What is eating America away?
Rizwan Ghani
February 08, 2010
A Washington Post opinion editorial Why did Pelosi not stop waterboarding? Re-circulated in February 6, Arab News (www.arabnews.com) is tip of the iceberg that infests America´s Capitol Hill, Wall Street, Main Street and the media. The problem is not that rest of the world will not give a damn about a superpower going down. The ordinary person in the west did not even bother about the fall of former Soviet Union. If public did, it was the Warsaw Pact States that are still lost. The problem is America´s fall will be no different. It will also bring down another twenty to thirty countries with it, leaving more number of people poorer for no fault of their own. To end this blindness America must stop lying and start holding people responsible for tearing the country down from within to help restore democracy gone rogue.
Let us get the facts straight. Pelosi did keep her eyes closed on torture, and I would have been pleased if Washington Post had targeted Pelosi in national interest not political stakes. Democrats failure to keep Republicans from authorizing torture camps, rendition flights, deployment of mercenaries in war zones and covering up over million deaths in Iraq, leaving half a million widows, some 400,000 plus orphans and another seven million refugees has hurt American image in rest of the world. Today, Asia is not stronger than America, for now it is standing on higher moral ground. If America has to regain its lost trust in rest of the world, Obama will have to admit Washington´s ugly past before rest of America and hold those responsible for the carnage accountable to start a new beginning for America. The day it will be done, American dream will be regain its shine on the world stage because for rest of the world America is more about law, justice and human rights than military and economic force.
The timing of The Washington Post article about Pelosi and torture is all about coming elections of Congress, Senate and some 35-governor seats. Pelosi, as the fourth most powerful person in American political hierarchy, is the target because she is a democrat. Imagine she is replaced by a Republican House Speaker and that too supported by a Republican majority Congress. It will not only turn Obama into a "non-functional" president but also bring politics on the Capitol Hill to a complete halt. It would be interesting to see Democrats getting their act together to ward off the latest charge that ultimately aims to end Obama´s second term in office.
On torture, I hope someone would remind the Republicans and the paper that it´s the military and the intelligence agencies who had to uphold torture policies mandated in red book which were approved by the lawmakers. If Republicans so very much want a showoff on torture, Democrats should bring trial of military top brass of Bush era, Tenet´s medal, Bush era ex-AGs illegal interpretation of torture under US constitution and Bush´s undermining of Congress itself by waging illegal Iraq War and going to Afghan War without Congress´ vote. Republicans in White House including Bush are fugitives of law, when it comes to illegal firing of nine US attorneys that unfortunately Democrats have failed to bring it to logical closure. Still let the Republicans bring it on.
Time is running out for Democrats on banking reforms and Republicans in the Senate are just working to make sure that Obama fails to uphold his mandate of change. Let me remind the Democrats that time has come for too big to fall including AIG setups giving away millions in bonuses, and their "squeaky-clean" supporter Geithner to go. He should not stay put because Democrats don´t have enough votes to get a new Treasury Secretary. Let me do the maths for you. All state of America posted $256 bn budget deficit whereas Republicans gave trillion plus dollars in Stimulus I & II. Obama must get rid of army of who-is- who to put in place a mandate of change which main street voted for. Or else be ready to be the next Jimmy Carter of Democrat Party. Pelosi needs to stand up with Obama for two reasons: a) He is America´s president. B) Republicans are coming after her, so she needs to do what is to be done to leave them in their boxers. After all, she is sitting on treasure trove of Republican lies and when politics get dirty, there is no holds bar.
Roosevelt resolved the salary issue by fixing 7:1 salary ratio for the employer and employee as part of 30s New Deal. Obama needs to follow suit for one simple reason and that is it is public money and therefore bankers using account holders money will be paid in proportion to average public salary on main street. The financial institutions like private industry bringing private money are free to set their own pay structure and that however will be taxed like doctors, engineers etc. Republicans went to Supreme Court in 30s and sooner than later Obama will have to do away with banker bonuses and high salaries if he wants the economy to revive. And the moment he will do so these bankers and Republicans will run to the SC. Democrats should therefore prepare for it.
American wars are taking away American jobs. Congress approved $680 bln plus defense budget in 2009 but it is not willing to vote on Afghan war. The same money could have helped Obama administration reduce widening unemployment now touching 10 percent. Republicans want Democrats to fund their wars in the name of national security and in next elections they will happily use public discontent to return to power. Shouldn´t the Democrats be looking beyond war America to revive the economy and win 2012 presidential elections? Under the current Democrat war and economic policies, it appears to a remote possibility.
Corruption is eating away America. Democrats must remind America that Bush allegedly headed the most corrupt administration in terms of political and financial accountability, and moral uprighteouness. A government servant used federal employee´s credit card to buy $3000 plus lingerie, and despite media outcry including an editorial in The New York Times, she is still out there enjoying it and leaving the taxpayers to pick up the tab. So much for the Republicans love for public. In contrast, French first lady Carla Bruni had to return Palace´s credit card for irregularly spending $148.
Healthcare is a $1.3 trillion business in which now India is also involved. Reportedly, American hospitals have outsourced test reports and prescriptions to overseas doctors whose majority is in India. Health sector is raking profit but unwilling to pass the benefits to ordinary Americans. Democrats need to look into this chaos to stabilize whatever health reforms are in hand.
American media should its service to the public by showing how Republicans are blocking 791 nominations to stall Democrat agenda of discharging their political duties http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/reid-gop-endangers-our-na_n_446429.html. It is everything but politics in public interest.
Finally, America needs to put its house in order in terms of respecting international laws and conventions including torture to regain its global trust and the road to it starts with transparent accountability. On the domestic front, there should be zero tolerance for corruption and there should be accountability, formulation of clear banking laws, and positive politics that can help America face the recession.
Let us get the facts straight. Pelosi did keep her eyes closed on torture, and I would have been pleased if Washington Post had targeted Pelosi in national interest not political stakes. Democrats failure to keep Republicans from authorizing torture camps, rendition flights, deployment of mercenaries in war zones and covering up over million deaths in Iraq, leaving half a million widows, some 400,000 plus orphans and another seven million refugees has hurt American image in rest of the world. Today, Asia is not stronger than America, for now it is standing on higher moral ground. If America has to regain its lost trust in rest of the world, Obama will have to admit Washington´s ugly past before rest of America and hold those responsible for the carnage accountable to start a new beginning for America. The day it will be done, American dream will be regain its shine on the world stage because for rest of the world America is more about law, justice and human rights than military and economic force.
The timing of The Washington Post article about Pelosi and torture is all about coming elections of Congress, Senate and some 35-governor seats. Pelosi, as the fourth most powerful person in American political hierarchy, is the target because she is a democrat. Imagine she is replaced by a Republican House Speaker and that too supported by a Republican majority Congress. It will not only turn Obama into a "non-functional" president but also bring politics on the Capitol Hill to a complete halt. It would be interesting to see Democrats getting their act together to ward off the latest charge that ultimately aims to end Obama´s second term in office.
On torture, I hope someone would remind the Republicans and the paper that it´s the military and the intelligence agencies who had to uphold torture policies mandated in red book which were approved by the lawmakers. If Republicans so very much want a showoff on torture, Democrats should bring trial of military top brass of Bush era, Tenet´s medal, Bush era ex-AGs illegal interpretation of torture under US constitution and Bush´s undermining of Congress itself by waging illegal Iraq War and going to Afghan War without Congress´ vote. Republicans in White House including Bush are fugitives of law, when it comes to illegal firing of nine US attorneys that unfortunately Democrats have failed to bring it to logical closure. Still let the Republicans bring it on.
Time is running out for Democrats on banking reforms and Republicans in the Senate are just working to make sure that Obama fails to uphold his mandate of change. Let me remind the Democrats that time has come for too big to fall including AIG setups giving away millions in bonuses, and their "squeaky-clean" supporter Geithner to go. He should not stay put because Democrats don´t have enough votes to get a new Treasury Secretary. Let me do the maths for you. All state of America posted $256 bn budget deficit whereas Republicans gave trillion plus dollars in Stimulus I & II. Obama must get rid of army of who-is- who to put in place a mandate of change which main street voted for. Or else be ready to be the next Jimmy Carter of Democrat Party. Pelosi needs to stand up with Obama for two reasons: a) He is America´s president. B) Republicans are coming after her, so she needs to do what is to be done to leave them in their boxers. After all, she is sitting on treasure trove of Republican lies and when politics get dirty, there is no holds bar.
Roosevelt resolved the salary issue by fixing 7:1 salary ratio for the employer and employee as part of 30s New Deal. Obama needs to follow suit for one simple reason and that is it is public money and therefore bankers using account holders money will be paid in proportion to average public salary on main street. The financial institutions like private industry bringing private money are free to set their own pay structure and that however will be taxed like doctors, engineers etc. Republicans went to Supreme Court in 30s and sooner than later Obama will have to do away with banker bonuses and high salaries if he wants the economy to revive. And the moment he will do so these bankers and Republicans will run to the SC. Democrats should therefore prepare for it.
American wars are taking away American jobs. Congress approved $680 bln plus defense budget in 2009 but it is not willing to vote on Afghan war. The same money could have helped Obama administration reduce widening unemployment now touching 10 percent. Republicans want Democrats to fund their wars in the name of national security and in next elections they will happily use public discontent to return to power. Shouldn´t the Democrats be looking beyond war America to revive the economy and win 2012 presidential elections? Under the current Democrat war and economic policies, it appears to a remote possibility.
Corruption is eating away America. Democrats must remind America that Bush allegedly headed the most corrupt administration in terms of political and financial accountability, and moral uprighteouness. A government servant used federal employee´s credit card to buy $3000 plus lingerie, and despite media outcry including an editorial in The New York Times, she is still out there enjoying it and leaving the taxpayers to pick up the tab. So much for the Republicans love for public. In contrast, French first lady Carla Bruni had to return Palace´s credit card for irregularly spending $148.
Healthcare is a $1.3 trillion business in which now India is also involved. Reportedly, American hospitals have outsourced test reports and prescriptions to overseas doctors whose majority is in India. Health sector is raking profit but unwilling to pass the benefits to ordinary Americans. Democrats need to look into this chaos to stabilize whatever health reforms are in hand.
American media should its service to the public by showing how Republicans are blocking 791 nominations to stall Democrat agenda of discharging their political duties http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/02/reid-gop-endangers-our-na_n_446429.html. It is everything but politics in public interest.
Finally, America needs to put its house in order in terms of respecting international laws and conventions including torture to regain its global trust and the road to it starts with transparent accountability. On the domestic front, there should be zero tolerance for corruption and there should be accountability, formulation of clear banking laws, and positive politics that can help America face the recession.
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