Category Archives: Politics

Anything that involves power relationships between people and groups.

Two El Baradei Tweets

Among a few other accomplishments ;), former IAEC head Mohamed El Baradei has figured out social media, sending regular messages from Twitter to his 70 thousand plus followers.  El Baradei is Egyptian, and after many years in exile returned home … Continue reading

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Egypt: The Costs of Winning

In the rush of wonderful news from Egypt are a few stories that are not so good.  First, some opportunistic thieves took advantage of the chaos to steal irreplaceable treasures from the Egyptian museum.  Second, Egypt depends upon tourism for … Continue reading

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Egypt :) :) :) :) :)

Way to go, people of Egypt!  Just… way to go! “First they ignore you.  Then they laugh at you.  Then they fight you.  Then you win.” — Mohandas K. Gandhi (who definitely knew) And, way to go, Google. :-)  Apparently … Continue reading

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“Fair and Balanced” can Distort the Story

Steve Hayes, a friend from South Africa with long-time credentials as an antiapartheid activist and human rights supporter, wrote a wonderful blog today on how the media’s obsessive determination to tell both sides of all stories can paradoxically result in … Continue reading

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Poor Countries and Rising Food Prices

The Wall Street Journal published an article today discussing the impact of rising food prices on what they euphemistically call “emerging nations”.  I bristle at the use of a collective euphemism in a story about rising food prices that endanger … Continue reading

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Jean-Claude Duvalier: Investigating Crimes against Humanity

Amnesty International reports that the current government of Haiti will launch an investigation into human rights violations committed by former Haitian president-for-life Jean-Claude (“Baby Doc”) Duvalier.  This follows calls by both Amnesty and Human Rights Watch to prosecute the former … Continue reading

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Mandatory Health Insurance — in 1798?

Apparently so, according to Forbes blogger Rick Ungar.  I’m none too happy with the monstrosity that this administration created and foisted on us as an “improvement” to the current (lack of) health care system, but the founding fathers were apparently … Continue reading

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Not Right :(

Last night, U.S. President Barack Obama hosted a state dinner for the President of China, Hu Jintao, complete with full news media coverage and photos. Last February, U.S. President Barack Obama met with the Dalai Lama for a brief chat, … Continue reading

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Airport Security in the United States

I prefer not to spew obscenities in public, so I had not planned to write about the TSA’s new security rules instituted last fall just before Thanksgiving. A longtime friend of mine, Faun deHenry, wrote an excellent article on the … Continue reading

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