India’s Lockdown 3-28-2020

28, March 2020                          India’s Lockdown

India is about one third the size of the U.S. with four times the people and much, much poorer. Large numbers of the population are dayworkers, clerks, savants, secretaries, and hawkers – a sea of humanity dependent on subsistent wages in order to survive.

Prime Minister Modi of India hasty lockdown without adequate preplanning will condemn millions of poor Indians to a certain painful death. As usual he has gone for the optics making headlines when he announced the stay at home order. His earlier decision to implement demonetization in 2016 was taken without appropriate consultation and was a huge disaster for the economy causing immense hardships for the poor. 

His lack of humanity is extremely troubling. He failed to offer any words of compassion to the families whose loved ones were beaten to death in the recent communal riots in Delhi. His recent response to the pandemic is puzzling. How does he expect 1.3 billion people to remain 6 feet apart?

Local Indian officials ignored the views of international experts, who warned the coronavirus was being transmitted within communities. For weeks they failed to impose a strict testing regime especially for international travelers and their immediate contacts.

Much like the rest of the world India is facing crucial shortages of ventilators, testing kits, masks, gowns and other protective equipment for health workers. 

It is baffling to understand why India continued exporting medical equipment which was urgently required by local hospitals. Does corporate profits triumph concerns for human life?

Modi’s announcement “left a gaping hole,” tweeted P. Chidambaram, a former finance minister. “Who is going to provide cash to the poor that they need for the next 21 days?”

In Chandigarh, one the wealthiest cities in India the curfew is more draconian than the rest of the country. There is fear of Non Resident Indians (NRI’s), over the age of 62 returning from Italy infecting the local population. These Punjabis are famous for their mozzarella. The local government promised home deliveries of essentials like bread and milk but after three days the deliveries stopped. Crowds of starving poor are crowding around food stores negating the purpose of the shutdown. 

It is estimated that there are 50 lakh crores of rupees of gold stashed in Indian Temples. Perhaps the government could consider commandeering the gold to lessen the impact of the lockdown.

The important lessons of China, Italy and Spain have been ignored. India does not need a “brown Trump.” It needs a rational leader like Mario Cuomo who thinks strategically and compassionately.

The rich and well connected will survive, the poor, oppressed minorities will not.

The only silver lining in the dark foreboding clouds is the improvement in India’s air quality which will save lives. It will be interesting to map the ecological windfall from a worldwide shutdown of humans.

Coronavirus testing skewed 3-23-2020

23, March 2020                   Coronavirus testing skewed 

It is an abomination that the richest nation in the world lacks an adequate health care system. Like many of our crucial institutions, it is based on private profit instead of the public good.  COVID-19 is revealing what is so rotten in our capitalism system.

Currently, the White House briefings are a total disaster. They should be conducted away from the White House staffed by health care professionals not by the President and his sycophants. Such a serious pandemic must not be allowed to degenerate into a political rally where the President routinely insults reporters and spews out false information.



Limited resources s for tests and treatment of coronavirus is exposing deep fissures in the health care system.



Politicians, wealthy Americans including many famous sports teams seem to gain immediate access to coronavirus testing, many without symptoms. This is profoundly disturbing.



Conversely, many first responders, nurses and doctors continue working some with slightly elevated temperatures. This is an appalling example of skewed priorities. These professionals must receive priority in testing and treatment. They are our national heroes.



Randomized testing should continue to provide a glimpse of the prevalence of the disease.



The governor of Florida should be fired for his nonchalant attitude to the pandemic. Beaches should be cleared of these unpatriotic revelers.



Finally, this should be a wake-up call for those Americans who failed to heed the advice of health care professionals to take the flu vaccine.

Time to promote global unity 3-17-2020

 

17, March 2020             Time to promote global unity

In a time of global crisis with the coronavirus pandemic it is heartening to witness acts of compassion and solidarity that unites all of humanity.

Iran which is suffering from a major increase in fatalities from the virus compounded by crushing US sanctions but has received much needed help.

Russia which has thus far remained unscathed by the virus has reputedly dispatched 50,000 c-virus test kits to Iran.

Even China, the birthplace of the deadly disease, is sending thousands of ventilators and respirators to Italy which is in a complete lockdown.

In sharp contrast to these acts of kindness, the US continues to punish the Iranian people with its crushing sanctions. These sanctions have b boomeranged from their intended purpose. They have not toppled the Iranian regime but have intensified hostility towards the US.

Washington claims the sanctions were not targeted to medical supplies but this claim was countered by Human Rights Watch which stated that sanctions are severely impacting Iran’s public health system.

The United Nations International Court of Justice ruled that US sanctions are unlawful because they prevent the importation of critical humanitarian medical supplies. Global US economic pressure has severely impacted Iran’s global oil exports plunging the country into a deep recession and hyperinflation intensifying the suffering of the Iranian people. This is a stark reminder of US economic sanctions on Iraq which resulted in the death of 4% of the population.

It is sickening to hear President Trump and his silent enablers claim that reneging on the 2015 nuclear agreement and imposing economic sanctions is a foreign policy success. Iran is responding in anger by ramping up its bomb making capabilities. Oh, America when will you ever learn from your past blunders (Vietnam, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,  . .). It is time for a radical shift in foreign policy. Let us saturate the world with human kindness and compassion not economic boycotts and accelerating our own bomb making capabilities.

Israel’s barbarity 3-14-2020

14, March 2020                              Israel’s barbarity

Gideon Levy, a renowned Israeli journalist and author, writes a weekly column for the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, focusing on the devastating impact the Israeli occupation has on Palestinian life.

 In a recent article in the newspaper Haaretz, Levy describes young IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) as “hunters.” These hunters have shot thousands of unarmed protestors along the Israel-Gaza border fence. He accuses Israel of utter barbarity in shooting and maiming unarmed Palestinian civilians.

In his article, Levy made a brief reference to the 6^th day war published in English as the 7^th day a heavily censored document describing how “Israeli patriots” were transformed into butchers, when captured Arabs were forced the utter humiliation of kissing the feet of their captors.  

The hunters have killed 200 Palestinians and wounded 8,000 who are permanently disabled including many leg amputees. Many of the shooters take pride in their actions. Many expressed regret they did not spill more blood. Blinded by hate they and their military commanders have lost their moral compass, their very soul. The hunters boast how many knees they have smashed. The record stands at 78 knees in one day.


They act with complete impunity. No one suffers punishment from their commanders. Meanwhile, our government continues to reward Israel for its utter brutality with $billions of our tax money aiding and abetting Israel’s inhumanity and apartheid policies. This is sheer madness and must stop.

Trump fiddles while America suffers 3-13-2020

13, March 2020               Trump fiddles while America suffers

Trump’s tweets have lost their sting. America is too preoccupied with the deadly “take no prisoners”, Coronavirus. Our 401’s have become “201”s. The tax man is pounding the door demanding his pound of flesh. 

In the meantime, Trump continues to spew out false statements. Gone is the bravado only to be replaced by a frightened man unfit to govern.

He continues to downplay the impact of the virus claiming he talked to “many people” great and small and had a “hunch” that doctors and the media were misleading the public. He reassured a doubting public the impact of the virus was less than 1 percent. He falsely assured the public that anyone could be tested. His playbook of nasty invectives may be over. It is increasingly doubtful if anyone will attend his rallies. 

Two precious months have been squandered attempting to spook the market with Trump talk. In the meantime South Korea conducted 700 times more tests than the US.

Dr. Tom Frieden, a former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, offered a sobering statistic stating that it was possible the virus could kill more than 1 million Americans.

Another sobering statistic offered by Chancellor Angela Merkel estimated over 70 percent of Germany may be affected.

China and South Korea both offer hope that draconian isolation measures might tame this ” wild beast” from spreading.

It is now time Trump and his science deniers abandon their collective fantasies and start working to save American lives.

PG&E’s chutzpah 3-12-2020

12, March 2020                     PG&E’s chutzpah



PG&E is one of the worst managed utility in US history. It has been forced into bankruptcy after admitting it caused 111 deaths and the destruction of 2,000 structures in the last decade.



Downed PG&E power lines in Paradise caused the worst wild fires in California history, killing 85.



Despite its appalling safety record, PG&E’s shameless attorneys submitted a request to the bankruptcy court to approve more than $450 million in in bonuses for its employees and executives.



The arithmetic and chutzpah are staggering. If approved, 400 senior employees and executives would receive $187.8 million in stock which nets out to a whopping f $469,500 per person. Another $266 million would fatten the paychecks of 10,000 workers or $26,600 per person.



PG&E would like the court to consider the money as incentives not bonuses. I wonder what would happen if the court declines PG&E request. Would the company retaliate by creating more mayhem? Is this a form of corporate blackmail?



As a cost saving measure, the company plans to cut its tree-trimming staff which would likely cause more fires.



California Public Utilities Commission has an appalling record overseeing PG&E. For decades the California PUC has a troubling record of establishing a “chummy relationship with the PUC and rubber stamped rate increase every year irrespective of performance.

Gov. Gavin Newsom needs to insist a member of his staff closely monitors PG&E as it attempts to emerge from bankruptcy.

Eric Prince 3-9-2020

 

9, March 2020                                Eric Prince

Erik Prince, a major Trump donor, brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, founded a mercenary company, Blackwater, to enrich himself during the failed polices of former President GW Bush. He obtained lucrative Pentagon contracts during the illegal invasion of Iraq and war in Afghanistan. He gained notoriety in Iraq for the slaughter of innocent Iraqi civilians; he is thought to be behind the secret back channel communication  to facilitate Vladimir Putin’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. The shady actives of Prince have been exposed by the New York Times.

His company includes former CIA and MI6 operatives who have infiltrated into campaigns hostile to Trump’s reelection. This includes Democratic institutions and labor unions.

The close alliance between Trump and Russian officials has come under renewed intense media scrutiny. Price has used his Amway fortune and his Blackwater “soldiers for hire” company to establish relationships with many autocratic regimes in the Middle East amassing $billions in lucrative contracts. In 2011he received $529 million from the United Arab Emirates to create an army of foreign fighters. To cement their relationship, the crown prince brokered a meeting with Russian and Trump officials. It is time for the Senate to summon Prince to testify and explain his lucrative contracts with anti-democratic regimes and his contacts with Russia.

It is profoundly disturbing that Trump-branded conservatives regard fellow liberal Democrats as the “enemy” while cozying up to the wily Putin and team Russia.

Eric Prince 3-9-2020

9, March 2020                                 Eric Prince

Erik Prince, a major Trump donor, brother of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, founded a mercenary company, Blackwater, to enrich himself during the failed polices of former President GW Bush. He obtained lucrative Pentagon contracts during the illegal invasion of Iraq and war in Afghanistan. He gained notoriety in Iraq for the slaughter of innocent Iraqi civilians; he is thought to be behind the secret back channel communication  to facilitate Vladimir Putin’s efforts to influence the 2016 election. The shady actives of Prince have been exposed by the New York Times.


His company includes former CIA and MI6 operatives who have infiltrated into campaigns hostile to Trump’s reelection. This includes Democratic institutions and labor unions.

The close alliance between Trump and Russian officials has come under renewed intense media scrutiny. Price has used his Amway fortune and his Blackwater “soldiers for hire” company to establish relationships with many autocratic regimes in the Middle East amassing $billions in lucrative contracts. In 2011he received $529 million from the United Arab Emirates to create an army of foreign fighters. To cement their relationship, the crown prince brokered a meeting with Russian and Trump officials. It is time for the Senate to summon Prince to testify and explain his lucrative contracts with anti-democratic regimes and his contacts with Russia. 


It is profoundly disturbing that Trump-branded conservatives regard fellow liberal Democrats as the “enemy” while cozying up to the wily Putin and team Russia.

Coronavirus 3-7-2020

 

7, March 2020                                        Coronavirus

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is coming under increasing criticism as the Coronavirus envelops America in it tight grip.

The CDC shipped hundreds of defective diagnostic kits to state laboratories compounding a serious health epidemic. 

President Trump downplayed the looming epidemic  accusing the Democrats of inflating the crisis. His positive “hunch” is not reassuring.

The persistent drumbeat of positive test results has cast  serious doubts on the validity of US testing. Much valuable time has been squandered allowing the Coronavirus to spread. Dr. Michael Mina, an epidemiologist at Harvard University was not so forgiving.

“The incompetence has really exceeded what anyone would expect with the C.D.C - this is not a difficult problem to solve in the world of viruses.”

The CDC and the government should dial back on their collective pride and accept the World Health Organization (WHO)’s   recommendation to use a far more reliable German testing kit.

The obscene military budget should be slashed and the accrued savings used to offer a free test to all Americans.

Britain’s new caste system 3-6-2020

6, March 2020                   Britain’s new caste system


Racism, xenophobia and outright hostility to immigration have reached the shores of Britain. An unhealthy - “I’m all right jack” is a sentiment often expressed by the offspring of recent Asian immigrants. 


Using the Trump playbook, Priti Patel and Sajid Javid are backing new immigration laws that would have barred their ‘unskilled’ parents from entering the UK.


Sajid Javid’s father, a poor Muslim immigrant from Pakistan unwittingly promoted the false belief that the Tories were the party of social mobility. Sajid immigrated in the 1960s. Much like their American cousins, the Hispanics and other minorities, British immigrants served as the backbone of UK’s economic growth. Sajid senior was a bus driver who worked hard to ensure his children received the best possible education.


Under current immigrant rules, Sajid senior would be denied entry by rules promoted by his son. The new rules bar all unskilled immigrants especially those who cannot speak English. His “Judas’s son, become a spectacularly successful businessman and politician. He spoke enthusiastically that we are “very optimistic about our future because … we will remain the global-outlook nation that welcomes people from across the world.” But people like his dad would now be unwelcome. Priti Patel, another successful politician bluntly stated that her parents, Indians from East Africa, would no longer be welcome. The new crop of influential Indian immigrants are now changing laws that would have barred their parents from seeking a better life. Has the offspring of Indian immigrants ushered s a new form of caste system dividing immigrants as good, highly skilled Brahmins and bad unskilled untouchables? 

“Mother India must be weeping” 3-3-2020

3, March 2020               “Mother India must be weeping”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a long history of fanning religions tensions dating back to the time when he was chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002. His failure to order the police to intervene when mobs of Hindus went on a rampage led to the killing of over 2,000 Muslims.

Responding to international outrage, Modi was denied a US visa from 2005 to 2014. He became a hero to Hindu nationalists and a pariah to Muslims.

The direct impact of polices enacted by Modi pouring hatred and intolerance into India’s eco system caused a recent bloodletting spree in New Delhi where Hindus targeted their Muslim neighbors unimpeded by the local police. An unhealthy culture of impunity exists which harks back to the savage killing of Sikhs in 1984 when 3,000 were slaughtered in New Delhi and an estimated 8,000 - 17,000 or more were killed in 40 cities across India. Meenakshi Ganguly, the South Asia director for Human Rights Watch stated , “supporters of the government feel enabled to commit all kinds of crimes, because they feel they have political protection. They have allowed a culture of hate and bigotry to prevail.’’ Muslims in integrated neighborhoods no longer feel safe. Collectively they make up just 15 percent compared to 80 percent of Hindus. Modi’s election slogan in 2014 “Together for all, development for all” rings hollow. He seems hopelessly entrapped by the Hindu Nationalist party, the RSS’s ideology.Hindu lynch mobs have been guilty of scores of murders of Muslims and lower-caste Dalits under the pretext of protecting cows, a holy animal in Hinduism.Modi’s political appointments expose his religious fanaticism.Yogi Adityanath, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, has called Muslims a “crop of two-legged animals” and promised to wage a “religious war.”

Other Hindu nationalist have been appointed at the heads of important universities and cultural institutions. Muslim heritage sites have been erased and replaced with Hindu names. Text books have been rewritten  promoting the BJP’s political ideology and a false narrative of Indian history. Under Modi, a culture of impunity flourishes. Muslims filmed being savely savagely beaten by Hindu mobs go unpunished or the few arrested are hailed as heroes. Last August the only Muslim-majority state, Jammu and Kashmir, suffered a complete lockdown for many weeks. 

But what most concerns moderates is the BJP’s passage of the new "Citizenship Law” blocking Muslims from seeking citizenship from neighboring states.The Modi government is using the Trump playbook to silence critics. A culture of self-censorship has gripped the Indian media. Most newspapers and TV media parrot government propaganda dismissing legitimate criticism as “fake news.”


Mother India must be weeping!