Category: POLITICAL BLOGS

Trump’s World: A Culture Fueled by Corruption, Greed and Profit (v3.1)

April 14, 2017
Andrew Yiannakis,  Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus,  University of Connecticut

Research Professor,  University of New Mexico

 

For those among us who have a brain,  and use it,  it has become exceedingly clear that greed and profit are the main driving forces of the Trump Administration. Trump’s executive orders,  and his support by the Republican leadership,  have pretty much undermined,   or destroyed what successive presidents,  both Republican and Democratic,  have accomplished in the past sixty years.  Greed,  the profit motive,  corruption and right wing ideological extremism have turned this great country upside down and both Trump,  and the Republican leadership,  are among the most disliked politicians in American history and,  possibly,  the rest of the world!    Trump’s approval rating is barely at 34% and the Republican ratings are only slightly worse than Trump’s!

 

To date,  we have seen the decimation of the EPA;   Plant Parenthood is being defunded;  the elimination of Meals on Wheels for poor people,  gone;  free school lunch programs for poor kids,  gone;  the deregulation of several consumer protection laws,  gone;  the assault on women’s rights and the LGBT community, in process; the approval of a mediocre candidate to the Supreme Court, done;  the assault on the Paris Accord regarding climate change, in process;  the reduction of benefits to our vets, in process; the relaxation of laws regarding gun possession by unstable people, done; the decimation of the Justice Department, done;  the debacle over Obamacare and Trump’s efforts to introduce Trumpcare,  a bill that would eliminate millions of poor people from access to healthcare and increase profits for the insurance industry, in process;  the removal of regulations protecting public lands from exploitation by the fossil fuel industry, done;  and the removal of laws that permit hunters to shoot practically anything in sight… from bears to wolves (done).  Now,  even shooting our animal kingdom from helicopters has become a legalized  “sport”!

 

The above examples are just a few instances of deplorable,  cruel and self serving actions by this “phony president”,  and the deplorable Members of Congress who support him.

 

Just like drug addicts who must continuously increase the dosage of their heroin dependence,   Trump’s motivation for transforming America is driven by profit,  greed and power;  and he doesn’t seem to get enough of it!  The Republicans in Congress,  however,  are a different kind of animal.  Most appear to be bought and paid for by the NRA,  the pharmaceuticals,  and the insurance and the fossil fuel industries,  and their votes in support of Trump’s initiatives and executive orders is their way of paying off their “debts” to these industries.  And,  let’s not forget the 1%, like the Koch brothers,  among other millionaires who support the GOP,  and who have contributed millions to the Republican leadership,  including the “phony president’s” pre-election campaign.

 

Trump’s lack of popularity,  the emerging evidence of collusion with Russia over the election,  and the looming possibility of corruption charges and indictments, aren’t leaving Trump with too many survival options.  Solution?  Start acting tough around the world;  bomb into oblivion people who are more hated than he is and,  if necessary,  start a war with North Korea.  That’s a strategy that’s worked well with some previous presidents,  and it’s a good way to divert attention from the quagmire he has created for himself.  The real question is,  will America buy his nonsense?  I fear most of his base of deplorables will continue to support him regardless,  which is rather ironic because, in the event of war,  they’ll most likely be among the first to die on some foreign battlefield!  And his 1% of millionaires will most likely find a way to profiteer through the manufacture of weaponry,  and other armaments,  so we can’t expect much opposition to a foreign war from them. The Democrats,  on the other hand,  despite being in the minority in the House and Senate,  have a real opportunity to influence public opinion,  and change hearts and minds. To date, their lack of leadership,  their lack of unity,  and their inability “to find a spine” makes me wonder whether they have what it takes to seize the moment. Perhaps it’s time for Michelle Obama to step up and show them how it’s done!

 

Folks,  it seems to me that there is only one solution.  We must impeach and remove this “phony president” before he destroys everything we hold dear,   and vote the Republican leadership out of office in 2018. It’s becoming clearer by the day that this Republican Party is just bad for America!

On Liberalism & Conservatism: What Do The Terms Really Mean?

Blog #20g: On Liberalism & Conservatism: What do the terms really mean?

January 15th, 2017

Andrew Yiannakis,  Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Connecticut

Folks,  the best minds,  and the best educated people in America are liberals. A lot of research supports this fact and you may check this out for yourselves.  Many teach and do research in our best universities,  and without their contributions the country would stagnate intellectually and such fields as medicine,  technology and space exploration ( among many others)  would suffer irreparably.   In fact,  in our top universities liberal professors outnumber conservative ones by a ratio of 15 to 1. Scientists in the biophysical sciences outnumber conservative professors by an even greater margin of 20 to 1!  This means that for every conservative professor,  we have approximately 15 to 20 who are liberal in their views. Conservative professors are often to be found in business, accounting finance and management.

The practical side of this is the fact that liberal professors vote Democratic while  conservative professors vote mostly Republican.

Is there a lesson in all this for the rest of the country when the smartest and most educated people in America are liberal,  and vote Democratic?  Do they perhaps know something the rest of us don’t?  I was always told that liberal means bad;  an orientation to be avoided at all costs. How can this be possible?

Unfortunately Democrats have allowed the Republicans to dominate the public discourse on this issue for decades,  without doing anything to set the record straight. As a result Republicans have  succeeded in defining liberalism as bad,  or undesirable,  and managed to advance their own conservative agenda to the forefront.  This has caused many liberals to retreat to a less “offensive” label called “Progressivism”, which is a wishy-washy way of saying they are liberals.

The Republican strategy to smear liberalism has had a lot of success,  but thanks to Trump,  and Republican extremists,  they’ve managed to put a lot of dents in the conservative ideology that drives the Republican Party and,  we are now beginning to see a resurgence of liberalism.  Repealing Obamacare, for example, which will affect over 20 million Americans, is now starting to have significant negative consequences for Republicans and more and more Americans are beginning to question the values that Republicans espouse. One consequence is the fact that more Democrats are “coming out of the closet” and declaring proudly that they are liberals.

To be a liberal means:

1. To be more enlightened and open minded; more accepting of new ideas.

2. Value a good education that helps open the mind by encouraging  analysis,  critical thinking and the search for evidence.  Plato wrote that a liberal education frees the mind from  “falsehood and illusion” and a liberal person is a truly educated individual.

3. Further,  to be a liberal means to have a caring attitude for others,  the animal kingdom,  the environment,  and an increased level of tolerance for our differences as human beings.

4. Liberalism also stresses  innovation,  creativity and independent thinking.

5. Liberals tend to be more future-oriented and are more likely to experiment,  and adopt new ideas and ways of doing things.

6. Liberals believe in change,  and the possibilities of change.  Unlike conservatives,  liberals are not afraid of progress or change.

7. Liberals are the ones that most often challenge right wing institutions and practices worldwide ( for example,  big game hunting in Africa or whaling by Japan,  and other nations).

8. Liberals are the ones who are most likely to be interested in traveling and working abroad,  serve in the Peace Corps,  and in “Doctors without Borders”,  among many others.

Notably,  what conservatives don’t seem to get (or maybe they do get it and that’s why they become conservatives!) is the fact that conservatism is a helpful ideology for people who feel insecure in the world,  especially with the pace of life and the speed with which the world is changing.  For conservatives,  life is too much change,  too fast. Clinging to conservative values,  and joining conservative institutions,  may then be a coping mechanism that enables them to live in spaces that help slow things down,  and help provide a sense of security,  stability and predictability.

On a developmental continuum conservatism is an intellectually unevolved state of being because it tends to hold back progress, change,  discovery,  innovation and social and political advancement. Conservatism is also an ideology that hinders intellectual growth by closing the mind.  However,   a good liberal education,  liberal parents,  and friends and relatives who encourage the abandonment of conservative beliefs and ideas,  can fix all that. Conservatism is,  in reality,   an arrested state of individual,  intellectual,  social and political development that has been promoted,  mostly by Republicans,   as the preferred ideology to espouse.  It isn’t!
Conservatism is driven by fear,  insecurity and suspicion and that’s why liberals are seen as a threat.

On an economic level conservatism is also a self serving ideology that promotes and maintains the interests of the powerful and the wealthy,  for whom change is seen as a threat to their stranglehold on the economy and the nation’s wealth.  After all,  if you are among the top 1% that owns or controls 90% of the wealth of a nation,  why would you want to give any of this up? Conservatives tend to oppose change because they have the most to lose!

The key to a good liberal education is the idea that to function effectively in this world the individual must develop a sense of empowerment,  and faith in one’s own abilities and skills.  This includes the confidence to challenge and question;  to think critically and analytically; to reject dogma and rigid and inflexible faith-based beliefs;
and to have the confidence to explore,  investigate,  innovate and take calculated risks.

Only with confidence can one move forward and succeed in life,
and a good liberal education can provide the tools and confidence to do so.

The conservative world,  and the ideology it espouses,  fails on so many fronts by teaching and perpetuating old ways and practices,  most of which are no longer relevant or desirable.  These include:

1. Social and economic inequality;

2. Religious fundamentalism and rigidity;

3. Sexism;

4. Aggression and militarism;

5.  Control of women’s rights

6. The promotion of greed and selfishness:  The notion that it’s OK to exploit workers and pay top CEO’s obscenely high salaries;

7. The exploitation of public lands and the promotion of indifference to our environment;

8. The notion that it’s OK for some  corporations like the pharmaceutical  or the insurance industries,  among others,  to jack up prices a thousand-fold for their drugs or services,  and the nation be damned;

9.  The belief in unbridled capitalism and the exploitation of the American worker;

10. A disdain for programs that help the poor,  the old,  the weak and our veterans;

11. An obsession with religion,  the bible,  guns,  patriotism,  the flag,  the National Anthem, football and  the issue of a woman’s right to choose;

12. Conservatism also focuses on such traditional values that include:

a. the traditional nuclear family and children, to the exclusion of alternative lifestyles;

b. church membership;

c. attending high school football games;

d. conformity to local community standards and expectations; in fact,  conformity is often more highly valued than initiative and independent thinking;

To reinforce the ideology that liberalism is bad,  conservatives bandy about terms like socialism and communism to scare people away from liberal values and beliefs.  The irony is that most conservatives don’t have a clue what these terms actually mean. Let me clarify.  To be a liberal and a socialist has nothing to do with communism;  besides it is safe to say that communism is now a defunct political ideology, anyway,  but many conservatives don’t seem to know that.

Socialism,  or Bernie’s form of “Democratic Socialism”, however,  is an enlightened ideology  that stresses caring for each other,  economic fairness,  the environment,  and so on.  However,  some of Bernie’s views threaten the rapacious capitalists that are allowed to make huge profits at the expense of the average American;

It is important to understand that Conservatism is a self-centered and unevolved  ideology which demonstrates that people espousing such values have not yet grown,  or advanced intellectually or emotionally.  Conservatives display a strong need to cling to right wing institutions and practices such as religion,  football,  the military,  the National Anthem,  and the National Rifle Association,  in order to provide their lives with the psychological security and stability  they seem to crave so much.

So,  does it still surprise you that the brightest and most educated in the land (most hold Ph.D’s, Ed.D’s, M.D.’s or D.Sc.’s) hold liberal views and vote Democratic?
Do they perhaps know something you don’t?

Why The American Presidential Election May Be Illegitimate (1-12-2017)

Why The American Presidential Election May Be Illegitimate

Andrew Yiannakis,  Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Connecticut

The 2016 Presidential Election was one of the most hotly contested and corrupt elections in recent memory. So much so that any respect that people may have had for the political process has undoubtedly been eroded away for generations to come.

Already,  very few Americans trust the results (except the Republicans), especially considering the fact that Hillary won the popular vote by just about three million votes! Therefore,  we now have a President who is considered illegitimate,  and not fit to be Commander-in-Chief. Without such legitimacy,  and the support of most of the American people,  such a President cannot be taken seriously,  or treated with respect.

The four factors below best explain why Trump “won” the 2016 election.

1. The use by the Republican Party of
illegitimate Electors was a major
factor.   Apparently,  over
fifty of them were not eligible to vote.
Without their vote Trump would not
have accumulated the necessary 270
Electoral Votes to become President.

2. Extensive Voter suppression tactics by
the Republicans prevented many poor
Americans from voting.

3. Hacking activities by Russia
clearly damaged Hillary Clinton’s
reputation and helped Trump to
become “President”.  17 independent US
Intelligence Agencies support this
conclusion,  including the CIA,  the FBI
and the NSA. Trump,  when presented
with their reports,  chose instead to
dismiss their findings!

4. The release of unverified negative
information by Comey,  the Director of
the FBI (a Republican) just a few days
before the election was undoubtedly
damaging to Hillary. Hillary had little
time to respond to his report and his
allegations went mostly unchallenged.
The damage was done!

Many believe that the timing of the
release of these allegations was a
Republican attempt intended to
further damage Hillary. Apparently it
succeeded!

Now we have a President who lacks legitimacy and credibility,  and no prior political experience.  It has even been suggested that he is beholden to Russia,
which apparently funded many of his failing business ventures.  Some people are even asking,  “do we have a Russian plant in the White House?”

While Trump may surprise us and turn out to be good for America,  the evidence suggests otherwise.  However,  we can live in hope,  can’t we?  Alternatively,  we have various legal options to do something about it.

The Economic and Political Ramifications of Brexit: An Update on Recent Developments

BLOG 22: The Economic and Political Ramifications of Brexit: An Update on Recent Developments

Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D.
Research Professor
University of New Mexico (USA)
(and a long time resident of England)

The vote to leave the European Union was a dark day for the UK and a giant step backwards into isolation, and economic and political uncertainty. What is even sadder is the fact that the motion to leave carried because unscrupulous politicians like Farage and Johnson were able to convince the British public that the issue was about freedom and independence from the EU, and the ability to control immigration. This could not be a more distorted picture of the relationship between the UK and its membership in the EU.

The UK has always been an independent country. While it may be true that it was never fully committed to the spirit of a United Europe, as evidenced by clinging to the pound and failing to support Europe’s currency, educated Britons recognized the wide array of benefits by remaining in the EU. But, even as a marginal EU member the UK was able to reap many benefits including: unrestricted travel, the right for Britons to work in other EU countries and, of course, the tremendous advantages of having access to one huge market. And the EU Universal Health Insurance card was a nice thing to have when traveling abroad.

In the academic/research sector, it appears that British scientists will be hit hard. British scientists receive approx 1.4 billion dollars a year from the EU for research. With Brexit all these benefits may well be lost.

If the exit vote is ratified by Parliament (despite Theresa May’s machinations behind the scenes), this is what I predict is most likely to happen:

  1. British scientists will lose out on 1.4 billion dollars a year for research.
  2. Some British scientists are already talking about moving to other EU countries; a move   that may well start a brain drain.
  3. The country’ currency has plummeted to an all time low, which is already affecting interest rates and purchasing power for imported goods. Basically, the UK will have to pay more to obtain the same goods from abroad.
  4. By pulling out of the EU the UK will lose its favorite trade status that is currently accorded to all EU member countries. This will increase significantly the cost of selling British goods abroad.
  5. Foreign companies currently based in the UK such as Honda, among many others, will most likely relocate to EU countries so as to continue to receive favored trading conditions for selling their cars in the European market. This will most certainly cause massive unemployment, a situation that Britain can ill afford at this time.
  6. Income and gasoline taxes will undoubtedly go up and, I fear, just as with Greece, pensions may also have to be cut. If the Treasury is left depleted new money will have to come from somewhere…
  7. The combination of all these factors will undoubtedly put considerable strain on the British Treasury and may have dire consequences for the NHS, for unemployment benefits, pensions, the military and other publicly funded services such as schools and universities.  And the massive amounts of funding British scientists receive from the EU will have to be made up if British science is to retain its cutting edge. Where is the money going to come from?

On the subject of supporting the NHS, if the UK leaves the EU Boris Johnson promised the British public that the funds are available, and Brexit will not impact the quality of health services. Later on he admitted that this was not entirely accurate, in effect admitting that he misled the British public on this important issue. Now he has been made Foreign Secretary! The very politician who misled the country on several important issues, and helped divide and polarize the United Kingdom!

On the subject of the NHS we are now being told that the majority of foreign Doctors and Nurse who drive most of the essential NHS Services may have to leave the UK, if Brexit becomes a reality. And to add insult to injury the new Prime Minister had the gall to tell the British public that this huge setback (all the foreign Doctors and Nurses make up approximately 8,000 NHS employees) can be made up by permitting more British candidates to attend medical school and qualify to work in the NHS. Even if that were a realistic alternative, it would take up to seven years to train and qualify new medical personnel. What is the NHS to do in the meantime? Further, to open up more slots in British medical schools will require more resources and faculty, and it may also mean that standards will have to be lowered. Has anybody thought through the implications of pursuing such a short-sighted strategy?

The reality of the situation is that unless the UK can find the money elsewhere, it will be forced to take unpopular measures such as raising taxes and cutting pensions, among other cost-cutting measures. This is not scare-mongering; it is a reasonable scenario if Britain can’t raise the funds from other sources.

I say to the British public, “Is this what you bargained for when you voted to leave the EU?” Is the ability to “control immigration”, as your leaders promised you’d be able to do, worth all this devastation? If you Brexit you’ll end up alone and isolated, and if Scotland parts ways with England, as I’m sure it will, your situation will become even worse. Do you really want to become the “diminished little Britain” after Scotland pulls out, as Angus Robertson pointed out in a speech in the House of Commons?

It appears Theresa May’s conservative, and mostly hidden agenda, are leading the UK down a path that will have serious consequences for the average man. However, there is still hope if Parliament asserts its right to debate and vote on the issue of Brexit, because, a referendum is not a binding vote as if it were an election. Yes, the referendum gauged the will of the people at a time when reason was not at its optimal, and the result for Brexit was a mere four percentage points. Hardly a mandate for taking the UK out of the EU, especially now that we have a pretty good idea what the real consequences will be!

There is still time to correct this insane act and stop this conservative government from a very perilous act; an act that will damage the economy, raise taxes, degrade the NHS and increase the cost of living in an already over-taxed nation.

ARE YOU A TRUE REPUBLICAN?

ARE YOU A TRUE REPUBLICAN? (v3.2)
Take the survey below and find out.

Check all items below that YOU AGREE WITH and then total up your score

If you score 28 or over, you are a True Republican. Nobody can change your mind.

If you score 22-27 you are a faithful Republican with strong beliefs

If you score 16-21, you are a Middle-Of-The-Road Republican

If you score 10-15, your allegiance to the Republican Party may be weak

If you score 4-9 you may want to start looking for another Political Party

If your score is under 4, why are you still voting Republican?

————————————————————

Please Check All The Items You Agree With and Add Up For a Total Score

  1. You are against any gun control legislation. YES (  )
  2. You favor lower taxes for the very rich.  YES (  )
  3. You don’t believe in science. NO I DON’T (  )
  4. You believe that Trump would make a good President. YES ( )
  5. You favor increased military spending. YES (  )
  6. You are opposed to a woman’s right to choose.  YES (  )
  7. You believe in lowering taxes for big business.  YES (  )
  8. You are opposed to spending money to develop clean, renewable forms of energy (e.g., wind, solar, etc.). YES  (  )
  9. You believe that too much money is being spent on protecting the environment.  YES  (  )
  10. You believe that people who are mentally disturbed should be allowed to buy guns.  YES (  )
  11. You are in favor of Christian prayer in the schools. YES (  )
  12. You don’t believe in evolution. NO I DON’T  (  )
  13. Before coming to the USA all Muslims should undergo thorough background checks.  YES (  )
  14. You don’t believe that human activity contributes to climate change. NO I DON’T (  )
  15. You are opposed to gay marriage. YES (  )
  16. You believe that Creationism should be taught in the schools. YES  (  )
  17. You are against abortion. YES  (  )
  18. You believe in deporting illegal immigrants and their families back to Mexico. YES  ( )
  19. You don’t believe in science. NO I DON’T  (  )
  20. You are against a strong Federal Government. YES (  )
  21. You are opposed to Democratic Socialism (as advanced by Bernie Sanders). YES (  )
  22. You don’t believe in the separation of Church and State.  NO I DON’T  (  )
  23. You believe that the USA should become a theocracy based on Christian Principles. YES  (  )
  24. You believe the economy does better under Republican Administrations. YES  (  )
  25. You are opposed to welfare for the poor.  YES (  )
  26. You believe LGBT people are sick and need help. YES (  )
  27. You are opposed to raising the minimum wage. YES  (  )
  28. You are opposed to Federal funding for pre-school education.
    YES  (  )
  29. You believe in deporting all Muslims from the USA. YES  (  )
  30. You are opposed to Obamacare. YES  (  )
  31. You are against Federal funding for birth control.  YES (  )
  32. You are against Unions. YES  (  )
  33. You support the NRA. YES  (  )
  34. You go to church every week. YES  (  )
  35. Porn is “a public health crisis” and should be outlawed. YES (  )
  36. You believe in defunding programs such as medical care (and Veterans’ hospitals) for veterans. YES ( )
  37. You are against Federal funding for free school lunches for poor kids. YES (  )

38. You believe in opening up public lands for commercial development. YES (  )

TOTAL SCORE =

V3.2

 

Turkish Violations of Greek Airspace: What Is Turkey Up To?

BLOG (PL): Turkish Violations of Greek Airspace (v2.0)

Recently,  Turkey had the nerve to threaten Russia for violations of Turkish airspace. In fact,  Turkey shot down a Russian plane several months ago for crossing, and remaining in  Turkish airspace for about 45 seconds. Seriously?  In 2015 Turkey violated Greek airspace over 130 times!  Fortunately the Greek response was restrained and did not become violent. Can’t say the same for Turkey!

Now that Russia has violated Turkish airspace on TWO occasions the Turks are outraged that another country would dare do it to them! I say to Turkey,  try respecting other countries’ airspace first and then your complaints might be taken more seriously.

Turkey is unfortunately displaying the mentality of all bullies. They pick on militarily weaker countries, but when a more powerful nation such as Russia dishes it out to them,  they cry foul and whine and gripe. They obviously can’t take it.  Turkey is very fortunate that the Russian response was quite restrained,  this time around.

Sorry Turkey but nobody is coming to the rescue the next time this happens. However,  use this encounter with Russia and learn from it.  If you persist in the current war of words with Russia you may well end up with Russian troops in Ankara,  or you’ll have to deal with devastating Russian missile attacks! My advice, “don’t shoot down any more Russian planes”!

And,  who knows how long Greece and her allies will continue to tolerate violations of her airspace? If you continue to provoke,  like the bullies you are,  you may well give rise to hostilities that you may not be able to extricate yourselves from. And finally,  such provocations aren’t likely to impress the European Union,  and your application for membership. Of course, if Russia decides to intervene militarily,  Turkey may not be able to join the EU because very little will remain of today’s Turkey. If you haven’t learned this already,  learn your lesson now.  Russia is not a country you want to trifle with!

Clearly, Turkey under Erdogan’s fascist Government is continuing to rattle its sabers and engage in provocative acts of aggression. Its latest foray into aggression is the violation of Greek airspace, again! Three days ago (on Friday, September 30th), a Turkish fighter jet, accompanied by two helicopters, violated Greek airspace over the Southeastern Aegean. Including 2015, Turkey has violated Greek airspace over 140 times.   Every time, Greek fighter jets chased the intruders out of Greek airspace without a shot being fired.

What is one to make of all this? Are Turkish pilots so incompetent that they can’t figure out what their on-board instruments are telling them? Or, is Turkey testing the waters to determine how far they can push Greece? The latter is a more likely scenario, and such behavior raises to higher levels the tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean. Why is Erdogan’s Government playing this dangerous game? One possible reason may be a dissatisfaction by the Turks of the terms of the Lausanne Treaty of 1923. The treaty basically divided up the Eastern Mediterranean into Greek and Turkish sectors with clearly prescribed boundaries. Boundaries which Turkey appears to be challenging under Erdogan’s hawkish politics by continually violating Greek airspace. Is it possible that Turkey wants war with Greece in order to win back the territory Erdogan thinks Turkey lost under the Treaty of Lausanne?

Clearly, Erdogan has lost a sense of perspective. With all that’s happening in Syria and Iraq is this a good time to increase tensions in the region even more? Or, is he perhaps hoping that while the allies are concentrating on the war with ISIS they may not be ready, or willing, to intervene in hostilities between Turkey and Greece?

It is hard to read the mind of a dictator like Erdogan, but what has been clear with most dictators in the past, they all seem to need more power, and conquest seems to be a preferred strategy. Their strategy is to whip up nationalistic feelings in the nation, obtain the support of right wing fascists in the country, establish total control over the military, and then start to flex their military muscle (most likely against Greece). Given the state of disarray that Greece finds itself in at this time, I would predict that if I were Erdogan I would see this time as a good opportunity to strike.

I say to Greece and her allies, “remain vigilant because Erdogan may be another Hitler on the rise”! Constant violations of Greek airspace by Turkey may just be that, or they be a harbinger of something more ominous…..

Whats Is True Patriotism?

BLOG #17b: What is True Patriotism?

The term “patriotism” may well mean different things to different people.  I get that.   But at the heart of this term is the notion that patriots love their country,  and through ACTIONS and DEEDS help make it a safer and better place for all of us.

While many associate patriotism with displaying the flag and talking about how great the country is,  they in fact do very little by way of actions or deeds to make the USA a better place for all. Their rhetoric tends to be divisive,  and they often engage in a lot of fear mongering and hate. This is not true patriotism because fear and hate polarize Americans,  contribute to the rise of hate groups and make us view with suspicion Americans of different skin, color, or faith. Such behavior weakens the fabric of American society and undermines our ability to work together to make the nation a safer, and better place.

True patriotism,  on the other hand,  involves ACTIONS and DEEDS that help us see our differences as valuable assets and strengths that can be used for the betterment of our nation. Hillary Clinton is correct on this point.  We are “Stronger Together!”

Patriotism can take many forms so long as our actions contribute to the security and defense of the nation, and help make the country a better place to live. More specifically,  true patriotism is more than just words,  posturing, or the worship of symbols such as the flag. True Patriotism requires ACTIONS and DEEDs that:

1. Contribute to the protection and security of a nation.

2. Help move the country forward, and to a better place,  politically,  socially,  educationally, economically,  environmentally and scientifically.

Those patriots who contribute to the protection and security of a nation typically serve in our military;  they serve as police officers;  they work for our intelligence agencies,  and so on. An important aspect of their work is the fact that often they are called upon to put their lives on the line. This is one way of demonstrating true patriotism.

Other types of patriots that help make our country a better place work in education as teachers;  they help enhance the health of the nation by working as nurses,  paramedics,  firefighters and health professionals; they work in politics to make just laws that help all our citizens;  they work helping the needy and downtrodden,  trying to make their lives better;  they work with children and single mothers to empower them to take care of themselves; economically,  they contribute to the wealth of the nation by creating economic opportunities so that all Americans can achieve the American Dream, and contribute in productive ways;  they pay their taxes! Others help protect our environment and help make America a better place to live;  and,  scientifically,  they contribute through research and technological innovation that make our lives better,  and keep our country on the cutting edge of discovery and new product development.

The point is that all activities that help the security and defense of our nation, and help make the country a better place to live, reflect different forms of patriotism. Those who put their lives on the line for our country do, of course, deserve special praise and support, including the best medical care.

Patriotism is about ACTIONS and DEEDS and not about wrapping oneself in the flag and spouting forth slogans and extremist rhetoric.  It is about actions and deeds that help bring us together;  it is about actions and deeds that make us stronger by utilizing the strengths of our diversity; it is about actions and deeds that help us look more kindly on our fellow citizens;  it is about actions and deeds that unite us in continuing to keep our country great,  and,  it is about actions and deeds that help protect our country and make it a safer place for all Americans.  This is what true patriotism is about!

The fact is we are “stronger together” and those who would create division,  intolerance and fear in our nation are the most unpatriotic of all.  And a nation divided is a weak nation.

So,  ask these people who equate patriotism with militarism, the flag, and intolerance of our differences in terms of beliefs and skin color: “by what actions or deeds are you making America a safer and better place”?

My best guess is that the hypocrites and bigots,  who tend to be the biggest loudmouths in professing their patriotism,  will fail this test of true patriotism.

In conclusion,  any American can demonstrate his or her patriotism by engaging in ACTIONS and DEEDS that:

(1) Help protect America and make it a safer place for all.

(2). Help move the country forward,  and to a better place,  by contributing socially,  politically,  economically,  educationally, environmentally and scientifically,  among other areas.

Andrew Yiannakis,  Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
University of Connecticut (ret.)
Research Professor
University of New Mexico (USA)
8th Dan,  Traditional Jujutsu
6th Dan,  Traditional Kodokan Judo

Texas and the “Open Carry” Law

BLOG #20a: Texas And The “Open Carry” Law

 A half-baked idea by a half-brained legislature?

 Andrew Yiannakis, Ph.D.

 Professor Emeritus, University of Connecticut

Research Professor, University of New Mexico (USA)

There is a cancer sweeping across America, gobbling up large swaths of territory. This cancer has a name, and it’s not ISIS! It is a brand of right wing extremism that has taken over the minds of the poor and the uneducated, and has found a voice in some legislatures across the country. This NRA-driven initiative is the latest manifestation of this cancer in the Texas Legislature, and the passage of its “open carry” law with minimum restrictions. While almost 31 States in the Union have “open carry” laws, this recent enactment removes most of the restrictions associated with this law. The Texas law basically makes it legal to openly carry a weapon almost anywhere in the State of Texas, including public university campuses and the classroom. A Texas resident now has a right to legally carry a gun, openly, to a sports event; to a bank; to a shopping mall; to a Post Office; and to college campuses and the classroom (private universities are exempt). In fact, the law has made it legal, under a deliberate misinterpretation of the 2nd Amendment, to turn the State of Texas into an armed camp.

 

According to former conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, the right to carry guns is protected under the 2nd Amendment by the Constitution of the United States, so long as those who carry such weapons form a “well-regulated militia for the purpose of protecting the State”. The latest law enacted by Texas makes it legal for any citizen to carry a gun to pretty much anywhere, whether that citizen is a member of a “well-regulated militia”, or not.

 

The motivation behind this law appears to be the perceived need for citizens to be able to defend themselves against acts of terrorism, or insanity (sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference) against lone or multiple shooters. The horror of recent acts of violence in schools (e.g. Sandy Hook), in places of worship (e.g., South Carolina), and the recent murder of 49 people in an LGBT night club in Orlando, Florida, to mention but a few, has critics suggesting that the police is not up to the task of protecting citizens, and “open carry” seems to be the only logical solution available. At least, this is what the NRA would have us believe. So, the Texas Legislature, without examining the larger picture, and the ramifications of turning Texas into an armed camp, recently passed a special “open carry” law that permits citizens to take their guns practically anywhere they want to, including public university campuses and classrooms. This, in theory will enable citizens to defend against random acts of violence by the insane, the unhinged, or by terrorists.

 

On the surface, and in the absence of effective police protection, this law makes sense. But like every complex issue, simplistic solutions often miss the mark and, in this case, the Texas Legislature missed the mark by a mile. And what a public relations disaster this law will be for Texas!

Consider the following ramifications:

Relations Between the Police and the Public

Relations between the police and the public are already strained in many parts of the US. This past year we’ve seen over 760 shootings by police, the latest one being a case of a North Carolina State Trooper shooting, in error, an unarmed deaf/mute person who failed to stop his car when ordered to do so. While the notion of “shoot first and ask questions later” may apply to some cops, especially in high crime areas, how much more jittery do you think cops will be in “open carry” States when every time they stop someone for some routine violation, they’ll wonder whether the subject is armed? If you were a cop how would you react under such circumstances? In fact, I predict that we shall see many more shootings by police in “open carry” States than ever before. If I were a cop I would play it safe and shoot first and ask questions later.

In “open carry” States (especially those with few restrictions) it’ll make the job of police work much more complicated, especially when the police arrive on the scene of an on-going shoot-out between the “good” guys and “bad” guys. How is the police going to be able to sort all this out in the heat of the moment? If I were a cop I would shoot at anyone pointing a gun at me and ask questions later. If I were to hesitate I would be putting my life at risk. Why would we want to add more pressure on the police when the job they do is already stressful enough?

  1. If the intent of “open carry” laws is to give citizens a fair chance of defending themselves against acts of violence, there is an implied assumption in this law that, without any training under “combat” conditions citizens will remain calm, and disciplined, and defend themselves by shooting back at their attacker (and not at each other or the police). Yet, we know that even the most well trained soldiers sometimes falter under the pressure of gunfire, with the result that they either freeze, or start to shoot back recklessly, sometimes injuring or killing each other.

Some Economic Impacts of “Open Carry”

Economically this law may have severe consequences for both domestic and international tourism. Domestically, I predict a drop in visits from other US States that don’t have “open carry” laws, but where Texas is going to be hit the hardest is from international tourist arrivals, especially from Europe, Canada and Japan. International visitors generate a considerable amount of revenue for States such as Texas and Florida, among others, and a drop-off in tourist arrivals will cause the economy of Texas a lot of damage. Already, the mounting gun violence in the United States has caused the governments of France, and several other European countries, to begin issuing warnings to its citizens to avoid certain States and cities in the United States. My prediction is that these warnings will be extended to target States with “open carry” laws, and especially States that have few, or no restrictions on the carrying of guns.

Very often, what Americans don’t get is the fact that gun ownership in the rest of the world is an abhorrent idea and people feel uncomfortable around guns, especially when they are openly displayed. Guns are associated with rogue states and unstable third world countries, and are not seen as appropriate in civilized societies. Clearly, the Texas legislature failed to consider the broader ramifications of enacting an “open carry” law with almost no restrictions, and the State will suffer for it where it hurts the most. The pocketbook!

  1. The Convention Industry

The Convention Industry is a major source of revenue for many US States. It brings in visitors from around the world for trade conventions, sports conventions, movie conventions, academic conventions and conferences, and the like. The income generated by such events contributes to a State’s economy in significant ways, and can put a severe strain on a State when such income is lost, as North Carolina found out with its restrictive LGBT law.

  1. “Open Carry”: The College Campus and the Classroom

As a retired university professor, the idea of students “packing heat” in the classroom is very disconcerting, to say the least. University campuses and the classroom have always been thought as near “sacrosanct environments” that provide students a hiatus from the demands and pressures of everyday life. It is a place where education can take place unhindered and unfettered by fear, threat or intimidation. It is a place where the pursuit of learning, and the trust that often develops between students and professors can lead to the freedom to challenge ideas without fear of intimidation, to question, investigate and analyze openly, and honestly. The classroom is a place where students can learn to think first, and acquire technical, or job skills second. It is a place where ideas, questioning, debate and discussion help to open the mind and free students from “falsehood and illusion”, as Plato wrote over two thousand years ago. By bringing guns into the classroom, the near pristine nature of an ideal learning environment will be contaminated and corrupted, thus damaging the learning process and causing mistrust between professors and students (and even among students themselves).

“Open carry” on campus (or any guns on campus) and the classroom is a very bad idea for another reason. Since the law gives everyone the right to carry a gun, what is there to prevent some professors from packing in the classroom, as well? After all, professors have the right to defend themselves under this law as well! I know that many professors in Texas are already intimidated by the idea of students bringing guns to the classroom, and this is causing many to consider leaving the Texas system of higher education. Already, there are reports that faculty are leaving Texas universities in large numbers, which is not surprising, and my guess is that those who choose to remain may start bringing their own guns to the classroom as well!

The militarization of Texas, and in particular, its public universities, will have severe consequences on Texas higher education. Top academics are already abandoning ship, and one major consequence will be the degradation of higher education. This will also tarnish the image of Texas’ fine universities. The negative snowball effect and economic impact of guns on campus, and in the classroom, could be devastating. Economically, many universities in Texas generate revenue by admitting international students who often pay top dollar to attend. I predict that much of this revenue will be lost as most international students will study elsewhere in the USA. If the cancer continues to spread to other States, and more American universities become armed camps, I predict that the USA will start to see fewer and fewer international students attending American universities. This trend will undoubtedly help British and other major European universities where guns are illegal.

Finally, I should mention that many college professors in Texas are extremely concerned about this turn of events, and recently filed a motion to overturn the open carry law, as it applies to college campuses and the classroom. Their “initiative” didn’t go anywhere. A Texas judge upheld the “open carry” law without restrictions, starting, in effect, the Texas academic brain drain!

“Open Carry” at Sports Events

The potential for gun violence in sports events is high, given that the excitement and the action of a game often energize and hype up fans and spectators. In such a hyped-up state it is not unreasonable to predict that some fans, upset by losing an important game decide to “punish” the athlete, or athletes who, in their minds lost the game for them. What is there to stop an irate fan from using their AR-15 to take out the athlete who fumbled a ball and helped destroy everything they lived for? I would suggest that in a high state of excitation, and after having put a few beers away, shooting the athlete who failed them won’t seem such an unreasonable act. After all, they deserved it, right?

Further, how is “open carry” going to affect sports events, and other events of a social nature that traditionally attract families with young kids? Would you, as a parent, want to take a chance and take your children to an event where you may be surrounded by excited, and hyped up fans, most of whom are brandishing assault weapons all around you?

An Aside

Texas has historically shown an inclination to want to secede from the Union, to become its own independent country. Perhaps this is the time to grant them their wish before their cancer starts to infect the rest of the nation. And, as a bonus, after Trump loses to Hillary in November, he may be invited to become the first President of the new State of Texas where, he’ll at least be able to qualify for a loan without having to reach out to Russia!!! And, as a bonus, he’ll have the money to pay for his “wall”, for the Mexican Government is certainly not going to oblige him!

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TO LAY or TO LIE?

BLOG 10c: To LAY and TO LIE
Today I discuss the near constant misuse of the verbs to “lie” and “lay”.

To “lie”, as in… “to lie down” simply means to recline. To “lay” does NOT mean the same, and the two verbs are NOT interchangeable. To “lay” means to put or place somewhere as in… “to lay the book on the table”.

As well as being different in meaning, the two verbs are also governed by different grammatical rules. To “lie” is an intransitive verb, and as such it may not take a direct object. Thus, it it correct to say…”lie down” but NOT “lay down”.
On the other hand, to “lay” is a transitive verb and, as such, it must be accompanied by a direct object as in…. “lay the book down on the table”, with the book being the direct object.

The two verbs are frequently misused and, for example, when you visit your doctor the nurse will often ask you to “lay down”. This is totally wrong on two counts because to lay means to put or place, and also requires the addition of a direct object. A possible way around this for those who insist on misusing the verb to “lay” is to say something like “lay yourself down on the bed”, with “yourself” being the required object. This now means “put/place yourself down on the bed”, which is correct in both meaning and grammar, but is a rather awkward way to speak.

Every language has a rule structure called grammar that develops over long periods of time. That is, both language and grammar evolve based on long term usage. However, we should not assume that change, as far as language is concerned, happens overnight, over several years, or decades. While new terms enter our current vocabulary every ten years, or so, grammatical rules and word meanings are much more stable and persistent and it may take fifty to a hundred years, or more, before we begin to see substantive changes in both grammar and word meaning.

Best advice: Learn the grammatical rules of your generation if you want to speak and write persuasively and effectively.