MAN AND HIS CHANGING WORLD

This column is being  written on Friday, April 13. The Boston bombings have occurred and the search for the perpetrators is underway. One was killed last night. The other is still sought.

Several suburban Boston communities are in shut down. Which means the police have told everyone to stay inside with their doors locked. It has just been reported that portions of Boston are also in shut down. More than 1 million people are affected by the shut down.

Boston area colleges and universities are closed. Mass transit is not running.

The streets are crowded with all sort of police officials from the FBI down to the small township police officer. All appear ready to do war. Most are wearing thick bullet proof vests. All are carrying weapons.

There is also military. Huge war type vehicles carrying soldiers and police are seen every where.

America has neither seen nor experienced what is going on in the search for the desperadoes. Never. Well, maybe one time. When the British were occupying New York City during the Revolution.

Two thoughts occur which I would like to share with you. How I view what is happening.

First, the Boston Marathon bombings are a reflection of man's inhumanity.

The two men now known to have been involved constructed home made bombs. Bombs containing carpenter nails, small ball bearings, nails and small knife type objects. The two knew the blasts would kill and maim. The result was intended. They even stayed around to see the result of their handiwork after the bombs went off.

The present toll is 3 dead and 174 injured. A young boy was killed, his youngest sister lost a leg, and his mother's brain was impaled with some sort of flying metallic object. The mother required immediate brain surgery.Two brothers each lost a leg.

Man likes to kill. He enjoys it. From almost day one. Genesis tells us Adam and Eve had two sons. Cain and Abel. Cain killed Abel out of jealousy.

Since then man has been engaged in killing, maiming and hurting his fellow man one way or another.Think of all the wars down through the centuries. Genocides in addition. Happenings such as the Inquisition and Holocaust.

In last one hundred years, the United States has been involved in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam, Granada, Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is rare if there has been a time when there was no war or massive killings in some part of the world.

Top it off with the gun killings in the United States. Thirty thousand a year.

Killing, maiming and causing pain are inherent in man. Whether we like to admit it, it is part of man's nature.

The second thought of which I have been mindful as the events of this week unfolded is that the world is changing. It dramatically did with 9/11. It continues to change with the Boston bombings.

Since 9/11 we have airport security checks, a new Federal Department of Homeland Security, etc.

Now as a result of the Boston Marathon bombings, the streets of Boston and its surrounding area appear a war zone. Similar to a military occupation. Police authorities and soldiers everywhere. Guns in full view. Military vehicles. More than 1 million people told to stay home behind lock doors.

The scenes on television remind me of cities during World War II that were under Nazi occupation, as well as photos and videos we have seen of our soldiers fighting in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

It is a precedent. We have never seen anything even close to this in the United States in the past.

There will be heightened security from this point forward. Even after the accomplice to the Boston bombings is captured. We will have gone to another level of security which will remain with us for many years. Just as airport security has since 9/11.

The world has once again changed. It will continue to change.

SCREWED AGAIN

Corporate America/big business has no reluctance to do whatever is necessary to enlarge its bottom line. To profit as much and as long as possible. Even to the detriment of the American people.

 

An example in point involves pharmaceutical companies. Big money! Any one who purchases prescription drugs on a regular basis knows. Expensive!

 

A company discovers/creates a new drug. A twenty year patent kicks in. Which means simply that no other company can produce that drug till the end of the twenty year period. At that time a cheaper but same drug can be sold under a another name. The duplicated drug is known as a generic. As contrasted with the company that discovers/creates the drug which is known as the brand company.

 

Brand companies get paid exorbitant prices for their drugs. The reason claimed is that it takes years of research and development. The originator of the drug should be adequately compensated. Whereas a generic company has no research and development time involved. It merely produces the same drug under a different name. Thereby enabling the generic to be sold at a considerably lower price. The difference between the brand drug and generic generally being 80-85 per cent.

 

A business arrangement has developed between the brand and generic companies. An arrangement that works to the detriment of the purchasing public.

 

Generic companies have the right to challenge the legality of a patent.They do so. If the generic wins, that means the generic can start producing a particular drug immediately.

 

The brand companies do not wish such to occur. It would cut into the gigantic profit the brand company is making. A custom has developed where the brand and generic companies sit down after litigation has occurred where the generic has won. They negotiate a deal. The brand company will pay x number of dollars in a lump sum to the generic company not to begin production of the generic drug for a specified number of years.

 

Both sides make out.

 

The brand company makes so much money, it can afford to throw a few million the generic's way. The generic receives a windfall up front. More money than it could make if it went out and sold the generic drug.

 

This works out well for both sides. It does not work out well for the third party involved. The purchasers of the drug. The purchasers keep paying big dollars for a particular drug when it could and should be paying less. Were it not for the agreement which the brand company and generic company entered into.

 

This may soon come to an end.

 

The Federal Trade Commission has the right to test the legality of such settlements. They decided to do so with regard to a particular prescription medicine. The case was heard recently before the United States Supreme Court. The issue was whether such deals as described are legal.

 

Involved is Ando Gel. An erectile dysfunction remedy. It requires a man to spray the medication on his chest once a day. In due course, erect ability is supposed to return. Apparently it does. Sales are $400 million a year.

 

$400 million breaks down to a cost to the individual consumer of $250-300 per month, if there is no insurance. If there is insurance for the brand product, the cost to the consumer is $20-40 per month. If the product was generic and insurance available, the cost to the consumer a mere $5-10 per month.

 

Andro Gel's patent was attacked by a generic firm. The generic won. Andro Gel made a deal to pay the generic company $42 million a year for 9 years if it did not exercise its right to produce Andro Gel under another name. The $42 million a year for 9 years is substantially more than the generic company could have earned if it was actually selling the generic.

 

A good deal for Andro Gel. Its yearly profit would be $400 million, less $42 million a year. Still a tidy sum.

 

For whatever reason, the Federal Trade Commission decided to test the waters. The commission took the position such an arrangement was illegal. The case was recently heard by the United States Supreme Court. A decision will be rendered in due course.

 

I have no idea who will win. I am excited however that the issue is before the Supreme Court. Chicanery of this nature is to be attacked when ever and where ever it occurs. Transparency is required. Get everything on the table for all to see and understand. The big guys have to cease screwing the American public.

 

HEAD ON CONFRONTATION

What goes around, comes around.

 

Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

 

Beware of what you do as some day it may come back to bite you in the ass.

 

All appropriate sayings for the confrontation that is fomenting on the Boston College campus.

 

Recall when Catholic institutions and employers came out against that provision of Obamacare that required employers to provide contraceptive coverage to their employees. There was an immediate religious uprising. First, the religious right. Then the Catholic Church itself. The argument presented was that to force these institutions to participate was a violation of religious freedom.

 

Obama acquiesced. Catholic institutions were let off the hook. The insurance companies were required to provide contraceptive coverage free to employees of such institutions.

 

Boston College is an old and revered institution. Jesuit. Which means very doctrinaire. By the book. Their book.

 

What soon occurred was the end of the free flow of contraceptives and birth control information on campus.An aftermath of the Obamacare issue. Students were unhappy. They believed and still believe that they have a right to items of birth control and birth control information.

 

Necessity is the mother of invention. The students decided to provide condoms,

contraceptives for males and females, and birth control information to the student body. An organization was formed. The Boston College Students For Sexual Health. Actually nothing more than some dormitory rooms providing contraceptives and information. The dormitory rooms so designated became known as Safe Sites.

 

Boston College has told the students to cease and desist. The students refuse.

 

Boston College has a non-discriminatory clause. However, the clause has a reservation. The reservation reads that Boston College reserves  its ".....lawful rights where appropriate to take actions designed to promote the Jesuit, Catholic principles."

 

There is a problem, however. Federal and state laws do not permit Catholic institutions to discriminate on the basis of a person's religion.

 

The students claim Boston College is practising religious discrimination against them. Additionally, the students claim that a woman's equality is infringed upon. Birth control costs money. Female students can get it free through the student program. The College's position would prevent this.

 

A referendum was held on the Boston College campus regarding the issue. Ninety per cent voted in favor of the student program. The College was not impressed and remains adamant to this day with a clear and loud No!

 

Boston College recently advised that if the student program does not end, disciplinary action will be taken.

 

The ACLU has entered into the fray on behalf off the students.

 

The lines of battle are drawn. Boston College's initial right of freedom of religion versus the students' right not to be religiously discriminated against. As well as a woman's right not to be sexually discriminated against.

 

A WOW! Major Constitutionally protected religious rights in direct contradiction.

 

I am not sure where this is all going. My sense is that students' rights are superior to Boston College's in this fight.

 

Boston College played the religious card initially to escape an Obamacare requirement. Now the religious card is being used against the College.

 

Amusing.

 

A legal war of major proportions has begun! 

OUR ENEMY THE BANKS

Lets talk about banks. Nationally and internationally.

 

They have become too big. Too big to control. Eventually they will totally dominate and/or destroy society as we know it. Unless reigned in.

 

Recall the mortgage foreclosure crisis of 2008-9. People put out of their homes.

 

The crisis in the first instance was caused by the banks themselves.They got greedy. The banks were loaning money without credit checks. They were loaning money at more than the value of the property. The banks wanted to get as many homes on their mortgage books as they could and then turn them over to another entity almost immediately who in turn bundled them and started trading them. Just like stocks. A major insurance company even insured the transactions. Everyone was eating big!

 

Most banks lied and cheated about many aspects of the mortgaging and foreclosure process. The insurance aspect following foreclosure was fraught with fraud. Involved also were improper file reviews and kick backs. In addition to other machinations.

 

If the entity who loans the money is not paid, that entity goes under as well as the person who borrowed the money. That is the normal way. Not with the banks, however.

 

We were told the banks were too big to fail. The national and international economies would fall if the major banks took a hit.

 

So the United States bailed the banks out. Big bailout dollars. Taxpayer dollars.  As a result thereof, the banks survived. They invested the bailout dollars rather than loan the monies to the American public. The banks made tons of profit. Bank CEOs began to receive any where from $10 million to $40 million in bonus'. At the same time that the American people were experiencing the worst depression since 1929.

 

No bank or banking official was ever arrested, indicted, charged, or brought to trial, for any of the criminal misdeeds involved.

 

From too big to fail to too big to prosecute. Then and now.

 

Recall the very recent HSBC scandal. HSBC is a British bank. One of the largest in the world. The bank has many offices in the United States. The U.S. bank got itself involved in money laundering. Primarily drug cartel dollars from Mexico and Columbia. Illegal. Nevertheless, HSBC did it. Involved was $200 trillion. Many times more than our national debt. HSBC received a monthly profit in the area of $1.9 billion.

 

The United States government caught them. HSBC was investigated upside down and inside out for its involvement. The investigation was conducted at the highest level of government. Attorney General Holderfield spearheaded the investigation.

 

A deferred prosecution agreement was entered into between HSBC and the United States. HSBC admitted its wrongdoing. Agreed to pay one month's profit of $1.9 billion as a penalty. And promised to sin no more.

 

Attorney General Holderfield took the position that the national and international ramifications of criminal charges would hurt the world economy. He suggested the matter was too complicated because of the size of the banks to proceed beyond the deferred prosecution agreement. In effect, HSBC was too big to prosecute.

 

Now comes Cyprus. Cyprus has been front page news the past two weeks.

 

The problem confronting Cyprus has to do with the euro, the euro bank, the European Central Bank, and many other banks. Cyprus owes money to the euro nation bank. It cannot meet its payments. The euro bank says pay up. The alternative for Cyprus is bankruptcy. Imagine, a country going bankrupt!

 

Involved is some $12 billion. Cyprus says help. We need a bailout. The euro bank says ok. BUT Cyprus must come up with the first $7.5 billion.

 

Cyprus did not have the money and could not come up with it. The euro nation and bank arrived at a solution. They wanted Cyprus to levy/tax all bank deposits in Cyprus a certain percentage. Cyprus was told just take the money out. In effect, screw the depositors.

 

This insane idea by the euro bank was subject to Cyprus' legislature approving it. Good luck! The people were in the streets immediately protesting! The legislature voted no with not one positive vote being registered.

 

The problem still exists. Cyprus banks have been closed a week already. They are scheduled to open next Tuesday (this past Tuesday) assuming some arrangement is made regarding grabbing the money from depositors' bank accounts. The percentage is being discussed. The only banking service available to Cypriots presently are the ATM machines.They are still being loaded with cash. People are standing in long lines to take their money out at the rate of 500 euros a day.

 

Grabbing the bank accounts is the euro nation and euro bank's way to get paid. Perhaps the only way.

 

Bankers in the last 20 years have become bad people. They have acquired too much power. They have become a world unto themselves. More powerful in many instances than even the United States.

 

Banks have historically been frowned upon. Christ threw the money changers out of the temple. Shakespeare wrote of Shylock.

 

If, and it is a huge if, the banks have their way with Cyprus and depositors' accounts, the calamity will spread. If permitted in one place, it can be done every where. It would not surprise me in due course to see American banks do it to their depositors for one reason or another.

 

Therein lies the danger. Taking money from a depositor's account will become a spreading cancer. American banks are saying never in the United States. I do not believe them. 

 

Let me share the thoughts of some famous persons regarding banks. The quotes speak for themselves.

 

Thomas Jefferson said, "If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks...will deprive the people of all property until their children wake up homeless." Jefferson also said, "I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies."

 

John Adams was of the opinion that "...banks have done more injury to religion, morality, tranquility, prosperity, and even wealth of the nation than they have done or ever will do good."

 

Finally, Lord Action crystallized that which faces us: "The issue which has swept down the centuries and which will have to be fought sooner or later is the people versus the banks."

 

Be vigilant, my friends.

NEW POPE AND U.S. CATHOLIC SOCIAL ISSUES.....RESOLUTIONS?

A new Pope was announced to the world this week. Pope Francis.

 

Apparently a very holy and humble man. I wish him every success in guiding the Catholic Church through its trying times.

 

Some background. He is Argentine by birth. However, he is of Italian extraction. His father was born in Italy. A modest man. The new Pope dances to his own tune. He does things his way.

 

As an Argentine Cardinal, he was entitled to all that goes with the position. From a glamorous home to a limousine to drive him here and there to whatever. He shunned all these things. He lived in a small apartment. Cooked his own meals. Took the subway to his office each day.

 

Pope Francis was ordained a Jesuit. Jesuits are an order of priests within the Catholic Church. They are well educated and considered extremely intelligent. The primary purpose of a Jesuit is to give aid the poor. To assist in providing  basics such as food and shelter.

 

Jesuits are also doctrinaire. They read the Bible literally. What it says, it says. Period. No room for interpretation.

 

In 2010, Argentina recognized same sex marriage. Today's Pope Francis spoke out at the time. He disagreed with the law. Said it was not consistent with God's plan.

 

Argentina is part of the Latin American community. The community is still dealing with poverty. Basics such as of food and shelter. The things Pope Francis was most concerned with as a priest and then Cardinal in Argentina. He had his brush with same sex marriage.He disagreed. Matters such as priests marrying, a woman becoming Pope, dealing with the pedophile problem, birth control, and other matters of a social nature do not appear to have been on his plate. Pope Francis is accustomed to caring for the poor. A Latin American and Third World country problem. A full plate in and of itself.

 

There is significance in the new Pope taking the name of Francis. He took unto himself the name of St. Francis of Assisi. Saint Francis was a wealthy person. He gave all his riches to the poor. He then spent the rest of his life caring for the poor.

 

I doubt that the new Pope will have time to delve into the social ails of the U.S. Catholic Church. When and if he does, it will be in the doctrinaire fashion described before. The word itself with no deviation.

 

Which means in the final analysis that U.S. problems will basically remain unsolved. Priests will continue to be prohibited from marrying, a woman may not become Pope, birth control will be as it has for the past sixty years, gays will be shunned.

 

I smile when these issues arise in the context of the Church. Priests initially were permitted to marry. Some early Popes had wives. It is man made law, not God's law, that prohibits marriage. Jesus respected women. His mother Mary is a prime example. He also was a close friend of the prostitute Mary Magdalen. Such has no present impact on the woman becoming Pope issue. Women continue to be second class citizens. Birth control is an issue that has strangled Catholic and non-Catholic society for years. The fight by those against birth control will go on. Leaving otherwise devout Catholic women in a quandary. The mockery of God's universal love will continue by not recognizing the love between two persons of the same sex.

 

New York's Cardinal Dolan in an interview following the new Pope's election said he doubted the social problems concerning U.S. Catholics would gain attention or be resolved. Things would continue as they have been. A status quo. No solutions.

 

My thoughts answer the question raised in the title to this article. Resolutions? Few, if any.

WHY DO PEOPLE HATE OBAMA?

Respect has taken a breather. It is no longer with us as it once was. There was a time if you disagreed with a police officer, a military person,  a priest or a political figure, you still gave the uniform and/or position the respect it was entitled to.

Today, many who disagree would rather spit on a person rather than attempt to reconcile differences.

President Obama has had a rough road since he first was elected. Respect for him is lacking. The office he holds is likewise disrespected.

It is my considered opinion that two reasons exist for the dislike.

The first has to do with color. Obama is half black. The first person of color elected to such high office. Probably not the last. Many people, especially middle aged white Americans, have a hatred for Obama that eats at them every day. Obama can do nothing correct. No one can be that bad!

This group of white Americans sense Obama is the first of his color to achieve such heights. He will not be the last. The whites are fearful of losing their perceived status as the big guys in American society. Underlining that thought, these same persons are equally fearful that the black man will remember his history in our country and get even. The philosophy being that what goes around, comes around.

The numbers regarding persons of color are staggering. This very day, there are more persons of color in the United States than whites. Those who dislike/hate Obama are aware of that. The color group includes blacks, Hispanics, Asians and whatever other persons of color there may be.

It is probable that the United States will elect another person of color President within the next 20-30 years. Colored America will be by that time the largest voting block.

There is another consideration. I suspect that in 50 years, there will be few people of color. As the colored population grows and the white diminishes, there will be intermarriage. Society will generally be tan.

Have I said a terrible thing? No. It is inevitable.

And that sticks in the craw of the hateful whites!

The other reason Obama is disliked and hated is corporate America. If Obama were white, they would still dislike and hate him. Corporate America wishes to control and dominate American society. Any Democrat President obstructs that desire. Corporate America is for themselves, the rich. That two per cent.

Corporate America will do anything to feather its own bed. They care not for the masses.

Obama's color and selfish corporate interests have eroded the respect that a President of the United States is entitled to. Any President.

I cannot understand. The change to color influence is inevitable. It is a wave that cannot be stopped. Corporate America cannot go on as it has. Record profits while farming out 80 per cent of jobs to foreign countries. The middle class will return. Respect for every one, also.

Republicans, haters and corporate America  beware. The train has left the station.

THE RESIGNATION OF POPE BENEDICT XVI

The Pope recently announced his resignation. It took effect on February 28, 2013. Benedict XVI is no longer Pope. The Catholic Church will be without a Papal leader for a few weeks till the body of Cardinals elect a new Pope.

 

There is push within the Catholic Church hierarchy for the Cardinals to meet sooner than proscribed in Canon law to elect a new Pope.

 

The abruptness of the Pope's announcement of his retirement and then the rush to elect a new Pope concern me. Why three weeks notice of Benedict's retirement? Why the move to amend Canon law to permit the election of an immediate replacement? Moreover, why Benedict's resignation in  the first place?

 

Popes do not retire. They reign till they die. They can be ill in bed and find it difficult to carry out their Papal duties. They nevertheless remain Pope.

 

The last time a Pope resigned was in the 1200s. However at that time, the Church had schism problems and was divided. Each group elected its own Pope. Two reigned at one time. Once the problems between the two factions were settled, one of the Popes had to resign. That is the background of the only Papal resignation prior to this time.

 

Something is amiss. There are things we do not know. Matters the Church is not sharing with us.

 

Lest anyone think I am picking on the Catholic Church, be aware of my Catholic background. I was an alter boy and choir boy. I attended Catholic grammar school, high school and college. I am a fallen away Catholic. My mental change began while I was a student in college. It does not mean I do not believe in God. It means I did not agree with certain decisions of the Church early on and have continued to disagree with others over the course of my life.

 

Today the Vatican is a place of intrigue, mismanagement, and scandal. Internal political wars are ongoing.

 

Is it one problem that has wrought the Pope's resignation? Or it is the culmination of many problems which suddenly have swirled out of control? Or is it nothing? Has the Pope determined he is old and a younger healthier mind is better to direct the Church?

 

I believe it is a culmination of problems with something new on the horizon which as yet is secret to those outside Church hierarchy.

 

The priest pedophile scandal is world wide. It has been for 30 some odd years. The Church buried the problem. Now it is seeing the light of day. Priests are being arrested, tried and sent to jail. Diocesan hierarchy are being charged and tried for participating in cover ups.

 

It has been claimed that the Church recently has been less than appropriate when discussing matters involving Jews and Muslims. To the point that both groups have been angered.

 

Last year the Pope's personal butler was arrested for stealing private Papal documents. He was tried and jailed. Thereafter the Pope visited him, forgave him, and assisted in his release. Why was the butler arrested in the first place? Why did the Papacy subject itself to scrutiny regarding the issue? Why didn't the church merely fire its employee and send him on his way? God's admonition is forgive and forget, turn the other cheek.

 

The Church has lost many members over the years. Fallen away Catholics. As I am. Church attendance in the United States is down by two thirds in the past 20 years. Italy is another example. Church attendance is down 90 per cent in the past 10 years. Both figures are attributed to the pedophile issue. The Church has made no effort to recapture its former members.

 

The Vatican bank has problems. It has been under a three year investigation for money laundering. Last year., Italian authorities confiscated a Vatican account containing $20 million.

 

Claims are constant that the Vatican has become a ship with out a rudder. Mismanagement prevails.

 

The Church historically found new members in the developing countries. It bolstered the Church to have among its flock these converts. The Church was alone is seeking to convert these persons. No more. Evangelical Pentecostal groups are competing in places where heretofore the Church was the only one.

 

The number of people not believing in God has increased dramatically the past 20 years. The Church has made no effort to recapture these persons to God.

 

There is the issue of gay priests. Homosexuality apparently is significant in priestly ranks. Last week there were news announcements to the effect that Vatican priests who were gay were being subjected to blackmail by persons outside the Vatican.

 

An oracle of wisdom I am not. I do not know what specifically motivated the Pope's retirement and the rush to elect a new Pope.But I do have a sense of when something is wrong. Whatever the problem(s), I hope they are revealed and corrected post haste. Get them out and deal with them. God's people of all people must be transparent.