My little house on the desert is in California on the west coast of the United States.
A brief introduction to the state: It has more that one desert; it has mountains including two major ranges; it has valleys broad and narrow; it has a variety of lakes including high and crystalline and low and salty; and it has a long Pacific Ocean coastline.
~ population is just under 34 million
~ area is just under 159 thousand square miles
~ it's the 3rd largest state of the Union
~ the capital, Sacramento, is eastish of San Francisco
~ the lowest point is Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level
A time-line with some historic points high in the consciousness of many Californians
1769 - 1823 Catholic fathers Junipero Serra and Lasuen led the building of 21 missions extending from San Diego to Sonoma. Earlier missions had been built i Baja California. Mission building north of Sonoma was stopped by Russian interests.
1848 James Marshall discovered gold a Sutter's Mill; the following year fortune seekers rushed into California.
1850 California became the 31st State.
1890 Yosemite National Park was established
1906 Earthquake and resulting fire destroyed the city of San Francisco
1945 Representatives of 51 countries met in San Francisco to sign the charter forming the United Nations
1962 California became the most populous state in the Nation
1989 A 7.1 magnitude earthquake centered 51 miles south of San Francisco caused $6 billion in property damage
1992 An acquittal verdict in the Rodney King beating trial sparked riots in Los
Angeles
1994 an earthquake centered 20 miles northwest of Los Angeles left 22,000 persons homeless
2003 Facing a fiscal crisis, voters recalled Governor Davis and elected Arnold Schwarzenegger as his replacement.
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Showing posts with label United States. Show all posts
Friday, October 12, 2012
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Not Perfect
A page about Fidel Castro in a world history book I was looking at stirred me to consider how I think about 'the people' in the 'We the People of the United States ...' which begins our Constitution.
I think that, that 'People' is meant to be inclusive. I don't think that it just refers to the comfortable ones. I think that it includes the ones who want a better, more honorable, more just nation.
I think that 'the People' of our Constitution includes the hundreds of thousands of Americans without work, the hundreds of thousands who work and cannot earn enough to house their families without crushing debt. I think 'the people' includes industrial workers who not only lost their jobs, but also saw much of their benefit and retirement funds disappear.
The people includes those who pay interest on money borrowed to get their families from on moth to the next in some dignity. The people includes tens of thousands of teachers and professors who are treated like jailers and trainers, but paid less. Teachers and professors vital for maintaining the good in our society and for providing the people a chance for a better destiny are honored less than a stock broker and paid less.
The tens of thousands of small business men and women weighted down with debt and too often with confounding paper work are part of this 'People.'
Tens of thousands of young professionals with fresh degrees and a desire to work find themselves before closed doors are part of this 'People.'
Each of these people are responsible for his or her -self and, have also united to form a move perfect union.
I think that, that 'People' is meant to be inclusive. I don't think that it just refers to the comfortable ones. I think that it includes the ones who want a better, more honorable, more just nation.
I think that 'the People' of our Constitution includes the hundreds of thousands of Americans without work, the hundreds of thousands who work and cannot earn enough to house their families without crushing debt. I think 'the people' includes industrial workers who not only lost their jobs, but also saw much of their benefit and retirement funds disappear.
The people includes those who pay interest on money borrowed to get their families from on moth to the next in some dignity. The people includes tens of thousands of teachers and professors who are treated like jailers and trainers, but paid less. Teachers and professors vital for maintaining the good in our society and for providing the people a chance for a better destiny are honored less than a stock broker and paid less.
The tens of thousands of small business men and women weighted down with debt and too often with confounding paper work are part of this 'People.'
Tens of thousands of young professionals with fresh degrees and a desire to work find themselves before closed doors are part of this 'People.'
Each of these people are responsible for his or her -self and, have also united to form a move perfect union.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Conversation with Neil Sheehan, p. 5 of 7
Conversation with Neil Sheehan, p. 5 of 7
The start of realization.
Insight into the nature of United States foreign policy.
Insight into the nature of United States foreign policy.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Hegemony You Pay For
Are you benefiting fairly for the hegemony for which you are paying? You might benefit by keeping the question in mind as you read on.
Certain people in the United states have built and are exploiting an empire. Empire building is imperialism. 'Imperialism' comes from the word 'imperial.' 'Imperial' relates to an empire or an emperor.
'Imperial also designates a government holding sovereign sway over 'dependencies.' Sovereign' is a word of which you may want t refresh or extend your understanding.
Imperialism hasn't been much about the acquisition of territory for some time. It is now much about the practice of technologies and stratagems for the establishment of economic and political hegemony over the people of other nations. It is the system, policies, and practices of an imperial government. My old blue dictionary says that imperialism is the policy, practice, and advocacy of extending power and dominion others by gaining indirect control over the economic and political life of the people of another nation.
Right, 'hegemony.' It is the preponderant influence or sway of one nation or state over another. That is easy enough. Where is it that you have hegemony?
The main reason for imperialism seems to be a kind of greed for wealth, and power over others. In practice imperialists use their power and techniques to exploit the human, natural, and economic resources of other nations. Seems a mite parasitic. Imperialists also use their dominance to control strategic locations of others for military and commercial reasons. Their principle aim often seems to be the control of markets. Imperialists seem to want the people of the world to consume imperialist's products and imperialist's prices. They, of course, have also often wanted to obtain raw materials at the lowest cost. That often means subverting the other's means of production. What do they say? 'The greater the concentration of power, the greater the corruption?'
By the 1600s certain powerful persons had well in mind the power potential of the organizational efficiency of the industrialized nation-state. Such states could produces certain goods so efficiently that they could undersell comparable local goods all over the world. All they had to do was get in the door. Once the door was open to them they could make a killing.
I ought to be thanking my history teachers. I can get a lot from books and other media, but a live teacher is a powerful aid to ones understanding.
The imperial expansion westward across North America held the attention of the people of the United States while Europeans divided up much of Africa and Asia. Even so, certain Americans were already looking for ventures beyond their boarders before 1900.
Big business was born in the U.S. Railroads, steel, and oil were big. The processing and distribution of food was becoming big. Munitions were important. The dollar was kept strong. California gold and Nevada silver helped support the dollar. U.S. credit was good. Foreign capital poured in. Big capital was born.
There were ups and downs. Economic depression and labor unrest occurred There were strikes. Some big employers thanked God for the National Guard. Check "Haymarket Square," "Homestead Strike," "Pullman Strike" in your history book or on Wikipedia.
Powerful persons in the United States took advantage of the United States to take advantage of the people of Latin America.
The powerful wanted markets, took them, and kept them. The sometimes used U.S. Sailors and Marines to open Latin American doors and to keep Latin America people 'in line.'
This opening doors business soon became a world-wide police of imperialists. Open the doors of China; open the doors of Japan.
Every salesman knew about 'getting his foot in the door.'
In the early days Americans did take territory for their empire. They took it from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico. But why take territory and all the troublesome people therein when what was wanted was wealth and the power it brought.
These Americans became so powerful that they could practice 'regime change' in Italy and over uncounted countries. They could compete for Empire with the most powerful European states. They successfully competed for hegemony where the wanted and at the same time keep European competitors out of Latin America.
Japan proved more able at resisting American and European imperialism than were most countries. Doors of theirs were forced open, but not many of them. In the long run Japanese maintained pretty fair dominion over their own country. They also managed to organize themselves effectively as a state, to industrialize, and to create an effective military.
What does it mean to be a citizen of the most powerful empire known to man? 'We' have controlled the World Bank, the U.N., the sea, the sky, world markets, the media. Sounds pretty good. How are you benefiting?
'We' have made the mistake of humiliating people in the process of dominating them. They tend to find that upsetting.
What is the status of the nation-state today? Has the nation-state been a function of imperialism? Has Imperialism been a function of the nation-state? Do you see the nation-state morphing into something new? With major changes in the nation-state, what changes are likely to occur in the empires of today.
May those of empire consider the results of hubris.
How much are you paying for what you are getting? Let's be a little more aware the next time we agree to make payments.
Certain people in the United states have built and are exploiting an empire. Empire building is imperialism. 'Imperialism' comes from the word 'imperial.' 'Imperial' relates to an empire or an emperor.
'Imperial also designates a government holding sovereign sway over 'dependencies.' Sovereign' is a word of which you may want t refresh or extend your understanding.
Imperialism hasn't been much about the acquisition of territory for some time. It is now much about the practice of technologies and stratagems for the establishment of economic and political hegemony over the people of other nations. It is the system, policies, and practices of an imperial government. My old blue dictionary says that imperialism is the policy, practice, and advocacy of extending power and dominion others by gaining indirect control over the economic and political life of the people of another nation.
Right, 'hegemony.' It is the preponderant influence or sway of one nation or state over another. That is easy enough. Where is it that you have hegemony?
The main reason for imperialism seems to be a kind of greed for wealth, and power over others. In practice imperialists use their power and techniques to exploit the human, natural, and economic resources of other nations. Seems a mite parasitic. Imperialists also use their dominance to control strategic locations of others for military and commercial reasons. Their principle aim often seems to be the control of markets. Imperialists seem to want the people of the world to consume imperialist's products and imperialist's prices. They, of course, have also often wanted to obtain raw materials at the lowest cost. That often means subverting the other's means of production. What do they say? 'The greater the concentration of power, the greater the corruption?'
By the 1600s certain powerful persons had well in mind the power potential of the organizational efficiency of the industrialized nation-state. Such states could produces certain goods so efficiently that they could undersell comparable local goods all over the world. All they had to do was get in the door. Once the door was open to them they could make a killing.
I ought to be thanking my history teachers. I can get a lot from books and other media, but a live teacher is a powerful aid to ones understanding.
The imperial expansion westward across North America held the attention of the people of the United States while Europeans divided up much of Africa and Asia. Even so, certain Americans were already looking for ventures beyond their boarders before 1900.
Big business was born in the U.S. Railroads, steel, and oil were big. The processing and distribution of food was becoming big. Munitions were important. The dollar was kept strong. California gold and Nevada silver helped support the dollar. U.S. credit was good. Foreign capital poured in. Big capital was born.
There were ups and downs. Economic depression and labor unrest occurred There were strikes. Some big employers thanked God for the National Guard. Check "Haymarket Square," "Homestead Strike," "Pullman Strike" in your history book or on Wikipedia.
Powerful persons in the United States took advantage of the United States to take advantage of the people of Latin America.
The powerful wanted markets, took them, and kept them. The sometimes used U.S. Sailors and Marines to open Latin American doors and to keep Latin America people 'in line.'
This opening doors business soon became a world-wide police of imperialists. Open the doors of China; open the doors of Japan.
Every salesman knew about 'getting his foot in the door.'
In the early days Americans did take territory for their empire. They took it from Colombia, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, the Philippines, Puerto Rico. But why take territory and all the troublesome people therein when what was wanted was wealth and the power it brought.
These Americans became so powerful that they could practice 'regime change' in Italy and over uncounted countries. They could compete for Empire with the most powerful European states. They successfully competed for hegemony where the wanted and at the same time keep European competitors out of Latin America.
Japan proved more able at resisting American and European imperialism than were most countries. Doors of theirs were forced open, but not many of them. In the long run Japanese maintained pretty fair dominion over their own country. They also managed to organize themselves effectively as a state, to industrialize, and to create an effective military.
What does it mean to be a citizen of the most powerful empire known to man? 'We' have controlled the World Bank, the U.N., the sea, the sky, world markets, the media. Sounds pretty good. How are you benefiting?
'We' have made the mistake of humiliating people in the process of dominating them. They tend to find that upsetting.
What is the status of the nation-state today? Has the nation-state been a function of imperialism? Has Imperialism been a function of the nation-state? Do you see the nation-state morphing into something new? With major changes in the nation-state, what changes are likely to occur in the empires of today.
May those of empire consider the results of hubris.
How much are you paying for what you are getting? Let's be a little more aware the next time we agree to make payments.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Readers of These Posts
The overwhelming number of readers of these posts are in the United States.
However, they are getting views these days from 14 other countries and occasional views from twice that many.
It is not surprising that most foreign views come from our great neighbor to the north, Canada. Thank you Canada.
I am grateful to all the people who view What Then? After Canada the most views are coming from Estonia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Denmark and Malaysia provide the next greatest number of reads.
Germany and India have provided loyal readers.
Viewers from France, the United Arab Republic, Austria, South Korea, Russia, and Hungary keep coming back.
Thank you. Keep coming back. Leave me a comment now and then, even if you are from a clipping service.
However, they are getting views these days from 14 other countries and occasional views from twice that many.
It is not surprising that most foreign views come from our great neighbor to the north, Canada. Thank you Canada.
I am grateful to all the people who view What Then? After Canada the most views are coming from Estonia, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.
Denmark and Malaysia provide the next greatest number of reads.
Germany and India have provided loyal readers.
Viewers from France, the United Arab Republic, Austria, South Korea, Russia, and Hungary keep coming back.
Thank you. Keep coming back. Leave me a comment now and then, even if you are from a clipping service.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
President Barack Obama | The White House
President Barack Obama | The White House
This is the official site for the president United States President.
Click on the link above for plenty of visuals.
Lots of great information and links available here.
How Many of US to Elect A President?
Figuring that there are about 307,000,000 people in the Unite States;
estimating that 225,000,000 us are over 18;
Understanding that President Barack Obama was elected with 64,000,000 votes;
I calculate that we can elect a president with less than 29% of us of voting age.
Please correct my facts, figuring, and calculations
estimating that 225,000,000 us are over 18;
Understanding that President Barack Obama was elected with 64,000,000 votes;
I calculate that we can elect a president with less than 29% of us of voting age.
Please correct my facts, figuring, and calculations
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Life on the Mississippi
For over 3000 years they lived in greater peace than have most men. About 400 BC their peace was disturbed a bit. Around 400 AD it was disturbed a bit more. Then about 1000 AD they were disturbed by hearing of new.strangers in the land. Then around AD 1500 more began to arrive that shook a a culture already shaken.
Than around 1600 those that came bringing disease that killed the people. Then round 1700 AD more strangers came and so many people of the land died that there culture so dimmed that there were those who could not see it.
Around 1800 we began to swarm over the land, despising the people, and killing those who would not die. We did not all fit this pattern, but many too many did.
Still they are among us, many of them are us as we re becoming them. The land carries their names. We carry bits of their wisdom.
Tell me about them. Tell me their names. Tell me their stories. Help me to honor them as I would honor myself. Help me to understand this land and these nations so as to honor our humanity.
Than around 1600 those that came bringing disease that killed the people. Then round 1700 AD more strangers came and so many people of the land died that there culture so dimmed that there were those who could not see it.
Around 1800 we began to swarm over the land, despising the people, and killing those who would not die. We did not all fit this pattern, but many too many did.
Still they are among us, many of them are us as we re becoming them. The land carries their names. We carry bits of their wisdom.
Tell me about them. Tell me their names. Tell me their stories. Help me to honor them as I would honor myself. Help me to understand this land and these nations so as to honor our humanity.
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