US No Longer Technology King

US 'no longer technology king' , so blared the headline in a BBC news report on 3/28/07. The report went on to say “The US has lost its position as the world's primary engine of technology innovation, according to a report by the World Economic Forum. The US is now ranked seventh in the body's league table measuring the impact of technology on the development of nations. ” To me this is unacceptable. What made this country great was its prowess with technical innovation. Witness the transistor - we all know how it revolutionized our way of life and indeed that of the whole world. The report mentions that “a deterioration of the political and regulatory environment in the US prompted the fall”. More to the point I wonder what part corporate greed played ?

Designated Hitter

It is hard to believe that it has been 30 years since the designated hitter ("DH") position was adopted by Major League Baseball’s American League. What I first thought was a gimmick that would disappear after a few years turned out to be a crucial baseball position, at least in the American League. It was originally adopted to allow teams to boost sagging offensive performances by designating a player to bat in place of the pitcher.The designated hitter spot is an option, so no team is required to use a DH although every American League team does have one. The National League never adopted the DH position. Originally aging sluggers whose defensive skills were suspect were made designated hitters ( Mike Piazza this year will be the designated hitter for the A’s). In recent years robust young players have assumed the role of DH i.e. Travis Hafner of the Indians. In spite of the longevity of the DH position I still have a problem with its use. It is not pure baseball! Baseball was meant to have nine positions not ten! If a pitcher has a poor batting averages it is part of the game and does not warrant cheating by having a slugger replace him in the “ batting lineup”. Many purist also point out that the DH rule diminishes baseball strategy. The World Series loses some luster when the DH is an option for both teams in an American League ballpark. Major League Baseball should be played by the same rules for both leagues.

About Gun Control

Today’s New York Times carried a story concerning gun control - Court Rejects Strict Gun Law as Unconstitutional . Interpreting the Second Amendment broadly, a federal appeals court in Washington struck down a gun control law in the District of Columbia that bars residents from keeping handguns in their homes. The decision was the first from a federal appeals court to hold a gun control law unconstitutional on the ground that the Second Amendment protects the rights of individuals, as opposed to the collective rights of state militias. Nine other federal appeals courts around the nation have rejected that interpretation. Of course, in a statement on its Web site, the National Rifle Association called the decision a significant victory that “affirmed that the Second Amendment of the Constitution protects an inherent, individual right to bear arms.” The story brought to mind that there has hardly been a word in the Congress concerning gun control in the last few years in spite of the fact that people are being accosted, maimed and murdered hourly in this nation. Yes this nation , not Iraq! Gunmen terrorizing schools , teens settling their squabbles with guns , domestic quarrels being resolved with guns - guns are becoming as common as cell phones.
The gun lobby, notably the National Rifle Association wields too much power in Washington and it does so to the point of being irresponsible. Gun control is sorely needed but lawmakers avoid any serious attempts to come up with meaningful legislation lest they incur the wrath of the NRA. There needs to be an outcry from the American public for effective gun control legislation but anytime there is a groundswell for gun control it is beaten back by a very effective lobby. We are told that it is our constitutional right to own a gun and of course we want everything the Constitution guarantees us. Everything?-hold on! Another story in the Times blared out FBI Head Admits Mistakes in Use of Security Act. Apparently when it comes to constitutional rights the American public is more willing to sacrifice its right to privacy ( USA Patriot Act) than to infringe its right to bear arms. The terrorism threat wins out over the threat posed by guns. The Constitution does give us a right to bear arms - it does not give us a right to abuse arms. Legislation must be brought to bear on the latter. As for privacy issues, again legislation must curb the amazing appetite of the executive branch of government to usurp our rights in the name of The War On Terrorism.

Superpower Or Superleader

A superpower has been defined as a state with the first rank in the international system and has the ability to influence events and project power on a worldwide basis. A superpower possesses and wields economic power, military power, political power and cultural power. Great Britain and the Soviet Union were once superpowers. Today, the United States is recognized as the world’s only superpower (in the wings are China and India as potential superpowers). But when is a superpower not a superpower?

• When arrogance replaces diplomacy
• When it forsakes its reponsibility to promote peace
• When it neglects to seek solutions to domestic problems
• When it destroys its manufacturing base in favor of a service economy
• When it alienates the countries of the world
• When it allows other countries to dictate its foreign policy
• When it takes its neighbors for granted

As the United States continually alienates the nations of the world we increasingly look like more of a bully rather than a superpower. Because of failed diplomacy we have troops spread out all over the world. Ancient Rome also had legions all over the world. If I am not mistaken this started the decline of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, how long can this country reign as a superpower as it allows the output of it's R & D and engineering to be labeled "Made in CHINA"? Now we are told that China will soon be a leading exporter of automobiles and is rapidly moving towards status as a superpower. Should this occur, what happens to our national debt which is heavily financed by China? It would seem that if China truly emerges as a superpower, the United States will be at a disadvantage in competing with China. Still the outlook need not be so bleak if this country marshals its scientific strengths and entrepreneurship to create an environment in this country which is friendly towards the needs of its citizens - new industries, jobs. The United States should devote more leadership, energy and creative diplomacy to achieve peace in the Middle East . The United States should set an example for the world by instituting “green “ practices in spite of short sighted opposition from some segments of the corporate world. The United States should discard its adversarial attitude toward the United Nations and take the lead in making the United Nations a more effective organization. We do not need superpowers in this world. We need “SUPERLEADERS”!

Abandon All Hope

There is a lack of civility in today's society. Is it because of wars , terrorism, and genocide? Is it because of the continuing prominence of drugs in today's society ? Is it because of the proliferation of guns? Or is it because of the rhetoric of those who urge us to embrace paradise but instead bring us to the gates of hell where as Dante put it " lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate". Yes, abandon all hope if we cross the line into a barbaric society ! Then again hasn't this always been the story of mankind ? Witness The Crusades, The Inquisition, The Holocaust and Jihad. Up until now we have maintained some semblance of a civilized society and have not crossed the line, but as we increasingly put ourselves in the hands of clerics whether they be radical Muslims or our own evangelistic religious right we stand poised to cross the line. Let's go on a jihad to convince clerics of all stripes that they must in the strongest terms condemn violence as a solution for religious and political frustrations. Making tolerance for one another's beliefs the foundation of religion would be a good start. To accept anything less would be to abandon all hope!
Mixing religion with political objectives has always proven to be disastrous. Separation of the two of course is not a complete solution but leaders both political and religious committed to peaceful solutions would be a good start. If we accept anything less we will be abandoning all hope!

Spring Must Be Near

Watched my first spring training baseball game today. In spite of the snow outside I felt warm all over. The batter's swings were a little rusty, the pitchers a little wild, and the errors abounded. Still some skills were as finely tuned as they were last fall. The spitting was accurate, Gatorade cups were thrown with precision, bubbles were blown to tremendous proportions, and “chaws” swelled bearded cheeks. It’s refreshing to watch millionaires having fun rather than fretting over the stock market. Opening day is only four weeks away. Go Indians!

Burton's Advice

Four years of war in Iraq! I cannot help but recall a passage in John Dunning's book " The Bookman's Promise". Central to the book was the narrative concerning Sir Richard Burton and his travels in the South just prior to our Civil War. When questioned by his companion Charles concerning England's possible involvement if a civil war did breakout Burton had some words which could apply to the Iraq War. He responded that if the Prime Minister of England sought his thoughts they would be:" That we would be ill-advised to get involved in this conflict in any way. That the American spirit will not be defeated. That even if the South should somehow prevail-it won't-but even then there would resistance groups at work to restore the union, and that intervention or tampering by any foreign power, especially one based thousand of miles away, would be insane. That such a foreign power can expect fierce guerilla warfare , perhaps for years, with many casualties. The day is coming when no power, not even England, will be able to sustain such a war. If Palmerston brings us into it, it will be a quagmire and history will remember his name for that above all else. That's what I'll tell him."Would that there had been such a voice advising the President prior to our intervention in Iraq.

Lest We Forget

Lest we forget, not too long ago Irish terrorists freely used the bomb in the Protestant vs. Catholic violence in Northern Ireland. Religious inspired violence will eventually erode away the foundations of all religions.

Suicide Bombers

I find it difficult to understand some of the precepts of Christianity let alone Judaism and Islam. Since the onslaught of suicide bombers and the toll they have taken on innocent lives I have unfortunately adopted a negative view of a religion which condones or at the minimum tolerates this barbarous practice. I have read that many Muslims do not reject terrorism summarily since they do not want to signal disapproval of those Muslim groups engaged in violent struggle against Israel. Considering the history of the Middle East that makes some sense although it is still a poor excuse. As for suicide bombers again many Muslims are not critical of this practise of terrorism when it is directed at Israel. This may be a political or nationalistic expediency but not excusable. But what of the suicide bomber who inflicts mayhem on fellow Muslims? Try as I may I can make no sense of it even after understanding the sectarian hatreds which exist within Islam. Then we have the bombings directed at American soldiers. Is this a response to the Christian crusader? If so why take innocent lives along with the lives of the infidel. It appears that the chosen path to Paradise must be strewn with the bodies of the believers as well as the infidels. News reports of the past few days blare out that hundreds if not thousands of suicide bombers are poised for attacks in Afghanistan. These are young people with smiles on their faces apparently convinced that their violence and self destruction will gain them a place in Heaven ( what will they do when they find infidels there - suicide bomb them ?). Until the suicide bombings stop and Muslims demonstrate their tolerance for all faiths I will continue to look with suspicion at Islam!

Bush Hears Voices

I read an enlightening article in salon.com today , “How Cheney bombed in Afghanistan” by Sidney Blumenthal. I could not help but focus on the following excerpt:

Since Sept. 11, Bush and Cheney have proclaimed a Manichaean struggle in which, as Bush said, "you're either with us or with the terrorists." This formula has been applied at home and abroad. It is a distillation of Bush's foreign policy and his domestic politics. In his "war on terror," he is leading the forces of "freedom" against "evil" because it is "part of God's plan," and that "God is not neutral." Then Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath told the BBC in 2005 that Bush had confided in him and Mahmoud Abbas, former prime minister and now Palestinian president: "I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.' And I did, and then God would tell me, 'George go and end the tyranny in Iraq,' and I did."

“Leading the forces of "freedom" against "evil" because it is "part of God's plan” - it sounds like Jihad ! Previously George compared the “war on terrorism” to a crusade .( If jihad is a holy war against infidels and or unbelievers of Islam is a crusade possibly a war against infidels or unbelievers of Christianity ?). “God would tell me, 'George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan.' And I did, and then God would tell me, 'George go and end the tyranny in Iraq,' and I did”. Apparently God is on a first name basis with George W. Bush. It sounds like the Old Testament! Could this possibly be coming from the mouth of the President of The United States. How did he ever conclude that he ended tyranny in Iraq or Afghanistan for that matter? Today we learn that the Taliban and Al Qaida are making a comeback. Mr. Bush needs to go back to the mountain and talk once again with God. ( And God said, George you completely misunderstood me ! Please listen to what your citizens are telling you. George, do not get me involved with wars!)