Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Comment 6/21/19, by the Enlightened Prisoner to the Jon Talton editorial in the Seattle Times, "The Appeal of Trumponomics Belies it's Heavy Costs."
If you believe that Trump's economic policies have been beneficial, take time to talk to any small business engaged in manufacturing products for international distribution, or talk to any family owned agriculture business that raises produce that trades on the international market. Those are American industries in dire conditions and facing markets which Trump keeps in throes of uncertainty with bellicose threats and claims, and the higher taxes (for manufacturers & farmers) of those tariffs he puts on imported products or raw materials. All of which require an "in-kind" response from the countries he attacks. You'd probably find that anyone of those manufacturers or famers would feel they could have done a better job dealing directly with those foreign markets than this President who thinks he has a business sense. And, constantly proves the theory that a man who seeks not but his own counsel has a fool for an advisor.
Trump's own business dealings were an indicator we should have been looking at more closely before the election. His record of "stiffing" creditors, bankruptcies, multiplicity of civil suits, businesses run into the ground of failure, creation of falsified information to promote himself, creation of dubious businesses (i.e., Trump University), and, oh yes, inability to threat his fellow citizens with respect or decency expected from any occupant of the office he serves. That's right, serves. After all, he is merely an elected Public Servant charged with the Administration of the Executive Branch. All his claims of being anything more need to be treated with the disdain we reserve for those underserving of trust or confidence. And aren't you getting a little tired of these "brag-a-thon" rallies, tweets and controlled news encounters while the real answers the tax-paying public deserve are closeted behind a mind that serves naught but "self-interest"?
If you believe that Trump's economic policies have been beneficial, take time to talk to any small business engaged in manufacturing products for international distribution, or talk to any family owned agriculture business that raises produce that trades on the international market. Those are American industries in dire conditions and facing markets which Trump keeps in throes of uncertainty with bellicose threats and claims, and the higher taxes (for manufacturers & farmers) of those tariffs he puts on imported products or raw materials. All of which require an "in-kind" response from the countries he attacks. You'd probably find that anyone of those manufacturers or famers would feel they could have done a better job dealing directly with those foreign markets than this President who thinks he has a business sense. And, constantly proves the theory that a man who seeks not but his own counsel has a fool for an advisor.
Trump's own business dealings were an indicator we should have been looking at more closely before the election. His record of "stiffing" creditors, bankruptcies, multiplicity of civil suits, businesses run into the ground of failure, creation of falsified information to promote himself, creation of dubious businesses (i.e., Trump University), and, oh yes, inability to threat his fellow citizens with respect or decency expected from any occupant of the office he serves. That's right, serves. After all, he is merely an elected Public Servant charged with the Administration of the Executive Branch. All his claims of being anything more need to be treated with the disdain we reserve for those underserving of trust or confidence. And aren't you getting a little tired of these "brag-a-thon" rallies, tweets and controlled news encounters while the real answers the tax-paying public deserve are closeted behind a mind that serves naught but "self-interest"?
Saturday, May 25, 2019
Evaluating the moral truthfulness of President Trump based on his governmental administrative actions is just plain silly. You must consider that he brought no credentials to the table for performing this job of governance. And, provides supporting evidence almost daily.
The President's lack of intellectual acuity is evident in every one of his tweets. You know, those very early morning missives he represents as official words from the Presidential pulpit (you must wonder as I do that considering the hour just what room is he in?). We'd already discovered his lack of wisdom and integrity, but constant flows of words so shallow, so witless, so disingenuous. What's really scary is the number of monied people who supported the effort to put this mentally challenged man-boy into a position requiring wise and rational behavior. Just take a moment to wonder about the mental acuity for that committee. Or, for that matter, the corps of committed echo servants necessary to maintain this President's façade.
(Words of the Enlightened Prisoner, May 25, 2019)
Monday, April 22, 2019
Yes, we talking about a President who suspended the practice of Press Conferences which further dilutes Administration transparency, then refused to be interviewed by members of the Muller investigative team. Instead, answered questions in writing that were mostly labels of "I don't have a recollection of that."
It's hard not to show a bias about this President's behavior before and since the Muller Investigation Report. His words and actions bespeak an outrageously guilty man and, why his associates and Party minions continue to support such conduct is enough to suspect a greater conspiracy to hide motives that still need to be discovered.
Sunday, March 31, 2019
Why Does He Resist?
The idea of a Federal Income Tax was born in this country (circ. 1917) to create revenue for the government to provide the services our elected members of the Legislative Branch deemed necessary. From it's outset there was an element of honesty required of our citizen tax-payers to participate in a fair and equitable manner.
But, over the years, for reasons of greed or feelings of hostility to the ambitions of the government, many have become tax cheats. However, anyone who has had faith in our institutions and has made an honest effort to comply with the rules that apply to us all would have no reason not to reveal themselves.
Apparently, we have a current President who has not been playing by the rules or lacks making an honest tax-paying effort. I mean, all he does is develop business and residential properties and collect the rent from them, right? But why his reluctance to cooperate with what appears to be a legal request by a Congressional oversight Committee. Sad.
(The Enlightened Prisoner made a similar comment to the Washington Post on 4-4-19)
But, over the years, for reasons of greed or feelings of hostility to the ambitions of the government, many have become tax cheats. However, anyone who has had faith in our institutions and has made an honest effort to comply with the rules that apply to us all would have no reason not to reveal themselves.
Apparently, we have a current President who has not been playing by the rules or lacks making an honest tax-paying effort. I mean, all he does is develop business and residential properties and collect the rent from them, right? But why his reluctance to cooperate with what appears to be a legal request by a Congressional oversight Committee. Sad.
(The Enlightened Prisoner made a similar comment to the Washington Post on 4-4-19)
Monday, March 25, 2019
THE ENLIGHTENED PRISONER (Let me say this about that!)
The Muller Report has been released. While the claim I'm innocent is still ringing, consider this. The recent financial crisis that almost brought chaos to our national market passed without a single banking executive found to be responsible.
While there's still a lot of lurking evidence out there to be settled, it's still necessary to point out that this President, (and his Congressional minions), are guilty of conducting one of the worst working governances of our country yet and, one of the worst wastes of the time and money provided by us, the Tax-Paying public.
And, I can't shake off the fact that the election of that wasteful period may have been manipulated by a foreign hostile government.
I await the outcomes that can somehow get us a return to efficient and ethical governance, God knows we've had enough of the other side. The Enlightened Prisoner
The Muller Report has been released. While the claim I'm innocent is still ringing, consider this. The recent financial crisis that almost brought chaos to our national market passed without a single banking executive found to be responsible.
While there's still a lot of lurking evidence out there to be settled, it's still necessary to point out that this President, (and his Congressional minions), are guilty of conducting one of the worst working governances of our country yet and, one of the worst wastes of the time and money provided by us, the Tax-Paying public.
And, I can't shake off the fact that the election of that wasteful period may have been manipulated by a foreign hostile government.
I await the outcomes that can somehow get us a return to efficient and ethical governance, God knows we've had enough of the other side. The Enlightened Prisoner
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
On 1-8-19, the Enlightened Prisoner posted a Washington Post comment as thus:
"If you would just stop with your silly attempts to criminalize Mexico Mr. President, and remember that the drug crisis in this country is not the result of Mexican Cartel's marketing. Rather it is the result of American citizen insatiable demand for artificial relief from this country's income inequities. And, I realize of course that you probably wouldn't get it even if you could read it. Sad.
"If you would just stop with your silly attempts to criminalize Mexico Mr. President, and remember that the drug crisis in this country is not the result of Mexican Cartel's marketing. Rather it is the result of American citizen insatiable demand for artificial relief from this country's income inequities. And, I realize of course that you probably wouldn't get it even if you could read it. Sad.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Why it is bad that the Government spies on me?
I live in a country generally assumed to be a dictatorship. One of the Arab spring countries. I have lived through curfews and have seen the outcomes of the sort of surveillance now being revealed in the US. People here talking about curfews aren't realizing what that actually FEELS like. It isn't about having to go inside, and the practicality of that. It's about creating the feeling that everyone, everything is watching. A few points:
1) the purpose of this surveillance from the governments point of view is to control enemies of the state. Not terrorists. People who are coalescing around ideas that would destabilize the status quo. These could be religious ideas. These could be groups like anon who are too good with tech for the governments liking. It makes it very easy to know who these people are. It also makes it very simple to control these people.
Lets say you are a college student and you get in with some people who want to stop farming practices that hurt animals. So you make a plan and go to protest these practices. You get there, and wow, the protest is huge. You never expected this, you were just goofing off. Well now everyone who was there is suspect. Even though you technically had the right to protest, you're now considered a dangerous person.
With this tech in place, the government doesn't have to put you in jail. They can do something more sinister. They can just email you a sexy picture you took with a girlfriend. Or they can email you a note saying that they can prove your dad is cheating on his taxes. Or they can threaten to get your dad fired. All you have to do, the email says, is help them catch your friends in the group. You have to report back every week, or you dad might lose his job. So you do. You turn in your friends and even though they try to keep meetings off grid, you're reporting on them to protect your dad.
2) Let's say number one goes on. The country is a weird place now. Really weird. Pretty soon, a movement springs up like occupy, except its bigger this time. People are really serious, and they are saying they want a government without this power. I guess people are realizing that it is a serious deal. You see on the news that tear gas was fired. Your friend calls you, frantic. They're shooting people. Oh my god. you never signed up for this. You say, fuck it. My dad might lose his job but I won't be responsible for anyone dying. That's going too far. You refuse to report anymore. You just stop going to meetings. You stay at home, and try not to watch the news. Three days later, police come to your door and arrest you. They confiscate your computer and phones, and they beat you up a bit. No one can help you so they all just sit quietly. They know if they say anything they're next. This happened in the country I live in. It is not a joke.
3) Its hard to say how long you were in there. What you saw was horrible. Most of the time, you only heard screams. People begging to be killed. Noises you've never heard before. You, you were lucky. You got kicked every day when they threw your moldy food at you, but no one shocked you. No one used sexual violence on you, at least that you remember. There were some times they gave you pills, and you can't say for sure what happened then. To be honest, sometimes the pills were the best part of your day, because at least then you didn't feel anything. You have scars on you from the way you were treated. You learn in prison that torture is now common. But everyone who uploads videos or pictures of this torture is labeled a leaker. Its considered a threat to national security. Pretty soon, a cut you got on your leg is looking really bad. You think it's infected. There were no doctors in prison, and it was so overcrowded, who knows what got in the cut. You go to the doctor, but he refuses to see you. He knows if he does the government can see the records that he treated you. Even you calling his office prompts a visit from the local police.
You decide to go home and see your parents. Maybe they can help. This leg is getting really bad. You get to their house. They aren't home. You can't reach them no matter how hard you try. A neighbor pulls you aside, and he quickly tells you they were arrested three weeks ago and haven't been seen since. You vaguely remember mentioning to them on the phone you were going to that protest. Even your little brother isn't there.
4) Is this even really happening? You look at the news. Sports scores. Celebrity news. It's like nothing is wrong. What the hell is going on? A stranger smirks at you reading the paper. You lose it. You shout at him "fuck you dude what are you laughing at can't you see I've got a fucking wound on my leg?"
"Sorry," he says. "I just didn't know anyone read the news anymore." There haven't been any real journalists for months. They're all in jail.
Everyone walking around is scared. They can't talk to anyone else because they don't know who is reporting for the government. Hell, at one time YOU were reporting for the government. Maybe they just want their kid to get through school. Maybe they want to keep their job. Maybe they're sick and want to be able to visit the doctor. It's always a simple reason. Good people always do bad things for simple reasons.
You want to protest. You want your family back. You need help for your leg. This is way beyond anything you ever wanted. It started because you just wanted to see fair treatment in farms. Now you're basically considered a terrorist, and everyone around you might be reporting on you. You definitely can't use a phone or email. You can't get a job. You can't even trust people face to face anymore. On every corner, there are people with guns. They are as scared as you are. They just don't want to lose their jobs. They don't want to be labeled as traitors.
This all happened in the country where I live.
You want to know why revolutions happen? Because little by little by little things get worse and worse.
But this thing that is happening now is big. This is the key ingredient. This allows them to know everything they need to know to accomplish the above. The fact that they are doing it is proof that they are the sort of people who might use it in the way I described. In the country I live in, they also claimed it was for the safety of the people. Same in Soviet Russia. Same in East Germany. In fact, that is always the excuse that is used to surveil everyone. But it has never ONCE proven to be the reality.
Maybe Obama won't do it. Maybe the next guy won't, or the one after him. Maybe this story isn't about you. Maybe it happens 10 or 20 years from now, when a big war is happening, or after another big attack. Maybe it's about your daughter or your son. We just don't know yet. But what we do know is that right now, in this moment we have a choice. Are we okay with this, or not? Do we want this power to exist, or not?
You know for me, the reason I'm upset is that I grew up in school saying the pledge of allegiance. I was taught that the United States meant "liberty and justice for all." You get older, you learn that in this country we define that phrase based on the constitution. That's what tells us what liberty is and what justice is. Well, the government just violated that ideal. So if they aren't standing for liberty and justice anymore, what are they standing for? Safety?
Ask yourself a question. In the story I told above, does anyone sound safe?
I didn't make anything up. These things happened to people I know. We used to think it couldn't happen in America. But guess what? It's starting to happen.
I actually get really upset when people say "I don't have anything to hide. Let them read everything." People saying that have no idea what they are bringing down on their own heads. They are naive, and we need to listen to people in other countries who are clearly telling us that this is a horrible horrible sign and it is time to stand up and say no.
source
1) the purpose of this surveillance from the governments point of view is to control enemies of the state. Not terrorists. People who are coalescing around ideas that would destabilize the status quo. These could be religious ideas. These could be groups like anon who are too good with tech for the governments liking. It makes it very easy to know who these people are. It also makes it very simple to control these people.
Lets say you are a college student and you get in with some people who want to stop farming practices that hurt animals. So you make a plan and go to protest these practices. You get there, and wow, the protest is huge. You never expected this, you were just goofing off. Well now everyone who was there is suspect. Even though you technically had the right to protest, you're now considered a dangerous person.
With this tech in place, the government doesn't have to put you in jail. They can do something more sinister. They can just email you a sexy picture you took with a girlfriend. Or they can email you a note saying that they can prove your dad is cheating on his taxes. Or they can threaten to get your dad fired. All you have to do, the email says, is help them catch your friends in the group. You have to report back every week, or you dad might lose his job. So you do. You turn in your friends and even though they try to keep meetings off grid, you're reporting on them to protect your dad.
2) Let's say number one goes on. The country is a weird place now. Really weird. Pretty soon, a movement springs up like occupy, except its bigger this time. People are really serious, and they are saying they want a government without this power. I guess people are realizing that it is a serious deal. You see on the news that tear gas was fired. Your friend calls you, frantic. They're shooting people. Oh my god. you never signed up for this. You say, fuck it. My dad might lose his job but I won't be responsible for anyone dying. That's going too far. You refuse to report anymore. You just stop going to meetings. You stay at home, and try not to watch the news. Three days later, police come to your door and arrest you. They confiscate your computer and phones, and they beat you up a bit. No one can help you so they all just sit quietly. They know if they say anything they're next. This happened in the country I live in. It is not a joke.
3) Its hard to say how long you were in there. What you saw was horrible. Most of the time, you only heard screams. People begging to be killed. Noises you've never heard before. You, you were lucky. You got kicked every day when they threw your moldy food at you, but no one shocked you. No one used sexual violence on you, at least that you remember. There were some times they gave you pills, and you can't say for sure what happened then. To be honest, sometimes the pills were the best part of your day, because at least then you didn't feel anything. You have scars on you from the way you were treated. You learn in prison that torture is now common. But everyone who uploads videos or pictures of this torture is labeled a leaker. Its considered a threat to national security. Pretty soon, a cut you got on your leg is looking really bad. You think it's infected. There were no doctors in prison, and it was so overcrowded, who knows what got in the cut. You go to the doctor, but he refuses to see you. He knows if he does the government can see the records that he treated you. Even you calling his office prompts a visit from the local police.
You decide to go home and see your parents. Maybe they can help. This leg is getting really bad. You get to their house. They aren't home. You can't reach them no matter how hard you try. A neighbor pulls you aside, and he quickly tells you they were arrested three weeks ago and haven't been seen since. You vaguely remember mentioning to them on the phone you were going to that protest. Even your little brother isn't there.
4) Is this even really happening? You look at the news. Sports scores. Celebrity news. It's like nothing is wrong. What the hell is going on? A stranger smirks at you reading the paper. You lose it. You shout at him "fuck you dude what are you laughing at can't you see I've got a fucking wound on my leg?"
"Sorry," he says. "I just didn't know anyone read the news anymore." There haven't been any real journalists for months. They're all in jail.
Everyone walking around is scared. They can't talk to anyone else because they don't know who is reporting for the government. Hell, at one time YOU were reporting for the government. Maybe they just want their kid to get through school. Maybe they want to keep their job. Maybe they're sick and want to be able to visit the doctor. It's always a simple reason. Good people always do bad things for simple reasons.
You want to protest. You want your family back. You need help for your leg. This is way beyond anything you ever wanted. It started because you just wanted to see fair treatment in farms. Now you're basically considered a terrorist, and everyone around you might be reporting on you. You definitely can't use a phone or email. You can't get a job. You can't even trust people face to face anymore. On every corner, there are people with guns. They are as scared as you are. They just don't want to lose their jobs. They don't want to be labeled as traitors.
This all happened in the country where I live.
You want to know why revolutions happen? Because little by little by little things get worse and worse.
But this thing that is happening now is big. This is the key ingredient. This allows them to know everything they need to know to accomplish the above. The fact that they are doing it is proof that they are the sort of people who might use it in the way I described. In the country I live in, they also claimed it was for the safety of the people. Same in Soviet Russia. Same in East Germany. In fact, that is always the excuse that is used to surveil everyone. But it has never ONCE proven to be the reality.
Maybe Obama won't do it. Maybe the next guy won't, or the one after him. Maybe this story isn't about you. Maybe it happens 10 or 20 years from now, when a big war is happening, or after another big attack. Maybe it's about your daughter or your son. We just don't know yet. But what we do know is that right now, in this moment we have a choice. Are we okay with this, or not? Do we want this power to exist, or not?
You know for me, the reason I'm upset is that I grew up in school saying the pledge of allegiance. I was taught that the United States meant "liberty and justice for all." You get older, you learn that in this country we define that phrase based on the constitution. That's what tells us what liberty is and what justice is. Well, the government just violated that ideal. So if they aren't standing for liberty and justice anymore, what are they standing for? Safety?
Ask yourself a question. In the story I told above, does anyone sound safe?
I didn't make anything up. These things happened to people I know. We used to think it couldn't happen in America. But guess what? It's starting to happen.
I actually get really upset when people say "I don't have anything to hide. Let them read everything." People saying that have no idea what they are bringing down on their own heads. They are naive, and we need to listen to people in other countries who are clearly telling us that this is a horrible horrible sign and it is time to stand up and say no.
source
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Thoughts on Edward Snowden
This was some good background material. On one hand you've got to admit his motives have quality but, the stigma of his social habits are a concern. Being a social enigma in this day and age is akin to a personality cloaked in deceptiveness. But then, that describes way too many of our serving elected officials doesn't it?
One of the most interesting parts of his motive admissions was being so upset with the Obama administration because it didn't investigate and prosecute the previous administration's gross transgressions of public surveillance.
In my police investigative days I can recall so many instances where I became aware of undocumented information of community members that reflected badly on their persona. But, it's how you use the information, not that you possess it. To be aware of it and pass it along to someone just to excite the air makes you little more than a blow-hard gossip. And you know how we treat those dingbats!?!?
One of the most interesting parts of his motive admissions was being so upset with the Obama administration because it didn't investigate and prosecute the previous administration's gross transgressions of public surveillance.
In my police investigative days I can recall so many instances where I became aware of undocumented information of community members that reflected badly on their persona. But, it's how you use the information, not that you possess it. To be aware of it and pass it along to someone just to excite the air makes you little more than a blow-hard gossip. And you know how we treat those dingbats!?!?
Your's in debate............Scotty
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