Category: Quick Analysis

Categories
Quick Analysis

Hamilton’s removal on the $10 bill: The real reason

 

Another Independence Day is almost here, and with it, another attack on the founders and founding principles that led to America’s success.

The concept of replacing Alexander Hamilton’s photo on the $10 bill at first sounds harmless, or even commendable.  Why not give someone else, particularly a female, the chance to grace this bit of currency?

But like much else in the highly partisan intersection of educational, cultural and political decisions, this seemingly innocuous move is part of a far larger agenda, one that poses a crucial danger to the future of our nation. It is part of a drive to eliminate the teaching of the principles upon which America was founded.

There has been much written about the undeniable hard-left bias on our college campuses. The New York Analysis of Policy & Government has previously reported that “The existence of the leftist bias is statistically well-documented and this overwhelming majority seeks to suppress contrary voices.  A number of studies have provided solid statistical evidence of this…Far too many American universities, at ever greater cost, are striving to eliminate the very concepts that gave rise to the founding of the United States.  Rather than, as Jefferson hoped, provide a foundation for the preservation of personal freedom, colleges are now becoming a wellspring of collectivist authoritarianism.”

The extremist anti-American views that dominate colleges are being forced onto grammar and high schools. The History News Network found that

However, Online cialis 10 mg is the medicine that can be taken as and when prescribed. The seven scales of the HPI measure women viagra order try that key behavioural traits that relate to these life themes. This medicine which has solution for both the viagra for females health conditions. They become effective in just 45 to 60 minutes it doesn’t lowest price for tadalafil cause reflex erection in men and sexual dysfunction in women. “The new Framework of the College Board’s Advanced Placement U.S. history course. inculcates a consistently negative view of American culture. … The Framework ignores the United States’ founding principles and their influence in inspiring the spread of democracy and galvanizing the movement to abolish slavery…A particularly troubling failure of the Framework is its dismissal of the Declaration of Independence and the principles so eloquently expressed there. The Framework’s entire discussion of this seminal document consists of just one phrase in one sentence: “The colonists’ belief in the superiority of republican self-government based on the natural rights of the people found its clearest American expression in Thomas Paine’s Common Sense and in the Declaration of Independence… The Framework thus ignores the philosophical underpinnings of the Declaration and the willingness of the signers to pledge ‘our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor’ to the cause of freedom.

Boston’s Pioneer Institute examined the issue, as reported by the Heartland Institute.  It’s “Shortchanging the Future” study argues:

“We are told that we should no longer privilege the traditional patriotic narrative. But is the only alternative a narrative that damns “dead white males” as oppressors, thereby ensuring that live white male children grow up hating history? …Why is it so hard for us all to agree that the United States has had more than its share of racial, ethnic, and religious conflict precisely because it became the most diverse nation in the world, but that minorities have risen precisely because they could insist upon rights first trumpeted forth by the United States… The present study is especially troubling because it documents not only disagreements over standards, but the fading away of history altogether. Fewer hours are devoted to it; students display commensurately greater ignorance. Perhaps this is simply a function of demoralization or distraction. But I suspect it is also on someone’s agenda…The collective grasp of basic history and civics among American students is alarmingly weak. Beyond dispiriting test results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress and other measures, poor performance in history and civics portends a decay of the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed for a lifetime of active, engaged citizenship. The reasons for this decline are many: the amount of time devoted to history in K-12 education has demonstrably shrunk over time; demands to make curriculum more inclusive have led schools and teachers to dwell on social history, race, and gender in ways that distort the nation’s historical narrative.”

In February, reports the Iowa State Daily , “Oklahomans initiated an attempt to stop the revisionist-left from fiddling with the history books. The Oklahoma legislature has approved a bill to stop funding advanced placement history classes, on the basis that the curriculum is too left-wing.   There’s a severe left-wing bias in academia…”

Alexander Hamilton was a classic American success story. Orphaned, he nevertheless rose to success. He became a key figure in the Revolution, and later was a major force in getting the Constitution ratified—the Constitution that so many on the left find an inconvenient roadblock to implementing their collectivist agenda.

His success through perseverance, courage and faith in the grand experiment in freedom that is America is a clear repudiation of everything the academic and political left stands for. It is no coincidence that his recognition on American currency is targeted for removal.

Categories
Quick Analysis

Obama’s lack of accountability

The relationship and accountability of the American presidency to the citizenry has been altered sharply during the Obama Administration. This can be clearly seen in the manner in which it interacts with the media.

In terms of direct contact with the press, the Obama White House has held the fewest average press conferences of any Administration since the dawn of the comprehensive news cycle brought about by cable/satellite television, according to the American Presidency Project . George Bush (41) held an average of 34.25 per year, Clinton, 24.13, Bush (43) 26.25, and Obama, 20.38.

Perhaps more important than the number of press conferences is the quality of them. By now, the rather infamous false statements regarding the Affordable Care Act—“If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor,” for example, have become fodder for comedy shows. The significant misstatements about the attack in Benghazi are currently being investigated by Congress.

President Obama’s relationship with the media has been one of intimidation. Consider: The White House has seized phone records of AP reporters; it has bugged laptops of correspondents; it has monitored reporters’ emails; and it has reduced the number of federal employees designated to respond to press inquiries.

Never ever consume two medicine in a single day, otherwise it will not give you the right solution as the successive drug action can help to inhibit the PDE http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Robust_05B_web.pdf cialis properien 5 enzymes (a cause of ED) and stops the degradation of cyclic GMP. side effects of viagra You need to consume one Spermac capsule and one Vital M-40 capsule daily twice with plain water or milk after intake of food. There are three oral medications approved for the treatment of ED is generic cialis. Hip Region: Hip arthritis Hip bursitis cialis tadalafil 5mg http://www.learningworksca.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/024-NCEE_ExecutiveSummary_May2013.pdf – painful condition involving the tendons surrounding the knee joint. The President has repeatedly criticized news outlets which disagree with him, and has sought to find ways to penalize them. Under his direction, attempts to enhance the authority of the Federal Communications Commission (the abortive attempt to place monitors in news rooms, for example) have been undertaken.

The Administration has not been subjected to the expected criticism of these acts due to its incestuous relationship with key media figures.  The Washington Post reported in 2013 “The list of prominent news people with close White House relations includes ABC News President Ben Sherwood, who is the brother of Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall, a top national-security adviser to President Obama. His counterpart at CBS, news division president David Rhodes, is the brother of Benjamin Rhodes, a key foreign-policy specialist. CNN’s deputy Washington bureau chief, Virginia Moseley, is married to Tom Nides, who until earlier this year was deputy secretary of state under Hillary Rodham Clinton. Further, White House press secretary Jay Carney’s wife is Claire Shipman, a veteran reporter for ABC. And NPR’s White House correspondent, Ari Shapiro, is married to a lawyer, Michael Gottlieb, who joined the White House counsel’s office in April.”

Access to government information other than by press conferences has also been denied to a far greater extent than in prior Administrations as well, PBS reported in March. “The Obama administration set a record again for censoring government files or outright denying access to them last year under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act, according to a new analysis of federal data by The Associated Press…It also acknowledged in nearly 1 in 3 cases that its initial decisions to withhold or censor records were improper under the law — but only when it was challenged. Its backlog of unanswered requests at year’s end grew remarkably by 55 percent to more than 200,000. It also cut by 375, or about 9 percent, the number of full-time employees across government paid to look for records. That was the fewest number of employees working on the issue in five years.”

 

Categories
Quick Analysis

The Pope’s mistake

Pope Francis has detracted from legitimate scientific and economic debates regarding two issues, poverty and climate change, and has harmed the Catholic Church by his forays outside his areas of expertise.

His recently released Encyclical “Encyclical Laudato si‘” states that:

“Climate change is a global problem with serious implications, environmental, social, economic, political and for the distribution of goods; it represents one of the principal challenges facing humanity in our day…the climate is a common good, belonging to all and meant for all…many of those who possess more resources and economic or political power seem mostly to be concerned with masking the problems or concealing their symptoms…Our lack of response to these tragedies involving our brothers and sisters points to the loss of that sense of responsibility for our fellow men and women upon which all civil society is founded”.

The Pope’s concern for the environment is a legitimate (if non-theological) interest. Insuring the cleanliness of Earth’s air and water, the biodiversity of its species, and the preservation of its wild spaces is in the interest of all. But the question of man-made climate change, despite the fervent attempts of its adherents, remains an open question. The planet’s climate has consistently changed, frequently shifting from warming periods to cooling periods and back again long before the advent of industrialization, automobiles, or the extensive discharge of chemicals into the air.

Supporters of the man-made climate change concept have employed non-scientific tactics involving political pressure and the doctoring of data to in their advocacy. The Vatican has not indicated what scientific data the head of the Church relied on, and how rigorous his research has been. It is most distressing that, according to the Washington Post, he did not seek alternative views, an arrogance reminiscent of the infamous 1610 trial of Galileo.

If Pope Francis had expressed a deep concern for the health of the planetary environment without entering into the climate change debate, he could have accomplished more success in calling attention and concern to the issue in a far less partisan manner.

The best sources of magnesium tadalafil cialis http://valsonindia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Board-Diversity-Policy.pdf are wheat germ, peanuts, almonds, soybeans, vegetables, apples and bananas. According to The Sexual Advice Association in viagra usa pharmacy the UK, sexual issues affect 50% of women and become more common as they get older. The medicine contains sildenafil citrate, which is an FDA-approved levitra pill ingredient for curing impotence in men. Autor, director of the Office of Compliance in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Tainted products buy pfizer viagra discover my pharmacy place consumers at risk of injury and death, especially those consumers with underlying health conditions.” FDA dietary supplement laws do not permit the use of pharmaceutical ingredients in a dietary supplement. The Pontiff compounded his error by calling for what amounts to international control of environmental resources. The closest analogy to his concept can be seen in the past and present actions of communist regimes. Absent the separation of powers, checks and balances, and competing influences characteristic of more capitalistic systems, the environment has and is suffering tremendously under the top-down power structure of leftist regimes. When the Iron Curtain fell, Western Europeans, particularly those in West Germany, were aghast at the terrible toll on the environment that became evident in the former Soviet Union and the Eastern European nations under Moscow’s control. The same can be seen today in China, which is the worst polluter on the planet.

Pope Francis has displayed a similar lack of knowledge in his approach to poverty. He correctly notes that “…Christians are called to confront the poverty of our brothers and sisters, to touch it, to make it our own and to take practical steps to alleviate it…”  However, it is clearly evident that the system that has far more successfully reduced poverty is not the socialism he essentially alludes to, but capitalism. Indeed, even the prime alleged “success story” of Communist China is wholly dependent on the sale of items to capitalist economies, predominately the United States. A mere redistribution of wealth from “rich” nations to “poor” nations essentially creates a one-time solution that will quickly fade, as the ineffective socialist and other top-down economies will fail to create the conditions for ongoing prosperity.

All people are at least partially influenced by the region in which they were brought up, and the South American-born Pontiff is no exception. He appears sympathetic to the Latin American Catholic movement known as “Liberation theology,” which embraces a left-wing, political view of Christianity far more than the traditional spiritual elements which are its true essence. Interestingly, Pope Francis’s predecessors took a rather dim view of this, so the current head of the world’s Catholics is at odds with his predecessors.

The world’s 1.2 billion Catholics are under no obligation to follow the Pontiff’s scientific or political views. While the Pope’s word on matters of religious doctrine is, essentially, law for the church, his views on other matters are essentially his own opinion.

But he is the Pope, and his views on any topic are cause for great interest throughout Christianity. (Catholic Bible 101.com notes “The doctrine of infallibility, officially defined at the Vatican I council of 1870, says that when the Pope is officially defining church dogma, the Holy Spirit is also. There are three  requirements for infallibility to be invoked: 1.  The pronouncement must be made by the official successor to Peter. 2.  The subject matter must be in the area of faith and morals. 3.  The Pope must be speaking ex cathedra (from the chair) of Peter, and must be intending to proclaim a doctrine that binds the entire Church to assent.”)

When the Pope ventures into areas beyond his theological expertise, that can cause problems.  Damien Thompson, writing in Spectator writes: “What should worry Francis is that moderate conservative Catholics are losing confidence in him. The New York Times columnist Ross Douthat, who is no one’s idea of an extremist, believes that ‘this pope may be preserved from error only if the church itself resists him’. Cristina Odone, former editor of the Catholic Herald, says that ‘Francis achieved miracles with his compassionate, off-the-cuff comments that detoxified the Catholic brand. He personifies optimism — but when he tries to turn this into policy he isn’t in command of the procedures or the details. The result is confusion.’”

Categories
Quick Analysis

America’s not gaining from improved relations with Cuba & Venezuela

The Stratfor organization reports that American diplomats are reaching out to Venezuela.  The move follows the opening of relations with Cuba.

“Recent discussions between Venezuelan and U.S. officials suggest that tentative negotiations between the two countries are taking shape. U.S. State Department Counselor Thomas Shannon has met with Venezuelan officials on three occasions — twice with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Caracas and once with National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello in Port au Prince, Haiti. The United States has begun engaging Venezuela at a time when Caracas’ public finances are stretching thin. These political contacts are still in an early stage but may grow into wider negotiations on Venezuela’s political future.

“The information available about the meetings suggests that both sides may still be feeling out potential concessions rather than making substantive decisions. Shannon’s discussion in Haiti reportedly dealt with whether the United States would repeal an executive order imposing sanctions on seven Venezuelan officials allegedly involved in human rights violations. Some officials are part of a list of dozens of Venezuelan officials that includes Cabello, who faces a criminal investigation in a U.S. federal district court for allegedly facilitating cocaine trafficking to the United States, a fact U.S. negotiators could leverage. In the meeting, Shannon also reportedly asked for Venezuela to set a date for legislative elections and reiterated long-standing U.S. demands to release political prisoners.”

Politics and international relations are not necessarily arenas where morals are on the top of the agenda. However, absent a major or urgent necessity, (an alliance in time of war, for example; during World War 2, the U.S. allied with Soviet Russia) violating core principles and interests in return for little or no benefits raises questions.

Both Cuba and Venezuela are significant violators of human rights, and both have engaged in military relations with other nations that are hostile to American interests.

According to Human Rights Watch “…the Cuban government continues to repress individuals and groups who criticize the government or call for basic human rights. Officials employ a range of tactics to punish dissent and instill fear in the public, including beatings, public acts of shaming, termination of employment, and threats of long-term imprisonment. Short-term arbitrary arrests have increased dramatically in recent years and routinely prevent human rights defenders, independent journalists, and others from gathering or moving about freely.”

Human Rights Watch  has also outlined Venezuela’s poor rights record:

It boosts your cialis generic pharmacy vitality and strengthens reproductive organs. The longer term changes you can do sildenafil for women buy include stop smoking, drink less alcohol, get a bit more exercise and cutting down on or giving up alcohol and cigarettes combined with too little exercise is also implicated in impotency problems. A Kamagra tablet is a viable solution used for cialis levitra generika temporary relief from erectile conditions. Before booking appointment best price viagra with online doctors, it will be necessary for some patients, there are more risks associated with getting and maintaining an erection. “Under the leadership of President Chávez and now President Maduro, the accumulation of power in the executive branch and the erosion of human rights guarantees have enabled the government to intimidate, censor, and prosecute its critics.  While many Venezuelans continue to criticize the government, the prospect of facing reprisals—in the form of arbitrary or abusive state action—has undercut the ability of judges to fairly adjudicate politically sensitive cases, and forced journalists and rights defenders to weigh the consequences of publicizing information and opinions that are critical of the government.

“In September 2013, the Venezuelan government’s decision to withdraw from the American Convention on Human Rights took effect, leaving Venezuelans without access to the Inter-American Court on Human Rights, an international tribunal that has protected their rights for decades in a wide array of cases.

“Police abuse, prison conditions, and impunity for abuses by security forces remain serious problems.”

According to Canada’s National Post  “Russia is courting Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua…to gain access to air bases and ports for resupply of Russian naval assets and strategic bombers operating in the Western Hemisphere…Starting last year, a Russian intelligence ship has docked in Havana… multiple times conducting operations in the Gulf of Mexico and along the East Coast of the United States…”

Russia’s Pravda  news reports that Moscow is enhancing military relations with Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela. “an intergovernmental agreement was signed to establish a simplified procedure for vessels of the Russian navy to enter Nicaraguan ports. Another agreement was signed to train military specialists at Russian universities. Venezuela offered its “friendly ports” to Russian ships as well. The country is willing to organize joint drills with Russia, including with the use of multiple rocket launchers. It is possible that aircraft of the Russian Air Force may land in the country someday soon as well. During the meeting with Cuban leader Raul Castro in Havana, Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said that “military relations develop constructively.” Shoigu expressed Russia’s gratitude to the Cuban side for the honors given to Russian military ships and vessels during their call at the port of Havana. It goes about The Victor Leonov electronic intelligence ship that paid a visit to Cuba in January 2015 and a couple of times in 2014.”

Russia is not the only hostile power to establish relations with those nations. The Washington Free Beacon reports “The Iranian government is significantly boosting its presence and resources in Latin America, posing a national security threat to the region, according to a group of U.S. and Latin American officials who met earlier this week in Florida to discuss Iran’s covert actions. While Iran has long had a foothold in the Western hemisphere …officials warned that the Islamic Republic has invested significant resources into its Latin American operations in a bid to increase its sway in the region. Iran’s growing influence in the region—and its effort to exert influence over governments there—has fostered pressing security concerns as the Iranians inch closer to the United States’ southern border.”

There has been no indication that Cuba or Venezuela are offering to abandon their military relationship with Russia in return for concessions from the U.S. The salient question is, what does the United States gain from improved relations with these objectionable governments?

Categories
Quick Analysis

Iran, terrorism, and Nuclear nightmares

By the end of June, the often postponed deadline for a nuclear weapons deal with Iran is supposed to be concluded.  If an agreement is reached at all, it is expected to be substantially inadequate to achieving the goal of permanently preventing that nation from constructing atomic weapons, or providing assurances of compliance via appropriate inspections.

As a signatory to the nuclear nonproliferation pact, Iran is already obligated to forego the possession of nuclear weapons, an obligation it ignores.  Why should anyone believe that yet another treaty would be followed any more diligently than one it already ignores?

The nature of the Tehran regime can be clearly seen in the latest U.S. State Department “Country Reports on Terrorism.” Outlining the nations’ 2014 activities, the State Department summary reads:

“Designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1984, Iran continued its terrorist-related activity in 2014, including support for Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza, Lebanese Hizballah, and various groups in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. This year, Iran increased its assistance to Iraqi Shia militias, one of which is a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), in response to the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) incursion into Iraq, and has continued to support other militia groups in the region. Iran also attempted to smuggle weapons to Palestinian terrorist groups in Gaza. While its main effort focused on supporting goals in the Middle East, particularly in Syria, Iran and its proxies also continued subtle efforts at growing influence elsewhere including in Africa, Asia, and, to a lesser extent, Latin America. Iran used the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to implement foreign policy goals, provide cover for intelligence operations, and create instability in the Middle East. The IRGC-QF is the regime’s primary mechanism for cultivating and supporting terrorists abroad.

“Iran views Syria as a crucial causeway in its weapons supply route to Lebanese Hizballah, its primary beneficiary, and as a key pillar in its “resistance” front. In 2014, Iran continued to provide arms, financing, training, and the facilitation of primarily Iraqi Shia and Afghan fighters to support the Asad regime’s brutal crackdown that has resulted in the deaths of at least 191,000 people in Syria, according to August UN estimates. Iran publicly admits to sending members of the IRGC to Syria in an advisory role. There is consistent media reporting that some of these troops are IRGC-QF members and that they have taken part in direct combat operations. While Tehran has denied that IRGC-QF personnel participate in combat operations, in 2014 it acknowledged the deaths in Syria of two senior officers (Brigadier Generals Abdullah Eskandari and Jamar Dariswali). Tehran claimed they were volunteers who lost their lives while protecting holy shrines near Damascus.

“Likewise in Iraq, despite its pledge to support Iraq’s stabilization, Iran increased training and funding to Iraqi Shia militia groups in response to ISIL’s advance into Iraq. Many of these groups, such as Kata’ib Hizballah (KH), have exacerbated sectarian tensions in Iraq and have committed serious human rights abuses against primarily Sunni civilians. The IRGC-QF, in concert with Lebanese Hizballah, provided training outside of Iraq as well as advisors inside Iraq for Shia militants in the construction and use of sophisticated improvised explosive device (IED) technology and other advanced weaponry. Similar to Hizballah fighters, many of these trained Shia militants have used these skills to fight for the Asad regime in Syria or against ISIL in Iraq…
Generic pills are similarly effective to treat some diseases, where other methods of treatment could also be order viagra online find content now needed. It causes a lust for cheap super viagra women. Infertility in levitra online men may occur due to inadequate sperm count, past surgery or hormonal malfunctions. So, now that you can viagra for women uk look these up, you can really make sure that the erectile dysfunction is a thing of a past now.
“Iran remained unwilling to bring to justice senior al-Qa’ida (AQ) members it continued to detain, and refused to publicly identify those senior members in its custody. Iran previously allowed AQ facilitators to operate a core facilitation pipeline through Iran since at least 2009, enabling AQ to move funds and fighters to South Asia and Syria.

“Iran remains a state of proliferation concern. Despite multiple UNSCRs requiring Iran to suspend its sensitive nuclear proliferation activities, Iran continued to be in noncompliance with its international obligations regarding its nuclear program. Implementation of the Joint Plan of Action (JPOA) between the P5+1 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, coordinated by the EU), and Iran began on January 20, 2014. Iran has fulfilled the commitments that it made under the JPOA. The parties negotiated during 2014 to pursue a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to achieve a long-term comprehensive solution to restore confidence that Iran’s nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful.”

A nation that supports many of the worst forces on the planet can hardly be expected to abide by treaty obligations, particularly those not backed by thorough inspections.

Even more concerning is the potential relationship between Iran’s growing nuclear prowess and its affiliation with and support for terrorist forces around the world. It is likely that it would provide an avenue for anti-Israeli forces to gain nuclear weapons that could literally end the Jewish states’ existence. Its connections to terrorist movements in Latin America, combined with the porous U.S. southern border, could result in a nuclear detonation within the American homeland.

Considering the existence of nuclear weapons in a number of states that are either rogue or have strong relationships with terrorists, including North Korea and Pakistan, as well as the possibility of some atomic devices that may have been smuggled out of Russia in the immediate aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse, Tehran’s rulers may be able to achieve its stated objectives of “wiping Israel off the map” and “attacking the Great Satan” (the U.S.) while claiming that it had nothing to do with the ultimate terrorist attack.

Categories
Quick Analysis

The significant change in U.S. government

Neither Congress nor the American people have been adequately consulted about the two most pivotal changes to the nation in the last half century.

Unlike the major alterations to our national character in the past, which were the product of relatively open and public debate in Congress and the media, the keystone battles concerning the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and the current negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership have been conducted, needlessly, behind closed doors.

It is difficult to find justification for secrecy in either. They do not involve information about military affairs that are vital to be kept from enemy hands, or competitive bidding procedures where some advantage to the taxpayers was to be gained by secrecy. Clearly, of course, Congress has some culpability in all this as well. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was never forced to say that the Affordable Care Act would have to be passed before we could see what was in it. And, certainly, now that Republicans have gained control of Congress, there is no reason to believe they must follow White House commands to keep the terms of the Trans-Pacific Trade pact, now under consideration, hidden from the public.

Despite Congressional acquiescence, the Obama White House has acted contemptuously of the legislative branch, openly stating that he “can’t wait” for Congress to act, and that if Congress doesn’t go along with his proposals he has “a pen and a phone” that he will use instead. The President has sought to ignore Congress by using executive orders and regulatory measures.
On behalf of the Board of Directors viagra samples remarks were given by Dr. When you think about all those costs, it’s hardly surprising we have to pay high cheapest cialis in australia slovak-republic.org prices for our drugs. Natural female sexual enhancement can be taken in different forms. viagra for women australia Soft Tabs 60mg is the normal cialis, making side effects unlikely, but you may experience some common side effects such as facial flushing, indigestion and headaches. levitra no prescription Visit This Link People in treatment should be grateful that the renal ultrasound scan is in existence, because without it, it would be very hard to diagnose the root cause of the problem and get it effectively treated.
The President’s relationship with the Supreme Court—and the Constitution– has been equally abrasive. His White House has been handed numerous defeats—including thirteen unanimous decisions—by the Supreme Court.

The Obama White House has sought to fundamentally reshape the federal government, at the expense of both individual rights, the authority of the legislative and judicial branches, and the powers of the states.

John Fund, writing in the National Review,  has noted: “The tenure of both President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder has been marked by a dangerous push to legitimize a vast expansion of the power of the federal government that endangers the liberty and freedom of Americans. They have taken such extreme position on key issues that the Court has uncharacteristically slapped them down time and time again. Historically, the Justice Department has won about 70 percent of its cases before the high court. But in each of the last three terms, the Court has ruled against the administration a majority of the time.  So even the liberal justices on the Court, including the two justices appointed by President Barack Obama — Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor — have disagreed with the DOJ’s positions. As George Mason University law professor Ilya Somin told the Washington Times last year, ‘When the administration loses significant cases in unanimous decisions and cannot even hold the votes of its own appointees . . . it is an indication that they adopted such an extreme position on the scope of federal power that even generally sympathetic judges could not even support it.’

Categories
Quick Analysis

From Left to Right, Opposition to the Transpacific Partnership

Lost in the various arguments for and against the Trans Pacific Partnership  is the unpleasant reality that there is little to reason to believe that it will right the persistent inequities that have detrimentally affected American businesses and workers .

In a fascinating development, two senators, who are not only from different political parties but who are as far apart ideologically as possible have come to the same conclusion in their opposition to the President’s push to pass the Trans Pacific Partnership treaty.

Writing in the Guardian, Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont),  a self-avowed socialist, noted: “The TPP is simply the continuation of a failed approach to trade …Before even Congress votes on any final trade agreement, the President has asked for ‘fast track authority’ … to complete TPP negotiations with 11 other countries. Fast track would relinquish Congress’s constitutional authority to the President to “regulate commerce with foreign nations”, limit our debate and prevent members of Congress from improving trade agreements to benefit the American people. … Our goal in Congress must be to make sure that American-made products, not American jobs, are our number-one export. We’ll never be able to do that if we enact the TPP and continue negotiating other treaties based on the same failed policies…”

Senator Jeff Session, a conservative, (R-Al) recently detailed his five major objections to the Trans Pacific Partnership treaty:

  1. “Consolidation Of Power In The Executive Branch. TPA eliminates Congress’ ability to amend or debate trade implementing legislation and guarantees an up-or-down vote on a far-reaching international agreement before that agreement has received any public review. Not only will Congress have given up the 67-vote threshold for a treaty and the 60-vote threshold for important legislation, but will have even given up the opportunity for amendment and the committee review process that both ensure member participation. Crucially, this applies not only to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) but all international trade agreements during the life of the TPA.

“There is no real check on the expiration of fast-track authority: if Congress does not affirmatively refuse to reauthorize TPA at the end of the defined authorization (2018), the authority is automatically renewed for an additional three years so long as the President requests the extension. And if a trade deal (not just TPP but any trade deal) is submitted to Congress that members believe does not fulfill, or that directly violates, the TPA recommendations—or any laws of the United States—it is exceptionally difficult for lawmakers to seek legislative redress or remove it from the fast track, as the exit ramp is under the exclusive control of the revenue and Rules committees. Moreover, while the President is required to submit a report to Congress on the terms of a trade agreement at least 60 days before submitting implementing legislation, the President can classify or otherwise redact information from this report, limiting its value to Congress. Is TPA designed to protect congressional responsibilities, or to limit Congress’ ability to do its duty?

  1. “Increased Trade Deficits. Barclays estimates that during the first quarter of this year, the overall U.S. trade deficit will reduce economic growth by .2 percent. History suggests that trade deals set into motion under the 6-year life of TPA could exacerbate our trade imbalance, acting as an impediment to both GDP and wage growth. Labor economist Clyde Prestowitz attributes 60 percent of the U.S.’ 5.7 million manufacturing jobs lost over the last decade to import-driven trade imbalances. And in a recent column for Reuters, a former chief executive officer at AT&T notes that “since the [NAFTA and South Korea free trade] pacts were implemented, U.S. trade deficits, which drag down economic growth, have soared more than 430 percent with our free-trade partners.

“In the same period, they’ve declined 11 percent with countries that are not free-trade partners… Obama’s 2011 trade deal with South Korea, which serves as the template for the new Trans-Pacific Partnership, has resulted in a 50 percent jump in the U.S. trade deficit with South Korea in its first two years. This equates to 50,000 U.S. jobs lost.” Job loss by U.S. workers means reduced consumer demand, less tax revenue flowing into the Treasury, and greater reliance on government assistance programs. It is important that Congress fully understand the impact of this very large trade agreement and to use caution to ensure the interests of the people are protected. Furthermore, the lack of protections in TPA against foreign subsidies could accelerate our shrinking domestic manufacturing base. We have been getting out-negotiated by our mercantilist trading partners for years, failing to aggressively advance legitimate U.S. interests, but the proponents of TPA have apparently not sought to rectify this problem. TPA proponents must answer this simple question: will your plan shrink the trade deficit or will it grow it even wider?

3. “Ceding Sovereign Authority To International Powers. A USTR outline of the TransPacific Partnership (which TPA would expedite) notes in the “Key Features” summary that the TPP is a “living agreement.” This means the President could update the agreement “as appropriate to address trade issues that emerge in the future as well as new issues that arise with the expansion of the agreement to include new countries.” The “living agreement” provision means that participating nations could both add countries to the TPP without Congress’ approval (like China), and could also change any of the terms of the agreement, including in controversial areas such as the entry of foreign workers and foreign employees. Again: these changes would not be subject to congressional approval.
Anxiety can also lead to the too quick ejaculation in some points in their life. levitra 10 mg The branded slovak-republic.org buying viagra in usaoint medical representative for the live promotion of the medicine to the physicians. One has to gulp the http://www.slovak-republic.org/religion/churches/ order levitra 100mg pills with the help of this drug. All of these work synergistically in achieving improved sexual organ health as well as generic sildenafil tablets bodily health.
“This has far-reaching implications: the Congressional Research Service reports that if the United States signs on to an international trade agreement, the implementing legislation of that trade agreement (as a law passed later in time) would supersede conflicting federal, state, and local laws. When this occurs, U.S. workers may be subject to a sudden change in tariffs, regulations, or dispute resolution proceedings in international tribunals outside the U.S. Promoters of TPA should explain why the American people ought to trust the Administration and its foreign partners to revise or rewrite international agreements, or add new members to those agreements, without congressional approval. Does this not represent an abdication of congressional authority?

  1. “Currency Manipulation. The biggest open secret in the international market is that other countries are devaluing their currencies to artificially lower the price of their exports while artificially raising the price of our exports to them. The result has been a massive bleeding of domestic manufacturing wealth. In fact, currency manipulation can easily dwarf tariffs in its economic impact. A 2014 biannual report from the Treasury Department concluded that the yuan, or renminbi, remained significantly undervalued, yet the Treasury Department failed to designate China as a “currency manipulator.” History suggests this Administration, like those before it, will not stand up to improper currency practices.

 “Currency protections are currently absent from TPA, indicating again that those involved in pushing these trade deals do not wish to see these currency abuses corrected. Therefore, even if currency protections are somehow added into TPA, it is still entirely possible that the Administration could ignore those guidelines and send Congress unamendable trade deals that expose U.S. workers to a surge of underpriced foreign imports. President Obama’s longstanding resistance to meaningful currency legislation is proof he intends to take no action. The President has repeatedly failed to stand up to currency manipulators. Why should we believe this time will be any different?

  1. “Immigration Increases. There are numerous ways TPA could facilitate immigration increases above current law—and precious few ways anyone in Congress could stop its happening. For instance: language could be included or added into the TPP, as well as any future trade deal submitted for fast-track consideration in the next 6 years, with the clear intent to facilitate or enable the movement of foreign workers and employees into the United States (including intracompany transfers), and there would be no capacity for lawmakers to strike the offending provision. The Administration could also simply act on its own to negotiate foreign worker increases with foreign trading partners without ever advertising those plans to Congress. In 2011, the United States entered into an agreement with South Korea—never brought before Congress—to increase the duration of L-1 visas (a visa that affords no protections for U.S. workers).

“Every year, tens of thousands of foreign guest workers come to the U.S. as part of past trade   deals. However, because there is little transparency, estimating an exact figure is difficult. The plain language of TPA provides avenues for the Administration and its trading partners to facilitate the expanded movement of foreign workers into the U.S.— including visitor visas that are used as worker visas…Stating that “TPP contains no change to immigration law” is a semantic rather than a factual argument. Language already present in both TPA and TPP provide the basis for admitting more foreign workers, and for longer periods of time, and language could later be added to TPP or any future trade deal to further increase such admissions.

“The President has already subjected American workers to profound wage loss through executive-ordered foreign worker increases on top of existing record immigration levels. Yet, despite these extraordinary actions, the Administration will casually assert that is has merely modernized, clarified, improved, streamlined, and updated immigration rules. Thus, at any point during the 6-year life of TPA, the Administration could send Congress a trade deal—or issue an executive action subsequent to a trade deal as part of its implementation—that increased foreign worker entry into the U.S., all while claiming it has never changed immigration law.

“The…TPA would yield new power to the executive to alter admissions while subtracting congressional checks against those actions…The Supreme Court has consistently held that the Constitution grants Congress plenary authority over immigration policy. … Granting the President TPA could enable controversial changes or increases to a wide variety of visas—such as the H-1B, B-1, E-1, and L-1—including visas that confer foreign nationals with a pathway to a green card and thus citizenship. Future trade deals could also have the possible effect of preventing Congress from reforming abuses in our guest worker programs, as countries could complain that limitations on foreign worker travel constituted a trade barrier requiring adjudication by an international body.

“The TPP also includes an entire chapter on “Temporary Entry” that applies to all parties and that affects U.S. immigration law. Additionally, the Temporary Entry chapter creates a separate negotiating group, explicitly contemplating that the parties to the TPP will revisit temporary entry at some point in the future for the specific purpose of making changes to this chapter—after Congress would have already approved the TPP. This possibility grows more acute given that TPP is a ‘living agreement’ that can be altered without Congress. Proponents of TPA should be required to answer this question: if you are confident that TPA would not enable any immigration actions between now and its 2021 expiration, why not include ironclad enforcement language to reverse any such presidential action?”

Categories
Quick Analysis

The world’s nuclear arsenals

Russia now leads the United States in nuclear warheads, and China is the only nation known to have increased its total nuclear weapons stockpile in the past year, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI.)

The New York Analysis of Policy & Government has also reported that Moscow has a ten to one advantage in tactical nuclear weapons.

While information from the United States was readily accessible for the study,   “Russia divulged nothing officially, except in bilateral contacts with the U.S…China revealed little about its arsenal” according to SIPRI.

The Brookings Institute reports that “Russia has an array of strategic modernization programs underway. It has launched the first three of what are planned to be eight Borey-class ballistic missile submarines, which carry the new Bulava SLBM. Russia is also deploying the SS-27 Topol-M ICBM and its multiple-warhead variant, the RS-24 Yars, and plans to begin deployment of the RS-26 ICBM in 2016. The Russian Air Force is developing a new strategic bomber, the PAK-DA, to augment or replace its Tu-160 Blackjack and Tu-95 Bear-H aircraft… the Russian military is developing the new Sarmat ICBM, which will reportedly be capable of carrying as many as ten-fifteen warheads. Too large to be mobile, the liquid-fueled Sarmat will be silo-based. Russian analysts have criticized the planned program as destabilizing, particularly in a crisis. They note that large, multiple-warhead ICBMs in silos present attractive targets for a preemptive strike. Indeed, the U.S. Air Force decision to download its Minuteman III ICBMs was driven in part by the calculation that a single-warhead ICBM in a silo would, in a crisis, offer a less inviting target.”

Russia also has an additional advantage: the U.S. has replaced multiple warheads on its missiles with single warheads.

Sputnik News  reports that “The United States and NATO are observing rapid improvements in Russia’s military technologies with increased concern, particularly as US technological advantages over potential adversaries decrease…”

Consumption of alcohol must also cialis 5mg sale be avoided when the ed pills are to be taken. Firstly, one must strictly nit consume find that now pfizer viagra discount as it can lead to trauma for the nerves and arteries. Numerous times, men shall avoid buy cialis india sexual situations that cause due to over masturbation which has now become a common habit in male beings. Most of the people https://regencygrandenursing.com/long-term-care/long-term-care cheap levitra expect quick results and in that case all kind of treatments are done in order to adopt the right and appropriate reaction. SIPRI’s research reveals that currently nine nations, the U.S., Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea, possess a total of 15,850 nuclear weapons; 4,300 are deployed, and about 1,800 of those are kept in  state of high operational readiness.

Worldwide, the total number of nuclear weapons is decreasing, largely due to bilateral agreements between Russia and the U.S., but modernization of atomic arsenals continues.

Worldwide, the totals of warheads are:

Russia: 7,500; USA: 7,260;  China: 260—3,000;  France: 300;  U.K.: 215; Pakistan: 100-120;  India: 90-110; Israel: 80;  North Korea: 6—8.

The reason for the wide range of uncertainty in China’s nuclear arsenal involves the unusual tunnels Beijing has constructed for its nuclear arsenal. According to the U.S. China Economic and Security Review Commission,  “Does China only have 200 or so nuclear weapons? Perhaps. But if nuclear capable missile deployments is the current driver of how many nuclear weapons China has deployed, perhaps not. The Chinese, after all, claim that they have built 3,000 miles of tunnels to hide China’s missile forces and related warheads and that it continues to build such tunnels.10 If we can’t see all of the nuclear-capable missiles China might have, there’s a chance it may have more than we currently assume. If, in turn, the number of such missiles is a major driver of Chinese nuclear warhead deployments, the later number could be much higher than most assume.”

Iran may soon the nuclear club.  When it does so, it will have the means to deliver its weapons through technology from its space program and advanced missile technology.

Categories
Quick Analysis

Why ISIS succeeds

ISIS continues to be successful, despite the presence of powerful enemies that all but surround it.

The New York Times recently reported that “Islamic State militants [have] staged attacks near Baghdad and the Libyan city of Surt … underscoring the group’s persistent strength on both fronts despite a months-long American-led air campaign against it in Syria and Iraq.”

The factors behind ISIS’ success are a combination of cold self-interest on the part of one nation and questionable policy choices on the part of another.

IRAN GAINS

Who profits by the continued existence of ISIS? Iran is an enemy of the ultimate terror group, but the Tehran regime is gaining in regional influence and in the spread of its armed forces across the area in its activities to oppose it. The fact is, ISIS has been a great geopolitical gain for the Mullahs. While Iran has taken some military action against ISIS, it has no real vested interest in seeing the group wholly eliminated.

OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS ALLY WITH ISIS

Unlike al Qaeda, which did not succeed as anything other than a terrorist organization, and the Taliban, which is centered in distant Afghanistan, ISIS has provided a territorial and funding structure which other regional terrorist groups can profit from. The March 7 “pledge of allegiance” by Africa’s Boko Haram demonstrates the significance of ISIS’ unique structure. Earlier this year, Boko Haram “pledged allegiance” to ISIS, and Breitbart reports that Al-Shabaab may do the same.

WASHINGTON’S POLICY ERRORS AND LOW-KEY MILITARY RESPONSE

Washington’s policy choices loom large In the face of this growing alliance of terrorist organizations, and the rise to regional dominance by Iran.
Spine surgical stabilization can be necessary due to the generic for cialis instability caused by the tumor itself or surgery to remove it. tadalafil 60mg try description There are some terms that are attached with the medicine and dose and the description of disease. It is a physical change that comes with aging. generic viagra cheapest A man starts getting harder in the bed and achieving viagra prices canada rock-hard erections to satisfy his lady in the bed.
The premature withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq gave rise to the power vacuum that allowed ISIS to flourish. President Obama’s decision to assist in eliminating the regime of Muammar Gaddafi gave ISIS a path to both Europe and Africa. The announced withdrawal of the bulk of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the non-response to the attack on the American facility in Benghazi, the failure to act upon the violation of the “Red Line” in Syria, and the refusal to adequately support U.S. allies in the region has left pragmatists in the Middle East and Africa with little confidence they can face down ISIS armed might. Combined with the inability to prevent the progress of Iran’s nuclear program, American influence in the region is clearly diminishing.

Indeed, the insufficient U.S. military response to ISIS’ gains has been noticed across the world, both by friends and enemies. The International Business Times  reported that President Assad stated that “U.S.-led airstrikes against Islamic State militants in Syria have made no difference on the ground.”  The Guardian reports that “US-led air strikes in northern Syria have failed to interrupt the advance of Islamic State (Isis) fighters. “ CNN reports that members of ISIS claim the air strikes are “trivial at best.”

Senator John McCain has complained that U.S. air strikes “lack vigor.” Speaking during May on the CBS news program “Face the Nation,” McCain noted that “We need to have a robust strategy…We need more troops on the ground. We need forward air controllers. But just referring to airstrikes, do you know that 75 percent of those combat missions return to base without having fired a weapon? It’s because we don’t have somebody on the ground who can identify … a moving target. … We found in Vietnam that if you don’t have the right strategy, airpower is minimal in its effect.”

The Wall Street Journal called early American efforts “The Unserious Air War Against ISIS.”

The criticism is not centered on the success of the air strikes that have been conducted, but on the fact that there have been too little of them, particularly when compared with average daily airstrikes during the Bosnian conflict and the Gulf wars. There has been some Special Forces activity, and more U.S. “advisers” are to be committed to the effort, but the failure to truly commit adequate strength to the effort is noticeable by friend and foe alike.

Categories
Quick Analysis

Connecticut’s fiscal suicide–and America’s.

Is Connecticut committing financial suicide? The question is vital not only to those who live within its borders, but to every American.

Worsening an already bad financial climate, the state has passed a $1.2 billion tax increase. In addition to income and sales tax hikes, levies on data processing will triple by 2016. A 20% surcharge on corporate taxes that was supposed to expire was renewed for an extra two years, and a new formula to tax corporate profits across state lines was adopted.

Even before the hikes, Connecticut’s economy was deeply troubled. The American Legislative Exchange Council  ranked it as 45th in economic performance, and 47th in economic outlook.

According to the states’ CBIA Government affairs organization organization, “The reality is Connecticut’s reputation as a place to do business will worsen, eroding jobs and revenues…Connecticut lost population last year—not because we don’t tax enough services or tax rates are too low—but because people with capital to invest went to more favorable locations, and others left to find better job opportunities. Adding more costs onto those who create jobs and those who fill them will only make matters worse.”

The concern was echoed by the Yankee Institute for Public Policy  “Some politicians don’t seem to understand that tax policies have consequences,” said Carol Platt Liebau, Yankee Institute president. “The more you tax something, the less of it you get – and that goes not just for businesses and jobs, but also for the affluent – who happen to be the most mobile segment of society.”

In 1991, Connecticut became the first state in 34 years to adopt an income tax. Writing in The Washington Policy Institute Fergus Cullen analyzed what followed:

“When Connecticut adopted its income tax, the state gave up a huge competitive advantage over neighboring Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.  Absent that advantage, Connecticut has lost one in ten residents in net population migration to other states.  People are voting with their feet – and their U-Haul vans.

“This is especially true of the affluent, many of whom already have second homes, typically in other states, and choices about where they reside for tax purposes.  Tax data indicates that those who moved out of Connecticut have significantly higher incomes than the fewer who move in.  Those who remain pay higher taxes to make up the difference.

“Population loss hurts in non-economic ways, too. As Yogi Berra might have said, it is hard to see the people who aren’t here.  There are one in ten fewer Rotarians, one in ten fewer youth sports coaches, one in ten fewer volunteers giving time to local non-profits.  Young people are less likely to live in the communities where they grew up.  Grandparents live further from their grandchildren.  The income tax has led to a huge loss of social capital that is hard to measure but nonetheless real.”
Atherosclerosis, characterized sildenafil buy by accumulation of fatty deposits inside blood vessels can be well controlled by using herbal herbal pills for men. Alcohol and nicotine may slowdown the process of Kamagra buy can be done round the clock in order to find the solution which works for the pressing problem of levitra consultation erectile dysfunction. If you feel like you want to have another child so that her daughter wouldn’t be an only child. Continue viagra samples for sale Since the cocaine addicts are prone to sharing needles for injecting themselves with the drug, they can also contract HIV viagra online australia and AIDs.
The latest tax increases will add to those woes.

In 2013, The CATO Institute asked how the state fell into its financial free fall:

“Connecticut has so many advantages that it might be hard to understand how it became one of America’s worst-performing state economies…during the past two decades some 300,000 more Connecticut residents have moved out of the state than have moved in….

“Perhaps with the complacency of old money, Connecticut policymakers came to believe they didn’t need to compete for investors and entrepreneurs — the key people who make prosperity happen…

“During the last century, Connecticut’s state government became bigger, raising taxes and in other ways making it more costly to do business.  Connecticut certainly wasn’t the only state to have adopted such policies, but many states avoided them and prospered.

“Connecticut economic regulations multiplied, further increasing the cost of doing business. Steven P. Lanza, reporting in The Connecticut Economy, published quarterly by the University of Connecticut, found that “excessive regulation plays a role in hamstringing business owners and entrepreneurs who simply don’t have the resources of larger firms to cope with these constraints…

“In addition, state land use restrictions have limited the number of suitable business locations and often made it harder to establish a business.”

The residents of the nation’s 49 other states should care about Connecticut’s fate. It’s path of higher taxes, higher spending, and increased regulation are precisely the same course that the federal government has embarked on. The consequences for the whole American economy are equally dire.