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Chinese Republic of Arabia

 Note of the Day - June 30, 2036 ---- Do you remember the first decade of the twenty first century? Back then, things were surely different. Have you ever heard the word, petroleum? In those earlier years, the world economy revolved around the stuff. The general use of hydrogen based automobiles changed the world as much as the introduction of the automobile itself. Add to that the rapid expansion of plastics and other materials being developed as by-products during coal processing and we’ve come a long way since 2010!

The Chinese Republic of Arabia

I’m sure that you are familiar with the country known as CROA or the Chinese Republic of Arabia. (formerly Saudi Arabia)  They are again in the news (and deservedly so) as the testing ground for the newest of the Chinese satellite based nuclear weaponry. This time it is their advanced orbiting missile which had apparently escaped detection for more than two weeks prior to being noticed earlier today by the anti-orbital missile system (AOMS) of the United States.  Diplomatic talks between the U.S. and China are moving at full speed as of this minute though much is still shrouded in mystery.

Obama's Varying Finance Decision

I'm not at all sure how to take Obama's opting out of Public Financing for the 2008 general election. Certainly, it is now the more financially sound path to the presidency. The problem is that I don't like to hear him changing his position on what I see as one of his values, particularly on a position that he's clarified so recently. At issue is the reversal of his stated intent and agreement to use the Public Financing system to support his presidential campaign during the general election. Not only did he agree to it, but his comments about it were very forceful.

"Where the Right Went Wrong", My thoughts...

I agree with much that Pat Buchanan says or writes. With the same gusto, I disagree with much of what he says or writes. Most who have seen or heard him will agree that he has some sharp viewpoints backed up by compelling arguments consisting of more than plain Washington spin.  This is a guy who I'd love to have a conversation with. Anyway, this book contains many points that I agree with strongly.

The following quote from the book is an excellent metaphor describing areas of U.S. foreign policy, particularly those relating to the Middle East.

A Constitutional Stir

From time to time I'll read through parts of the Constitution just to make sure that I have my head on straight.  Here is a passage from the original work, in Article IV, Section 2.

"No person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due."

Of course, this was overturned by the 13th Amendment which had been set in motion by Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.

Regardless, it shows a side of our forefathers that I don't like to see.  It seems that slavery was initially legal not due to the lack of a law declaring otherwise but by full proclamation of the Constitution.  I'm a full blown skeptic by nature and the above quote brings it out to the fullest. 

I don't want to dwell on this as I fully believe that the Constitution is an exemplary document and must be lived up to.   This is just a quote that stirs my emotions.  If nothing else, it is proof that the framers were human.

"What Happened", My Thoughts on the Book

Last night, I finished (finally) Scott McClellan's book entitled,"What Happened", about his time spent with the Bush Administration.  Here are some of my thoughts:

I initially bought the book for a few reasons.  One, it was by an administration 'insider' and the picture that had been painted was not pretty.  That alone would probably have gotten me to buy the book as I'm deeply skeptical of what is currently going on in the White House.  Because  Scott McClellan had essentially been 'screwed' by Scooter Libby and Karl Rove (and probably others including  Dick Cheney) I thought the book would have some fire.  Two, I was also looking for more clarity as to the goal in publicizing the name of Valerie Plame.  Three, I was looking for clarity on the entire issue of Iraq.

What I Liked the Most:
The part of this book that I most enjoyed was easily the final chapter which described a method for dealing with the permanent campaigning of those in the White House, regardless of party affiliation. 

McCain Ad Foolish

By Jeff Hagen

Earlier this morning, I came across what appeared to be an internet poll with the question, "Is it OK to unconditionally meet with anti-American foreign leaders?"  Over top of the question were pictures of Mahmoud Ahmajinidad and Barack Obama.  Beneath were Yes and No buttons.  At the bottom was the text, "Paid for by John McCain 2008".  Of course neither the buttons nor the poll were real but the advertisement was. Had the poll been real, I'd like to have seen the results.

Pharmaceuticals and Healthcare in America

by Jeff Hagen

First, a great quote that I found on WorstPills.org.

“The market functions wonderfully when we want to sell more cereals, cosmetics, cars, computers, or any other consumer product. Unfortunately, it does not work in health care, where the goal should hardly be selling more heart bypass operations. Instead, the goal should be to prevent disease and illness. But the money is in the treatment – not prevention – so the market and good care are at odds.”

- Donald L. Bartlett and James B. Steele

What follows is a generic business plan that I’ve laid out to demonstrate the goals of a typical pharmaceutical firm as I see them.

Pharmaceutical Company Business Plan

• Design products to treat long term symptoms of a condition rather than cure a condition outright. This will transfer far more money from user's pockets to company's pockets.
• Design products to be paid for by insurance plans and government agencies. Users will come to depend on their use of the products especially when they do not feel the pinch of paying for them. Once this cycle is established, large amounts of money will transfer regularly from government and insurance agency coffers to company pockets. Use all available lobbying prowess to establish laws and regulations promoting this cycle.
• Identify product side effects and engineer conditions to be solved by those effects. If product is a hammer, users must be made to believe they have many unseated nails.
• Design products with patent extension in mind. Example: Design and patent new product, BaknoPain. After original patent runs it's course, patent and release "new" product, BaknoPain E.R. extending patent cycle.
• Doctors who relieve symptoms by means other than through our products must be viewed by the public as quacks. This should be achieved through normal F.D.A. methods using our influence inside the organization.
• Develop and maintain U.S. lawmaker interest in support for our products. Remember, the strongest lobbying group in Washington belongs to the pharmaceutical industry.