I, and others, have wondered how George Soros, a Jew, could be so hostile to Judaism and, more precisely, to Israel. Today, an article by Michael Steinberger, in the New York Times, 7/22/18 makes this clear. His searing experiences under Nazi occupation lead him to believe it was all a matter of tribalism.
The Nazis were a tribe. The Jews were a tribe. And, presumably the Poles, the French, and so forth were all tribes. To improve conditions in the world, one of his first goals was to eliminate tribalism.
If he could do that, he figured he'd be moving the world a giant step forward toward in the ways of democracy. (Not mentioned in this article was the fact that Soros's father was a strong proponent of Esperanto. He believed if the world learned to speak one common language, we'd all get along much better.)
What George Soros seems not to understand is that what he refers to as tribalism can also be described to as culture. These are the mannerisms and the ways of thinking we share with our fellow citizens. Unfortunately, not everything in a culture is positive. We must constantly strive to improve our individual cultures. But, that's far more doable than scrubbing away and eliminating our individual cultures.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Trump Wraps Up His Putin Meeting And Leaves The Trump-ranters Howling
Voices from Washington's snake pit include those of James Clapper, former director of National Intelligence, John Brennan, former director of Central Intelligence, and James Comey, former Director of the FBI. These individuals have done grievance injury to America's security by politicizing their offices; offices which were never meant to have been politicized.
They were meant to serves as the eyes and ears of the executive branch of government regardless of which party was voted into officd. These individuals were never meant to serve as an alternative executive voice for America. It is true that every executive has his own style. If a man comes into office whose style you disapprove of, you have little choice but to resign and quietly leave.
These men from the Washington snake pit find this manner of voicing disapproval not to be to their liking. While it is true that they were never elected to anything, they feel that their appointments by previous administrations gives them certain rights and privileges found nowhere in the Constitution.
These rights seem to include trying to drag down the incumbent President.
Of course, to act in this way they find it helpful, indeed necessary, to prove that they are acting in behalf of America. To this end, they will not hesitate to call the President, who they despise, an idiot and a traitor. A moment of reflection will make it clear who is tearing away and undermining America's foundation. Indeed, the only reason they can act this way with impunity is that the press with certain exceptions despises Trump as much as they do. And the press supports their outrageous behavior.
While we're on the subject of the Washington snake pit, let's not leave out Mueller's indictments regarding 12 individuals who interfered with out elections. First, no one suggests that these individuals had any success in their efforts to subvert out elections. Second, none is in the U.S. at this time and available to our law enforcement people. Thirdly, the people and their actions were well known even before the U.S. elections. One can only wonder why these indictments were handed up at this time and for what purpose.
Can Trump make errors? Of course. Saying that he doubted (or words to that effect) that Russia tried to influence our elections was foolish. We all know they did. There's no news there. It's how Trump mishandled that question that has created for him a problem. He did come out with a statement saying he had messed up a word. This resulted in his saying something he hadn't intended.
Trump has said a number of things he shouldn't have said. His remarks on John McCain during the election campaign were inappropriate. McCain is a man who can be counted on to watch your back. McCain has an outstanding war record. He may not be the brightest bulb in the room, but you should never disparage his service to America. But campaigns are rough and Trump stepped over the line. Trump has said other things that were inappropriate.
But, I feel Trump knows were he's going. He's done some excellent work with our true allies. He's done a fine job with our economy. He brushes aside the small stuff and attacks the kind of problems other politicians would avoid. This kerfuffle with Putin will pass. In the end, I believe Trump will leave the U.S. a better and stronger country.
They were meant to serves as the eyes and ears of the executive branch of government regardless of which party was voted into officd. These individuals were never meant to serve as an alternative executive voice for America. It is true that every executive has his own style. If a man comes into office whose style you disapprove of, you have little choice but to resign and quietly leave.
These men from the Washington snake pit find this manner of voicing disapproval not to be to their liking. While it is true that they were never elected to anything, they feel that their appointments by previous administrations gives them certain rights and privileges found nowhere in the Constitution.
These rights seem to include trying to drag down the incumbent President.
Of course, to act in this way they find it helpful, indeed necessary, to prove that they are acting in behalf of America. To this end, they will not hesitate to call the President, who they despise, an idiot and a traitor. A moment of reflection will make it clear who is tearing away and undermining America's foundation. Indeed, the only reason they can act this way with impunity is that the press with certain exceptions despises Trump as much as they do. And the press supports their outrageous behavior.
While we're on the subject of the Washington snake pit, let's not leave out Mueller's indictments regarding 12 individuals who interfered with out elections. First, no one suggests that these individuals had any success in their efforts to subvert out elections. Second, none is in the U.S. at this time and available to our law enforcement people. Thirdly, the people and their actions were well known even before the U.S. elections. One can only wonder why these indictments were handed up at this time and for what purpose.
Can Trump make errors? Of course. Saying that he doubted (or words to that effect) that Russia tried to influence our elections was foolish. We all know they did. There's no news there. It's how Trump mishandled that question that has created for him a problem. He did come out with a statement saying he had messed up a word. This resulted in his saying something he hadn't intended.
Trump has said a number of things he shouldn't have said. His remarks on John McCain during the election campaign were inappropriate. McCain is a man who can be counted on to watch your back. McCain has an outstanding war record. He may not be the brightest bulb in the room, but you should never disparage his service to America. But campaigns are rough and Trump stepped over the line. Trump has said other things that were inappropriate.
But, I feel Trump knows were he's going. He's done some excellent work with our true allies. He's done a fine job with our economy. He brushes aside the small stuff and attacks the kind of problems other politicians would avoid. This kerfuffle with Putin will pass. In the end, I believe Trump will leave the U.S. a better and stronger country.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
And A Neophyte Will Lead Them
Recent tear-downs of Trump leave me scratching my head. "Look, " I'm told, "the Europeans were going to up their military budgets anyway -- before he gave his speech." Really!
And regardless of European hectoring, no one knows to what extent they will actually fulfill their NATO military commitments. Trump should be ashamed, the pundits say, that he would speak so directly and uncharitably to the Europeans. Well, occasions arise when the coach will have to lay it out for his team. Sure, you have to get the goodwill of the team, but you've also got to get their respect. Blowing smoke never works.
When asked how he felt about Trump chastising Merkel regarding the proposed gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, this deep, military thinker says, "I focus on military matters, not on gas pipelines. Is it really necessary to explain how stupid his remark was.
On MSNBC, some pundit on diplomacy suggests that Trump should have referred to Russia as the "enemy" not "our competitor." Does it really make a difference? Here we have European countries reluctant to develop their defenses against a true predator, and yet find time to harangue the only country in a position to offer them some protection by telling him it was a huge mistake to refer to their common enemy as their competitor. And, this is what's important to the Europeans?
And regardless of European hectoring, no one knows to what extent they will actually fulfill their NATO military commitments. Trump should be ashamed, the pundits say, that he would speak so directly and uncharitably to the Europeans. Well, occasions arise when the coach will have to lay it out for his team. Sure, you have to get the goodwill of the team, but you've also got to get their respect. Blowing smoke never works.
When asked how he felt about Trump chastising Merkel regarding the proposed gas pipeline between Russia and Germany, this deep, military thinker says, "I focus on military matters, not on gas pipelines. Is it really necessary to explain how stupid his remark was.
On MSNBC, some pundit on diplomacy suggests that Trump should have referred to Russia as the "enemy" not "our competitor." Does it really make a difference? Here we have European countries reluctant to develop their defenses against a true predator, and yet find time to harangue the only country in a position to offer them some protection by telling him it was a huge mistake to refer to their common enemy as their competitor. And, this is what's important to the Europeans?
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Trump: America's Gulliver Being Nipped At The Ankles
One of the major problems facing America has been a growing and malignint Chinese influence. From turning rock piles sticking out of the ocean into military fortresses designed to influence shipping and air traffic through and over the China sea, the Chinese are now shinning laser beams into the eyes of our pilots, Chinese aggression is manifest.
China has become comfortable with a parasitic relationship with the U.S. China has a strong and clever culture. Great scientific achievements lie ahead for them. But, if they can get others to do the ground-breaking work, why not let them and then simply scoop up the benefits without having to invest anything of their own? Want to build an airplane factory in China, so as to get closer to the Chinese market? No problem; however, China must have 51% ownership of any such factory, any trade secrets developed by the outsider plane maker must be shared with the Chinese. These trade secrets can then be used by the Chinese to start their own plane building facility. The research has cost them nothing.
One other thing: A small trade imbalance here, a small trade imbalance there and it's no real problem. However the size of our imbalance in trade with China has become enormous.
How this behavior on the part of the Chinese impacts other nations is not being much discussed. CEO's tend to take a short term view of most situations. Okay, they think, we're getting robbed, but the depredations take place over an extended period of time. All I have to do to make my bloated salary is to bring in a good profit over the next 3 years.
As Trump tries to correct this unfair Chinese trade, the Chinese are playing their other card -- North Korea. Be nice to us Pres. Trump, say the Chinese, and we'll help you bring peace to the Korean peninsula. Fight us on trade and you'll get nowhere with our North Korean rocket man.
How Pres. Trump addresses this formidable challenge, I have no idea. I wish him all the luck. He'll need it. In the meantime the Democrats howl for their open borders. A sense of priority has never been their long suite.
China has become comfortable with a parasitic relationship with the U.S. China has a strong and clever culture. Great scientific achievements lie ahead for them. But, if they can get others to do the ground-breaking work, why not let them and then simply scoop up the benefits without having to invest anything of their own? Want to build an airplane factory in China, so as to get closer to the Chinese market? No problem; however, China must have 51% ownership of any such factory, any trade secrets developed by the outsider plane maker must be shared with the Chinese. These trade secrets can then be used by the Chinese to start their own plane building facility. The research has cost them nothing.
One other thing: A small trade imbalance here, a small trade imbalance there and it's no real problem. However the size of our imbalance in trade with China has become enormous.
How this behavior on the part of the Chinese impacts other nations is not being much discussed. CEO's tend to take a short term view of most situations. Okay, they think, we're getting robbed, but the depredations take place over an extended period of time. All I have to do to make my bloated salary is to bring in a good profit over the next 3 years.
As Trump tries to correct this unfair Chinese trade, the Chinese are playing their other card -- North Korea. Be nice to us Pres. Trump, say the Chinese, and we'll help you bring peace to the Korean peninsula. Fight us on trade and you'll get nowhere with our North Korean rocket man.
How Pres. Trump addresses this formidable challenge, I have no idea. I wish him all the luck. He'll need it. In the meantime the Democrats howl for their open borders. A sense of priority has never been their long suite.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018
Did Putin Manipulate Our Elections To Favor Trump?
If he had manipulated America's elections, in whose favor would Putin have manipulated them? Trump? Hillary? Bernie Sanders? Let's agree to eliminate Sanders. He may have gotten more votes than expected, but Bernie was always a long shot. That left Putin with Trump and Hillary. Of the two, Hillary was clearly the more venal. Trump, on the other hand, was less experienced.
Neither Hillary nor Trump was out and out stupid. Not like Obama with his red lines. In foreign affairs, Obama seemed like a rank amateur. Look at that agreement he arrived at with Iran. Look at all that cash he released to Iran. Look how he stuck it to America's ally, the Saudis. Putin would have liked Obama to have had a third term but that, of course, was not possible with America's term limits. One didn't need spies in America to know that Obama hated Israel's Netanyahu. For Putin that was a very good thing. Netanyahu knew the game. It therefore wasn't in Putin's interest to get behind someone who was smart and might become close to Netanyahu.
Venal Hillary or stupid Trump? In the end, Putin chose to do what he could to help Trump. Anyway, if Hillary had gotten elected, Putin had enough on her to have her toe his line. But Trump struck him as callow and without any experience in the game of international chess.
In the end, backing Trump had it's good points and bad points. The Americans are a moralistic people. If they think they've caught someone in a compromising position, they love waggling their finger at the culprit. The ramifications of finger waggling generally escape them. When Bashar Assad once again used poison gas on his people, Trump, having told him not to do this, unleashed a number of rockets at Syrian airfields. Trump had set forth no red lines. There was no finger waggling. Trump had given warning and now the Syrians got their retribution. Suddenly, Putin realized that he may have misjudged Trump. But it was too late. Trump had become president.
But his efforts to help Trump get elected did have some positive aspects for Putin. The Americans could only suggest that he, Putin, had made an effort to get Trump elected. However, it was impossible to know whether Trump's victory stemmed from Putin's efforts to help him. And now that Trump was proving smarter than Putin had anticipated, it was fun seeing the American political system tear away at Trump because the Russians, had allegedly tried to help him through various dirty tricks.
Indeed, the Americans had launched an endless investigation of Trump and his friends as to how the Russians had enabled Trump to win the election. Putin couldn't help but admire Trump's resilience in standing up to the American political system in its efforts to tear him down.
Neither Hillary nor Trump was out and out stupid. Not like Obama with his red lines. In foreign affairs, Obama seemed like a rank amateur. Look at that agreement he arrived at with Iran. Look at all that cash he released to Iran. Look how he stuck it to America's ally, the Saudis. Putin would have liked Obama to have had a third term but that, of course, was not possible with America's term limits. One didn't need spies in America to know that Obama hated Israel's Netanyahu. For Putin that was a very good thing. Netanyahu knew the game. It therefore wasn't in Putin's interest to get behind someone who was smart and might become close to Netanyahu.
Venal Hillary or stupid Trump? In the end, Putin chose to do what he could to help Trump. Anyway, if Hillary had gotten elected, Putin had enough on her to have her toe his line. But Trump struck him as callow and without any experience in the game of international chess.
In the end, backing Trump had it's good points and bad points. The Americans are a moralistic people. If they think they've caught someone in a compromising position, they love waggling their finger at the culprit. The ramifications of finger waggling generally escape them. When Bashar Assad once again used poison gas on his people, Trump, having told him not to do this, unleashed a number of rockets at Syrian airfields. Trump had set forth no red lines. There was no finger waggling. Trump had given warning and now the Syrians got their retribution. Suddenly, Putin realized that he may have misjudged Trump. But it was too late. Trump had become president.
But his efforts to help Trump get elected did have some positive aspects for Putin. The Americans could only suggest that he, Putin, had made an effort to get Trump elected. However, it was impossible to know whether Trump's victory stemmed from Putin's efforts to help him. And now that Trump was proving smarter than Putin had anticipated, it was fun seeing the American political system tear away at Trump because the Russians, had allegedly tried to help him through various dirty tricks.
Indeed, the Americans had launched an endless investigation of Trump and his friends as to how the Russians had enabled Trump to win the election. Putin couldn't help but admire Trump's resilience in standing up to the American political system in its efforts to tear him down.
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