The day after the midterm elections, there seems to be an American hangover. Whether you were celebrating the Republicans winning the majority in the House or are trying to pick yourself up after the Democrats’ defeat.
Hear what people on the streets of Washington had to say and what their opinions are on the outcome of the US midterm elections.
Don’t lose! Apparently losing is equal to national betrayal in the communist state.
As a punishment for their betrayal (early loss at the World Cup in South Africa) the players were subjected to a six-hour “grand debate” which essentially became a public excoriation and beating on stage. In addition, fears are rising for the safety of the team’s coach, who is seen as having betrayed the trust of Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un!
The players were subjected to harsh criticism and inquiry before their forced strip-down and harsh beating. The team was then asked to comment on the coach, his performance etc. After the beating they were all too happy to pass the blame for their failure to their coach. Reports have speculated that the coach has been sent to an unspecified work site.
The festivities were apparently viewed by at least 400 athletes, the country’s sports minister, and those watching Korean Central TV. The TV broadcast even included a play-by-play from an announcer, who pointed out the flaws and failures of each individual player.
Sadly, these guys may have gotten off easy! In the past, many “failed” athletes have been sent to prison camps.
This highlights the dangers of representing a vicious dictatorial state internationally. It makes me wonder why the footballers did not simply defect or flee while in South Africa, or previously at other international matches.
The actions by the North should send a message to FIFA and other international competition organizers. If the safety and human rights of a country’s players cannot be guaranteed, should that national team be invited to compete? Maybe not.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Dirty campaign shenanigans caught on tape in Florida. A video has surfaced on YouTube showing a State House candidate and his wife pulling up his opponent’s campaign signs!
District 1 candidate Greg Brown has been playing a shady game, removing Doug Broxson’s campaign signs from the streets.
The candidate was caught by Broxson’s son who hid an infrared video camera on the streetjust in time to see Brown and his wife, Jennifer, swoop in and snag the campaign signs. The camera was set up because the Broxson campaign was having issues with stolen and vandalized signs.
Both Brown and Broxson are running for the Republican nomination for a State House seat in the Aug. 24 primary election.
Brown is defending his actions, saying he did nothing wrong and was merely removing signs placed on the property of one of his supporters. He further argued that the use of video was ‘dirty politics’ and a distraction from the issues.
The Braxton campaign explained that Brown knows what he and his wife did was wrong and that the video, which includes audio, proves it. The conversation on the video includes talk of worries over being seen by passing cars and leaving behind fingerprints.
I have to ask, Mr. Brown, if you were so convinced what you were doing was not wrong, why were you worried about your wife’s fingerprints being on the signs? And last I checked steeling your opponents signs was dirty politics, not positing the video of it on YouTube!
Next time, consider a mask and gloves – just a thought!
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
The United States and South Korea are set to engage in war game exercises this weekend, North Korea is calling foul and threatening to respond physically.
In addition, Japan will participate by sending military observers, an action seen by some as both approval and an endorsement of the drill. China however has expressed concerns, warning against any actions that might destabilize the region.
The joint exercise will involve at least one aircraft carrier, 20 other vessels and submarines, 100 aircraft and 8,000 personnel.
The US says the drill is meant to deter North Korean aggression and comes just after the US State Department called for increased sanctions on North Korea. Although intended to deter aggressions, the North has already responded with a threat of “physical response.”
“It is a new century and Asian countries are in need of peace and development, and DPRK [North Korea] is also moving to that end,” said Ri Tong-il, North Korea’s spokesman at the Association of South East Asian Nations Regional Forum, reported the BBC.
Tong-il further referred to the exercise as an example of “gunboat diplomacy.”
The US has accused North Korea of being provocative and dangerous in their response. However, is their response all that surprising or unwarranted?
Don’t get me wrong. North Korea is a repressive dictatorial state that certainly does not have the interest of its people at heart. Any nation, serving its own governmental self interest, as they all do, would respond negatively to a strong military power parading about in nearby waters with one of your neighbors. The US certainly did not take kindly to a Soviet presence in Cuba. The US should not be surprised by the response or accusations coming from Pyongyang.
Further, parading one’s military about is not very diplomatic on the part of the US. Calling for a diplomatic solution and than sending in the troops as an example of might to deter aggression simply does not make sense. Using aggression to fight aggression normally has the opposite effect. Especially when the nation you are trying to send a message too has continually threatened violence with no regard for the consequences.
Similarly, new and increased sanctions are likely to have little effect on North Korea’s government. The people will continue to suffer, most experts doubt they will have any positive impact on ending the North’s nuclear ambitions. North Korea may return to talks, but the building of nuclear arms may continue behind the scenes.
What’s the solution? I don’t have a definitive one. I don’t think anyone has a new way forward at this point, but if they do… maybe we should try it! After all, our current options have been tried again and again, and they continue to fail.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Is my hidden desire to declare my apartment independent going to be finally realized?!
The International Court of Justice has ruled that Kosovo’s declaration of independence does not violate international law, but what does this mean for the number of separatist and secession movements the world over? Will they now be more emboldened in their own endeavors?
Will the Second Vermont Republic rise up and pull the US state out of the Union? After all the state was independent from 1777-1791, they do have a historical claim to make and meet the legal requirements under self determination in the UN charter. Will the ICJ decision encourage them to rise up against the United States and secede?
How about Cascadia in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States? They too claim a right to self governance and independence from the US. In fact, they site former US President and US Constitution author Thomas Jefferson in their claim to freedom. He was after all the one who first called for a “Republic of the Pacific” – a Pacific nation ally, as opposed to an expansive US. The Cascadia movement calls for a federation between British Columbia, Oregon, and Washington and possibly parts of Idaho Montana, Northern California, and Alaska. Will the US and Canada be getting a secession memo from Cascadia sometime soon?
Moving further into the Pacific, will the Hawaii sovereignty debate be reignited with a stronger flame? There are a number of movements calling for the recreation of the Republic of Hawaii and/or the reinstatement of the Hawaiian Monarchy.
Touching on more recent matters, does this ICJ decision give weight to the plight of the Iroquois and other Native American groups who have for years proclaimed their independence and right to self government; including their right to their own passports, laws, etc?
What does this decision mean for the number of other growing secession and independence movements around the world? Will this bring back the Sealand debate? What of Somaliland, Abkhazia, Western Sahara, South Ossetia, Kurdistan, Palestine, Sardinia, Cyprus, Cornwall, Scotland, and on and on?
Are we going to see a massive redrawing of the map? Umm… well, no. It’s not likely anyway.
The ICJ is essentially, in a non-binding fashion, saying the Kosovo declaration of independence was not illegal, not that Kosovo has a right to statehood, etc. The ruling did not tackle Kosovo’s claim to independence itself.
Further, the court did not touch the point of international recognition by other states. Although recognition is not a legal requirement of independent statehood, it is a practical one. Without recognition your words and declaration will mainly fall on deaf ears. Somaliland is an example of this, as have been many other attempts by secessionists.
All in all, the ruling merely sets a tone by the court. It resolves very little for Kosovo and for other would-be secessionists. But, that doesn’t mean they won’t try!
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Recent stories and polls have determined that America’s leaders in Washington are in fact out of touch with the rest of America. Gasp! Say it ain’t so, say it ain’t so! Wait…
Washington has always been out of touch with the rest of America! This is nothing new.
A poll by Politico has found that specifically, DC is economically, politically and just completly out of touch with the rest of the nation.
In the opinion of Washington’s movers, shockers and policy makers, President Obama is quite popular, however Sarah Palin is not. Washington sees the tea party movement as “a fad,” while results indicate many across America think the movement has viable third-party potential.
In addition, those in DC feel the economy is on the right track and doing a-O.K. … the rest of America is not so sure. Washington is also much less likely to blame themselves and the government for the nation’s economic woes – go figure.
But, where is the groundbreaking news here? Why has this poll rocked the news and the online world? What’s the big surprise?
In my view, there isn’t one. Washington has long been out of touch with America. Governments in general usually are out of touch with the average citizen. Examples throughout history teach just that.
In our infancy as colonies, public opinion was by majority against or held no opinion on the matter of a a revolution and independent American nation. During the US Civil War many in the north could care less that the south had seceded. Public opinion on the Vietnam War was extremely negative. And more recently, the majority of Americans did not favor bailing out large banks with tax dollars.
Washington is out of touch with America, it’s nothing new. But it does highlight another question, what can we do to change it – governmental shift, revolution, electoral reform, direct or consensus democracy, term-limits, anarchy? What options do we have?
Another question, although the majority may not favor something, is the majority always right? Had the majority voted in the past, the American nation may have never been born, the south may have been allowed to secede.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Someone has a serious craving for chocolate! A mysterious investor or investors has bought up practically every cocoa bean in Europe – 241,000 tons to be exact!
The purchase forced the price of cocoa beans to the highest level since 1977 is the largest individual cocoa trade in 14 years.
Analysts are saying that it is unlikely any standard chocolate company would buy such a large quantity of cocoa. It is more likely a speculator or other market players made the purchase to corner the market and force the price higher and higher on a supply they now heavily control. In addition, the cocoa harvest in Africa has been weak this year and analysts are saying it could continue to be weak in the future, driving the costs even higher. The price of cocoa has more than doubled since 2007.
One interesting note, whoever bought the beans opted to actually buy the beans in physical form, as opposed to buying futures, which is the typical choice. Why? Who could use so much chocolate and for what?
Who is behind the great cocoa purchase scandal of 2010? Will the real Willy Wonka please come forward!
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Latin American migrants are told to stay out, while David Beckham and Thierry Henry are ushered into American Major League Soccer with no complaints. So, it’s ok for wealthy foreigners to kick-it, but not for those seeking a better life to pursue life, liberty and happiness by working on farms, in construction, etc? Apparently.
Why do Mexican migrants draw all the anti-immigration sentiments, while global soccer superstars are fawned over?
“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door,” reads an inscription on the Statue of Liberty in New York City.
America is a nation of immigrants; unless you are Native American, your relatives came to North America as immigrants. Why now are so many up in arms over immigration again? Who are we to tell those in the same situations as our grandparents or great-grandparents that they are undeserving of the opportunities we have been given?
“The Land of opportunity.” “The American Dream.” Both are descriptors of the American ideal. Why do these essentials only apply to some? I see no fine print or hidden text, yet the benefits rarely apply to all who seek them.
The US should happily welcome all who wish to peacefully come into the country. America owes its strength, in all facets, to its roots in immigration. America is immigrants. Immigration is our identity, today, yesterday and in the future.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
A US House committee has passed a ban on future BP offshore oil leases. The House Committee on Natural Resources has passed an amendment to a bill that would prevent BP and others from getting new leases from the US Department of the Interior if they are incapable of passing specific safety and environmental standards. The new amendment would keep companies with bad records from obtaining both offshore oil and gas exploration leases for seven years.
The amendment specifies that any company that has experienced more than 10 deaths at their drilling or production facilities due to legal violations in the last seven years would be unable to secure new leases.
The amendment was sponsored by California Democrat George Miller. He called drilling a privilege, and said the amendment addressed the “question of whether or not they get to exercise the privilege of being able to drill going forward.”
The bill, including the amendment, still have to pass both the US House and Senate general bodies before it is sent to President Obama for signature.
According to Reuters, BP had no comment on the amendment.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
The Iroquois Confederacy was set to compete again as a separate sovereign nation at the World Lacrosse Championships in England, however a passport dispute with the United States may prevent the historic creators of lacrosse from participating.
The World Lacrosse Championship invites nations the world over to compete. In an unusual international recognition of American Indian sovereignty, the Iroquois have always competed as an independent nation at the tournament.
So, what’s the hitch? The United States government, that’s what.
The Iroquois players possess passports issued by the Iroquois Confederacy [pic], a group of six Native American nations in the US and Canada. The US government, however, has said it will refuse reentry to anyone attempting to come home without a valid US passport, and the UK will not issue visas to anyone unable to confirm they will be able to return home.
Of course, this is all much bigger than lacrosse. It has to do with a continually raging battle over sovereignty, self-determination and recognition. Officially, the Iroquois Confederacy is not recognized as a sovereign nation by the US; however, Iroquois passports have not been an issue in the past. Iroquois team members from the US can obtain US passports. Arguing a right to self-identity and sovereignty however, the team members refuse to carry them.
NPR reported that one Iroquois player said he would rather miss the tournament than travel under a US passport.
The big question is does the US have a right to refute Iroquois sovereignty? Maybe not.
The UN Charter states that all peoples have a right to self determination. Self determination is defined as:
“The right of a people to determine its own destiny. In particular, the principle allows a people to choose its own political status and to determine its own form of economic, cultural and social development. Exercise of this right can result in a variety of different outcomes ranging from political independence through to full integration within a state.” [via]
The Iroquois, as a people, can choose their own identify, their own nation, political status etc. It is their right. Further, customary international law provides that they exist freely as a self-determined entity free of the need for any international or national recognition. According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933 the only legal requirements to independent statehood are: a permanent population, defined territory, a governing system and the capacity to engage in international affairs with other states.
They have a population. They have a defined territory. They have a capable government. They have the capacity to engage other states. The Iroquois Confederacy easily meets international legal requirements for uncontested sovereign statehood.
I say, at the very least, let them compete! The Iroquois have always competed in the tournament as a nation without passport controversies in the past. Why now? Why is the US picking this time to nitpick and start a fight? What gives?!
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal (Republican) has joined the club and signed into law a bill known as the “gun-in-church” bill. Yup, that’s right; Louisiana residents can now praise God while packing heat!
The law allows individuals who are qualified to carry canceled weapons to do so in churches, mosques, synagogues or other places of worship as part of a security force. The law further indicates that the head of the religious institution must make it known that there will be church goers on property who are armed as members of the security force.
The bill was introduced by Republican Rep. Henry Burns, to assist churches in maintaining their security in “declining neighborhoods.”
I’m not sure about you, but growing up guns and gun violence were not the first things that came to mind when I thought of heading off to church. Sure, the individuals will be ‘qualified to carry,’ but does that make it any better? Churches, etc are places of worship and are often full of children.
What kind of message does this send kids when you preach kindness, love and to turn the other cheek while around the corner the head deacon is packing a pistol? Not a positive one, in my opinion.
On another note–while Jindal is arming churches, Florida’s Governor Charlie Crist is pushing to constitutionally ban offshore oil drilling in Florida. Talk about a contrast.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
Did anyone notice that some alleged Russian spies were arrested in the United States? If you hadn’t than you must live under a rock.
Both American and international media have gone gaga over the Russian Spy Scandal of 2010 – everything from the Red Hot Russian / Femme Fetale to the political questions behind the arrest of journalist Vicky Pelaez. What we are seeing is media sensationalism!
Let’s just hit two of the basics:
The alleged spies aren’t alleged spies at all. The accused are not being charged with espionage. They are charged with acting as unregistered agents for a foreign government under theForeign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The law requires individuals representing the interests of foreign governments be identified to the American public; i.e. lobbyists for foreign governments, etc. Even the Justice Department’s own press release focused on the term ‘agents,’ not ‘spies’.
The individuals are hardly James Bond, they do not have licenses to kill and most of them have no connection to any sort of ‘spy training.’ In fact, some of them have little to no connection to Russia at all.
The media has jumped on board with a sexy story and run with it. Facts, figures and truth-in-words have taken a backseat to sensationalism.
This post originally appeared on RT’s For Your Information.
