Home of Today's Common Sense

Published Brownsville Herald April 8, 2007
This week in the press we saw votes changed because the leadership allowed more government programs of largess benefiting certain Congressional Districts to be included in a bill.
This is part of the reality of daily political life and after an indoctrination of some weeks it seems normal. The idea of sticking to one’s ideals becomes weaker and weaker, not just in Congress but at the State level and even in local councils and boards.
At this time in America there is a substantial movement towards a large socialized government where government provides all of the people’s needs allowing no private ownership of companies and ruled by an elite cadre of experts. On the other extreme there is a movement towards a “New World Order” – a World government ruled by another bunch of elite experts or are they really the same goals?
In the middle there are those who believe in Capitalism, private ownership of property and businesses with the opportunity to pursue success and happiness as was described in the Declaration of Independence. We are not guaranteed it by the Declaration or the Constitution, but are assured of the opportunity to make choices that may bring great success or abysmal failure. We even have the choice to define how we view success.
A few days ago I watched the newer version of the movie “The Manchurian Candidate” which described the creation of a President of The United States by a mom who was an elite and part of a company “Manchurian Global”.
Immediately my mind filled with conspiracy theories involving Halliburton and Big Corporate America.
The big three organizations on which conspiracy theories have been built also popped into my mind.
I don’t really believe that these conspiracies will come to rule the world over any long period just because of the corruption that power begets, the sense of infallibility that many of the elite rulers acquire, and plain old greed.
I do however believe that we as individuals have a responsibility to examine thoroughly which social organizations we support as well as who we support in the political arena; both overlap frequently.
Some years ago I had cause to examine the possibility of major political conspiracies being perpetrated by Council on Foreign Relations, (Founded in 1919 as the American branch of the “Roundtable Group”), “super-secret internationalists,” the Bilderberger Group, and the Trilateral Commission which seems to have eclipsed the others in 1970 organized at a meeting on July 23-24, 1972 by David Rockefeller and Zbigniew Brzezinski.
In examining recent events for evidence of the great conspiracies, one sees the Elder Elitist organizations such as The Biderbergers and the Council on Foreign Relations are not as active as the Tri-Lateral Commission. The three sides were “North America”, “Europe” and “Japan”. The group consisted of leaders in business, banking, government and mass media who were personally invited to join by the founder David Rockefeller.
This group potentially could effect control of the world if they could agree on a direction and methods. Members/Officers include Thomas Foley,  Paul A Volker Dianne Feinstein, George HW Bush, Charles Rangel, George Soros, Richard Cheney, Donna Shalala, Tony Blair, Don Rumsfeld, Peter Jennings, John Edwards, Mark Warner, George Pataki, Madeline Albright, John Kerry, Colin Powell, Condolizza Rice, Robert Gates, John Negroponte, Jimmy Carter, Barbra Walters, and Bill Clinton to name just a few.
One can get an idea of the goals from a speech by George Bush in September 11,1990 when he stated goals in the military action in the middle east as withdrawal of Iraqi forces from Kuwait, restoration of the Emir to his thrown,, permanent commitment to the security and stability of the Persian Gulf and protections of American citizens living abroad. He also said “Out of these troubled times, our fifth objective, “a new world order”, can emerge. “We are now in sight of a United Nations that performs as envisioned by its founders.” Later in October 1990, the same President Bush said to the General Assembly “The United Nations can bring about a new day – a new world order, and a long era of peace.”
All of that would certainly lead one to think the direction was towards a “World Government” directed from the United Nations.
The state of events even with the best efforts of the elites named above the likelihood of the “New World Order” is further away than ever and the advance of free trade by the inception of GATT, N.A.F.T.A. and C.A.F.T.A. not withstanding.
It would appear that perhaps the partisanship of our political system or just plain interest in personal power, helps to keep us free. However, just the fact that these icons of partisan politics could meet together in civil discussion, should keep us wary.
While preparing my article “Perspective on Life in the Philippines” that was published in the February 25 issue of the Brownsville Herald, in response to an essay, “Life in the Philippines – People’s War against terror” by E. Elizabeth Garcia, I did find tome troubling circumstances.
I looked at the organizations that work with or sponsor the Christian Peacemakers and found a relationship with a prominent socialist organization in the Philippines.
I was somewhat surprised and in continuing to look at other affiliates, the organization “United for Peace and Justice” was identified and its Web site listed slightly over one hundred affiliates with contact information.
Among the affiliates were The Communist Party USA, Democratic Socialists of America, Freedom Road Socialist Organization, Freedom Socialist Party, Independent Progressive Politics Network, International Socialist Organization, Iraq Veterans Against the War, League of Revolutionaries for a new America, Left Turn, National Lawyers Guild, National Network on Cuba, National Organizatiom for Women, Pax Christi, Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, RainbowPUSH Coalition, Progressive Democrats of America, Socialist Alternative, Socialist Party of America, MoveOn.org, World Peace Council, Educators to stop the war,  Young Communist League, and Young Democratic Socialists of America to describe a representative sampling.
Many of the groups described above promote ideals that are opposite those that the prosperity of the United States and a few others, I believe, are genuinely interested in a peaceful solution to world strife. Some may not even be aware of what appears to be the real focus of “United for Peace and Justice”. I would suggest that any who doubt the seriousness of that focus, visit the Web Sites for some or all of the named groups.
I would recommend that a better alternative to protests to secure world peace would be to campaign against the current “War Powers Act” that allow the President to initiate military action with only a lack of objection by Congress.
I urge that the War Powers Act be replaced be amended requiring that the President make a formal request for a Declaration of War and that Congress debate it and that every member must vote yes or no. That vote could be taken even by the Master at Arms even if the MC is disabled.
We have seen in our experiences with the still ongoing war in Korea, Vietnam and now the Middle East that the administration can blame Congress for approving the war and Congress can blame the President so no one can be held accountable as misdirections seem to have utilized by all wartime Presidents, and recently the Congress cannot be held accountable because they didn’t vote for the war, only to support the troops.
I served in the War and know its terror and believe that every effort must be made to prevent it.
I urge all of those genuinely interested in Peace to investigate the organization that you are supporting and make sure you share its goals. I am also reminded of one of my moms sayings “You are known by the company you keep” so I would also examine the goals of the affiliates of your group as well.
It also seems that the natural make up and greed of the “Big Corporations” and elite rulars also serves to limit the achievements towards their “New World Order”.
I view a system of National Socialism as a failed vehicle of social betterment and the enemy of private enterprise and capitalism. The social practices we have in United States have resulted in a prosperity only dreamed about in other nations that have had the opportunity to pursue it longer than our 200 years.
In order to maintain our national prosperity we must also elect good candidates to represent our goals. Investigate them and vote!
 

 Note: On alternate Sundays, for the earliest view of this column check the link to the Brownsville Herald e-paper on the right and then click on Viewpoints on the left. You may want to comeback to this archive as it will be the unedited version with all the mistakes and run-on sentences as well as the other banalities that sometimes make the column too long!