Monday, May 28, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Russia, Ukraine, Slavic Peoples, Population, and Adoption
17.05.2012 16:22
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/17-05-2012/121152-russia_population_adoption-0/
By George Green
Russia (and Ukraine, and frankly most of the former Russian Empire) need babies. Healthy happy babies with caring parents. Too often I see girl pushing strollers and know dad is nowhere to be found; or worse everyone knows where and who he is and no one cares. I see 13 year olds walk into stores with signs that clearly indicate that the sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited; a sign that perhaps with their backs turned towards it the clerks do not see, as juveniles are able to purchase a liter or more of beer. There are some simple steps to prevent this but few seem to be undertaken.
The first memory I have visiting the beautiful monastery town, in which I live, is not our monastery. It is the group of teenagers with a two liter bottle of cheap beer being passed between them, and the puffs of smoke emanating from the group. Old men drinking beer, and sometimes vodka, on park benches. The most depressing for me was in a cafe seeing a father with 250 grams of vodka telling his child he couldn't afford to buy him ice cream; meanwhile his son watched dad poor poison down his throat. Certainly stories like this are not unique to the former soviet union, but how are the territories which formed the Russian Empire to return to greatness under these circumstances? What do I suggest to resolve this?
Let me preface this by noting I am hardly against alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, or in principle even narcotic consumption if that is what someone feels they want to do to their life. Firstly ruthless enforcement against public drinking. No more parks filled with bums drinking vodka or samagon where the youth that form our tomorrow watch and learn this behavior. Further no toleration for drinking the in the centers or towns and cities. I would suggest a complete ban on drinking and smoking, and the sales of alcohol or tobacco products in these regions. From a commercial perspective this would actually benefit cities as well since the travel costs and opportunities for new businesses would expand beyond city centers.
With regard to delinquent fathers I feel paternity tests should be free on demand. Children need both parents and the money dad is spending on booze and cigarettes could be buying soccer balls and strollers instead. A mother should be able to prove who the father of their child is easily; and both should be required to live near the child, so the child knows a family.
As I mentioned in my opening the nations forming the former Russian Empire suffer from population decline. While the church preaches against contraception this is not enough. I think similar to alcohol, and tobacco that contraceptives should be prohibited outside specific zones far from city centers. Further these should, like alcohol and tobacco, should be restricted among minors. Handing minors contraceptives is the same as telling them to have premarital sex and that it is acceptable, no differently than handing them a bottle of vodka tells them it's okay to drink. Abortion is already extremely restricted in the territory of the former Russian Empire but this too could use improvement; abortion should be allowed only when the mother's life is in immediate jeopardy.
George Green
George Edward Green III has been a journalist since 1997, and written for several Technology, Financial, and Libertarian Publications.
Дмитрий Судаков
Copyright © 1999-2012, «PRAVDA.Ru». When reproducing our materials in whole or in part, hyperlink to PRAVDA.Ru should be made. The opinions and views of the authors do not always coincide with the point of view of PRAVDA.Ru's editors.
17.05.2012 16:22
http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/17-05-2012/121152-russia_population_adoption-0/
By George Green
Russia (and Ukraine, and frankly most of the former Russian Empire) need babies. Healthy happy babies with caring parents. Too often I see girl pushing strollers and know dad is nowhere to be found; or worse everyone knows where and who he is and no one cares. I see 13 year olds walk into stores with signs that clearly indicate that the sale of alcohol to minors is prohibited; a sign that perhaps with their backs turned towards it the clerks do not see, as juveniles are able to purchase a liter or more of beer. There are some simple steps to prevent this but few seem to be undertaken.
The first memory I have visiting the beautiful monastery town, in which I live, is not our monastery. It is the group of teenagers with a two liter bottle of cheap beer being passed between them, and the puffs of smoke emanating from the group. Old men drinking beer, and sometimes vodka, on park benches. The most depressing for me was in a cafe seeing a father with 250 grams of vodka telling his child he couldn't afford to buy him ice cream; meanwhile his son watched dad poor poison down his throat. Certainly stories like this are not unique to the former soviet union, but how are the territories which formed the Russian Empire to return to greatness under these circumstances? What do I suggest to resolve this?
Let me preface this by noting I am hardly against alcohol consumption, tobacco consumption, or in principle even narcotic consumption if that is what someone feels they want to do to their life. Firstly ruthless enforcement against public drinking. No more parks filled with bums drinking vodka or samagon where the youth that form our tomorrow watch and learn this behavior. Further no toleration for drinking the in the centers or towns and cities. I would suggest a complete ban on drinking and smoking, and the sales of alcohol or tobacco products in these regions. From a commercial perspective this would actually benefit cities as well since the travel costs and opportunities for new businesses would expand beyond city centers.
With regard to delinquent fathers I feel paternity tests should be free on demand. Children need both parents and the money dad is spending on booze and cigarettes could be buying soccer balls and strollers instead. A mother should be able to prove who the father of their child is easily; and both should be required to live near the child, so the child knows a family.
As I mentioned in my opening the nations forming the former Russian Empire suffer from population decline. While the church preaches against contraception this is not enough. I think similar to alcohol, and tobacco that contraceptives should be prohibited outside specific zones far from city centers. Further these should, like alcohol and tobacco, should be restricted among minors. Handing minors contraceptives is the same as telling them to have premarital sex and that it is acceptable, no differently than handing them a bottle of vodka tells them it's okay to drink. Abortion is already extremely restricted in the territory of the former Russian Empire but this too could use improvement; abortion should be allowed only when the mother's life is in immediate jeopardy.
George Green
George Edward Green III has been a journalist since 1997, and written for several Technology, Financial, and Libertarian Publications.
Дмитрий Судаков
Copyright © 1999-2012, «PRAVDA.Ru». When reproducing our materials in whole or in part, hyperlink to PRAVDA.Ru should be made. The opinions and views of the authors do not always coincide with the point of view of PRAVDA.Ru's editors.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
“Do they all have the chips yet?”
This is a question I have been asked all across Ukraine, inside and outside of Church, by those who have heard what's going on in America. What they are referring to is microchips under the skin, and they fear it the same way protestants who profess 'the rapture' do. At this point I usually make sure my passport with the RFID chip on it is out of sight before replying 'not yet'. But it's coming.
One thing that has been made clear by 'the Crisis', which as far as I can tell hasn't ended anywhere including America, is that the rich will keep getting richer. The trick is they play with currency, so their fundamental worth is protected while people horde dollars, or euros, and assume it's valuable. This is complicated by pesky folks who watch these markets and use non fiat means of storing their wealth. In my opinion this is how they will finally sell people on placing chips under their skin whether theres rumors of cancer or not. That said I don't think this can happen all at once; it's far too expensive in poorer countries unless a Doctor Who like legion of cyber men were unleashed chipping people.
Is the chip already here?
Whether it's sub-dermal or not there are a lot of things coming closer and closer to chips. Privat Bank here in Ukraine has a serve called LiqPay and allows transferring between various forms of credit and debit cards in various currencies. Even pretty poor Ukrainians can get a hold of pre-paid debit cards. Debit cards are accepted almost everywhere in America, and increasingly so even in very poor countries. The step between a card that holds multiple currencies or can instantly dispense a local currency is not far away. So how does that relate to the chip?
Frequently I am promised here America will either become irrelevant and desolate (which I think is a given) or submerged under water, and that on a single day (or a related day) money will become worthless, people will be tossing dollars, and hryvna together in the trash. Is that implausible? I'm skeptical America is looking to pull an Atlantis, but as heavily invested as the world economy is if everyone is holding US Treasuries and the dollar drops due to some catastrophe it'd certainly render many economies worthless. What a great time then to say 'currencies don't work'. If that sounds absurd keep in mind 50 years ago they said the same about gold. This is how I think they'll sell the idea of the chip.
First they will insist that to prevent against other countries ruining the world economy, there will be an international currency you can access using your card. It will simply dispense in your local flavor but be backed by the 'world economy'. Not to wax on about interpretations of the mark of the beast but given that when America went off the gold standard it was illegal to sell and not accept the new currency. Chances are to buy and sell in anything like the 'first world' you'd then need your card.
The chip just comes as a convenience. It'll be easy to market having something that's always with you, provides your id, access to all your iTunes files stored in the cloud, and you're money safely in one place. (They've already convinced everyone it's better if corrupt banks hold onto your cash then you!) This, and whatever flam crisis they invent to tank the dollar and make the North American Union a reality I don't think of as far fetched at all; just a matter of time.
So then what next?
I'll be honest; I don't think the elite care much whether the folks are happy, just that the elite have their toys. Why not, once everyone has chips that are solid state and wouldn't be wiped out by an EMP go for it with one? Then any self made millionaires, or principled savers are wiped out and whoever still has technology that can read the chip, and the military to enforce them can rest safely in the castle while the rest are the new surfs. Sad to say but even as a programmer I have to kind of wonder whether one babushka suggested is true; whether technologists might be better off learning to do something more useful with their hands than type...
Monday, December 19, 2011
Is America Really Free
By Vasily Georgevich
The recent outcry by the American Media complaining of mass riots over the Russian election has gotten me thinking. Do the youth in Russia protesting understand exactly how free they are compared with the American's slandering them? Consider the facts.
1. America's Free Press
Six Corporations control the American press (Walt DIsney, General Electric, New Corporation, Viacom, CBS, and Time Warner), whether in print, or on the television. They even used the frequently derogatory term bloggers to refer to free publications that do not follow their talking points. In covering the protest in Russia the supposedly freest press in the world even saw many programs using falls footage, such as those from riots taking place in the European Union, and mimicking those of the Occupy and Tea Party movements happening coast to coast in America.
2. America's Free Speech
If you think you can say anything you want if you're an American consider the American president recently authorized the assassination of an American citizen who was known for recording tapes and CDs denouncing America's policies as immoral, and oppressive.
3. America's Freedom of Religion
Frequently in the last several decades children have had to rely on parents taking schools to court to avail themselves of the right to pray; Churches and Mosques are frequently having to show up in court to preserve their rights to call people to prayer, ring bells, or even maintain a cross that happens to be visible from a public highway.
4. America's Freedom from Taxation without Representation
American's Pay Almost 50% of their income in Taxes, and work the longest hours of any country in the world.
While Americans insist their tax burden is low, once one tallies the taxes on products, housing, transportation, and hidden taxes employers must pay on behalf of employees Americans work 6 months of the year before they see any profit for their labor.
The average American has 2 weeks of paid vacation, and 3 personal or sick days for unexpected absence at work. Many are so afraid of becoming unemployed they do not avail themselves even of these. Expecting mothers in most American jobs are expected to work to within a month of their expected due date and return to work in 6 to 8 weeks. With the effect of so many families where both parents work the prices of American products are such that only if one member of a married couple is independently wealthy it is impossible for them to survive on an income of a single worker. Women are not free to stay home and help raise children, and increasingly many children are raised by daycare workers, and school teachers.
5. America's Open and Transparent Courts, and Corruption Free Police
While other nations are changing the terminology of Militia to Police, America is enacting laws to the opposite. More and more anti terrorism legislation is targeting 'special instances' where American Citizens can be denied indefinitely rights to an attorney, and be held without being charged with a crime. Further these special situaions call for moving ruling on whether these Americans have committed any crime into Military courts which are not subject to the constitutional protections of traditional American courts.
6. Free Elections
International observers are not allowed at American elections, in fact foreigners present at American elections thought to be spying can be charged, and deported and not allowed to return to the United States. Increasingly exit polls conducted on those exiting voting sites in America show disparity with officially reported results; and Americans have little means to investigate why.
The electoral college system in America is legally able to elect whomever they choose for president regardless of whom Americans vote for, and it is legally possible, and has happened recently more than once, for the winning candidate for the presidency to lose the majority vote.
While in regional elections there are sometimes 3 or 4 parties on the ballot who occasionally elect a small number of representatives to local or state governments, on the national level it is nearly impossible for any party other than Democrat or Republican to be on the ballot. In several states laws prevent any other party from even applying regardless of how many people endorse the candidate. In several states write-in candidates, those not officially on the ballot, can only be counted if the candidate has been added to an acceptable list of write ins. Ron Paul, who was not on the Ballot in New York was also not allowed onto the write-in list despite massive support which certainly resulted in numerous write in votes for his name. This would be akin to only votes for United Russia or the Communist Party being counted.
7. Freedom to Protest
The police in numerous cities have violently reacted to the Occupy Movements in the United States where protesters angered by the United States Government favoring wealthy corporations over citizens who individually are increasingly making so little money they are statistically included in poverty lists. Old women have been sprayed with gases and physically assaulted by police looking to cover up massive unrest. The United States hasn't used rubber bullets against protesters as Georgian president Sakashvili did multiple times in recent years but with John McCain, former candidate for president, and still Senator, stating on multiple occasions his empathy for the Georgian president how long will it be before the increasingly military-like, repleat with more powers and weapons previously only available to the military, police begin using those on protesters as well?
The same media that criticizes Gay Pride parades being barred from central Moscow on the grounds it would be disruptive and unmanageable, are fine with the same excuse being used when protestors from one party show up un announced at conventions of rival political parties. Protesting outside of 'designated protest areas' distant from these conventions is grounds for arrest.
8. Freedom to Keep and Bare Arms
Americans have a false belief that most nations do not allow individuals to keep arms or use them against those threatening their life or property. Many non-Americans are mistakenly of the belief that any American can walk to the store and buy a cart full of automatic machine guns. The fact is most countries, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom, allow a person to keep weapons for self defense and hunting, the Russian Federation included. In America Americans cannot purchase or for the most part have access to use automatic weapons. While many states allow for Americans to carry concealed pistols, these generally require difficult to acquire permits involving the endorsement of long time acquaintances of those applying. The prevalence of guns in crime stems not from American laws, but from illegal purchases of guns, as it does in other countries. The American government in fact engaged in selling thousands of illegal weapons which officials now confess are likely to be used in crimes for decades in a failed attempt to gather information about narcotics rings, and mafia organizations.
With all of this in mind I'd like those who consider America to be any freer than its neighbors, or even free at all to consider the original Bill of Rights, designed to keep America a 'free country', and whether they are in fact doing so, or whether the American government has simply disregarded them completely.
The Bill of RIghts (The first Ten Ammendments to the United Stated Constitution):
What can be more oppressed than a people lied to by their press, over worked, and over taxed, unable to elect representation outside the established two parties, which are of course only one party better than a dictatorship, all the while being told they are the freest nation on Earth?
The recent outcry by the American Media complaining of mass riots over the Russian election has gotten me thinking. Do the youth in Russia protesting understand exactly how free they are compared with the American's slandering them? Consider the facts.
1. America's Free Press
Six Corporations control the American press (Walt DIsney, General Electric, New Corporation, Viacom, CBS, and Time Warner), whether in print, or on the television. They even used the frequently derogatory term bloggers to refer to free publications that do not follow their talking points. In covering the protest in Russia the supposedly freest press in the world even saw many programs using falls footage, such as those from riots taking place in the European Union, and mimicking those of the Occupy and Tea Party movements happening coast to coast in America.
2. America's Free Speech
If you think you can say anything you want if you're an American consider the American president recently authorized the assassination of an American citizen who was known for recording tapes and CDs denouncing America's policies as immoral, and oppressive.
3. America's Freedom of Religion
Frequently in the last several decades children have had to rely on parents taking schools to court to avail themselves of the right to pray; Churches and Mosques are frequently having to show up in court to preserve their rights to call people to prayer, ring bells, or even maintain a cross that happens to be visible from a public highway.
4. America's Freedom from Taxation without Representation
American's Pay Almost 50% of their income in Taxes, and work the longest hours of any country in the world.
While Americans insist their tax burden is low, once one tallies the taxes on products, housing, transportation, and hidden taxes employers must pay on behalf of employees Americans work 6 months of the year before they see any profit for their labor.
The average American has 2 weeks of paid vacation, and 3 personal or sick days for unexpected absence at work. Many are so afraid of becoming unemployed they do not avail themselves even of these. Expecting mothers in most American jobs are expected to work to within a month of their expected due date and return to work in 6 to 8 weeks. With the effect of so many families where both parents work the prices of American products are such that only if one member of a married couple is independently wealthy it is impossible for them to survive on an income of a single worker. Women are not free to stay home and help raise children, and increasingly many children are raised by daycare workers, and school teachers.
5. America's Open and Transparent Courts, and Corruption Free Police
While other nations are changing the terminology of Militia to Police, America is enacting laws to the opposite. More and more anti terrorism legislation is targeting 'special instances' where American Citizens can be denied indefinitely rights to an attorney, and be held without being charged with a crime. Further these special situaions call for moving ruling on whether these Americans have committed any crime into Military courts which are not subject to the constitutional protections of traditional American courts.
6. Free Elections
International observers are not allowed at American elections, in fact foreigners present at American elections thought to be spying can be charged, and deported and not allowed to return to the United States. Increasingly exit polls conducted on those exiting voting sites in America show disparity with officially reported results; and Americans have little means to investigate why.
The electoral college system in America is legally able to elect whomever they choose for president regardless of whom Americans vote for, and it is legally possible, and has happened recently more than once, for the winning candidate for the presidency to lose the majority vote.
While in regional elections there are sometimes 3 or 4 parties on the ballot who occasionally elect a small number of representatives to local or state governments, on the national level it is nearly impossible for any party other than Democrat or Republican to be on the ballot. In several states laws prevent any other party from even applying regardless of how many people endorse the candidate. In several states write-in candidates, those not officially on the ballot, can only be counted if the candidate has been added to an acceptable list of write ins. Ron Paul, who was not on the Ballot in New York was also not allowed onto the write-in list despite massive support which certainly resulted in numerous write in votes for his name. This would be akin to only votes for United Russia or the Communist Party being counted.
7. Freedom to Protest
The police in numerous cities have violently reacted to the Occupy Movements in the United States where protesters angered by the United States Government favoring wealthy corporations over citizens who individually are increasingly making so little money they are statistically included in poverty lists. Old women have been sprayed with gases and physically assaulted by police looking to cover up massive unrest. The United States hasn't used rubber bullets against protesters as Georgian president Sakashvili did multiple times in recent years but with John McCain, former candidate for president, and still Senator, stating on multiple occasions his empathy for the Georgian president how long will it be before the increasingly military-like, repleat with more powers and weapons previously only available to the military, police begin using those on protesters as well?
The same media that criticizes Gay Pride parades being barred from central Moscow on the grounds it would be disruptive and unmanageable, are fine with the same excuse being used when protestors from one party show up un announced at conventions of rival political parties. Protesting outside of 'designated protest areas' distant from these conventions is grounds for arrest.
8. Freedom to Keep and Bare Arms
Americans have a false belief that most nations do not allow individuals to keep arms or use them against those threatening their life or property. Many non-Americans are mistakenly of the belief that any American can walk to the store and buy a cart full of automatic machine guns. The fact is most countries, with the notable exception of the United Kingdom, allow a person to keep weapons for self defense and hunting, the Russian Federation included. In America Americans cannot purchase or for the most part have access to use automatic weapons. While many states allow for Americans to carry concealed pistols, these generally require difficult to acquire permits involving the endorsement of long time acquaintances of those applying. The prevalence of guns in crime stems not from American laws, but from illegal purchases of guns, as it does in other countries. The American government in fact engaged in selling thousands of illegal weapons which officials now confess are likely to be used in crimes for decades in a failed attempt to gather information about narcotics rings, and mafia organizations.
With all of this in mind I'd like those who consider America to be any freer than its neighbors, or even free at all to consider the original Bill of Rights, designed to keep America a 'free country', and whether they are in fact doing so, or whether the American government has simply disregarded them completely.
The Bill of RIghts (The first Ten Ammendments to the United Stated Constitution):
- First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition
- Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
- A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.[56]
- Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.
- No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
- Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
- The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
- No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
- Sixth Amendment – Trial by jury and rights of the accused; Confrontation Clause, speedy trial, public trial, right to counsel
- In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.
- Seventh Amendment – Civil trial by jury.
- In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
- Eighth Amendment – Prohibition of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment.
- Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
- Ninth Amendment – Protection of rights not specifically enumerated in the Constitution.
- The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
- Tenth Amendment – Powers of States and people.
- The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
What can be more oppressed than a people lied to by their press, over worked, and over taxed, unable to elect representation outside the established two parties, which are of course only one party better than a dictatorship, all the while being told they are the freest nation on Earth?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)