Opinion Editorials, February 2010

 President Obama, If we want to reduce terrorism then we need to stop creating it

By Steve Moyer

ccun.org, February 1, 2010

President Obama failed to address terrorism in practical terms.

If we want to reduce terrorism then we need to stop creating it.

We should thoroughly investigate 9-11 from the perspective of how we created that episode.
We should investigate all the actions of our government which are anti-democratic.
All those who have evidence should be permitted to testify in open hearings.

Instead of a "war on terror" we need to focus on a "quest for justice."  This means that we concern ourselves with the health of all the people of the world.   Rather than insurance mandates for Americans, we need to think "out of the box" and create jobs by providing health care for everyone in the world.  That will reduce terrorism.  We will give people what they need to be healthy, including food, shelter and medicine.  Start with our neighbors in Haiti.

Our direction is still towards a "global empire of money" in support of the capitalist system.  Capitalism is evil. It maintains an unfair distribution of resources when we actually have abundance.  It creates artificial scarcity as a means of generating profits for corporations.  Obama has supported the capitalist system by his actions, such as bailing out the financial criminals and supporting artificially high housing prices and fighting wars of aggression in Afghanistan and Iraq.   Words are just words.

END ALL WAR NOW!  It is of the greatest importance that we do so.  War is unhealthy.  If we focus on health we will find that justice is the path to peace.  This requires exposing the lies and deceit of the past, largely propagated by FOX News and the Republican conspiracy.  The way to end a conspiracy is to expose it.  If you fail to expose it you are giving it tacit permission to continue. Stop allowing this conspiracy.  Expose it.

The monetary economic system is dysfunctional.  The Copenhagen summit demonstrated this to the world.  Obama failed to address it's dysfunctional attributes.  It makes sense for companies to move to China because they make more profit.  When the only responsibility a corporation has is to increase its profits then we will see more of this.  Corporations must be viewed as "extensions of government" because government creates the privileges they enjoy, such as limited liability, and must extract a concession from corporations in exchange.  This means that corporate responsibility extends to the "health of the people" and not merely the "profits for the stockholders."   Let us remember that corporations can be "de-chartered" and we should do so with any corporation becomes too involved in politics or conspires to form a monopoly or cartel to protect their profits.  The power to de-charter corporations should be given to the people via the ballot.

We need "system change" and not merely minor adjustments to regulations.  We need a new economic system. This is going to be a great undertaking.  It may take years, perhaps a decade, or even longer to complete the transition.

But we need to get started now.  We need to start thinking globally and re-structuring our nation so that it is serving the needs of humanity.  Consider Haiti and tell us how we could have responded better to that disaster.  There will be many more disasters.

Let us form a plan to transform our military into a humanitarian force for health and stability rather than oppression and dominance.

The truth about torture is that the United States and all of its citizens are guilty of torture.  If we fail to prosecute those who tortured ( waterboarding is a form of torture ) then we have failed to provide justice.  Justice is not an option; it is REQUIRED.   We must let the world know that if you torture in the name of the People of the United States, you will go to prision. 

Nothing less than this is acceptable. Justice is required.

All the people of the world pay attention to the leadership the United States provides.  If they disagree then they should stop buying products from U.S. Corporations.   It is an individual choice at every juncture.  If you buy a product from an American company you are supporting America's policies in the world.  Stop supporting America if you dislike what America is doing.

Democracy and capitalism are naturally going in two different directions.  The destiny of democracy is an enlightened society. The destiny of capitalism is tyranny.  The concept of "democratic capitalism" is an oxymoron.  It makes no sense.  If we had true democracy we would empower those who we support: money and resources would support "the will of the people."  We now have the infrastructure necessary to "make it so."  It's the Internet, of course.  We need "Internet Democracy."

We need to create a new Constitution for the 21st century.  Let us remember that the original Constitution considered it acceptable for "one man to OWN another."  ( slavery)  That was always wrong and everyone knew it. But the "founding fathers" were more interested in money than human rights.  It is still true of us today.  It is our failing in human terms.

There are many other concepts in the Constitution that are wrong as well.  Private property exists with a concurrent responsibility to  society.  Property is not an "absolute right." Rights and responsibilities go together.  If you are wealthy and you fail to act responsibly to help society evolve in a positive direction then you deserve to have your wealth taken from you.  You must act before government intervenes on the behalf of society.  Be a responsible citizen and care about your neighbors.  Love your neighbor! In a global society everyone is your neighbor.  Wealth is about responsibility more than control.  Be responsible.

Education should be free.  It is through education that we improve our ability to help others, increase our health, produce peace in the world and realize human destiny.   It's like the bumper sticker said: "If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."
We are vastly ignorant of how the world works and what needs to be done for a sustainble future.  We must consume less.  We must share more.  We must end all war.  We must cooperate with other nations in reducing our collective energy use.
If a nation doesn't have enough money to buy new energy technologies then we must give them the credit they need so they can buy our products.  The idea that there must be a "profit" in every transaction is erroreous. 

What good is profit if we kill the Earth to make it?  What good is profit if we have to fight terrorism as a result of it?

Capitalism externalizes costs and internalizes profits.  It is a way of stealing from the future to feed the greed of the present.

We need a new economic system.  I believe in order to get it we need a new political system.  I urge people to investigate other options when they vote.  The two-party system has failed us.  Both parties are servants of the wealthy elite and have ignored the needs of the people. The worst one is the Republican party but there are many "closet Republicans" in the Democratic party.  They should be removed by the people as soon as possible.  You will know them by their priorities.  If they care more about money than people  they are Republicans.  If they care more about people, they are a viable alternative.

The Republican party is a conspiracy of the wealthy to preserve status in society. Never vote Republican.  Make them go away. 

Steve Moyer

--
"Consume less and share more."

Think virtue.  Teach virtue.  Live virtue

Steve Moyer
http://stevemoyer.us