Feeling gouged yet?
Bob Morris @ Apr 19th 2006 12:10 - Category: Unfiled ;
Here in L.A., prices are nearly $3 a gallon for self-serve regular.
Archive for April 19th, 2006
Retired colonel on Iran War plans:
Bob Morris @ Apr 19th 2006 08:23 - Category: Anti-war ;
“The issue is not whether the military option would be used but who approved the start of operations already”
California Green Party imploding?
Bob Morris @ Apr 19th 2006 08:02 - Category: Unfiled ;
I’m told the Green Party of California just cancelled, on two weeks’ notice, their only statewide meeting before the June primary. No plenary in an election year is not the hallmark of a functioning political party.
This is shaping up as a year where a third party could make a major impact too. A well-organized third party would be running strong candidates nationwide now, capitalizing on the growing disaffection with the two major parties. Yet the Green Party isn’t doing much of anything. Long-time Polizeros readers may recall I was active in the Green Party from 2000-2004.
The seeds of the current implosion were sown in the 2004 elections when the DemoGreens jacked the party, then bailed, leaving a demoralized husk.
There are plenty of dedicated grassroots organizers in the California GP, trying hard, working tirelessly. But grassroots Greens, as well as candidates, get virtually no help from mostly dysfunctional county, state, and national Green organizations, who too often are consumed with poisonous infighting and paralysis of action.
The problems are structural. With this crucial plenary being cancelled, then clearly, things in the California Green Party are disintegrating. The California Green Party is the biggest in the nation too.
[tags]Green Party[/tags]
Sri Lanka update
Bob Morris @ Apr 19th 2006 08:02 - Category: Uncategorized Tags: Sri Lanka;
From DJ Mitchell, who has spent considerable time in Sri Lanka, and knows the politics well, comes this report of the ominous situation there.
The BBC report “Sri Lanka: Talks or War?” conveys the underlying confusion in the current situation since the LTTE announced earlier this week that they were pulling out of the Geneva talks. Observing from a distance, even with local contacts, doesn’t put me in a position of better understanding.
What is clear is this: violence in the Trincomalee area has escalated. Forces on both sides are targetting homes and civilians. There are both casualties and refugees, though the numbers of each are not yet available. My contacts say it’s getting worse each day. What is less clear is where it’s going.
The LTTE on the one side, and the Sinhala extremists on the other, appear committed to more violence, The government has been holding the military back, though recent statements of support by the U.S. appear to be giving them confidence. The BBC reports that neither side wants to go back to war.
But my sources suggest that both sides believe they can win if they do go back to war. The government is not yet ready. The Tigers, it appears, are. Yet appearances on both sides may be deceiving. The LTTE is known for feints and brinksmanship. They may not want war, even though it appears that that do. OTOH, the Sinhala extremists are allied with the government. In January, the President was able to call off the JVP’s hartal with a phone call. With the extremists engaging in this increased violence, the question arises, is it with government approval, or is the President politically too weak to stand up to them?
In my view, the age old truth remains at the root of this situation: politicians gain power in times of war. Few politicians can resist the opportunity to gain power, and fewer still will vote to reduce their power. Once again, the leadership on both sides moves toward war– and the people suffer. Roughly 65,000 people have died in the Sri Lankan civil war since 1983. Two thirds of them have been civilians.
Some view the conflict as being between the Sinhalese and the Tamil people, others view it as between the government and the LTTE. I prefer to view it as leaders of both sides committing violence against the people of Sri Lanka. And once again, the people are losing.
Greed kills
Bob Morris @ Apr 19th 2006 08:00 - Category: Unfiled ;
Chicken and fries offered by some chains have more artery-clogging trans fats when served in the U.S.
At a New York City McDonald’s, a large fries and chicken nuggets combo was found to contain 10.2 grams of trans fat, compared with 0.33 grams in Denmark and about 3 grams in Spain, Russia and the Czech Republic.
Why? Because it would cost a penny more per serving to switch to other, less lethal fats. The chains save money, diners get clogged arteries - and this happens more in the US than in other countries.
