The Infamous Ink

That Other War

Ginger — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:46:37 +0000

While surge supporters have been hooting ala 1984 Bears fans about the recent downturn of violence in Iraq, that other war that’s going on has gotten much worse.

In case you’ve forgotten, because the media stopped reporting on all but the most heinous attacks once the election season began, we still have a war going on. A global war. Right now most of the fighting is occuring in Afghanistan, and Iraq, with covert operations ongoing in a number of other countries, including Somalia, Lebanon, Syria, Pakistan, and Iran.

The Taliban, which was host to the planners of 9/11, has become reinvigorated due to a number of developments:

1. Our shift in resources towards Iraq enabled them to regroup after the initial ousting in November of 2001.

2. Pakistan has been less than helpful in combating insurgents and Jihadists in the mountainous range that borders the nations.

3. The US has scored a number of public relations blunders (usually civilians being killed by airstrikes)that has given renewed support to the Taliban and its allies in the region.

This week we were reminded, in grim fashion, that Afghanistan is still a warzone, almost 7 years after Nato forces started engaging the Islamic extremists in the country.

7 years is a long time. To give you some perspective from a personal standpoint, when the war on terror began, I was starting my senior year of high school. Now I’m a college grad (on the 5 year plan.) When the war on terror began, I’d had a total about 5 wine coolers in my life. Today, I’m a full-blown average 23 year old part-time alcoholic. When the war on terror began, Joe Torre’s Yankees were just winding down their reign of dominance, Marilyn Manson was still relevant, and nobody outside the state had even heard of Barack Obama.

7 years is a long time to be at war, yet neither Mccain or Obama are planning on ending it any time soon.

We are fighting a nebulous enemy on a dozen different fronts, with no tangible markers for succes or failure, no limits to the amount of money we will spend, and no sensible leader calling for an end to this ulimited orgy of thoughtless destruction.

Terrorism is a job for intelligence agencies. Armies are for destroying nations, not building them. Until we get a Commander-in-Chief who is willing to acknowledge the absurdity of the whole situation and get us out of it, this war on terror will never, ever, end.

Banks raise penalty fees for customers’ overdrafts

Infamous Ink — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 02:10:57 +0000

As the economy weakens, banks are increasingly squeezing customers who overdraw their bank accounts.

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Market Populists Go to the 6th Circle of Hell

Ginger — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:12:23 +0000

First, I’d better define exactly who a market populist is, before I get 1800 e-mails accusing me of Marxist sorcery.

Mar-ket Pop-u-list: noun

One who embraces the economic philosophy of the free market, globalisation, and free trade with a religious furvor. Market populists must show absolute loyalty to the whims of the almighty deity that is the free market at all times. Customs of the faith include: daily devotion and reflection on the sacred texts of the New York Times and the Wall Street Jounal, kneeling in prayer twice a day in the general direction of the NYSE at 9:30 AM EST, and at 4:30 PM EST, and denouncing heretics who do not share the faith whenever they are met.

Market populists may also exhibit symptoms of blindness, and have a tendency to experience bouts of tone-defness, especially when confronted with evidence that free trade may not be beneficial for 3rd world countries, the American middle class, or non CEOs.

The high priests of Market Populism can be found in editorial boards across the nation, as well as in all levels of state and national government. Their words are to be given the highest regard and at no point should any tone less than absolute reverence be shown towards them.

Heretics such as Thomas Frank, Dennis Kucinich, and Gore Vidal should be villified at the very least, and if possible, brought to justice dead or alive.

…

Before we became obsessed with the idea that markets dictate the success of nations and people, we had a decent thing going. During the post World War 2 boom, the American people experienced an unprecedented success, and the middle class was created. This was not a natural phenomenon. Rather, the creation of the middle class was the result of progressive tax policies, strong labor unions, and heavy regulation from a state still wary from the Depression.

Somewhere along the line we decided that unions had become too powerful, corporations should have the same rights (and even more) than human beings, and that the very idea of regulating the economy was undemocratic and unnatural.

And now we stand where we are today. The gap between the rich and the poor is greater than it has been at any time since surfdom, our natural resources have been pushed to the limit, and any whisper that free trade may be responsible is stamped out by a chorus of a thousand angry new economists in less than an instant. As a whole, we have embraced the free market as more than an economic policy, but as a cultural movement, even as a religion. Proponents of free trade will often support policies that they know absolutely nothing about other than the fact that the title includes the words “free trade” in them.

The only consideration that matters for the market populist is profit.

Should you want a company to stop outsourcing its jobs to 3rd world countries that have sparing, if any labor laws to protect American jobs, they will cry foul because you will be interfering with that company’s unalienable right to profit.

Should you ask a corporation to pay its employees a living wage so that they don’t have to use credit to pay for gas and groceries, they will cry foul because the corporation will then be forced to cut jobs or raise prices.

Nothing can interfere with the will of the free market, and the free market has only one note to play. Freedom.

They have so twisted this notion that market populists believe deregulation is as essential to liberty as the right to vote.

They are so convinced that free trade is good for everyone involved that opponents are accused of wanting to keep the poor poorer.

Some market populists don’t understand what it is all about. They support the policy because it’s a vague, positive notion akin to bringing the world together through trade, while being woefully ignorant of the pain it causes to all but a handful of people.

Other market populists get it, and they just don’t care.

You would think that the housing crisis and the credit crunch would be enough to convince some of these true believers that letting the market regulate itself isn’t the greatest idea, but they’re simply not listening.

I have some very sad news to give to them. The market is not God. The market is not an equalizer. The market does not have a will or a consciousness or a soul. But if you insist on worshipping this economic policy with a zest that would put Jihadists to shame, then don’t be surprised if you find yourself in the 6th level of hell some day.

To a Deceased Pet

Infamous Ink — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 04:20:18 +0000

I haven’t posted in awhile; primarily because I haven’t had time nor anything intelligent to say. However, I lost my ferret, Asriel, and wanted to reproduce a post from sayahda.com. It is a brief description of the symbolism a ferret has and why I am adopting it as my personal totem.

The Ferret

The ferret is a member of the weasel family. They are happy playful animals with the curiosity of the raccoon and the gentleness of a kitten. Archaeological and historical sources suggest that ferrets have been domesticated for at least 2,500 years. Historical documents from Greece mention the ferret about 450 BC, and Roman documents mention the use of ferrets to hunt rabbits at about the time of Christ. Adept at tunnel hunting it is believed that the ferret was used by the Egyptians as well as farmers and mariners to control rodent populations in barns and on ships. However, the history of the ferrets domestication is speculative without actual proof giving this little animal an illusive quality.

Ferrets are opportunists They will steal anything they can drag away hiding it in a safe place to be used at a later date. Intelligent and crafty this little animal teaches us how to use our ingenuity to create a safe haven for ourselves. They remind us to stock up on necessary provisions that might be needed. Always well prepared for any situation that might appear the ferret is a helpful ally in times of hardship.

The ferrets eyes point forward straight down their nose. Extremely focused on what is in front of them they remind us to stay centered on our goals to reach a desired outcome. Ferrets hold the power of observation. Their keen sense of smell coupled with their ability to see clearly in the darkness links them to the underworld where the secrets of creation are stored. Its intuition is sharp and its sensitivity acute. Ferret has the ability to see and know the hidden meaning behind all things and can assist those with this medicine in understanding themselves, their lives and the experiences they have more clearly.

Those with this totem need to remember to use all of their senses equally. If this medicine is underdeveloped the tendency towards tunnel vision is common. Rigid consciousness creates unnecessary worry and anxiety so caution is advised. Playful activities and a lighthearted attitude is helpful.

When frightened or excited the ferrets tail bushes up and a musty scent is excreted. Although this scent does repel some predators the ferret does not feel completely safe until it has burrowed deep inside its tunnel. In man this symbolizes the need of a secure home life. A place for reflection and nourishment is mandatory for those with this totem.

Ferrets are incredibly fast and agile and show us how to move with lightning speed to avoid danger. Do you need to move more quickly in some aspect of your life? Are you stuck in rigid thought patterns that limit your view of the bigger picture? Have you created a safe haven for yourself? Is your power of observation a hindrance or a help?

Always remember that the ferret is a powerful ally and can help you discover a hidden part of yourself. Buried deep beneath the surface are the answers to life’s mysteries. If you are having trouble understanding some part of your life invite the ferret into your meditation, listen to what it has to tell you and then act accordingly.

Voting for Mccain is NOT the Answer

Ginger — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 18:03:11 +0000

It appears that tonight, finally, the Democratic primaries are going to end, with Hillary Clinton admitting that Obama has won enough delegates to secure the nomination, while stopping short of actually conceding the race, whatever in the blue hell that means.

Now that the race is over, alot of people (mainly Hillary supporters) are very, very PO’d.

They have every right to be. People were calling for their candidate to exit the race months ago, and the media has trashed Hillary at every turn. (She has certainly deserved some of it, but the extremes to which the MSM has gone to degrade her are absurd.) What the DNC chose to do with the delegates from Michigan was undemocratic, unfair, and unreasonable. While there may have been no clean way to sort that mess out, the fact is that now the Democratic Party has a huge problem on its hands. Hillary’s people are ready to jump ship and vote for Mccain.

Folks, I have supported Hillary’s right to stay in the race until the very end, I have tried to defend her from personal attacks, and I am one of the last people who would vote for Obama, but voting for John Mccain in November is not the answer.

The only way to solve this may be to force Barack Obama to take Hillary Clinton on his ticket for vice-president. That may go a long way to bringing back her supporters into the fold, but it shouldn’t be necessary.

I am not a supporter of party politics. But just because you’re completely, completely disappointed with the Democrats doesn’t mean that the grass is greener on the other side. In fact, that grass is brown, dried out, rather disgusting, and the country is tired of eating it.

If they don’t put Hillary in as VP, why don’t you come up with a better response than just voting for the other guy? If you’re a true Clinton supporter, there’s no way that you can believe John Mccain represents your interests more than Obama does.

Or, even better yet, vote Third party and teach BOTH the Dems and the Reps a lesson.

What Matters?

Ginger — Sat, 31 May 2008 01:42:32 +0000

Readers of the Nation seem to have no concept of urgency. Constitutional crises are important, but nowhere as important as climate change. They seem to disagree, according to this poll:

http://www.thenation.com/poll/missing_issue08

Right now climate change ranks dead last among the issues they feel the candidates are not devoting enough time to.

Get your priorities straight, people! The environment should be number 1 far and away. Progressives who critique conservatives on climate change need to take a long, hard look in the mirror. Nobody is paying enough attention to this.

The problem is that liberals think that gay marriage rights, abortion, and public works are more important issues than the climate crisis.

Let’s get real, here. The solutions that we’ve come up with are pathetic. Alternative fuels are only a very short-term (and ineffective) answer to the problem. We simply need to consume far less energy.

Less.

Energy.

The first presidential candidate who has the nuts to out right tell America and the world that we need to use less energy, and comes up with a real approach will get my vote.

No One at the New Yorker has an Anus

Ginger — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:10:47 +0000

I read the New Yorker less frequently than I used to. I had to admit at a certain point that I didn’t understand half of what they write about, and their fiction section is as thrilling as moon pie on a paper plate. Occasionally they still write something that grabs my attention and today yielded this article on the so-called paradox of free trade:

http://www.newyorker.com/talk/financial/2008/05/26/080526ta_talk_surowiecki

The author plays into an age old fallacy of believing that political candidates (in this case, Clinton and Obama,) actually plan to follow through on the promises they make during the campaign. They compare the primary contest to a “who hates free trade more” competition and then chastise the Democratic candidates for not understanding the “paradox” that free trade represents.

That paradox: raising tarriffs on China to help middle Americans will eventually hurt middle and lower class Americans because it will effect their buying power. Buying power that is used to by cheap clothes and shoes made by Chinese children who earn less than a dollar an hour in a sweatshop.

The logic is the same that has brought us the (Still waiting for my) economic stimulus package. Ordinary Americans will quickly spend the money that is being sent to them, and thus will help the economy. If you read between the lines, the administration is saying that poor people are stupid and will give the money right back to us by purchasing useless shit.

I may benefit from cheap goods made in China. In fact, I’m wearing a pretty cheap button-up shirt right now that was made there. But you know what I would benefit from EVEN MORE? A real job that pays well, is protected from outsourcing, and has the backing of a union. Then maybe, just maybe, I could afford to stop buying cheap goods that don’t last very long, and enjoy the luxuries of travel and education like the wealthy.

The anusless masses who subscribe to the New Yorker and the National Review should be smart enough (because of all that expensive education) to understand that lower and middle class Americans wouldn’t make such supposedly stupid buying decisions if they could actually afford to make good ones.

Obama has played the populist card as well as anyone, while nobody (except the middle class people who refuse to vote for him) seems to notice that he thinks free trade is the greatest thing since the wheel. It says so on his website.

Meanwhile, nobody was more responsible for the unleashing of free trade than Bill Clinton. Is it not painfully obvious to anyone that the Democratic party doesn’t give a fourth of a flying fig about average Americans’ interests? (Which is still twice as much as Republicans)

Don’t buy the hype. The benefits of free trade for average Americans (and Chinese) are far outweighed by the costs.

Daniel Larison: On the Necessity of an Irrational Enemy

Infamous Ink — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:30:14 +0000

One of the most important things to understand about the authorized use of torture by agents of the United States government is how closely it is tied to the portrayal of the enemy as utterly irrational.

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Dan Rather @ Columbia

Ginger — Sun, 18 May 2008 19:16:06 +0000

While I’m still a little disappointed that the other half of my graduating class gets to have Earth, Wind, and Fire perform at their commencement, I was honored yesterday to hear Dan Rather speak at my graduation ceremony.

Rather spoke, as he often does, of courage. He was speaking not only to those of us who had chosen journalism as their field, but to any of us who used writing. He encouraged us to challenge those who are in power, to not be intimidated by its instruments. Rather did not indulge the simple cliche of saying we are the future; instead, he told us that we are the now; he warned us not to wait to follow our dreams and to change the world and make it in the image that we want it.

These are words that I try to take to heart whenever I sit down to write, whether it be political commentary, diary, or fictional stories. Courage and the willingness to challenge the conventions of society are important. Rather reminded us that democracy is not the sole responsibility of people in Washington or the state legislature: it is on all of us to preserve it.

Journalists are not the only people who must hold those in power accountable. With the growth of the internet, it is now possible for people to understand the world in a limitless number of ways: the barriers to information and freedom are being torn down as we speak, but we must not forget to exercise that right and keep the powers that be in check.

I ask that if you’re voting for John Mccain, you question his policies, and you hold him accountable to the Constitution. I ask that if you’re voting for Obama, you force him to uphold the oath of office. No matter who you choose to elect, I ask that you never stop questioning them. Had we maintained our courage and been more willing to challenge our current President, we would not be in the shape we are in now.

In America, we the people are in charge.

P.S. Congratulations to everyone from the class of 2008

Edwards gives long-awaited endorsement to Obama

Infamous Ink — Thu, 15 May 2008 20:12:26 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich. - Democrat John Edwards has given his long-awaited endorsement to Barack Obama. It’s a major boost from a former presidential rival as Obama tries to shrug off Hillary Rodham Clinton, who is determined to press ahead.

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