One of the most annoying things about this presidential race is that everyone feels compelled to say that we're winning in Iraq. What? Winning?
We have a massive troop presence there. The surge tactic was an okay way to temporarily keep the civil war from raging too openly. That's not really winning though. It's more like wasting time, postponing the inevitable.
We're going to be leaving sometime, right? Hopefully? Then the civil war will just start back up again. And there's no way the central government is going to win. The government is so corrupt, so fractured, so lacking in anything like morale, that it will never be viable. Everyone knows that.
The Shiite majority is definitely going to win the civil war. Under Saddam, the Sunni minority oppressed the Shiites. They're not going to take it now that he's gone.
Muqtada al-Sadr, the young Shiite cleric, leader of the Mahdi Army, is probably going to come out in a leadership role. If we were to leave Iraq right now and let them fight it out, that's probably what would happen.
And you know what? That's fine with me.
Muqtada al-Sadr could be the key to lasting peace in the entire region. As a Shiite cleric, he is extremely close to the Shiite clerics in Iran. And his cousin is Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Hezbollah in Lebanon. These guys are close and natural allies. Together they form an important Shiite counterweight to Saudi Arabia, Al Qaeda, and the other Sunni extremists who currently control the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia has dominated the Middle East since we put the Al Saud family on the throne fifty years ago. Look where that's gotten us. To me, it's a good thing to let the Shiites assert themselves in the region. We will be safer if the balance of power doesn't stay with Saudi Arabia.
What would happen if we left Iraq? Would we lose? Would we be in danger? No. Muqtada al-Sadr, Iran, and Hezbollah would step up. Saudi and Al Qaeda influence would be diminished. And that would make us far safer in the long run.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Heart Sutra
Have you ever heard the Heart Sutra? To me, it expresses the strength of Buddhist philosophy. There is a place in the mind of absolute will, absolute still, cognition of the universal oneness.
That's a pretty useful place, a revolutionary place.
See what I mean? Here's a video of the Heart Sutra.
Read the words too.
Here's a translation from Sanskrit to English by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association:
When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.
Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining.
Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this:
Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté
Bodhi Svaha!
End of The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra
That's a pretty useful place, a revolutionary place.
See what I mean? Here's a video of the Heart Sutra.
Read the words too.
Here's a translation from Sanskrit to English by the Dharma Realm Buddhist Association:
When Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara was practicing the profound Prajna Paramita, he illuminated the Five Skandhas and saw that they are all empty, and he crossed beyond all suffering and difficulty.
Shariputra, form does not differ from emptiness; emptiness does not differ from form. Form itself is emptiness; emptiness itself is form. So too are feeling, cognition, formation, and consciousness.
Shariputra, all Dharmas are empty of characteristics. They are not produced, not destroyed, not defiled, not pure; and they neither increase nor diminish. Therefore, in emptiness there is no form, feeling, cognition, formation, or consciousness; no eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, or mind; no sights, sounds, smells, tastes, objects of touch, or Dharmas; no field of the eyes up to and including no field of mind consciousness; and no ignorance or ending of ignorance, up to and including no old age and death or ending of old age and death. There is no suffering, no accumulating, no extinction, and no Way, and no understanding and no attaining.
Because nothing is attained, the Bodhisattva through reliance on Prajna Paramita is unimpeded in his mind. Because there is no impediment, he is not afraid, and he leaves distorted dream-thinking far behind. Ultimately Nirvana! All Buddhas of the three periods of time attain Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi through reliance on Prajna Paramita. Therefore know that Prajna Paramita is a Great Spiritual Mantra, a Great Bright Mantra, a Supreme Mantra, an Unequalled Mantra. It can remove all suffering; it is genuine and not false. That is why the Mantra of Prajna Paramita was spoken. Recite it like this:
Gaté Gaté Paragaté Parasamgaté
Bodhi Svaha!
End of The Heart of Prajna Paramita Sutra
No Bailout? Or a better one?
Okay. The Paulson bailout was a total giveaway to the people who made up those dangerous mortgage-based securities in the first place. It probably wasn't the best idea. Economically, and morally, it sort of just didn't make sense.
But here's the thing. Paulson and Bush hyped the bailout so much that the world markets expected it. Paulson and Bush basically said that our economy will be ruined if the bailout didn't pass. So, naturally, investors everywhere were totally shocked when the House voted against it. Investor confidence is shattered, and that's dangerous.
It might be for the best that this version of the bailout didn't go through. The thing is, that doesn't mean the government should step away from the economy and pray that the free market corrects itself. We need to do something, the world markets are going to drop until the government intervenes in some major way.
Now would be a great time for a New Deal style investment in our country. Spend the $700 billion to fix what's actually wrong with our real economy. It might be the only way to avert a depression.
But here's the thing. Paulson and Bush hyped the bailout so much that the world markets expected it. Paulson and Bush basically said that our economy will be ruined if the bailout didn't pass. So, naturally, investors everywhere were totally shocked when the House voted against it. Investor confidence is shattered, and that's dangerous.
It might be for the best that this version of the bailout didn't go through. The thing is, that doesn't mean the government should step away from the economy and pray that the free market corrects itself. We need to do something, the world markets are going to drop until the government intervenes in some major way.
Now would be a great time for a New Deal style investment in our country. Spend the $700 billion to fix what's actually wrong with our real economy. It might be the only way to avert a depression.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Tinariwen
Check out Tinariwen, a Tuareg band from Mali, producing some of the best music in the world right now.
Cler Achel video.
Chet Boghassa video.
Toumast video.
Amassakoul'n'Tenere video.
Cler Achel video.
Chet Boghassa video.
Toumast video.
Amassakoul'n'Tenere video.
Army unit to deploy in U.S.
Oh wow. What a good sign this is! What do they expect to happen?
Wait. This is illegal.
Democracy Now excerpt.
Wait. This is illegal.
Democracy Now excerpt.
Bikram Singh
Where is the best bhangra in the world coming from right now? New York. Oh yeah. Bikram Singh, Queens NY, baby!
Kawan video.
Sada Dil video.
American Jugni video.
Kawan video.
Sada Dil video.
American Jugni video.
Dahler Mendhi
Dahler Mendhi, proving once and for all that corny as hell and so hot it hurts are not mutually exclusive categories when it comes to bhangra music!
Tunak Tunak Tun video.
Koi Dheere video.
Saade Dil Te Churiyan Chaliyan video.
Tunak Tunak Tun video.
Koi Dheere video.
Saade Dil Te Churiyan Chaliyan video.
M.I.A.
Who knows about M.I.A.? Her real name is Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam. She's from the UK, and is of Sri Lankan Tamil decent. Her mom is the activist Arul Pragasam, of Eelam Revolutionary Organization of Students fame. You can hear that militancy in MIA's music.
In a loose sense, this is Desi music. In a strict sense, this is hot as fuck, and everyone needs to get down with this phenomenal Sri Lankan sound. Check out these M.I.A. videos. I dare you to tell me this isn't some of the hottest Desi music out there.
Paper Planes video.
Sunshowers video.
World Town video.
Bucky Done Gone video.
Jimmy video.
Pull up the People video.
In a loose sense, this is Desi music. In a strict sense, this is hot as fuck, and everyone needs to get down with this phenomenal Sri Lankan sound. Check out these M.I.A. videos. I dare you to tell me this isn't some of the hottest Desi music out there.
Paper Planes video.
Sunshowers video.
World Town video.
Bucky Done Gone video.
Jimmy video.
Pull up the People video.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
What else could we do with $700 billion?
So let me get this straight...
The banks gave out irresponsible mortgages. They knew these loans were too risky. Why did they allow them? They did because then they could sell the mortgages to companies that turned them into securities and traded them. The banks and trading companies knew these mortgages were way too risky. But because the banks were profiting from everyone buying and selling them as securities, they ignored the reality of the situation.
Now big investors realize that the loans are bunk, the securities created from them were bunk, and as a result the investment bankers that specialized in them are taking a huge loss. High level financial analysts are calling it the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Because the losses from these banks could mess up the whole credit industry, the government is going to spend an enormous fortune of taxpayer money to pay off these bad loans. They are talking about $700 billion.
That's about $2,000 from every person in America, roughly equal to a whole year's worth of taxpayer revenue.
Why are we doing this? I'm sure that there is an appropriate time for the government to spend money to stimulate the economy, everyone can agree about that. But why are we rewarding the exact same people who got us into this mess through their irresponsible gambling? That just doesn't make sense.
Imagine what else we could do with all that money. Think about the alternatives. There are other ways for the government to invest that would actually benefit America.
We have bridges that we know are going to fail all over this country. Remember Minneapolis? There are hundreds more out there, just waiting to happen. The federal government is going to have to spend money on this in the near future.
Or how about retooling Detroit to make hybrids, biodiesel, and electric cars and trucks? Make it so attractive to invest in hybrid and electric cars and trucks that every automaker in the country pumps them out. Make it so they could produce them quickly and cheaply enough to replace the entire fleet of cars and trucks in America within five years. We'd all save so much money that the $2,000 per person would be an excellent household investment. Hey Detroit, here's $200 billion to retool. If you think that wouldn't change the automotive industry, think again.
There is so much potential for alternative energy in this country, but it will take a huge amount of capital to start producing on a large scale. Now would be a great time for the government to make that investment. Think about how much we could save not having to go to war. Ideology and rationalizations aside, Iraq and Afghanistan are at the most basic level oil wars. Forget oil. Forget the ongoing financial and moral expense of having to attack people to control the oil supply. Let's kick that habit. No more war, no more worrying that the price of oil fluctuates. It will be so expensive to get off our oil addiction that only the US government can make it happen. Maybe it would cost $300 billion. But if we need to spend money somewhere right now, what better cause is there?
Everyone knows that we are facing a health care crisis. Bankruptcy due to medical expenses is a big drain on our economy. Our health insurance policy is an embarrassment. We spend more per person on health care than any other nation per capita, but have far worse access to medical care. That needs to change, or we'll have a whole new economic crisis on our hands. Sooner or later, the US government is going to need to intervene. Do it now. The price tag is $200 billion? We're spending it anyhow.
There are so many investments the US government will have to make in the next few years. You want an economic stimulus? Spend that money now. Forget the gamblers who screwed up our economy. Spend that money on something that matters. We will have to pay up in a few years anyhow, and we might now have enough money then.
$770 billion of taxpayer money going into the national economy will create jobs, attract bond investors, strengthen the US dollar, and make America a good long term investment. Bailing out the investment banks will just encourage more gamblers, more dependency upon credit, and more irresponsible speculation.
Forget those gamblers. They are parasites on our national economy. Stand up for America, as a nation, and as a good long-term investment. Spend that $700 billion on us, not the speculators who are messing up our economy. Seriously, we're better off without short-term investors. Let them flake off our otherwise robust economy.
America is the wealthiest nation in the world. That's true by almost any measure, in terms of natural resources, capital, talent, or creativity. Let's keep it that way. Show the world that we also have the strength of will and economic discipline to spend our government’s money responsibly.
The banks gave out irresponsible mortgages. They knew these loans were too risky. Why did they allow them? They did because then they could sell the mortgages to companies that turned them into securities and traded them. The banks and trading companies knew these mortgages were way too risky. But because the banks were profiting from everyone buying and selling them as securities, they ignored the reality of the situation.
Now big investors realize that the loans are bunk, the securities created from them were bunk, and as a result the investment bankers that specialized in them are taking a huge loss. High level financial analysts are calling it the greatest financial crisis since the Great Depression. Because the losses from these banks could mess up the whole credit industry, the government is going to spend an enormous fortune of taxpayer money to pay off these bad loans. They are talking about $700 billion.
That's about $2,000 from every person in America, roughly equal to a whole year's worth of taxpayer revenue.
Why are we doing this? I'm sure that there is an appropriate time for the government to spend money to stimulate the economy, everyone can agree about that. But why are we rewarding the exact same people who got us into this mess through their irresponsible gambling? That just doesn't make sense.
Imagine what else we could do with all that money. Think about the alternatives. There are other ways for the government to invest that would actually benefit America.
We have bridges that we know are going to fail all over this country. Remember Minneapolis? There are hundreds more out there, just waiting to happen. The federal government is going to have to spend money on this in the near future.
Or how about retooling Detroit to make hybrids, biodiesel, and electric cars and trucks? Make it so attractive to invest in hybrid and electric cars and trucks that every automaker in the country pumps them out. Make it so they could produce them quickly and cheaply enough to replace the entire fleet of cars and trucks in America within five years. We'd all save so much money that the $2,000 per person would be an excellent household investment. Hey Detroit, here's $200 billion to retool. If you think that wouldn't change the automotive industry, think again.
There is so much potential for alternative energy in this country, but it will take a huge amount of capital to start producing on a large scale. Now would be a great time for the government to make that investment. Think about how much we could save not having to go to war. Ideology and rationalizations aside, Iraq and Afghanistan are at the most basic level oil wars. Forget oil. Forget the ongoing financial and moral expense of having to attack people to control the oil supply. Let's kick that habit. No more war, no more worrying that the price of oil fluctuates. It will be so expensive to get off our oil addiction that only the US government can make it happen. Maybe it would cost $300 billion. But if we need to spend money somewhere right now, what better cause is there?
Everyone knows that we are facing a health care crisis. Bankruptcy due to medical expenses is a big drain on our economy. Our health insurance policy is an embarrassment. We spend more per person on health care than any other nation per capita, but have far worse access to medical care. That needs to change, or we'll have a whole new economic crisis on our hands. Sooner or later, the US government is going to need to intervene. Do it now. The price tag is $200 billion? We're spending it anyhow.
There are so many investments the US government will have to make in the next few years. You want an economic stimulus? Spend that money now. Forget the gamblers who screwed up our economy. Spend that money on something that matters. We will have to pay up in a few years anyhow, and we might now have enough money then.
$770 billion of taxpayer money going into the national economy will create jobs, attract bond investors, strengthen the US dollar, and make America a good long term investment. Bailing out the investment banks will just encourage more gamblers, more dependency upon credit, and more irresponsible speculation.
Forget those gamblers. They are parasites on our national economy. Stand up for America, as a nation, and as a good long-term investment. Spend that $700 billion on us, not the speculators who are messing up our economy. Seriously, we're better off without short-term investors. Let them flake off our otherwise robust economy.
America is the wealthiest nation in the world. That's true by almost any measure, in terms of natural resources, capital, talent, or creativity. Let's keep it that way. Show the world that we also have the strength of will and economic discipline to spend our government’s money responsibly.
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