Disqus - Latest Comments for spirasol

Re: Roseanne Barr Says Israel Must End Their Blockade and Occupation of Gaza

spirasol — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:16:48 -0000

I thank you for your honesty..........likely any given event has many players but I think the major players in this humanitarian crisis is Israel and the USA. Egypt could make a difference but they too are manipulated by American money.

Re: Next Assignment: El Santuario

spirasol — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 05:42:50 -0000

Why wait for someone else to bless you
You are the sun and the moon, the wind and the rain,
The blessing and the curse.
There is no other--No need
to fall to your knees, throw open your arms
Just open the little door in your heart
and the universe will join you there!

Re: Americans ‘Blind’ to ‘Extraordinary Progress’ Under President Obama: Estadao of Brazil

spirasol — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 07:01:25 -0000

Shrug, Leonidas supports military takeovers of democracies when it pleases him.

Re: What a Wonderful World

spirasol — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 06:58:27 -0000

.....let me burrow into the heart of this song and stay there for a while. .....a long while. It seems the more horrid one thinks the world actually is, the more one should take the time to remember the simple truth, the simple beauty. Yea....long live Satchmo.

Re: The Insanity of Exempting Military From Spending Freeze

spirasol — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:27:45 -0000

So what percentage of the budget would you say is military spending, and do please point to a reference, thank you

Re: Haiti: While Americans Approve of Longer Stay, U.S. Military Envisage Exit

spirasol — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:22:44 -0000

Reading the roundup of news about Haiti, there appears to be a consensus that, while there have been a few isolated incidents, the primary concerns of Haiti are not about Security.

Re: (Guest Contributor): Discipline Government, Too!

spirasol — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:48:38 -0000

Strictly adhering to the contents of the is article, I don't have much to say. But on the larger issue of rising deficits, cutting expenditures, Kathy K at tmv comments on Greenwald's article about the same. Apparently all this cutting back leaves off the table the military and security, which is nearly 50% of the budget. Apparently Greenwald makes it plain that cutting back on the military is taboo. Why?

Humorously, if we can't trim the military budget, maybe we all ought to join the military. It certainly seems the military is the solution to so many things these days. Some of us may have forgotten how to joust but the socialized comfort of it all may be attractive to some.

Re: The Insanity of Exempting Military From Spending Freeze

spirasol — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 09:28:57 -0000

It's enough to break your heart .............and your wallet.

Re: EveryDay Now, The News Comes to Kill Me With Eidetic Images

spirasol — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 03:13:19 -0000

It is sad, whatever the necessary expediency, that there is no time for Haitians, as a tribe, as a family, to mourn their dead, to draw near to their spirits, to call on their voodoo, for a time of silent commemoration.

Re: Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Finance Laws

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 16:39:51 -0000

I believe you. You do understand it. Oh c'mon you were in on it, lobbied for it, work for a corporation that will benefit from it, and have direct access to the politicians and stock holders who would want government by and for the Corporations. ah cheek in tongue of coarse.....

Re: Larry Sabato: Republicans Can Reduce Democratic Senate Majority to 52 Seats

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:45:11 -0000

Oh good, now Obama has the genuine bipartisan landscape he so wished for.

Re: Larry Sabato: Republicans Can Reduce Democratic Senate Majority to 52 Seats

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:42:33 -0000

Total nonsense!

Re: Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Finance Laws

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:41:10 -0000

I thought the reason to appoint these Repub appointees to the supreme level was because they were NOT activists, letter of the law guys/girls? No? Oh I see only the social activism.......

Re: Supreme Court Overturns Campaign Finance Laws

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 14:38:32 -0000

likely true since the Donkeys are "in power" (who would know), but all that shifts every few years, and so does the contributions. Check your stats during the Bush years, I'll bet you two bits the Elephants racked in the doe.

Re: MLK would’ve protested against Obama

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:45:59 -0000

I'm not sure Kathy, people resurrect and even fashion themselves after the dead. These people become larger than life, models for others to follow in their footsteps. Presidents look at portraits of dead presidents and ask --What would you do?. So I don't think it such an unusual thing to do.

People like to celebrate MLK for his non violence and for is work in civil rights. But, just before he was assassinated, he realized (as it has been written about) that social and civil justice was predicated on economic justice, and against the advice of many around him (he was increasingly receiving death threats) he turned to denounce the inequity of the financial system (capitalism), to denounce and call out the devils in our economic system. It is likely that which led to his assassination.

Re: Haiti: The BBC Lets Me Have My Say

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:35:50 -0000

Per capita contributions Haiti quake:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/n...
Per capita contributions Indonesia tsunami
http://www.nationmaster.com...

Re: Brown-Coakley: The Election of the Century

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 02:17:48 -0000

"How does that conflict with the rule of "one man or woman, one vote"?

Oh, okay, on closer read, I see what you mean, thought it still feels like a divide, yielding to power players on the national level. I guess I wonder aloud whether one can, on the one hand support and work by night to the benefit of 3rd parties, and then by day, in the voting booth, vote for the traditional Democrat. It would seem to be somewhat undermining and has the potential of collapsing their agendas. I suppose it could be seen as some kind of partial solution, but not a compromise I am any longer willing to make. The other option is to simply become bored and disinterested with the process, which I think is what happens more often than not.

Re: Liberal Dems: Where’s our spine?

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 01:32:07 -0000

The title question has been asked now for years and by the public, pundits, and even the uber liberal (M.Moore). Yes Why do Dems or should it just say Politicians have no backbone? Follow the money, it isn't really about not doing the people's will, but pleasing the corporations, Wall street, the military industrial complex, etc. The center by the way is where the elephants and donkeys go to have an orgy. The winning of a single election does not win the national electorate. It does not mean the people of Massachusetts are suddenly intrinsically and irretrievably lost to the Elephant stampede. They deserve a respectable congratulation. That's all.

The issue of cowardice in politics, especially when the political process is so directed by big money, is not a Democratic issue per say. They all line up at the trough on payday (everyday). I do think in a country with only two viable political parties, a major effort should be make clear definitions between the two. This has to do with this moderate/center business too. The democrat of today or the so called blue dogs would be the young Republican of yesteryear. Again, it's all about the money in the trough in the center of the room. And the media is the major sponsor for moderate-ism, anything that veers left or right is called to task. The center is a watermark, something washed and drained and the message is primarily one of holding on to what one's got.....at the expense of others who like to have what you have.

Re: Brown-Coakley: The Election of the Century

spirasol — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 00:58:19 -0000

Hi Kathy, that's a paradox, since our rule is one (wo)man, one vote. I
suppose I could support progressive Dems, while voting otherwise. I
have given that conservative job advice to myself and to others, but I
do know and respect the ones who just walk away. Sometimes it is not
possible to have your cake and eat it too. Sometimes just walking away
is the most progressive think you can do. I don't even think you can do
it wishfully thinking others will follow. To say to yourself, I refuse
to vote against my conscience or participate in a corrupt system.
Consequences be damned.

The timing of things mean everything and the timing of the Obama
election on the heels of 8 years of Bush, should have translated into
change with a capital "C", but it hasn't, and just like Bush squandered
9-11, Obama is squandering his time in history. You'll have to wait a
long time for the opportunity to come up again. Meanwhile politics as
usual, let the most monied win. Dr. E, has a book available, where she
talks about the value of burning it down, to begin a new.

Re: Blame it on Howard Dean

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:33:45 -0000

I agree, however I would say the big tent has recently allowed entry to some heretofore unknown species, and in the covert terrorized zeitgeist we live under, it seems a few elephants have snuck under the tent. That they are allowed to stand there in broad daylight means we are using them for our own secret purposes. More to be revealed in Massachusetts expose.

Re: Haiti: The BBC Lets Me Have My Say

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:36:30 -0000

Okay you get the last word, hope it makes you feel better!

Re: Haiti: The BBC Lets Me Have My Say

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 10:51:52 -0000

You are very kind to resend, D.E., but I did read your well meaning
comments and just felt the original post (they seem to pass us by after
a couple of days) was past the time to respond, and especially since I
continue to disagree which you predicted. I have learned the codes
though and will refrain from posting anything in response to Clarion
calls to support Americans whatever the nuances and circumstances of
what they are doing at this blog. Their are plenty of other places that
don't have those restraints. I do understand their is a certain decorum
maintained here, for better or worse, and I have no interest in rocking
the boat.

One way to respond is to just respectfully disagree. In fact, my
original post on that issue was a supportive response to a former vet
who expressed his opinion that more often than not the gratitude
expressed was experienced as superficial. I was trying to add to that
and point out that opinion about this was not fixed. I do by the way
express gratitude for their service, including my brother's, I just
think it is more nuanced and the gratitude expressed could be expressed
more concretely.

No need to carry this further, D.E., we are out of sync with the current
post, so best end it here as well. Thanks for the resend,, and have a
great day!

Re: MOST DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS ARE COMPLTELY MISSING THE BIG PICTURE

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 06:33:28 -0000

Thanks Marc, I agree, and pass the popcorn.............Great comment Magicskyfather! This 3D stuff is almost real...........wow! I kid and laugh and the drama is high............and I do laugh but mostly to relieve the tension.

Re: Haiti: The BBC Lets Me Have My Say

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:59:55 -0000

Not that money contributions are everything but here is an up to date list: sorry if it is difficult to read....
Haiti aid pledged by country:

country total funding// $ percapita // % of total

Sweden 18657792 // 2.017 // 2.24
Luxembourg 722900 1.487 0.09
Denmark 7376543 1.349 0.88
Guyana 1000000 1.312 0.12
Norway 4939341 1.026 0.59
Estonia 1000000 0.746 0.12
United Kingdom 29371581 0.477 3.52
Australia 8992806 0.422 1.08
United States 114632301 0.364 13.75
Finland 1803752 0.339 0.22
Switzerland 1941748 0.257 0.23
New Zealand 1000000 0.234 0.12
France 14398778 0.231 1.73
Netherlands 2886003 0.174 0.35
Canada 5491330 0.164 0.66
Germany 10822512 0.132 1.3
WORLD TOTAL 833649757 0.122 100
Spain 4329004 0.096 0.52
Brazil 15530000 0.080 1.86
Belgium 651876 0.061 0.08
Italy 2675568 0.045 0.32
Japan 5327154 0.042 0.64
Morocco 1000000 0.031 0.12
Poland 1089466 0.029 0.13
Czech Republic 288600 0.028 0.03
Greece 290000 0.026 0.03
China 10405286 0.008 1.25
Russian Federation 700000 0.005 0.08
Indonesia 1000000 0.004 0.12
South Africa 134904 0.003 0.02
Private (individuals & organisations) 212839080 25.53
Others 210064336 25.2
World Bank (emergency grant) 100000000 12
Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 25781609 3.09
UN & agencies 10000000 1.2
European Commission 4329000 0.52
Donors not specified 2111391
Inter-American Development Bank 200000 0.02

Re: Haiti: The BBC Lets Me Have My Say

spirasol — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:34:32 -0000

Here's the stats from the last global disaster:
Disasters Statistics > Funds committed to Tsunami aid (per capita) (most recent) by country

Showing latest available data.
Rank Countries Amount
# 1 Norway: 30.263 per 1 population
# 2 Luxembourg: 23.476 per 1 population
# 3 Australia: 9.607 per 1 population
# 4 Sweden: 9.553 per 1 population
# 5 Netherlands: 9.508 per 1 population
# 6 New Zealand: 9.17 per 1 population
# 7 Finland: 8.424 per 1 population
# 8 Denmark: 7.548 per 1 population
# 9 Ireland: 6.474 per 1 population
# 10 Canada: 5.365 per 1 population
# 11 Japan: 4.717 per 1 population
# 12 France: 4.006 per 1 population
# 13 Switzerland: 3.872 per 1 population
# 14 Germany: 3.797 per 1 population
# 15 Austria: 3.421 per 1 population
# 16 Greece: 3.093 per 1 population
# 17 Belgium: 2.895 per 1 population
# 18 Spain: 2.826 per 1 population
# 19 United States: 2.678 per 1 population
# 20 United Kingdom: 2.465 per 1 population
# 21 Italy: 1.618 per 1 population
# 22 Portugal: 1.23 per 1 population
Total: 156.006 per 1 population
Weighted average: 7.1 per 1 population

DEFINITION: Total amount of funds commited to Tsunami aid. Fund commitments refer to the amount of money governments have officially set aside for Tsunami relief. Funds pledged (click here to view the statistic) refers to the amount countries have publicly announced they would contribute. Hence, pledges can often fall far short of the final commitment. Per capita figures expressed per 1 population.