As if 2009 had not given us enough of a pounding, on Christmas day we got the Nigerian Underpants Clown and the attempt to crash a planeload of good folks in Detroit, Michigan. Depressing. Following that we got tons of explanations and accusations from media "experts", bloggers and FB posters, all focused on how he got through and all worried about how these clowns are getting the best of us because of what Bush or Obama did or did not do (depending on your politics)! This was even more depressing.
I struggled with this for a few days, not sure about my own feelings until I had to fly on December 30. As I went through security behind a couple of yahoos (Yahoos are impervious and often inebriated college age guys- I know this category well having lived in it for at least 10 years) cramming their Subway sandwiches, shakes and sodas into a grey plastic container on the conveyor belt, yucking it up and having a blast. I was shocked when they got everything through just five days after Detroit; I mean this was a stoned Cheech and Chong or Michael from the Sopranos, stepping on toes and violating every rule possible under the direct supervision of TSA! And they walked...I thought- "who do these guys stop?"
For a few seconds I thought about doing a citizen's arrest or at least asking TSA about it, then I thought, "who cares- I hope they're on my flight and I hope they make a move to do something because I will lose it all on them and NOTHING will happen on My Watch!"
They were not on my plane, and I had an incident free trip to LA except that this was a real awakening for me. I think I accidentally happened on the attitude that saved the Detroit plane and also brought us the heroics on flight 93, two truly great moments. On Detroit, passengers went leaping over seats to get a piece of the Nigerian; who can ever forget the passengers on Flight 93 storming the pilot's cockpit? This attitude is a gift to us...something we can take and put into action whenever we need it- whenever we are bitching about things that are bad and how someone, the government or some bad guys, is screwing us and making life impossible....
It is time to take ownership in all things and let it all hang out. When the going gets tough and I think of the potential for ugly results in anything, I am just going to say, "NOT ON MY WATCH" then do what is necessary to bring about the just result.
From now on, no matter what the issue, I will carry this spirit with me in all I do. My Resolution for 2010 and beyond is to kick ass in the name of what is right with a "NOT ON MY WATCH" attitude.
I encourage the same from everyone...government might help us, but not until we step up to the plate and take a swing. Laying back and relying on others who may or may not help is a prescription for both failure and a continued depression of the spirit, of the country.
NOT ON MY WATCH!
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Goldman Sachs statement about why it sold short against bundled mortgages it was selling.
They miss the fundamental point- these instruments (and the government programs that licensed but did not regulate them) were based on artificial prosperity and a selling of America at prices based on that illusion. We were (and are) in a deflationary period since 2000; housing and its price inflation and mortgage fraud was based on easy Fed money and sales and application fraud from bottom to top in real estate (customers, sales brokers, mortgage companies, IBankers and Traders), not on anything the markets were doing to create real value increases.
As Goldman says, selling short was smart and the responsible activity (unless the traders had knowledge of the ongoing fraud- what do you think? I have my opinion on that one...:)). The real fraud is in the development and sale of the prosperity illusion that led to the short selling opportunity. The real story is in the application of the illusion strategy across all markets, not just "Synthetic" CDOs. Wall Street cannot escape that reality with a one page explanation. It is why the Street's anti-competitive license from Washington must go.
Time to allow open source technology and information in multiple online trading markets with no regulation and no advantages based on licenses. Let the participants create and manage the regulatory process (like we do so well online). If there is fraud, let's be democratic about it and let everyone participate, not just the same old robber barons!
They miss the fundamental point- these instruments (and the government programs that licensed but did not regulate them) were based on artificial prosperity and a selling of America at prices based on that illusion. We were (and are) in a deflationary period since 2000; housing and its price inflation and mortgage fraud was based on easy Fed money and sales and application fraud from bottom to top in real estate (customers, sales brokers, mortgage companies, IBankers and Traders), not on anything the markets were doing to create real value increases.
As Goldman says, selling short was smart and the responsible activity (unless the traders had knowledge of the ongoing fraud- what do you think? I have my opinion on that one...:)). The real fraud is in the development and sale of the prosperity illusion that led to the short selling opportunity. The real story is in the application of the illusion strategy across all markets, not just "Synthetic" CDOs. Wall Street cannot escape that reality with a one page explanation. It is why the Street's anti-competitive license from Washington must go.
Time to allow open source technology and information in multiple online trading markets with no regulation and no advantages based on licenses. Let the participants create and manage the regulatory process (like we do so well online). If there is fraud, let's be democratic about it and let everyone participate, not just the same old robber barons!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Arrival of the Trading Class
Like it or not, the last ten years of no productivity followed by the "almost depression" were the start of a new direction for America that mirrors post-Industrial Revolution events in Britain and Germany that resulted in the creation of two tiered societies that function only to reward the "Trading" or Merchant Class.
Riches earned from Trading are the wealth of the Crown in a land where few do much that is good for underprivileged around the World. Protecting its Merchant Class and their ever more sophisticated and risky financial adventures is what England is all about. In Germany the rise of the Trading Class led to the rise of the Third Reich.
In the US, Obama missed an opportunity to avoid that direction for the US and follow Roosevelt's lead of building and investing in communities and people. Had Obama studied FDR or the other two great Democratic Presidents- Jefferson and Jackson, he would have understood the risk of calamity that serving the Merchant Class brings on a once free society. Jefferson's ardent opposition to Hamilton's financial adventures are a great read for those wanting a quick understanding of this principle.
At a time when Roosevelt would have invested in the poor and created jobs and reigned in financial misadventures, Obama gave us TARP solutions that protect the very markets and people that caused our economic downturn. That catastrophic decision sets the direction for the last "American" century and entrenches a Wall Street led "Trading Class" at the helm of all US decisions.
It is ugly and about to get worse. When the modest recovery stalls, Traders will follow the path they always take when they can no longer rely on the productivity and resources of their own society. They will look overseas and try to take on wealth rightfully belonging to others. They and the government they control will renege on financial obligations to other societies as well. These two paths will require military support.
We are now well positioned in Afghanistan with an army whose imperative is unclear and whose brass has been looking for a path to success. We must be careful to watch the interests of the Trading Class as it pushes and confuses our President to use that army to support trading programs. If he wakes up and opposes them with a sharp progressive, populist stance it will be a miracle and maybe America's only chance to avoid real demise, as Obama's successor is likely to be a populist tool of the trading class who can inspire millions of uneducated people to take action directly contrary to their personal interests.
Sound familiar? It should; that is what happened in Germany after WWI.
Riches earned from Trading are the wealth of the Crown in a land where few do much that is good for underprivileged around the World. Protecting its Merchant Class and their ever more sophisticated and risky financial adventures is what England is all about. In Germany the rise of the Trading Class led to the rise of the Third Reich.
In the US, Obama missed an opportunity to avoid that direction for the US and follow Roosevelt's lead of building and investing in communities and people. Had Obama studied FDR or the other two great Democratic Presidents- Jefferson and Jackson, he would have understood the risk of calamity that serving the Merchant Class brings on a once free society. Jefferson's ardent opposition to Hamilton's financial adventures are a great read for those wanting a quick understanding of this principle.
At a time when Roosevelt would have invested in the poor and created jobs and reigned in financial misadventures, Obama gave us TARP solutions that protect the very markets and people that caused our economic downturn. That catastrophic decision sets the direction for the last "American" century and entrenches a Wall Street led "Trading Class" at the helm of all US decisions.
It is ugly and about to get worse. When the modest recovery stalls, Traders will follow the path they always take when they can no longer rely on the productivity and resources of their own society. They will look overseas and try to take on wealth rightfully belonging to others. They and the government they control will renege on financial obligations to other societies as well. These two paths will require military support.
We are now well positioned in Afghanistan with an army whose imperative is unclear and whose brass has been looking for a path to success. We must be careful to watch the interests of the Trading Class as it pushes and confuses our President to use that army to support trading programs. If he wakes up and opposes them with a sharp progressive, populist stance it will be a miracle and maybe America's only chance to avoid real demise, as Obama's successor is likely to be a populist tool of the trading class who can inspire millions of uneducated people to take action directly contrary to their personal interests.
Sound familiar? It should; that is what happened in Germany after WWI.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Afghanistan- Why not Kick Ass Quickly and Leave?
Struggling to make sense of more troops in Afghanistan and find myself longing for the articulated, but abandoned Powell doctrine (Colin Powell circa 1992 after correctly turning back on the 'Road to Death' in the first war in Iraq)- only send troops if you intend to unleash their full fury (and accept the result)- bring them home asap and NEVER occupy anything- let the chips fall where may after you leave.
What scares me about Afghanistan is that we are already occupying, we show no intent to really kickass and we are setting a timetable based on our western desire of a future for Afghanistan. I don't see any prospect for success and that makes me sad for our boys.
I hear this may be part of a grand regional strategy to contain Pakistan and India. I would love to understand that better and think that may be the product of too much Starbucks in the morning, too much Georgetown at night by State Department intellectuals pushing an overused army into its tenth year of war; close to the stretched out and failed war in Viet Nam.
Time to kickass and leave.
What scares me about Afghanistan is that we are already occupying, we show no intent to really kickass and we are setting a timetable based on our western desire of a future for Afghanistan. I don't see any prospect for success and that makes me sad for our boys.
I hear this may be part of a grand regional strategy to contain Pakistan and India. I would love to understand that better and think that may be the product of too much Starbucks in the morning, too much Georgetown at night by State Department intellectuals pushing an overused army into its tenth year of war; close to the stretched out and failed war in Viet Nam.
Time to kickass and leave.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Next Agenda Clean Energy Challenge
On Thursday, Sept 17 at the Golden Gate Club at the Presidio in San Francisco, 200 incredibly innovative and brilliant people came together to launch an effort to find a solution or set of solutions that might get the US electric grid onto carbon free energy by 2020. The proposal was to start a facilitated process that can provide clear direction to a workable solution during the next 6 months!
So what happened? First, some amazing people showed up. Next, they engaged in a day long process that included talks and lots of breakouts with facilitation at every step of the way to be sure that good ideas, many of them would come out! And they did. Next Agenda shot the entire day, all aspects all angles all 200! Video will show up at the Next Agenda website soon.
The event developed two very important areas of inquiry- technical and social. On the technical side, there is so much going on it is almost like an avalanche of great ideas. Two things are clear...not one answer is right and every answer is right. So, we need a combination of use abatement, new efficiency in development and transportation and new technology for carbon capture and energy production.
On the social side, we need a movement that rivals the anti-war movement in the 1960's or the labor movement of the 1930's. But this is much harder because by the time we see this "enemy", it will be too late. So, Next Agenda proposes to use the web like Barack Obama did to get elected and use TV like American Idol does. Starting when? As soon as the video from the Presidio is ready to go.
Don't wait. Join Next Agenda now!
So what happened? First, some amazing people showed up. Next, they engaged in a day long process that included talks and lots of breakouts with facilitation at every step of the way to be sure that good ideas, many of them would come out! And they did. Next Agenda shot the entire day, all aspects all angles all 200! Video will show up at the Next Agenda website soon.
The event developed two very important areas of inquiry- technical and social. On the technical side, there is so much going on it is almost like an avalanche of great ideas. Two things are clear...not one answer is right and every answer is right. So, we need a combination of use abatement, new efficiency in development and transportation and new technology for carbon capture and energy production.
On the social side, we need a movement that rivals the anti-war movement in the 1960's or the labor movement of the 1930's. But this is much harder because by the time we see this "enemy", it will be too late. So, Next Agenda proposes to use the web like Barack Obama did to get elected and use TV like American Idol does. Starting when? As soon as the video from the Presidio is ready to go.
Don't wait. Join Next Agenda now!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Obama Health Care Speech
As always, Obama rocked the House! The man can speak, no doubt. He also showed toughness, memorably staring down the Republicans as he called them on their efforts to mislead America on his positions. All good.
The Plan itself is rock solid, but only if adopted in the form as presented. Any tweaks and changes may make the whole thing unworkable. This is signature too complicated legislation. But this kind of thing has worked in the past- Medicare, Social security, every tax bill.
Lastly, what I missed (and as a Universal Single Payer Health Care advocate, I was looking for it) was whether the Plan will cover people who have no money and no insurance. I see all kinds of options for people with jobs and money. Just did not hear this all too important element.
The Plan itself is rock solid, but only if adopted in the form as presented. Any tweaks and changes may make the whole thing unworkable. This is signature too complicated legislation. But this kind of thing has worked in the past- Medicare, Social security, every tax bill.
Lastly, what I missed (and as a Universal Single Payer Health Care advocate, I was looking for it) was whether the Plan will cover people who have no money and no insurance. I see all kinds of options for people with jobs and money. Just did not hear this all too important element.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
A Different Take
Saw Phaedra Ellis-Lamkin, successor to Van Jones at Green for All. She spoke at the Tides Momentum conference today and shed some light on the Van Jones affair (Van's resignation after being pressed by the idiots at Fox).
Phaedra said:
1. Don't waste any time feeling bad for Van Jones or angry at Fox.
2. Van and Obama got what they wanted.
If you read between Phaedra's lines it is easy to come to a different, more hopeful conclusion from Obama's non-reaction and Jones' quiet departure than that many of us reached over the weekend.
How about this- Obama had/has a master plan with Jones, dating way back to December-
First, bring him in TEMPORARILY to lead the way and show the way on the Green for All provisions. He single handedly won over 100% support from the Black and Hispanic Caucuses which held up the Stimulus Bill for the Green Jobs provisions.
Second, let Jones take the ire of the right wing on the Green jobs issues (a form of communism, acc Fox), deflect it from Obama.
Third, leak some crazy info on Jones to the right wingers and let them lynch our man Van, very publicly.
Then have him resign, get the left all fired up (worked!) and get the right complacent about its ability to push Obama around just before the Health Care fist fight!
Last, put Jones back in the saddle at Green for All where he is most valuable, an incredible populist progressive who can really get shit done!
Far fetched? I would think so if I had not heard the "top line" from Phaedra. Makes me a bit more hopeful....
Phaedra said:
1. Don't waste any time feeling bad for Van Jones or angry at Fox.
2. Van and Obama got what they wanted.
If you read between Phaedra's lines it is easy to come to a different, more hopeful conclusion from Obama's non-reaction and Jones' quiet departure than that many of us reached over the weekend.
How about this- Obama had/has a master plan with Jones, dating way back to December-
First, bring him in TEMPORARILY to lead the way and show the way on the Green for All provisions. He single handedly won over 100% support from the Black and Hispanic Caucuses which held up the Stimulus Bill for the Green Jobs provisions.
Second, let Jones take the ire of the right wing on the Green jobs issues (a form of communism, acc Fox), deflect it from Obama.
Third, leak some crazy info on Jones to the right wingers and let them lynch our man Van, very publicly.
Then have him resign, get the left all fired up (worked!) and get the right complacent about its ability to push Obama around just before the Health Care fist fight!
Last, put Jones back in the saddle at Green for All where he is most valuable, an incredible populist progressive who can really get shit done!
Far fetched? I would think so if I had not heard the "top line" from Phaedra. Makes me a bit more hopeful....
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