Maggie's Farm

The Disgrace Of 'Al-Qongress

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, August 08, 2007 4:30 PM PT

War On Terror: If al-Qaida were writing Congress' script, it's hard to imagine things would play out much differently than what leading Democrats are doing now. Considering the threat we're under, that's a chilling statement

more:
http://www.ibdeditorials.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=271460270055168

The downside of diversity
A Harvard political scientist finds that diversity hurts civic life. What happens when a liberal scholar unearths an inconvenient truth?
By Michael Jonas | August 5, 2007

IT HAS BECOME increasingly popular to speak of racial and ethnic diversity as a civic strength. From multicultural festivals to pronouncements from political leaders, the message is the same: our differences make us stronger.

But a massive new study, based on detailed interviews of nearly 30,000 people across America, has concluded just the opposite. Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam -- famous for "Bowling Alone," his 2000 book on declining civic engagement -- has found that the greater the diversity in a community, the fewer people vote and the less they volunteer, the less they give to charity and work on community projects. In the most diverse communities, neighbors trust one another about half as much as they do in the most homogenous settings. The study, the largest ever on civic engagement in America, found that virtually all measures of civic health are lower in more diverse settings

"The extent of the effect is shocking," says Scott Page, a University of Michigan political scientist.

more:
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2007/08/04/the_downside_of_diversity?mode=PF

Politics make strage bedfellows..the Anarchists have it right



August 8, 2007

Anarchists organize to fight partnership"Obviously, this is really an undemocratic event

With Security and Prosperity Partnership meetings beginning in Montebello in less than two weeks, local anarchists are planning demonstrations that have some threatening economic sabotage.

Anarchists believe the meetings between the leaders of Mexico, Canada and the U.S. on Aug. 20-21 are undemocratic because the public has no role.

"Obviously, this is really an undemocratic event. The idea is to use our rights to speak out. We are the people and we oppose (the meetings)," said Celeste Cote, a member of the Outaouais Ottawa Stop SPP Coalition, an umbrella group composed of more than 20 organizations.

ANONYMOUS POSTS

Cote's coalition isn't threatening violence or sabotage, but anonymous posts on a popular anarchist website indicate some intend to attempt to wreak havoc.

"From August 17th to the 21st we encourage decentralized direct actions and economic disruption for the purpose of making the SPP and our resistance against it widely known," a post says.

The post encourages "a diversity of tactics and propose sabotage as a potentially effective means of revolt."

Ottawa Police are aware and have been planning over the past couple of weeks.

"We are certainly staffing up to an appropriate level," said Supt. Tim Armour. "We are aware of what's going on."

Armour hopes many of the groups follow Cote's coalition's lead with peaceful protests.

"We're certainly hoping not," said Armour of the possibility of a clash between police and protesters in Ottawa.

MAIN PROTEST

Cote said the coalition's main protest, a family-friendly demonstration against the SPP, will be on Parliament Hill at 1 p.m. Aug. 20.

A bus leaves for Montebello the next day for a demonstration made up of speakers, poets and singers.

"The three leaders are making decisions of the future of Canada, the U.S. and Mexico without the public. What's wrong with this picture?" Cote asked. "If the majority of Canadians were aware of what's going on they would be frustrated and appalled."

A complete list of events and meetings can be found at ottawa.indymedia.ca.

By KENNETH JACKSON, SUN MEDIA

China threatens 'nuclear option' of dollar sales
By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard

The Chinese government has begun a concerted campaign of economic threats against the United States, hinting that it may liquidate its vast holding of US treasuries if Washington imposes trade sanctions to force a yuan revaluation.

Fistful of dollars - China's trade surplus reached $26.9bn in June

Two officials at leading Communist Party bodies have given interviews in recent days warning - for the first time - that Beijing may use its $1.33 trillion (£658bn) of foreign reserves as a political weapon to counter pressure from the US Congress.

Shifts in Chinese policy are often announced through key think tanks and academies.

More:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/08/07/bcnchina107a.xml

I mentioned this the two nights ago with Rufus & Buddy. Rufus didn't think much of my theory at the time.