions to the current route system that would allow access to neighborhoods that are currently under-served or even used to retire debt for past capital improvements made by the Port Authority or even moving their HQ back to the original North Side location from the downtown location in order to realize longterm savings.
But no, sensing an opportunity to spend funds for some other purpose than what was originally designated by the legislature and to put off the day where reality would strike and you would have to actually raise taxes to reflect what is needed to pay for the services the community wants, Mr. Onorato and County Council took the easy way out once again.
When will there be any real political leadership in this region?
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Disrupted bombing attempts
The on-going investigation of the failed/ineffective bombings in London and at Glasgow Airport continues. Tantalizing hints have been provided almost from the start with no basis in fact to support them. Ongoing references to "Al Queda links" and "Al Queda-like" methods of operation serve only to raise the public's alarm level rather than to actually inform the public as to what is going on.
Obviously in such cases, law enforcement/counter-terrorism agencies are not going to report the minute details of what they know. However, dropping vague hints about the persons involved and where they may be from and who they may consort with has served no useful purpose here, except to raise suspicions about people based only on their ethnicity. The current emphasis on the known suspects being made up in whole or part by "Asian medical professionals" without any real supporting detail is unhelpful. Exhorting the public to report "suspicious activity" presumably being carried out by "Asian medical professionals" near you is apparently the goal.
I personally have no problem going a step further when I state that there is an attempt to continue to whip up a certain amount of xenophobia regarding the "threat" that these "foreigners" represent. Not only do they come to the West seeking jobs and presumably taking same away from the native-born, but now they are arriving pre-disposed to fomenting insurrection.
This scenario reminds me in no small way of the fear instilled in us here in America during the early part of the 20th century of "anarchists" arriving on our shores from such hotbeds of discontent as central and eastern Europe. Immigrants from those areas were viewed not only as unwelcome as they were inferior to our native-born population, but they were automatically disposed towards the use of violence to achieve their goal of the spread of socialism.
The lack of depth in the reporting and the inability of any reporter or commentator to provide the historical context here to help us understand what may be going on is appalling. What is more appalling is the willingness of the various governments involved to play up and play upon these fears.
Obviously in such cases, law enforcement/counter-terrorism agencies are not going to report the minute details of what they know. However, dropping vague hints about the persons involved and where they may be from and who they may consort with has served no useful purpose here, except to raise suspicions about people based only on their ethnicity. The current emphasis on the known suspects being made up in whole or part by "Asian medical professionals" without any real supporting detail is unhelpful. Exhorting the public to report "suspicious activity" presumably being carried out by "Asian medical professionals" near you is apparently the goal.
I personally have no problem going a step further when I state that there is an attempt to continue to whip up a certain amount of xenophobia regarding the "threat" that these "foreigners" represent. Not only do they come to the West seeking jobs and presumably taking same away from the native-born, but now they are arriving pre-disposed to fomenting insurrection.
This scenario reminds me in no small way of the fear instilled in us here in America during the early part of the 20th century of "anarchists" arriving on our shores from such hotbeds of discontent as central and eastern Europe. Immigrants from those areas were viewed not only as unwelcome as they were inferior to our native-born population, but they were automatically disposed towards the use of violence to achieve their goal of the spread of socialism.
The lack of depth in the reporting and the inability of any reporter or commentator to provide the historical context here to help us understand what may be going on is appalling. What is more appalling is the willingness of the various governments involved to play up and play upon these fears.
Commuting a sentence
President Bush's recent decision to commute the prison sentence of Lewis "Scooter" Libby raises some interesting questions. These questions are further compounded by Bush's statement that he has not yet ruled out a full pardon.
As has been established, Libby was convicted for lying about leaking the identity of a CIA operative, Valerie Plame. At the time, the President stated that when he found out who was responsible for the leak, the person or persons would be fired. As the drama has played out, it has become clear that Libby and Karl Rove had done so, yet neither was fired. Further, the same President who so strongly believes in the "rule of law" and that we are a "nation of laws" that he turned down a request by the Pope to stop the execution of a Texas woman for murder, has quickly stepped in to limit the punishment that he feels has been so unfairly meted-out to Libby.
The President's actions are curious, to say the least. When one considers that it is a felony to expose the identity of an active CIA operative, one wonders where the push was from the White House to ensure that the Department of Justice moved to punish those leaking the identity of Ms Plame. Further, considering that this administration has gone well out of it's way to emphasize that the operations of the CIA and other Intelligence Agencies is vital to our national security, it would seem the Administration would be exercising extreme vigilance in protecting the individuals who, in many cases, risk their lives to carry out that goal.
Unless, of course, it becomes more important to protect one's own "reputation" in which case smearing Joseph Wilson for the crime of disagreeing with the Administration's assessment of Iraq's attempt to obtain nuclear weapons is an acceptable reason for exposing an agent. Then, it seems, all things are possible. One wonders what the incentive is for anyone to enter the Intelligence branches of our government if they cannot be sure that in the name of political expediency, their identities will be exposed to the general public and to those who they are working to protect us from.
As has been established, Libby was convicted for lying about leaking the identity of a CIA operative, Valerie Plame. At the time, the President stated that when he found out who was responsible for the leak, the person or persons would be fired. As the drama has played out, it has become clear that Libby and Karl Rove had done so, yet neither was fired. Further, the same President who so strongly believes in the "rule of law" and that we are a "nation of laws" that he turned down a request by the Pope to stop the execution of a Texas woman for murder, has quickly stepped in to limit the punishment that he feels has been so unfairly meted-out to Libby.
The President's actions are curious, to say the least. When one considers that it is a felony to expose the identity of an active CIA operative, one wonders where the push was from the White House to ensure that the Department of Justice moved to punish those leaking the identity of Ms Plame. Further, considering that this administration has gone well out of it's way to emphasize that the operations of the CIA and other Intelligence Agencies is vital to our national security, it would seem the Administration would be exercising extreme vigilance in protecting the individuals who, in many cases, risk their lives to carry out that goal.
Unless, of course, it becomes more important to protect one's own "reputation" in which case smearing Joseph Wilson for the crime of disagreeing with the Administration's assessment of Iraq's attempt to obtain nuclear weapons is an acceptable reason for exposing an agent. Then, it seems, all things are possible. One wonders what the incentive is for anyone to enter the Intelligence branches of our government if they cannot be sure that in the name of political expediency, their identities will be exposed to the general public and to those who they are working to protect us from.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Terrorism in America
My first thought regarding the events at Virginia Tech was that the acts by the killer were so egregious that maybe I should not comment. As time passes and more details unfold I am doing a bit of an about-face and posting some thoughts.
In the last day or so, the police investigators have revealed that Cho, in the space of 9 minutes, fired at least 176 rounds. That works out to one shot every 3.1 seconds. considering that he spent some time moving from room to room, the rate of fire is stunning. Before seeing that statistic, I had been thinking about how many shots he must have fired to kill and injure as many as he did. It is ridiculous, in my opinion, that one can go to a gun shop here in the US, fill out the appropriate forms and then buy weapons capable of delivering that much ordnance in such a short space of time. The gun lobby here has "fought" to protect our rights as "sportsmen" to have access to weapons. Now, what the "sporting" purpose might be in keeping a 9 mm handgun with hundreds of rounds of hollow-point ammo in one's home is beyond me.
Much has been made in the media about Cho's involuntary referral for outpatient therapy and how that was not communicated to the registry that is accessed to approve the sale of weapons to him. Supposedly, this "failure" allowed him to buy weapons in the first place. The only problem here is that this background check only occurs if you go to a gun shop. Now, thanks to the efforts of many who want to preserve our rights to have weapons, even had Cho been unable to buy at a gun shop he could have simply gone to a gun show. Sales at gun shows in Virginia require no such paperwork to be completed. Exercising his rights as a "collector" would allow him to buy whatever he wanted so long as he had cash or credit limit remaining on his charge card.
It is amazing that despite these sorts of incidents there is still an ease of availability for these types of weapons that is astonishing.
In the last day or so, the police investigators have revealed that Cho, in the space of 9 minutes, fired at least 176 rounds. That works out to one shot every 3.1 seconds. considering that he spent some time moving from room to room, the rate of fire is stunning. Before seeing that statistic, I had been thinking about how many shots he must have fired to kill and injure as many as he did. It is ridiculous, in my opinion, that one can go to a gun shop here in the US, fill out the appropriate forms and then buy weapons capable of delivering that much ordnance in such a short space of time. The gun lobby here has "fought" to protect our rights as "sportsmen" to have access to weapons. Now, what the "sporting" purpose might be in keeping a 9 mm handgun with hundreds of rounds of hollow-point ammo in one's home is beyond me.
Much has been made in the media about Cho's involuntary referral for outpatient therapy and how that was not communicated to the registry that is accessed to approve the sale of weapons to him. Supposedly, this "failure" allowed him to buy weapons in the first place. The only problem here is that this background check only occurs if you go to a gun shop. Now, thanks to the efforts of many who want to preserve our rights to have weapons, even had Cho been unable to buy at a gun shop he could have simply gone to a gun show. Sales at gun shows in Virginia require no such paperwork to be completed. Exercising his rights as a "collector" would allow him to buy whatever he wanted so long as he had cash or credit limit remaining on his charge card.
It is amazing that despite these sorts of incidents there is still an ease of availability for these types of weapons that is astonishing.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
What the Palestinian's need is their own Mother Jones
I don't get it. The mistreatment of the Palestinians has been documented, filmed, discussed - it has even been shown live on the news. Yet, the pressure on Israel - both internally and externally - to change it's ways is almost negligible.
Why?
This quote (from, I believe, Abba Eban) says it best: "The Palestinians have never missed a chance to lose an opportunity." Truer words may never have been spoken. Why? I can answer in two words: "The Intifada." In a perfectly justifiable reaction against Israeli aggression, injustice, illegal annexation of land and the curious Israeli practice of expecting everyone except themselves to live up to every peace accord (sounds a bit like the US) - the Palestinians react by meeting the violence and injustice with their own violent acts in retaliation.
The participants in these acts have ranged from children throwing rocks (who are subsequently shot with ammo ranging from rubber bullets to live rounds) to adults who sacrifice themselves as suicide bombers.
Now, I am sure that the person(s) who proposed and planned these acts had in mind establishing a sort of "David & Goliath" scenario. And it is. You have kids throwing rocks and the IOF respond with gunfire and the the bulldozing of their homes. It is a simple plan and it would seem like it would even work. But it doesn't.
So where is the disconnect? Why has the World not rallied 'round the Palestinian Cause? Why is Israel still perceived as the "victim" of Palestinian "terror attacks" - as if driving down the street and having your car disintegrated by a missile launched via an attack helicopter isn't? Because however justified, these "responses" are either as a reaction to Israel's actions or as an act of self-defense, the Palestinians are inadvertently perpetuating the myth that they are a "problem" that must be "controlled." Continuing a violent dialogue with Israel provides an answer to a rhetorical question. That question is: "How does Israel protect itself from Palestinian attacks?" the real answer is that they don't need to protect themselves. They must simply continue to let the Palestinians attack them. It "proves" that it is Israel that needs the protection. Perception becomes reality.
What the Palestinians need is a West Bank/Gaza version of Mother Jones.
Think about it. During the years the United Mine Workers attempted to organize the mines, the capitalists played-up the notion that the very act of organizing workers was an attack on our society. That forming a combination to improve working conditions was bad at the least and illegal/un-American at worst. Violent acts against the company became an opportunity to garner positive public support for actions taken to crush the anarchists and law-breakers. Thus the world could be made safe for good, law-abiding citizens.
Then along came Mother Mary Jones. She realized that by leading the women in marches and protests she effectively tied the hands of the capitalists and their armies. Even then it was bad form to beat or shoot women - even if they likely are commies, anarchists or both. By using these tactics, Mother Jones was able to turn the tide of public opinion and therefore support for the actions of the capitalists.
Now, I realize that both the religion and the culture mitigate against this happening in Palestine. As Qur 'an instructs that women be protected if not sheltered and standard cultural norms also support that. A Mother Jones arising out of their midst seems unlikely. I am hopeful, though, that women will tire of watching the men screw things up by engaging in these acts of bravado that only seem to backfire.
Picture for a moment large groups of women blocking roads, impeding soldier's progress or walking through the Rafah Crossing en masse. What if thousands of women walked arm-in-arm up and down Gaza & the West Bank, checkpoints be damned? What would the IOF do? Shoot them? Imprison all of them? Think of woman after woman stepping up onto a soap box and denouncing the Occupation. As one is arrested another steps up and takes her place, and another, and another. Soon the jails would be overflowing in a scenario reminiscent of the Wobblies actions during their free speech protests. Think of Ehud Olmert trying to explain the "threat" posed by 20,000 women who now must be imprisoned. Think of Olmert trying to figure out where to imprison them. Think of Olmert trying to explain why the IOF used force to stop unarmed women from walking from one town to the next - or even across town. All that is needed is a sweet-looking little old woman to lead the way - and tell the soldiers to go to hell.
Non-violent protests worked for Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Violent protests only continue to feed the Perception Machine and allow the IOF to continue launching missiles at cars in populated areas or bulldoze homes to punish an entire family for the act of one or to shoot and kill rock-throwing children with "harmless" rubber bullets. We see these acts and say collectively "those terrorists deserve it. Look what they do to the Israeli's." Sure. My favorite "attack" is when Israel is assaulted by a "barrage" of Kassam rockets - not known for their accuracy.
I am sure your average Palestinian (or Lebanese) rocket-launcher is probably reciting to themselves: "I shot a rocket into the air, where it lands, I know not where" as they send one on it's way.
Mass peaceful resistance may be the only true "weapon" the Palestinian's have. I hope they choose to use it soon.
Why?
This quote (from, I believe, Abba Eban) says it best: "The Palestinians have never missed a chance to lose an opportunity." Truer words may never have been spoken. Why? I can answer in two words: "The Intifada." In a perfectly justifiable reaction against Israeli aggression, injustice, illegal annexation of land and the curious Israeli practice of expecting everyone except themselves to live up to every peace accord (sounds a bit like the US) - the Palestinians react by meeting the violence and injustice with their own violent acts in retaliation.
The participants in these acts have ranged from children throwing rocks (who are subsequently shot with ammo ranging from rubber bullets to live rounds) to adults who sacrifice themselves as suicide bombers.
Now, I am sure that the person(s) who proposed and planned these acts had in mind establishing a sort of "David & Goliath" scenario. And it is. You have kids throwing rocks and the IOF respond with gunfire and the the bulldozing of their homes. It is a simple plan and it would seem like it would even work. But it doesn't.
So where is the disconnect? Why has the World not rallied 'round the Palestinian Cause? Why is Israel still perceived as the "victim" of Palestinian "terror attacks" - as if driving down the street and having your car disintegrated by a missile launched via an attack helicopter isn't? Because however justified, these "responses" are either as a reaction to Israel's actions or as an act of self-defense, the Palestinians are inadvertently perpetuating the myth that they are a "problem" that must be "controlled." Continuing a violent dialogue with Israel provides an answer to a rhetorical question. That question is: "How does Israel protect itself from Palestinian attacks?" the real answer is that they don't need to protect themselves. They must simply continue to let the Palestinians attack them. It "proves" that it is Israel that needs the protection. Perception becomes reality.
What the Palestinians need is a West Bank/Gaza version of Mother Jones.
Think about it. During the years the United Mine Workers attempted to organize the mines, the capitalists played-up the notion that the very act of organizing workers was an attack on our society. That forming a combination to improve working conditions was bad at the least and illegal/un-American at worst. Violent acts against the company became an opportunity to garner positive public support for actions taken to crush the anarchists and law-breakers. Thus the world could be made safe for good, law-abiding citizens.
Then along came Mother Mary Jones. She realized that by leading the women in marches and protests she effectively tied the hands of the capitalists and their armies. Even then it was bad form to beat or shoot women - even if they likely are commies, anarchists or both. By using these tactics, Mother Jones was able to turn the tide of public opinion and therefore support for the actions of the capitalists.
Now, I realize that both the religion and the culture mitigate against this happening in Palestine. As Qur 'an instructs that women be protected if not sheltered and standard cultural norms also support that. A Mother Jones arising out of their midst seems unlikely. I am hopeful, though, that women will tire of watching the men screw things up by engaging in these acts of bravado that only seem to backfire.
Picture for a moment large groups of women blocking roads, impeding soldier's progress or walking through the Rafah Crossing en masse. What if thousands of women walked arm-in-arm up and down Gaza & the West Bank, checkpoints be damned? What would the IOF do? Shoot them? Imprison all of them? Think of woman after woman stepping up onto a soap box and denouncing the Occupation. As one is arrested another steps up and takes her place, and another, and another. Soon the jails would be overflowing in a scenario reminiscent of the Wobblies actions during their free speech protests. Think of Ehud Olmert trying to explain the "threat" posed by 20,000 women who now must be imprisoned. Think of Olmert trying to figure out where to imprison them. Think of Olmert trying to explain why the IOF used force to stop unarmed women from walking from one town to the next - or even across town. All that is needed is a sweet-looking little old woman to lead the way - and tell the soldiers to go to hell.
Non-violent protests worked for Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Violent protests only continue to feed the Perception Machine and allow the IOF to continue launching missiles at cars in populated areas or bulldoze homes to punish an entire family for the act of one or to shoot and kill rock-throwing children with "harmless" rubber bullets. We see these acts and say collectively "those terrorists deserve it. Look what they do to the Israeli's." Sure. My favorite "attack" is when Israel is assaulted by a "barrage" of Kassam rockets - not known for their accuracy.
I am sure your average Palestinian (or Lebanese) rocket-launcher is probably reciting to themselves: "I shot a rocket into the air, where it lands, I know not where" as they send one on it's way.
Mass peaceful resistance may be the only true "weapon" the Palestinian's have. I hope they choose to use it soon.
First Post
Welcome, gentle reader!
I am hoping that by posting my thoughts, you will be encouraged to stop by and read them and perhaps post your own in response.
I am hoping that by posting my thoughts, you will be encouraged to stop by and read them and perhaps post your own in response.
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