i'm so glad this song is playing when i started the entry. drew, you're wonderful. heath, you're amazing. you boys are just some of my favorites.
not that anyone really cares, but, iraq is screwed. i made my feelings known in a separate world, but decided to share them. they're in a cut so that you can so choose to ignore it if you want. it's long… and probably a little opinionated. but, feel free to comment with any thoughts about it…
<lj-cut text="the iraq debate">In an historical note for anyone in my own generation or before: <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/28/international/28cnd-ira.html?ex=1280203200&en=7a0719b5ff9dea7b&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss">the IRA plans to disarm and look to peaceful negotiations with Great Britain</a>. I won't know what to do now with my GB news, now that the IRA has decided to be a peaceful army. Of course, what is their purpose after disarmament? I mean, they ARE an army. And, this is only the Provisional IRA, not the other small sects. Prime Minister Tony Blair has declared that it is a great day in Britain's journey… as long as they're willing to stick to it, of course.
The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iraq">Iraqi</a> situation completely boggles my mind. Comparative politically speaking, the country really is screwed, when viewed alongside countries like the U.S., China and Japan. Even the consociational Swiss have a better chance. But, the question that all political scientists are really pondering is… can the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democracy">democracy</a> survive with an <a href="http://www.iraqieconomy.org/home">economy</a> in shambles? Or is a democracy required to enhance the economy?
In my [little] research, history has proven that the government has only destroyed the country's economy… going back to before the Iran-Iraq War of course. Before the War, the country was incredibly wealthy [not that they're not now... they just haven't resourced it as of late] and lived like kings. If the destruction of political greed didn't get the best of Iraq in the late 1980s, then the Kuwaiti invasion <a href="http://pilger.carlton.com/iraq/impact">sanctions</a> imposed by the U.N. in the 90s sure helped them kick the bucket. Of course, the intent was to punish Iraq and make them realize their incorrect ideology. Instead, it completely destroyed their economy and deteriorated the human quality of life. Before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oil-for-food">Oil-for-Food program</a> was established, Iraq was seeing almost 4,500 children under the age of 5 die each month from January to July 1995… count it up, that's more than 31,000 children dying of malnourishment and infection. Part of the sanctions banned medical supplies into the countries. Even with some of the most brilliant minded physicians in the world, Iraqi doctors' hands were tied because of the lack of resources.
Fast forward to post-Gulf War, and the release of sanctions. The country has increased its imports and is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Still, they're not even producing 75% of their previous output. With the lack of imports [money to buy consumer goods because of previous devastation], people are still in dire need and completely below the poverty line. Statistics at this point place Iraq at a GDP per capita of around $3,500… considerably low, ranking it as 60th in the world. Not only that, Hussein, being an Arab uniter at heart, ruled with Arab socialism, involving the government in social structures, infrastructure and regulation. With the incredible depression already faced by the Iraqis, even the workings of a wealthy Ba'ath party couldn't resuscitate the economy.
Enter the U.S. and the second Bush administration. After the invasion [or liberation], any existing industrial economy aside from oil is completely annihilated. Textiles, chemicals and the agriculture sectors are now almost deplenished. Oil is now the only source for the economy… but people are too afraid to risk the purchase because of the instability of the nation. GDP per capita has plummeted to <a href="http://www.opec.org/aboutus/member%20countries/iraq.htm">less than $800</a>. The CPA [Coalition Provisional Authority] set up by the U.S. was as corrupt as the likes of Hussein's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ba%27ath_Party">Ba'ath regime</a>, <a href="http://www.iraqrevenuewatch.org/reports/092404.pdf">giving away millions of dollars</a> to foreign contractors when the work was ready and able in Iraq. Money is still unaccounted for as a result. Finally, an interim government is set up. But, people [see: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunni">Sunnis</a>] don't vote because they think the government isn't really going to work, or that it is a sham. When it is learned this is the real thing, and the U.S. "hands over control," they want to take an active part. The <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shi%27ites">Shi'ites</a> add 15 places for Sunnis to the Constitutional Committee to have representative support. After the assassination of one of the Sunnis added, the remaining Sunnis walk out and refuse to speak. The situation is growing more and more ominous. Each day another member of the government is assassinated. U.S. troops are only pushing democracy because they are ready to go home, and the U.S. government is forcing democracy because we want an two-fold ally: for oil and for a base to take out Iran.
The government there, and the people in existence may want democracy, but it can't take place until an economy can be established. Here is why…
1. History seems to repeat itself… from former dictatorships to U.S. provisional governments, the economy has suffered because the government can't handle the issue. Without the intervention, it would be able to grow as a free market.
2. Free market economies that grow encourage people to become more involved, in both the economy and the government.
3. The government can't function without incoming money [i.e. taxes, whatever]. If there is no money, the debt grows larger, which only hurts the economy more.
4. State-run economies only persuade the private sector to follow the trends of the government. It already happened before with Hussein, it can happen with the freest of leaders.
5. Morality tells you to take care of people's needs before you tell them how to do anything. If the people are starving, they're gonna look for ways to put food in their mouths, not vote for this guy or that guy.
These are, of course, just the opinions that I have to put out there. I could be wrong… and I hope that I am. I'm rooting for Iraq to come out and hopefully return to the prosperous life it once had, with people enjoying life, not fighting for it each day under extreme inhumane conditions. In my hope though, the U.S. is not involved, and the Iraqis decide for themselves how they want to set up shop.</lj-cut>
you should know that barack obama has been named the 2nd hottest person on capitol hill… the hottest guy award is solely his according to the hill's <a href="http://thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/Features/CapitalLiving/072705.html">50 most beautiful people on the hill</a>. some of these i wonder about… some of these are a little scary.
political videos make me laugh. here's for you to see is one that either shows the incredible declassification of the office or pure moronic form… here's <a href="http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/002261.html#002261">president bush flipping off the press</a>. who knows if it's truly unedited or whatnot, and who cares. it's absolutely hilarious. because, let's face it… sometimes you just want to tell the media to get out of your face and go to hell, right?
speaking of media and how they like to make you look like a fool at times, our own senator, jeff sessions could have possibly auditioned for an oompa loompa with <a href="http://www.wonkette.com/politics//the-littlest-senator-114736.php">this photo</a>.
the world could be coming to an end, though… <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2005/POLITICS/07/29/frist.stem.cells.ap/index.html?section=cnn_topstories">bill frist says that he believes that stem cell research is beneficial</a>. while i completely agree with him, his party doesn't exactly see it the way that he does. is it me or does the party system just get more and more interesting every day? i keep waiting for a debacle in the likes of the days of whigish endings, radical republicans and democrat trans-sectional differences. i may just have to settle for it in history.
here's to a weekend where i'm not really required to do anything… especially not tonight or tomorrow. it shall be a great day, i have declared.
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0802843301/104-6267549-3914316?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance">Downsizing the U.S.A.</a>
