Amerindia US Blog

We are sorry to see the Obama administration – the one that campaigned on transparency – reversing that policy. What’s particularly distressing is the blurring of clear definitions. It amounts to a green light for the powerful to go after anyone who compromises or embarrasses their agenda.

As this article states, “many federal employees shake their heads at double standards, where bosses can leak information to favorite reporters with no punishment, but federal workers face a crackdown if they do it.” What’s particularly worrisome is that what may be essentially embarrassing, is deemed “a threat to security.”‘ With all the accusations against Julian Assange, there still has been no proof of real threat to personal or national security (such as Dick Cheney’s leak CIA leak about Valerie Plame Wilson). In that case it was decided that there should be no repercussion for real harm; in the case of Assange, they are desperately trying to find one while planning a prosecution.

Case Against WikiLeaks Part of Broader Campaign

What’s telling, is that a low status employee will be threatened with losing their pension. There may be no real harm other than embarrassment of higher authorities, so there is no recourse in law, but their will be a threat to silence anyway. So much for free press in the land of the free.

Queen of Amerindia

After the last several years of watching the moves of the US legislative and executive branch, we have decided that we must step back from our diplomatic ties with the US in Washington, in spite of Obama being elected president. Unfortunately, regardless of the good and wise intentions of millions of Americans, too many of its leaders, so many in elected positions, and those in US agencies, are dismantling a once great country. Those who who would speak out against it – privately, in public, and in many important documentaries, have been ignored, punished, or have just not been able to turn the tide of the far Right, the Tea Party types who have co-opted the Republican party.
It seems the Conservative Right will do anything for its own expediency, including lie, misrepresent, or completely cross itself. One idiotic case in point: There was a brief call to make it possible for a non US-born person to qualify for president (when they wanted to run Arnold Schwarzenegger), yet Arizona has just passed a law demanding that to run for president, one must prove birth in the US. Go figure. It’s no longer about what’s good for the nation, or democracy. It’s about what’s expedient to those few who want the last word in political and economic power, and will do anything to serve that self interest. These are fewer laws to assist the citizens or the welfare of the nation. There are moves to “legalize” the illegal – the power grab for the few – a true corruption of the meaning of democratic government.
On the eve of the 150th Anniversary of the US Civil War, it would seem that the war that was lost is being re-fought, and newly won. The issue of slavery has been overcome, but not states rights. It would seem that the large conservative element in the US, complete with biblical rhetoric, is prevailing in both the conservative states, and through its influence in the central government. It seeks no less than a complete break of the social contract with US citizens.
The New Republican Landscape
This is an open warfare, using the US federal budget to first limit funding, as it moves steadily forward by dismantling social safety nets, especially for the poor, health care, education, health care for women especially, and so many other services that provide the “life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness” promised to US citizens. Even the public park system is under siege. Everything is moving toward the private sector, and US parks are more vulnerable than ever to drilling, deforesting, mining, or any other endeavor that will benefit a private profit culture, rather than the public interest and welfare.
Regulatory agencies have been gutted and marginalized. Food and drug safety is bought and paid for by Big Agra and Big Pharma. “FDA approved” is nothing more than a stamp of approval by the company that manufactures it, and the US food production system is protected by ever less inspection and more cover up. Even the educational system has fallen under the influence of this corruption, from science to finance. We in Amerindia feel that the most corrupting educational institutions in the US are Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. There is no room to go into all the detail here, but we feel that Obama’s promise of “Change” has been held back by his time at Harvard (not wherever he was born), and that advice and influence from those educated and connected by these institutions has been a major contributor in the steady march down hill, deregulating and pillaging along the way, for the last 30-40 years, starting with the Saint of Conservatives, Ronald Regan.
Not only has the US messed its own bed, it has been an increasing menace and destabilizing influence around the world. We would recommend these documentaries for an in-depth look at how much damage has been done, how, and why:
Inside Job
It’s interesting to note that not one single person involved in the financial collapsed the global financial world has gone to jail. Quite obviously, there is no intention hold anyone instigating and profiting from this disaster accountable:
Alan Grayson: Is Anyone Minding the Store at the Federal Reserve?
Since the global economic collapse, regulation of financial services has increased in every developed nation except the US, where it continues with the status quo of the years since Ronald Regan. What’s more the banks have actually grown even larger by consolidation, hence, “too big to fail”, and ready to receive another bail out at US taxpayer expense should they run into trouble with their unregulated practices. However, we do note that One person has gone to jail – a would-be home owner who signed a falsified mortgage agreement. Not the bank, the executives, the lender, the agent – but the person who was told “it’s OK, everyone is doing it” – which they were.
As far as the food industry, we recommend Food, Inc. Monsanto and other giant food conglomerates continue to be the driving political force in our food industry, which values profit over the health and welfare of farm animals and crops, and the health of the American food consumer.
Food, Inc.
We feel the US should be prevented from ever going to war anywhere in the world. Its post war disaster in Iraq has destabilized that region and affected the price of oil and food everywhere on the planet. If the US has trouble with Iran, it made it worse by what it’s done in Iraq, and continues not to address there in reconstruction. The history and national heritage of a 7,000 year old nation has been lost, while a people who tentatively appreciated the US for removing a dictator, are now suffering far worse as a lawless nation in shambles, and see refugees leaving without hope of rebuilding a free and democratic society.
We recommend this documentary for the details:
No End In Sight
While we have every admiration for the men and women in uniform of the US, we do not appreciate what they have been asked to do “in defense of their country.” We see instead ignorance, mismanagement, and profit by the ever increasing use of contractors in the military. And we have a deep unease about how much of the US military and civilian top management erodes the very human rights it claims it fights to defend:
Abu Ghraib
Guantanamo Bay
Bradly Manning
US citizens are losing their homes, their jobs, and their social supports. The US now has the distinction of having the widest gap between rich and poor of any developed nation. They are increasingly losing their right to see what is going on, as their society becomes ever less transparent, ever more run by sound bites, misrepresentations, and downright lies. And the most fundamental rights of equality before the law, freedom from cruel and unusual punishment, the right to be held innocent until proven guilty, and the right to a timely trial with proper representation are eroding. At first it was explained away as necessary to deal with “terrorists”, but now it has moved to the treatment of a US citizen. This is explained away as “military” being under a different set of rules than civilian. What’s next?

We highly regret the scenes of perhaps well intentioned, patriotic citizens who cover their hearts and sing US praises in “God Bless America.” But it’s done to interfere with open debate, the fundamental cornerstone, the most essential element of enduring democracy. Do they understand how they are being manipulated, how they are being “had” by those who benefit by the power they give them?

We hereby withdraw our diplomatic relationship with the US central Washington government, although we do welcome and support a relationship with many US representatives and officials, for example, Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont. We do realize there are many good people and organizations trying to fight an uphill battle with Washington. Also, we will continue to have ambassadors to Seattle, San Francisco, and New England (Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, and New York).

We will also continue to respect and continue relations with all indigenous peoples living on reservations or within the US population. We leave this entry with this message from Russell Means:
Russell Means: Welcome to the Reservation

The Queen of Amerindia

From www.guardian.co.uk/Wikileaks – US targets EU over GM crops

The US is on a rampage to root out anyone associated with Wikileaks disclosures. Meanwhile, we know little or nothing about why such an incredible amount of “sensitive” information was so easily available on a US military base in Iraq. Was this information not almost equally vulnerable to real terrorist enemies?

Somehow Julian Assange, Bradly Manning, and others have become “terrorist enemies” worthy of a world wide hunt down, while those in charge of the information – well, who are they? It’s another “how could we have known?” deja vu all over again.

And so far, what lives have been at risk (other than the whistle blowers)? Looks to us as if this is bit of embarrassing information is about the economic influence and domination of world food resources by the big chemical (Dow, Monsanto, Avantis, Bayer, etc) and biotech companies, not national security.

The Queen of Amerindia

As in our recent posts, we feel this is yet another instance that makes our point. Disparity of wealth, power, and justice. There are guilty individuals in a variety of situations. But punishment and the application of “justice” seems more problematic than a solution. Instead it points out the unequal hand of justice, that one cannot depend on a uniform rule of law. Who is guilty, who is responsible, and who will be blamed too often seems to be politically motivated, rather than a democratic application of laws, particularly when it comes to systemic issues.

This is about Russia, but we see much of the same in the US, and use this as some reflection on the handling of Bradley Manning. The US military recruits individuals like Manning, selling them and their families on the idea that they will be part of “something bigger than themselves” – often appealing to those who may be naive or need to fulfill esteem, leave the back door wide open for trouble (unconscionable lack of security in this case) – and then blame the individual. Manning may go to jail for the rest of his life; but too many generals are taking jobs in the military-industrial complex. It’s a set up for resentment. The individual will pay a price, but the system that created will go on, and the history of these incidents will repeat themselves.

The comments by these Russians are telling, about their system – and we think much in the US too.

From the BBC and readers’ comments:

“Khodorkovsky verdict: Views from Russia

Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky has been found guilty of embezzlement at his second trial in Moscow.
Mikhail Khodorkovsky awaiting today’s verdict in the Moscow court Khodorkovsky will appeal against the verdict, his lawyers say

Khodorkovsky is already serving an eight-year sentence for fraud and tax evasion from his 2005 trial. His supporters maintain the case against him is politically motivated.

BBC Russian and BBC News website readers in Russia have been sending in their reaction to the verdict and what it means for the country.

“It is not a bad thing he is in jail. But it is a bad thing others like him are not Sergei M, St Petersburg”

“I totally agree with the guilty verdict. Khodorkovsky’s supporters want the worst for Russia. I don’t understand why Khodorkovsky should have had the privilege of producing oil (which should belong to the nation), making huge profits from it and then pulling fraudulent schemes to make those profits even bigger. Those rich people can never have enough. Vadim, Moscow”

“We shouldn’t fool ourselves, Khodorkovsky is no saint. But then most Russian businessmen, or at least the oligarchs, who started out in business in the 1990s, could be jailed on the same grounds. So this verdict to me is yet another proof of the fact that there is no justice in Russia, the courts have become a tool to be manipulated by the powers that be. As for Russia’s image, a country where there is no rule of law, it is not very attractive for investors. Mikhalych, Moscow”

“It is not a bad thing that Khodorkovsky is in jail. But it is a bad thing that others like him are not in jail. Sergei M, St Petersburg”

“There is no rule of law in Russia. But will this guilty verdict affect Russia’s image abroad? I don’t think so. The west is continuing to court Russia’s duumvirate [President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin]. Svetlana Terskaya, Kandalaksha, Murmansk Region”

“I had expected this verdict. It symbolizes the strained relations between the authorities and business. Business knows what the authorities can do to it and will not contest their decisions. As for Russia’s image, nothing will happen to it. Thanks to PR, Russia can project an image it chooses to project to the West. Vladimir Okhota, Perm”

“I consider Khodorkovsky a victim of political repression. If he is guilty, he is no more guilty than other politicians and businessmen in Russia. Law should be the same for everyone. Yevgeny, St Petersburg”

“For me this is the final disappointment. Hope, of which Russian patriot Mikhail Khodorkovsky spoke, has been extinguished. I want to learn a foreign language and leave Russia as soon as possible. And take my family with me. Ivan, St Petersburg”

“It’s a verdict on Putin, not on Khodorkovsky. For Russia this means there’s no lawful way to protect yourself against Putin and his huge pyramid. Unfortunately this opens too many law-breaking ways. If people can’t find protection in courts, they have to protect themselves on their own. Interestingly enough, no single Russian media has this news. No media is left uncontrolled. Alexander Lazarev, Troitsk”

“The verdict is not a surprise for me but still I have been very upset and angry. Even for me who is not sophisticated in jurisprudence it is clear that this court has little to do with law and the prosecution is politically motivated. For Russia this is likely to mean more years of lack of political and economic competition, lawlessness and corruption growth. Igor Alyoshin, Novosibirsk”

“I’d set Khodorkovsky free whether he is to blame or not. Really, he has had enough spending behind bars, seven-plus years. I fully support the expression “a thief belongs in prison”, but the question is why all other tycoons-cum-thieves are still free and happy? It is no secret that so-called oligarchs in Russia have become rich through stealing, all kind of embezzlement or patronage of the powers that be. All they plus those who initiated the rapacious privatization here in Russia should have been put in prisoner’s box next to Mikhail Khodorkovsky and Platon Lebedev. Alex, Moscow”

The Queen

We have had some feedback regarding our recent post regarding Wikileaks & Bradley Manning. We covered a lot of ground in that post, looking for a way to make sense of a situation that seems unfortunately to repeat itself so often in these times, within the US, with only a change in details and characters.

We found fundamental problems in an unhealthy concentration of wealth and power. “Big”, as we called it, is able to buy influence on a colossal scale, while also hiding behind a wall of secrecy. The big powers can silence reports, science, or facts, and can all too often point the finger in a misleading direction.

But what our worry is, besides the divergence of wealth, is the divergence of justice. Some background facts from the BBC indicate that Manning may have been a man tilted toward trouble, military justice is necessarily strict, and national security should be considered. But is his situation torture, is it just, or how do we know? How close to torture are we to the most vulnerable in our society? When, or where – and for whom – will that boundary be crossed? We worry about it in warfare, and have seen it happen. But we also see the US deny it’s accountability to adhere to the Geneva Conventions.

We see a new order where those rules don’t apply. There are “terrorists.” We have no evidence that torture of suspected “terrorists” brings us any closer to safety, but US politicians argue the right to behave without the protocols of humanitarianism anyway. Where is the mirror to show where all this is going?

And why aren’t the powerful and influential held accountable in the same manner? Maybe, because the powerful understand they will never be held accountable, or can avoid consequences, thus the consequences have the potential for being more dire. It’s not only stupid, but dangerous, that US Vice President Biden calls Manning a “terrorist.” The US has decided that “terrorists” have fewer rights, and can be treated unmercifully if that’s decided. What’s telling is that Mr. Biden could only have had that slip of the tongue if he never thought that he could Ever be in such a position of accountability. It’s not just the gaff, it’s the danger beneath it, that understanding that some people may have to suffer restrained (or unrestrained) consequences. But others, those protected by the power structure, will never have to consider such consequences for themselves, regardless of their behavior.

We were reminded of the reign of Elizabeth I. While those on the lower rungs of society may not have had an easy time of it, surely, surely, her advisers, nobles, heads of military, or anyone of state was held thoroughly accountable. It was a time when even royalty could pay with the price of their life as a consequence of their actions.

Now that we have democracies, where are the sovereigns that hold their government officials accountable? US citizens, are not you, “We The People”, sovereign? The people, the sovereigns, should no doubt be holding their government, and it’s officials, more accountable. While talk of democracy goes on, democracy seems to be asleep. We in Amerindia are wide awake, demand accountability, believe in equal treatment before justice, and demand an equal hand in human rights for every individual (including immigrants).

The Queen of Amerindia

We have written and commented on a variety of topics since we declared our ideological independence as the small nation of Amerindia. Our comments were based on a concern for what was happening in the US. It would seem that not only the US, but the entire world, is at a loss for strong, moral, examples of leadership. We had hopes for Obama, and although we see tokens now and then, we wonder if all nations are not complicit in a Plutarchy of rule by the economically and politically powerful.

We have argued about health care, the environment, social justice, and agriculture. We can and do post frequently on these topics on Facebook and Twitter. However, we add this post here as a comment on how bad we feel things have become in a most fundamental way. Not only are things bad, but those who would expose it are in trouble. We see human rights eroding where we thought the right examples should be set.

We feel the US has not only lost its place as a world economic leader, but more importantly, as a moral and humanitarian leader, a champion of human rights. And this all the while we continue to preach to other countries about “freedom” (we do begin to wonder what they mean by that), human rights, and free speech.

In particular, there seems to be some kind of moral rot regarding the US position on Wikileaks, and especially, the confinement of Bradley Manning. We don’t know the whole truth, but surely, there seems to be a terrible fear of the truth, or Truth itself. We in Amerindia feel that the most fundamental right, the right to free speech, means the right to speak freely, even if it is unpopular or uncomfortable for those In Power. That point is what we mean to make – “for those in power.”

Those in power don’t seem to care what we rant on about, as long as they can cover up, dodge, lie, beg forgiveness in press statements, or at worst get slapped with house arrest. Token apology seems to fulfill the penalty for any crime – if you are powerful enough. Pedophilia in the cloisters of religious power? – we won’t linger there for now. But so much is about cover up. The powerful, the wealthy, the politically connected being most concerned about ‘leaks’, ‘reporting’ (it’s the fault of the press!”) and knowledge of what was hoped to be kept in silence. Big pharma, Big chemical, Big agriculture, the ‘military-industrial complex’ grown into every fabric of human existence. In short, all the strings seem to be pulled not by the rules, but by “Big.” “Big” Makes the Rules.

If some transgression is uncovered, it’s “oops- sorry” or “didn’t happen” or “it’s dangerous – trust me.” But what is happening with Bradly Manning? Somehow he is being tortured (his conditions are torturous as best we can determine, based on sleep and social deprivation). But US citizens have been told that torture is really OK, as long as Big has determined that this person deserves it. Water boarding is OK. It’s for our “safety.” We are dealing with “terrorists” – some of whom were freed after years of incarceration with no charges made against them. But the torture? That was OK. Because it’s whoever Big decides is dangerous or worthy of such treatment. BTW, US vice president, Joe Biden, has called Manning a “terrorist” (what law abiding right does he have to do that?), and we hear rumors that he thinks Manning “should be executed.” One is never too sure of accuracy these days, but it’s clear that Big powers in Washington can say whatever about and do what they want to individuals who so much as seem threatening to their power. And just in case we wonder how Big “Big” really is, why aren’t others making their opinions known this? Big is Really, really Big, and few can cross it’s power. Even to expose that power, may be just what’s being done to Manning is all about. Like, don’t even Think about it. What kind of country does this to its citizens?

We’ve been told Bradley Manning is “endangering” – we’re not sure exactly who, or how. But he’s supposedly relayed information that has ‘endangered.’ Where did innocent until guilty get lost? Manning is accused of uncovering, but it’s been impossible to find out what is exactly happening with him. Maybe he’s a symbol of what he thought was wrong – keeping secrets that shouldn’t be kept from public scrutiny.

But Big gets really, really upset with this. Former US vice president Dick Cheney admitted to a role in exposing Valerie Plame, a vindictive measure for which we do not seem to have locked up Dick Cheney for months on end under torturous conditions. We see endless ranting about morals & marriage, and then see the criers fall by the wayside as they are exposed for their own behaviors. It’s the exposing part that gets anyone in the Big Circle so upset. What happens to people who expose?… they seem to disappear…in secret.

And we see a world were there are ever more evident examples of two forms of justice – those who insist on their right to act in secret at all costs to human rights, and those whom they punish for piercing the veil over whatever is going on. We think that justice, freedom, human rights, and free speech are at ever increasing risk in the US. There is no meaningful “Right” or “Left” any more – just Big. There are a few we admire, who speak out, who have principles and stand by them. Senator Bernie Sanders is one of them. But for the whole of the US, we worry increasingly about Big, and it’s power to silence.

The Queen of Amerindia