Hartmann Ought to Know Better, and Surely Does

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Thom Hartmann's stated aim in Rebooting the American Dream is to, "bring back a strong middle class and restore America to stability and prosperity without endangering future generations." He ought to know better, and I'm certain he does.

Though he never defines the term, Hartmann's idea of the American Dream seems to be straight out of the post World War II era, a period of unprecedented production, expansion and consumerism. Almost anyone with any gumption whatsoever qualified for a job with benefits and a pension; a house in the suburbs; two cars; a color TV, and nearly every imaginable gimcrack and geegaw his or her little heart was persuaded to desire.

That era effectively died about 1973, when America's oil production hit its peak. Though the fiesta of consumerism has gone on for another 40 years, it has been financed by financial shenanigans; booms and busts; outright looting; non-stop wars; and various other diversions such as Monica Lewinsky, 9/11, and NASCAR.

There will be no resurrection.

Peak Oil, to put it bluntly, puts the kibosh on the whole concept of economic growth as we've known it for about 300 years. Hartmann knows this. He wrote The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight, way back in 1998, so he is hardly unaware of the phenomenon of Peak Oil, the maximum worldwide production of petroleum. It occurred in America about 1973 and worldwide in 2006, according to the International Energy Agency, so from now on until forever, we'll be chasing diminishing supplies of oil with our insatiable demand; and we'll have to do it in places that are massively hostile to us. At an oil price of about $80 a barrel, economic growth ceases, and we're there now.

Ronald Reagan, or at least his advisors, knew of Peak Oil and its ultimate implications for a society based on neverending growth, fueled by abundant, cheap oil. So did Presidents Bush, Bush, Clinton and Cheney. Carter certainly knew it, hence his doctrine declaring the Middle East a theater of strategic importance to America. For all we know, Nixon understood Peak Oil, too.

The corporate oligarchy and uberwealthy kleptocrats behind both political parties and the presidency have engaged in an orgy of self-aggrandizement, knowing that the petro-industrial train was heading for a brick wall. America's transition from self-sufficiency to import dependency in oil is the most significant reason behind the economic "devastation of 30 years of Reaganomics." It isn't a big secret, except to our willfully ignorant fellow citizens.

Yet Hartmann seems maddeningly oblivious to even the more obvious implications of Peak Oil. There's not even an index entry for it. Even if it were desirable, which it's not, we're not going to "recover the industrial base we've lost." An American Dream of outrageous energy consumption per person is no longer possible under any circumstances, Hartmann's 11 Steps (12 being taken) notwithstanding.

If there were a shred of honesty in the political arena, which there isn't, we'd be told to dig in, plant Victory Gardens, relocalize as many facets of production (craft, cottage and manufacturing) as possible, and virtualize everything else. Hartmann doesn't deliver this message, either.

But it's not that his ideas are, per se, bad. Hartmann is a serial entrepreneur and progressive author and talk radio host. He's built businesses, put people to work, created value where there was none. He'd like to see an America like the post-WWII one he grew up in - made in America by Americans for Americans. He wants to reverse "the 'free trade/flat earth' idiocy" of the past 40 years. What Hartmann doesn't say is that globalization is already a dinosaur. The 7,000-mile WalMart pipeline and the 3,000-mile salad are both artifacts of an era that's rapidly passing.

The steps Hartmann suggests are worthwhile to take. But even if they are implemented, there's not a snowball's chance in Hades of their success in restoring the American Dream. I suspect Hartmann agrees.

The nation needs to be saved from the corporate oligarchs... absolutely. We need to educate ourselves and reward initiative and get basic medical care for everybody and abolish corporate personhood (see Hartmann's excellent book, Unequal Protection). But we can't count on the federal government for any of it. For better or worse, that bloated, all-intrusive Washington welfare state bureaucracy is another artifact of the upside of Hubbert's Peak, where we could always do more of everything because we had the energetic capacity to do it.

No more. We have to do it ourselves.

You want to bring jobs home? Stop buying anything made outside the United States. Period. Buy local; make it yourself, or do without. If you must have an item that's only made overseas, buy a used one so the money stays here. Stop exporting your dollars.

You want a healthier society? Stop eating crap and do some physical work. The overwhelming majority of medical problems are diet- and lifestyle-related, and the same companies that make you sick are profiting from treating the sickness.

You want to level the playing field with the corporations? Work to amend the Constitution, as Hartmann suggests, and nullify at the state level all unconstitutional acts of the federal government... now there's a fertile field.

Fortunately, we still do have the US Constitution, written during and for a time of small, self-reliant communities and individuals, deeply mistrustful of self-serving power, whether in the form of the state or the corporation. The Constitution empowers us to take back control of our lives, and still remain a nation, strong where it counts.

Hartmann wants to do good things, but they won't get us anywhere close to where he thinks they will; and he wants to do them on a scale that's more a part of the problem than it is part of the solution; and I don't think he trusts the language and vision of the Constitution, or the power of an aroused citizenry, to see us through the dark forest we're heading into. Too bad.

Rick Ostrander is in recovery from a lifetime as a wage slave. His new blog, http://taylorsprings.blogspot.com/, discusses 21st Century homesteading on the Santa Fe Trail, building resilient communities in a post-Peak Oil world, and whatever else either strikes his fancy or looks like it might make a buck.

Indian MBA problem

Almost a decade ago, computer science or it was the thing 'in'. With a job as a software engineer was so renowned as today's investment banker, of course, the main reason is, that both highly lucrative and therefore are the most sought after. For them, the people of trade background, began learning programming and various IT companies. I know people in my workplace, which of course are from different backgrounds, BSc, BCom and b.e. But after the break the scene drastically changed. And now, since 2001 I think, a new trend has started MBA for engineers. Its literally a rat race.

IIMs, CAT, XAT, etc. become buzzwords "among the engineering community in India." Everyone wants to be a Manager! Without ever knowing what exactly they want to MBA, many people are just jumping the train without noticing that it held a toll on the technical training of the country.

Students in the most prestigious institutes like IITs, have a goal in mind, the IIM. In the third and fourth year the engineer they start early preparation for cat, apart from the technical Studies.Wie the technical integrity of the country under such conditions will improve?

And then we start our universities holding it not freshly made. Lab facilities! Why would they give when they know that a majority of students donot plan to the higher up in their respective technical domain studies. Those who have the passion you study ahead and the technology it carries non-fiction book, because they receive donot enough support for the realization of their dreams.

If it something that has improved our lives, abolish bad habits and superstitions, developed the modern man, his technology! But for Indians who yet always for money. This is the biggest difference between Westerners and us. People in the West such as United States, Germany etc. have passion contribution to technology ' we lack such passion, such zeal. ISRO is a US Pentagon and NASA, or compare the State of the DRDO and the differences are strong. And its all our fault (technician).

To add insult to injury, the IIMs and all Indian MBA schools, you must no mandatory work experience holder. If we are the countries considered "make better than India, then India is the only country, Freshers MBA courses are offered." What a blasphemy! and why do they do this? Money! 10 Lacs, 20 Lacs are charges for the most MBA institutes!

Even if this MBA schools, only her internship is required at least 3 years, it'll do wonders of technological health of Landes.Menschen would take up masters in some technical areas, rather than an MBA. Students become stronger on her technical studies rather than your cat or an entrance examination in the 3.-4 year.

Another major problem is that people, work that not so much time to prepare such as the students for these entrance exams, to not end up getting always a good Institute. Its such an unfair competition.

Of course, one can argue that everything is a matter of choice, but where can you always someone see a decision in a herd! An informed choice is the way to go.

The Analysis Of The Play Of Giants By Professor Wole Soyinka

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MAIN THEME: DICTATORSHIP

The play centres on some set of tyrannical or dictatorial African leaders at the bay in an embassy in New York. The four African heads of state - Benefacio Gunema, Emperor Kasco, Field- Marshal Kamini and General Barra Tuboum - believe in dictatorship by acquiring so much power, brutality of power and dehumanization. They are ruthless and five no room for freedom of humanity. They mismanage the resources of the nation (part 1, pg 4) believing that they the power (Part 1, pg 10).

These leaders give no room for human self expression and exploit the helpless masses. They derive pleasure in wars, 'we fight, we kill or we die' (part 1, pg 21). They see themselves as being born to rule and refer to themselves, especially Kamini, as Life President (part 1, pg 26). They acquire power through any available means, even through voodoo and imprisoned the ones who dare to challenge their authoritarian rule. Gunema sentenced to death those who plot against him.

The evils of these leaders do not end on there; they also go as far as violating the dignity womanhood. They have no regard for the women - force themselves on women and do have sex with them forcefully (part 2, pg 58). The amigos believe that rebellion is contagious disease and so they spend much to acquire destructive weapons in case of war or coup d'?tat (part 2, pg 63).

Other themes in the book include hatred, racism, egoism (ego-centric), power tussle and imperialism.

SETTING: The action takes place at the Bugaran Embassy to the United Nations, New York. The timer is a few years before the present.

CHARACTERS: The play, A play of Giants, has the following characters:
Benefacio Gunema, Emperor Kasco, Field- Marshal Kamini, General Bara Tuboum (These are the four African Head of State), Gudrum, a Scandinavian journalist, Chairman of the Bugara Central Bank, Sculptor, Bugaran Ambassador, Mayor of Hyacombe, Professor Batey, Two Russian Delegates, Two American Delegates, Task force specials, Guards and Secretary-General of the United Nations.

CHARACTERIZATION: The author introduces the characters himself to the reader by a way of prologue or interlude at the beginning and in the course of the play respectively. He took a critical look at the resemblance between the African Heads of State and recent historical characters has been too pronounced; leaders like Macias Nguema (late) of Equatorial Guinea, Jean Basptiste Bokassa of the Central African Republic, Mobutu Sese Koko of Congo Kinshasa and the Hero of heroes, the Field Marshal El-Haji Dr. Idi Aminof Uganda.

STRUCTURE: The play is divided into two (2) parts: Part One and Part Two

USE OF LITRARY DEVICES: The author makes use of narration in the course of the play. He also displays element of conflict through the aggressive African Heads of State and the representatives of UN and America.

Book Review - General James Longstreet - The Confederacy's Most Modern General by Lieutenant Colonel

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I'm a novice when it comes to Civil War history. I get lost in the details of the major military campaigns of the war, much less the smaller skirmishes, and even the geography at times. My interest in the Confederacy relates to my ancestry and my interest in Confederate currency. I had three great grandfathers and three great uncles who served in the war. During a recent meeting of our Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Harold Knudsen of the US Army was our guest speaker. LTC Knudsen is the author of the book, "General James Longstreet: The Confederacy's Most Modern General." I had no idea of who General Longstreet was and, at the time, really didn't care all that much. After all, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson were my heroes. However, Knudsen quickly captured my attention as it became apparent that the legacy of James Longstreet had been swept under the rug by the philosophy of political correctness. I was so enthralled by Knudsen lecture; I was the first person at his book table to purchase a hardbound copy of his book.

LTC Knudsen's book is small and is less than one hundred pages. It is tiny in comparison to the monolithic volumes that exist on Lee and Jackson and other figures. I have in times past started to read some of those exhaustive works on the Civil War and its heroes, but have rarely completed any. It seems I would get bogged down in what would seem to be the endless battles and forever lost in the explanations of force movements, placement of batteries, flanking maneuvers and all the minutiae of military speak. Even though Knudsen is militaryesque in his writing, he is succinct and keeps the reader's attention. At one point I asked myself, where are the maps? However, I soon realized his descriptions do not require maps. Actually, I believe maps would have been a distraction.

Knudsen makes the case that General Longstreet has not only been misjudged by history, but actually was one of the most successful generals of the war. He subtitles his book "The Confederacy's Most Modern General" and indeed it appeared Longstreet was. Longstreet broke with the Napoleonic practices of warfare and introduced innovations that not been seen in nineteenth century warfare. Not until recently has Longstreet's reputation begun a slow re-examination. In fact, it wasn't until 1998 that the first monument to honor him was erected at Gettysburg.

James Longstreet was a South Carolina born West Point graduate who was raised on a Georgia plantation. He received his first combat experience at age twenty four as the US began its war with Mexico. At age forty, he accepted a commission as a Confederate colonel with the Army of Northern Virginia at the start of the Civil War in 1861. Biographers of the post war era stated Longstreet was smart and ambitious but also a "know it all." They turned against him for rejecting the ideology of the "Lost Cause." Indeed, Longstreet was not a politically correct person, and according to the author, considered political correctness a form of dishonesty. Longstreet wasn't interested in political debate and didn't engage on the causes of the war, but instead excelled in the art of war. His view was simple: once war was decided to be the course of action; his goal was to win it.

It was at the Battle of Fredericksburg in 1862 that Longstreet carried out an effective and deadly approach to stopping a Union frontal assault. He merged firearm advancements with field modifications that Knudsen claims was fifty years ahead of its time. Longstreet combined discipline, low aiming, and clear lanes of fire, with one to two rifle loaders for each shooter. This produced an increase rate of fire equivalent to a machine gun in World War I.

Knudsen offers a chapter on the "defensive offense" and a chapter on the vindication of Longstreet's strategic vision. It was at the Battle of Chickamauga that gave Longstreet the opportunity to attack and set conditions for decisive victories. It was here that Knudsen believes Longstreet introduced a tactic similar to that of the Germans used in their tank warfare in World War II, i.e., the Blitzkrieg theory. Knudsen leaves the reader with the notion that if Longstreet had been in charge of the forces at the Battle of Chickamauga instead of General Braxton Bragg, the Union Army would have soundly defeated.

Knudsen does not discuss Longstreet's post military career, other than mentioning his involvement with the passage of military reconstruction bills in Congress. However, that only fueled my curiosity in wanting to do more research on the general. My research uncovered that Longstreet enjoyed a career working for the U.S. Government and he was a convert to the Republican Party. Combining this with his support for reconstruction and some critical comments he wrote about General Robert E. Lee, inflamed his detractors and this distanced himself from his Confederate colleagues.

Portions of Knudsen's conclusion were steeped with a good bit of military strategic lingo which required me to read it twice to obtain a good comprehension. Knudsen background in military command structure and control is very evident as he knows his stuff. However, parts of the final chapter sometimes leave the reader with a feeling he is at a military academy receiving a briefing on military policy and doctrine. All in all, I believe his book is long overdue and it deserves a place on your bookshelf. You won't be disappointed.

Johnny Kicklighter is a member of the local Sons of Confederate Veterans, George E. Dixon Camp 1962, Belleville, Illinois. The Sons of Confederate Veterans honor ancestry through the preservation of history and heritage. Johnny is a collector of Confederate currency.

Guilty - Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter - A Book Review

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In Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter, the author once again gives us a piece of her mind. Fearless as ever, Coulter points out things that we would rather turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to. While most of the people who have picked up her book have hated her for it, I have found her rather refreshing and honest. Well, as they say, the Truth always hurts.

I was eating my lunch one day when I heard a group of officemates-mine, I am sad to admit-talking about another officemate of mine. He was almost thirty years old and his girl friend of five years, who worked on the next floor, weren't even in the process of tying the knot. Had they presented the fact that his girl friend's biological clock was ticking, I would've just agreed that they should get married because they do seem to be a perfect fit. But then one of my officemates said that he probably should just make a "deposit" so they would know if they were sexually compatible before getting married. I was appalled. I wasn't na?ve but there are some changes you shouldn't adopt, even if it meant convenience. This was one of them.

It made me think of the hundreds of single mothers out there who say they are saying that they are raising their child alone by choice. I agree; it was their choice that made them single mothers-women who have shrugged off their morality for what they think would make them happy for that moment. I'm not saying that they should be condemned because of these wrong choices (I'm not even saying that being happy is wrong) but I agree with Coulter that these women are guilty for presenting themselves as the victims. If we want a better society, we should stop saying it and do what's best for us and for our neighbors. Everything starts with a decision and sticking with that decision. Don't go plunging into a pool when you can't swim. Make sure you can pay for what you're buying and all that stuff that goes along those lines.

I agree with Coulter when she said that these people who call themselves the victims of society's "modernity" and loss of morality-slaves of the moment and all that-are the ones who actually launch an attack on America. I'm not saying we should go all St. Francis of Assisi and give our life's savings to the poor. What I'm saying-and what Coulter points out in Guilty-is that we should be living within our means. By doing so, we are not only helping ourselves but also those around us who cannot afford to live so lavishly. Also, don't go around preaching what you can't do. We already have a lot of that in the media. Sadly, it is the bravery in Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter that could make you hate it when you should be taking a seat and listening to what it's saying.

For more information, check other Guilty: Liberal Victims and Their Assault on America by Ann Coulter book reviews.

Erika Ayala works part time for a consumer review company.

Mass Media and Mental Games Shaping Our Political and Perceived Realities

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What do you know? If what you know is what you read in the newspapers and see on TV, then perhaps you do not know much at all. Indeed, there are propaganda spin-meisters at every turn shaping your created realities. In fact, let me recommend a very good book to you about how political games are played at the highest levels of American Politics;

"Spin Cycle; Inside the Clinton Propaganda Machine" by Howard Kurtz (also author of: 'Hot Air and Media Circus'); The Free Press [division of Simon and Schuster Inc.], New York, NY; 1998.

This is an incredibly interesting book on how the media and politicians change our reality and how nothing is exactly as it seems. Indeed, the heart of the message after reading this book is back to that old quote; "you can't fool all the people, all of the time." Perhaps, that is what I took away from the book and maybe you will see something else, as the book is packed with the little details and reality behind the scenes.

The puppets are introduced along with all the players; it's a tribute to the reality of US Politics at the highest levels. The author notes that President Bill Clinton was the most investigated president in history next to Richard Nixon. There was Whitewater, campaign fundraising abuses, Chinese donations, Monica Lewinsky, and the author of Spin Cycle calls the Teflon man resilient and untouchable thanks to his well-oiled propaganda machine.

The book tells of secret meetings with columnists to reap the benefits of favorable publicity is all that saved the Clintons, and he admits it was masterful indeed. One of the chapters discusses Al Gore and his loss and feelings of betrayal that cost him the White House. Today we see a similar story brewing with Senator Barrack Obama's PR machine with 8:1 positive to negative articles in the media, it's no wonder his popularity, but how long can it hold out?

In my opinion, it really does not matter if you like the Clintons or not, what matters is you understand the created realities of the mass media. All informed voters ought to realize what is really going on in Washington DC and on the road to get to the White House.

"Lance Winslow" - Lance Winslow's Bio

If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/

It's Politics As Usual For Bernard Goldberg

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The amount of political banter in this nation is quite humorous at times, and yet, so much of the reality we use in comedy is muffled due to the politically correct nonsense. After all, in America there are still things you just cannot say, even though we are afforded "free speech" in our founding documents.

Perhaps, this is why I enjoy reading a book that is not politically correct, that goes after both sides and their ridiculous shenanigans. One author I love to read, because he is hilarious and for the most part he is right on target in Bernard Goldberg the once famous news commentary guy from CBS. In fact, his latest book is great. You should indeed read;

"Crazies to the Left of Me, Wimps to the Right; How One Side Lost its Mind and the Other Side Lost its Nerve," by Bernard Goldberg (also author of "BIAS; 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America"); HarperCollins Publishers; New York, NY; 2007, (271 pages). ISBN: 978-0-06-12527-0 and/or ISBN-10: 0-06-12527-3

He holds nothing back when it comes to religion, terrorists, or the world media that works so hard to shape our minds and alter our political views and opinions. Goldberg explains the absurdity of it all and the underlining problems that all this sound and fury is causing. This book is not for the angry limousine liberal or the staunch Obama-Rama in my estimation.

Nor is this book for the steadfast Republican that will go along with the flow of spending from their ranks. If you cannot laugh at yourself or this crazy thing we call politics, this is not the book for you. But if you can a 1,000 laughs await you, so I highly recommend it. Please consider it, and this book will indeed be a good gift for the right leaning libertarian or true conservative in your family.

Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank. Lance Winslow believes calling it like it is and always hiring the best Handyman

Note: All of Lance Winslow's articles are written by him, not by Automated Software, any Computer Program, or Artificially Intelligent Software. None of his articles are outsourced, PLR Content or written by ghost writers. Lance Winslow believes those who use these strategies lack integrity and mislead the reader. Indeed, those who use such cheating tools, crutches, and tricks of the trade may even be breaking the law by misleading the consumer and misrepresenting themselves in online marketing, which he finds completely unacceptable.