European Union

Current British Interference
How Great Britain is sabotaging the EU. The last time the British Isles were subject to foreign domination was the Norman era a millennium ago. It has since been its primary goal in foreign policy to keep the European subcontinent divided. Everytime a major power would rise, England would weave alliances against it to protect its own sovereignty. Look at it, England was opposed to the communist Soviet Union, before that Hitler and the Kaisers Germany, before that Napoleonic France, etc.
The peaceful coming together of European nations presents a new challenge to British diplomacy: how to hamstring the EU. The European Union is the culmination of the 50 years efforts. Its dream is the creation of a superstate in a contiguous region of Europe. It has wisely been introduced in a slow, steady, series of phases:

Phase I was the monetary unification: the Euro
Phase II is expansion and introduction of real legislative power
Phase III will be an empowering of the executive branch of the EU

We are currently in phase II. Great Britain, especially the ultra-conservatives have been violently opposed to membership in the EU. They reason correctly that it will lead in time to a loss of sovereignty. Their shortsightedness however keeps them from seeing the alternative: a weak and divided Europe in a global market of increasingly competitive and aggressive capitalism. As the European powers used to divide and conquer, dominating trade routes, and fueling empire, so could China, India, and a host of other superstates that are currently in embryonic form in the third world. The UK conservatives are ultimately shooting their countries long
term interests out.

The EU need walk cautiosly here. If Britain cannot be seduced to overcome its inhibitions on full membership, it should be left out entirely. As well, the temptation to even entertain the idea of a Turkish membership need be quashed right here and now. Turkey is an exploding Islamic hotbed. It is delusional to think that their integration will lead to anything but instability and exploitation, possibly even dissolution of the EU body. Would Morocco or Iraq be next?

Bring in all of the former Yugoslav republics, Albania, and the Ukraine. Leave an open door for Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. Allow potential for Belarus and should they opt out, the UK at some point. But move on. Delay equals death.



Government
Instead of being a superstate of nations, the borders of the provinces in the EU need to be redefined. Anyone who has travelled Europe understands clearly how diverse the different regions, even within each country are. Yet there are concise patterns of language, religion, and culture in general. Subdivide each nation into its component regions and make these the basis for representation in the greater legislative body of government. For instance: on the Iberian peninsula we would have Portugal, Catalonia, the Basque counry, Galicia, Andalucia, and Castilla. Each region could have certain powers within its territory, and elect 1 or 2 representatives to the national assembly. In all, there would likely be 100 or so regions in the realm of the EU.
Should Great Britain eventually grow up and join the future, they would likely have 3 regions: Wales, Scotland, and England. Until that day, let them either ride the bus or get off.


Geopolitical model for the EU
This will be organized in regions consisting of a number of provinces. Each region and province therein should be in similar size and population as realistically possible to best attain a balance. Each of these provinces can further be subdivided into counties, districts, localities, etc. Keep in mind each of these is merely a suggestion based on shared language, custom, religion, and culture, and should by no means be considered to be a final map.

PROVINCES

Iberia
Brittania
Francia
Germania
scandinavia
Baltics
Slavia
Italia
Adriatica
Balkans
Ukraine

Rationale Behind Unification
You have to look at this from a global perspective. A unified subcontinent will put Europe in an advantageous competitive position in the world for the next 250 years. China and India are currently weak and poor, but this won’t last. Within a century, they will be exponentially more powerful and deem a serious challenge to control the world’s resources. Russia in an omnipresent power, albeit seriously weakened since the abolishment of communism. North America is slowly unifying under the weight of the United States. South America is heading in the same direction. And there is always the remote possibility that the Islamic world or sub-saharan Africa may achieve a state of cooperation and cohesion as well.

On the Eastern border of the EU
There may need to be some hard negotiations with Russia. There are segments shown on my map that may gravitate towards Russia rather than the EU, in particular Belarus and Eastern and southern Ukraine. There may be parts of Russia that wish to join the EU, for instance the Uralic speaking Murmansk peninsula and St. Petersburg. Russian Kaliningrad (historically East Prussia of Germany) is another potential thorn, for having it remain part of Russia is completely unrealistic. Should St. Petersburg and the surrounding regions end up as part of Russia, a good exchange would be to guarantee free access of the Baltic Sea shipping lanes in exchange for free access via land from Finland to Estonia. It must be stressed that though Russia is too large and cumbersome to be integrated into the EU, shared cultural beliefs clearly make them agreeable allies, so relations must remain positive in the long run. They would present an effective partner to the EU in centuries to come.

Regional Freedom vs National Unity
To unify a land so diverse as the European subcontinent, a certain amount of watering down of national and regional tendencies is a must. A common culture will emerge, and though remain different, will provide a degree of uniformity necessary to keep the bonds from breaking. Yet, this should a very slow and gradual process. Safeguards need be in place to protect provincial and regional cultures. This is why the regional divisions should reflect specific cultural regions, like the Basques for instance. There must be a constitutional guarantee of a balance of power between the EU governing body, each Province, and each Region. As well, within each region, the counties, districts, wards, etc. should each maintain a certain degree of power in their own affairs.

A New European Capital
To celebrate the commencement of such a historic undertaking as the peaceful unification of this magnitude, and to foster an atmosphere of shared direction and responsibility, a new capital should be built. To pick an existing city would encourage too great a degree of infighting that could linger for generations. To celebrate the grandeur and ambition of the EU, this new capital should be constructed in the finest jewel of Europe, the Alps. The capital should be a different zone, with strict controls to ensure no one ethnic group dominates it. Populations from each province and region should be guaranteed the ability to live there, in restricted numbers. In fact, the city should have a limited maximum population, say one million. Being designed from scratch, the EU capital has potential to be the most beautiful, enjoyable, and ergonomic capital in the world, with grand scale architecture, generous green space, flawless public transportation, etc. Constructing it in the Alps will clearly present nightmares in logistics and cost, yet it will be worth the effort, and be remembered for a millennia.

Irish Partition

Earlier last century, the island of Eire (Ireland) was in an upheaval. Most of its citizens were tired of English occupation and domination. When open hostilities commenced, the British likely started looking for the door out. Enter the northeast of Ireland, county Ulster, with a large population of scottish and english colonial transplants, many families having ties to Ulster centuries old. These constituents, representing approximately half of the Ulster population, clearly wanted to remain in the UK (United Kingdom of Britain and Ireland). So the authorities devised a compromise: partition of the Irish homeland.

This division kept districts with a strong protestant presence in the UK (6 of the 8 districts in Ulster), but denied the catholics living there membership in the Irish Republic. This is the root of the problem which continues to play itself out today.

New Clear Thinking

Whopee, we're all gonna die !!

Well, I guess everyone has to go sooner or later. Dying is as natural to life as birth, yet as sentient beings who can see our innevitable demise, it is a grim prospect. I find it good to try to look at life thru the eyes of an old man who is remeniscing on his youthful days. what opportunities did I seize? Which ones did I squander? It becomes easier to see current decisions from a greater perspective this way, allowing one to cast off the shackles of what we should do, with what we really want to do. What is this life, if not a finite adventure in which to explore, have fun, and learn about ourselves?

Currency: Coins vs Paper

I dont know why so many people seem to want to abolish the penny. They absurdly claim that since you cant actually purchase anything with it, its value is "meaningless", and on top of the time, energy, and resources needed for them, they are nothing more than bulk weight and an unnecessary complication in peoples lives. some jerks even go so far as to throw every penny they get on the street! how dare they. These are usually the sellout freaks that usually push for such idiotic things as the dollar (or...gasp...even $2 or $5 coin), adoption of that overly complicated Celsuis temperature system, and even that hellish of all things...the METRIC SYSTEM.

Why not go in the other direction. Perhaps we should reintroduce the half-penny coin. And while we're at it, why not create an entirely new set of coins, like the 1/10th and 1/100th of a penny. Just think of how grand life would be if we would have our god-given American freedom to carry around hundreds of 1/100th of a penny coins in our pockets at all times. And the pure delight of sorting through all the coins, finding the right change. what could be better for a practical use of that math they force us to learn.

On top of that, how about abolishing the quarter and dime coins, making them paper notes instead? Doesnt that make sense? Just think about how wonderful it would be to pay 19.9787 for something with a ten, five, 5-one, 3-quarter, and 2-dime notes, along with 2 pennies, 1-half penny, 3-tenth pennies, and 7-hundredth of a penny coins. Simple as pie. What are those eggheads thinking when they argue we should simply round everything. What fun would it be to simply pay for that same material possession that will so fulfill our lives with a mere $20 bill?

Time

I didn't actually think Time magazine would make this chimp the real man of the year. However, lest we forget that good old Adolph Hitler was their man of the year back in 1938. Mandate my ass, a defeat by less than 3% of the popular vote is thin.

Oops

Saw some website (http://www.sorryeverybody.com/)where thoughtful Americans were trying to send out sincere apologies to other people across the planet for letting George W ascend to the throne for 4 more years of empire.

why did you do it Ohio? WHY?!!

Well, my election night prediction posted a week prior to voting ended being almost correct. Ohio and New Mexico went red, messing this whole election up. I was pretty damn accurate though, wouldnt ya say?

US Presidential Election 2004

US election 2004 prediction

Just a handful of days before this, likely *the* most important presidential election in our generation. In it, we will decide whether this nation embarks on a new path of empire, or restores the values of freedom, democracy, and respect that have been a bedrock of our culture for 200 years. Though not likely to keep me awake all night like the 2000 election, this one will still be quite entertaining. The LA Times has the most interesting electoral tracker based on the latest polls using Flash, thus fully interactive. Using it, I have made my claim, above is how the election will turn out. Of course, this is merely my prediction, and there *might* be a state or 2 that doesnt turn out the way i think it will, only time will tell. Still gonna be close, though it looks like J.F.Kerry is going to pull it off in a squeeker. Any thoughts? Predictions of your own? Who am I kidding, nobodys reading this rabble.

Science

science is often objectionable. science is often controversial. science often seems offensive to the values that we are all taught as children. But science is truth. Science is the key to understanding the world around us. Science is the pursuit of the inner values which we all seek in life. As such, the faith in the scientific process is vital to all of us.

I use the word faith because we all chose what to believe in in life. And just with any dogma of thought, science, like politics, religion, philosophy, and the such is just as subject to persuation by predetermined ideas. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, a book in the 1950's well documents the susceptibility of science to this weakness.

For all its weaknesses, the real strength of science is the objective pursuit of truth, despite what preconceived notions may have untruthfully influenced it in the past. To shed off the underlying perceptions that unduly taint our vision of reality *is* the pursuit of truth. Anyone that says otherwise is trying to sell you something.

Most fields of thought are particularly vulnerable to this weakness. Scholars and historians have excellent documentation of how organized religion has been coopted time and time again by unscrupulous sorts, in the end turning into that which the religion preaches against the most. The violence advocated by those who profess their deep religious devotion is evidence enough of this.

Similarly, politics is equally vulnerable. Despite the simple rights spelled out in many constitutions, it becomes overly simple for those who let power that they inherit or earn to corrupt them to subvert these words to deny the very rights they are meant to protect.
Faith. How do we chose what to believe in? A fundamental question. For most people on the planet today, the words in the good book that they are raised in predermine their most sacred faith. Whether christian, muslim, jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Daoist, Buddhist, Zoraostrian, etc., it is the words in their sacred book, translated and retranslated again thru time, that determine the shape of how they perceive what is right and wrong, truth and false in their views. Rightfully so. What better context to view our reality than in the tried and true lessons that are laid out in ancient texts? Throughout time, we have learned the best way to temper our instincts is to listen to our elders, and most valuable lessons ring true thru time, and are sometimes set in stone in sacred texts.

The problem with this paradigm is when the corruption that i described earlier occurs. What happens when the good lessons etched in stone become corrupted by greedy, selfish, small-minded people more interested in bettering themselves than their neighbors? The end result is a system of thought more evil than that which it was originally meant to circumvent.
And thus is the key to having faith in science. Science is a process which, despite its faults, has checks and balances that ensures it must be proven over and over again. It is much less vulnerable to the people that would use it for self benefit to the detriment of society as a whole. It is a way for us to see the universe in an accurate and realistic way, which is fundamental to all our understandings about the simple truths that surround us.

what could be more important than that? The inconceived notion in some unenlightened cultures is that there is a conflict between science and religion. There is none. Obstuctionists in many cultures presume to create a rift to protect their selfish holds on power. When the objective truths revealed in science seem to threaten their views on morality, they attack that which is meant to help, just as ignorant groups attack humanitarian workers sent to aid the basic needs of their populations.

Such is the plight of striving for the truth, it is, and forever shall be the harder path, full of sacrifice and difficult struggle. Yet it is a path most noble, full of reward in knowing that you have helped others. And helping future generations.

Where would be if those brave souls in the last hundreds of years would not have risked scourn, wealth, and even their very life to pursue the truth? Galileo challenging the false dogma that the Earth is center of the universe; Darwin confronting the misled perception that life forms evolve; etc.

Science, the process of seeking the truth is the key. Our collective faith in science is integral to our mutual benefit, from medicine to astronomy to chemistry. When a society loses its faith in the scientific process, they doom themselves to the dark ages, they surrender their capacity to see the world objectively to those that seek to manipulate them for their own personal gain. In the end, if we as thinking creatures surrender our choice to those that will use us, we lose our ability to pass on our world to our children in a way that we take for granted. science is the principle way we can ensure a better world for future generations, and as thus, is something that we all must fight to protect.

kick his ass kerry!

good debate last night. the dnc put out a pretty entertaining video at:
http://www.democrats.org/