open Democracy News Analysis - Best of 2007 - Comments

Raymond Carnation on "Whiteness without apartheid: the limits of racial freedom"

Raymond Carnation — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:19:34 +0100

Hello,
My name is Raymond Carnation. I was a Philadelphia Police Officer in the USA that opposed racism in my dept. and was fired for doing so in March of 1999. In May of 2008 I along with two other white officers won a Precedential racism case. The case is Moore vs. TheCity of Philadelphia NOS.03-1465 and NOS.03-1473. We would like our story to be told to the world and the future civil rights attorneys in colleges all over.This case proves that racism is still a serious problem in America and I think all over the world .If you and your staff could do a story on this case so the world can be aware of this ongoing problem. Thank You for your time and concern. Yours Truly Raymond Carnation email around4life@aol.com

johannabartley on "Beirut and contradiction: reading the World Press Photo award"

johannabartley — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 14:48:01 +0100

I have seen a similar picture in a commercial for discount auto parts and the first thing that went trough my head was: how can they promote vanity over pain? What happened there? And how come these girls were there?

Johnkad on "Medicine and public health in dark times"

Johnkad — Thu, 29 May 2008 09:20:24 +0100

I have lived in developing countries for over 10 years over the course of my life and I would say from experience that it is almost impossible to run a coherent public health system when political strucutes are in upheaval. Unfortunately for Africa in particular, the Aids pandemic coincided with the second half of the 20th century when the continent was struggling to create a post colonial future. The results have been disastrous.

Personal Website and Signature: first aid kits

maysage260 on "Lahore: urban space, niche repression"

maysage260 — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 20:20:48 +0000

Professor Sassen seems to have a niche understanding of the public mood. Lahore rose up when it was innocent. It is no longer innocent. Where is a political party worth coalescing around? So lawyers jump up and down? So the Judges stand up? These are niche epxressions with no political party to pick up the monentum in eyes of a jaded public! A blog which reveals cynicism of public... http://karachi.metblogs.com/archives/2007/10/here_she_coming.phtml Here she comes.... Benazir Bhuto See also blog article below: which says at end: Imran Anwar said it best in his article “A Cure or Certain Death,” when he said “The political parties Pakistan has is like having AIDS and Cancer together, not only is each one capable of causing death, together they promise to make it a wasting away on the outside, while being eaten away on the inside.” http://www.emagine-group.com/behindthechairmansdoor/2006/08/29/how-to-destabilize-a-country/ 29th August 2006 How to Destabilize a Country

McShelly on "The seductions of denial"

McShelly — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:22:32 +0000

I understand the point the author is trying to make here, but he takes this argument way too far to the extreme. What, should we just accept science and what scientists say without question? Denial is one of the greatest intellectual developments and has contributed greatly to the evolution of our society. He uses in this article a "strawman" argument, showing only weak, prejudiced views as examples of "denial," but there are people who question scientific arguments using logic and facts. It is far better that we don't just accept everything explained to us by academics as the truth, because we can't understand its full complexity. Obviously someone who argues creationism only promotes this view because they have learned it in church or from their parents, but scientists are not fully objective either. Numbers and "facts" can be heavily manipulated by scientists and writers due to preconcieved notions of what they will find, kind of like a placebo effect. If you are anticipating that something will occur, you are far more likely to find evidence that it actually exists. How many times have people believed something, only to have to have been proven wrong 20 years later, and then perhaps have it proven right after another 50? Denial is a value tool and we should always be somewhat skeptical of what scientists, academics, and journalists write, because no one is perfect and everyone is capable of error. In 50 years much of what we believe will be considered strange, foreign, and backwards. That is why it is incredibly vital to deny certain "truthes" and not follow "objective" science blindly.

intermedusa on "Globalisation: sleepwalking to disaster"

intermedusa — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:13:50 +0000

The article by Ann Pettifor omits the disaster of China's trade surpluses on US and EU debt of 1 trillion dollars over the past 5 years. THE DEMOCRATIZATION OF GLOBALIZATION Written By, Larry Houle E-mail: intermedusa@yahoo.com www.chinademocracy.net China is a threat to democracy and freedom throughout the World. Right now the Chinese leadership in an attempt to placate the US and maintain its huge trade surplus is talking the talk of Peaceful Rise and Military Expansion solely for defensive purposes but it is not walking the walk. The Government of China has absolutely no right to rule. It is one of the most ruthless and criminal governments in the world. It was expected that with economic growth China would eventually develop a middle class that would demand political power and democratically reform the country. China would go the way of South Korea /Taiwan. The reality is that China is getting worse not better. The rule of law and any hope of even a glimmer of democratic freedoms are being ruthlessly crushed. Not only that but China is using its growing economic power to support it’s brother criminal governments such as Sudan, Burma, Zimbabwe etc. China is cleverly employing trade as a military weapon virtually conquering countries without a shot being fired through the ruthless economic black mailing of nation states. It is decimating the manufacturing base of Africa and Latin American countries buying only raw materials and importing such cheap Chinese manufactured goods that the local indigenous industry cannot compete. This is having a devastating impact on the manufacturing base of these countries. This is a grave threat to democracy and freedom. The great unknown in all this – the modernization of the Chinese military that because of the lack of transparency appears to be going far and beyond what is necessary for purely defensive purposes. It is time to open our eyes to the very real danger China poses. Democratization of Globalization In addition to depriving China of its veto power on the Security Counsel (go to www.unitednationswatch.info), the West must move immediately to dramatically correct the massive trade imbalances that they have allowed China to accumulate. This means the reallocation of $ 350 billion of production out of China and into third world democratic countries. This would be done over a 10 year period i.e. 35 billion/year. (The United States presently sells $28 billion to China and imports $228billion – a whopping $200 billion deficit. A real sucker’s deal if there ever was one. A sucker’s deal that is devastating the wages and economic future of the American Middle Class. The EU has a deficit of $150 billion. Sucker number 2.) These countries include Mexico, Central and South America, India, and Africa where the US $200 billion share would be shifted. The EU $150 billion - to Romania, Bulgaria, the Balkans, Ukraine, Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Africa, India. The only stipulation is that these countries must purchase an equivalent amount of high end production from the US and the EU to modernize their economies. In this way everybody wins. The US/EU dramatically reduces their trade deficit. The $200 billion coming back into the US/EU economy in high end technology jobs translates into an $800 billion economic bonanza. An economic bonanza for the besieged Middle Classes of both the US and EU. The benefits of Globalization goes to the needy hard working poor of democratic nations. And the hard working down trodden Middle Classes of the West. The pouring of its trade imbalance with China by the EU into its Near Abroad will dramatically shift the balance of power to democratic forces of the Ukraine, Turkey etc and drastically reduce the costs of the EU eventually absorbing these counties as member states. Globalization becomes a vehicle not to enrich one greedy, criminal state but to benefit the entire third world. As previously explained - the transfer of trade wealth from the West to the third world and spreading it around comes back to the West through the purchase of high end technology to be used to modernize these third world countries. Trade becomes a tool to spread freedom and democracy. The Democratization of Globalization. One of the important reasons for the NAFTA Agreement was to encourage US industry to set up in Mexico leading to an economic boom – The Economic Rise of Mexico. Instead, because of cheap Chinese slave labor and no labor or environmental regulations (as required by NAFTA) these factories closed and re-located to China. As a result, millions of unemployed Mexicans poured into the United States. Not only that but the enormous importation of product from China is requiring the USA to invest hundreds of billions into transportation infrastructure just to move it inland from the California ports. An absolutely idiotic situation. The re-distribution of part of the Chinese trade surplus back to Mexico will help stabilize and truly lead to its economic rise. This will lead to a dramatic drop in illegal immigration from Mexico to the US. And Mexico importing an equivalent value of US high end technology will be a reciprocal economic shot in the arm for the United States. As for China, the stripping of its veto power at the UN and re- allocation of its trade excesses with the West will force the Chinese government to reform politically and economically or die. Its time for the United States /EU to wake up before it’s too late. Its one thing for the West to be despised and hated but treated with RESPECT rather then to be despised hated and treated with contempt.

TheGreatHuman on "Globalisation: sleepwalking to disaster"

TheGreatHuman — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 23:34:01 +0000

If you reckon that the realisation of this hidden crisis by the general public will lead to catastrophic meltdown is there a better solution than trying to keep the lid firmly shut on it as is being done now? I know that it's certainly not the ideal solution or even a sustainable solution at all but neither is blowing the whole thing open!

Julius Ojolola on "Globalisation: sleepwalking to disaster"

Julius Ojolola — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:51:28 +0000

I disagree with the author. I think we should stop spreading an alarmist message. The bubble isn't going to bust nor has he busted as claimed. The Northern Rock situation is unfortunate. Lending money is as lucrative as always.

steven_12 on "Globalisation: sleepwalking to disaster"

steven_12 — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:30:33 +0000

Great article!

I have the feeling that compared to say one year ago there's a much wider appreciation of the true workings of the monetary system. This is a reason for hope in dark times.

I suggest readers to watch these videos for more information:

The money trap - how the banks lure you into debt (BBC)
Money as debt, educational video on the monetary system

Lending money should always be a loss of opportunity for the lender.

luisefe64 on "The deepening of Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution: why most people don't get it"

luisefe64 — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:19:18 +0000

Dear Julia First at all, my apologies for my English Nobody can deny the advances of some social projects carryied out by Chavez goverment in the last years. However you seem to elude the fact that the concentration of power in a person is a serios thread to democracy. I agree that there is an oversimplification from the western media about the current situation of Venezuela but at the same time you have a very romantic and paternalistic perception about the “caudillos” that have had our region. Regards Luis Fernando Gómez

BB™ on "Beirut and contradiction: reading the World Press Photo award"

BB™ — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:22:22 +0000

Rick HAUSER Founding Partner, Beyond Broadcast™ Co-Founder, THE PERFORMANCE LAB™ In the sense that the photographer observes (only), I find the remarks about the picture interesting and the equation invited with Helmut Newton and voyeurism provocative. Yet the "capturing" of the moment is meaningless to me; "being there" is not enough of a motivation. Surely we don't mean that the apparent banality of the subject matter and the accident of its recording "elevates" it to the level of art? Truly fine war photography captures/has captured moments of universal — anguish — hope — iconographically. This picture is little more than a snapshot — little choice other than to snap the shutter has been made . . . And — in that — all the meaning, I wager someone will say . . .

Peter Maffia on "Walter Lippmann and American journalism today"

Peter Maffia — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 00:51:55 +0000

Blumenthal fails to mentions the independent journalists that exist. While showing the need for noncommercial journalism he does not adress any alternatives. This is sad. Furthermore I have doubts whether the basic theses of the text are really resilient. A journalist can just give his description/interpretion of what happened. He does not have "access to the facts" nor do we. Thats why we have to discuss. If truth exists it can only become present in the discourse. It is the structure of the public which does determine the prejudices one does use for judgment (statistically seen). So there's not only need for a revitalisation of the journalistic culture (this way i do understand the text), but even more need for a change of the structure of the public. As long as journalism is commercial, it will be too dependent from power (and power will be too dependent from journalism) for journalism to be free. @alfredo even if sydney's gonna be president, is he supposed to say "everyone report the truth now" and then some wonder will happen and all truth will come out? I also wonder why the silence about 9/11 in such a text - while it is directly in the middle of the controversy. Journalism can never be free, the media can not be open when such fundamental suspicions as the theory that 9/11 was an inside job or the theory that the planes we saw on tv that day and thousand times after that where video fakes are not discussed. The corporate media is accused of crimes and it will not take part in it's own conviction.

jamesg17 on "Climate change: from issue to magnifier "

jamesg17 — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 11:08:50 +0000

Richard You are wrong in assuming that. It's not about the number of scientists it's about the quality of evidence. If you are arguing for groupthink or herding then it's just a further demonstration of the lack of real evidence. I didn't believe the "experts" either about BSE, the millenium bug, Munchhausen by proxy, shaken baby syndrome, the asian bird flu epidemic, the coming ice age and a whole host of other false scare stories because the evidence just wasn't compelling. In most cases these common scares turn out to be nothing but hyped-up speculation for the purposes of attracting funding. Unfortunately scientific groupthink (ie go with the flow) helps them gain undeserved traction. Indeed the more strident scientists are mostly mathematicians or physicists with seemingly only a passing understanding of climatic processes and on major issues they are very often completely wrong - ask Carl Wunsch or Richard Seager about the huge number of scientists who misunderstand the Thermohaline Circulation for example. In many cases those much-maligned skeptics have been proved right too, eg on the minor role of CO2 in past climates. In fact lately the majority of scientists seem to be accepting what skeptics have argued all along; that natural forces likely dominated climate until 1970 and are probably a significant portion of warming from 1970 onwards. The science is still evolving, which is what science does, and those catastrophe scenarios are really only from fringe extremists. However, as I indicated above it is all irrelevant. Regardless of our beliefs we absolutely need new energy sources and I admit that this new scare has played at least some part in re-energising alternative energy research.

alfredo.bremont on "Walter Lippmann and American journalism today"

alfredo.bremont — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:57:56 +0000

well Sydney as i said before you are set to become president of the Americas. and it is an offer you cannot refuse. moreover beside Noah Chomsky there is no fit men at the moment to take the nation back to its own roots. rebuild it and reshaped fitted to the new century. courage and a firm mind and you will see that you have always being the men that the nation once needed and now more than ever demands.

jk.rinciari on "Walter Lippmann and American journalism today"

jk.rinciari — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 05:31:55 +0000

As usual, Sidney Blumenthal edifes albeit, perhaps a bit too wordy. But, his compass is large and all encompassing. I try not to miss him. His analysis of how journalism thinks it is being objective by simply presenting polar opposite views no matter how loony, is insightful and apparently accurate, and a disaster for learning anything useful. And, just the terms used - Liberal, Conservative masks over the true identity of issues that actualy contain catagories of more human emotional consideration - compassion, reactionary, life enhancing, fear, - the real issues we are always facing. But, they are easy handles for the bull throwers. Sidney Blumenthal is one very bright light in the darkness. The real American popular literature is written in the jingoism of advertising, our native tongue. Thus goes the 5th column. It might be more honest to just show photographs and video with no words whatsoever in our media. But that too would be manipulated.