JAPAN NEWS AND DISCUSSION
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tkoind2
DJJapan. I agree with you about the concerns you have. The answers cannot come from having brutal occupation. And we do need the participation of other Muslim nations.
Facts about the Taliban are also facts and they are but one of the many monsters recognized by the UN. That fact alone does nothing to rationalize them as acceptable.
The Taliban have repressed their people at a level unseen even during the Soviet occupation. The fact that the masses are wanting them back, is most often explained by our friends in Kabul as simply wanting the war to end and for the foreign occupation forces to leave.
But there is a greater danger here that must drive how we address the issue of the Taliban. Pakistan is a nuclear nation and cannot be allowed to come under the control of fundamentalist and jihadists. Yet that is precisely what has been happening in recent weeks. The Taliban are gaining power in Pakistan as the legitimate government is too frightened of internal strife to challenge their expanding rule.
If both countries fall to Taliban rule then there will be further danger to other areas in the region that are also seeing growing fundamentalist movements.
The solution, I believe, must come in the form of a more unified global coalition of Islamic sects and states to band together to condemn and resist fundamentalism. This can be done in conjunction with UN and Western funded programs that allow Islamic workers and aid staff to establish programs in both countries.
In the mean time the military must be free to go after Taliban strong holds in Pakistan. But must do so with increased caution against civilian injury and death.
No one believes this situation will be easily resolved. But it must be resolved in some way if we are to see opportunities for peace for the region and a stemming of the tide of radical fundamentalism and its harmful impact upon Islam and Islamic people.
Posted in: Pakistani Taliban chief threatens strike on White House
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tkoind2
There are few groups on the planet that I feel any ill will against. But the Taliban get my vote for one of the few I would celebrate seeing their defeat.
Why?
We can blame the cold war for the Soviet war and the resulting civil war. Both the US and Soviet Union came away from that struggle soiled and laden with blowback that would later cause severe problems. For the Soviets it undermined their supermilitary image. For the US it lead to 9/11.
I can even, to some extent, understand the following civil war. Many different factions wanting to take control. This happens everytime there is a power vacuum. But the Taliban, I have much less patience for.
These guys mostly grew up in the refugee camps of Peshawar. When they went home they took their anger and frustration out on the local people. Their victory should have enabled them to have a peaceful and prosperous Muslim country. Instead they choose to be repressive, extreme and to do far more harm to the nation's future than even the Soviets had done.
Their extreme views are not in line with true Islam. And they have done more to wipe out their own Afghan culture than even the Soviets had done.
So when they were defeated I was happy. But I equally saw that Bush would fail to truly suppress them. Now they threaten to resume power and to take Pakistan with them. This is a disaster that must be prevented.
The Taliban cannot be allowed to persist. They must be taken down and kept down permanently. Then and only then can Afghanistan have peace and Pakistan stability.
Once the Taliban are gone, people can start to go to Afghanistan and provide aid, support, education and opportunities for the people of that tired nation to live lives free from war and the constant threat of death.
If the Taliban attack the US, it will be all out war and the losing party in the end will be the obliteration of the Taliban.
My message to this Taliban leader... Peace is in your hands. The welfare of your people is in your hands. If the god you believe in exists, he will judge you for your misinterpretation of Islam and you will pay the price for the many of your own people you have harmed.
Seek negotiation now and find peace.
Posted in: Pakistani Taliban chief threatens strike on White House
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tkoind2
Smartacus. I've had psycho experiences on Myspace too. I think it is one of the dangers of any community site. The sad reality is that there are lots of nut cases out there looking for trouble. The bigger and more popular the site, the more nuts you'll find.
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tkoind2
Ok some facts. 1. The economy sucks and anyone breathing should be aware of this fact. 2. Bad economies mean uncertainty for companies and for employees. 3. Most of us are wage slaves with our homes, lives etc... dependent upon our day jobs. So we are rightfully concerned over whether those jobs will be there or not tomorrow. 4. #3 means that most of us are under stress these days. Watching our backs and thinking about our own security and well being. 5. #4 means we are watching signs that the economy is bad and watching signs to see how our own companies are doing. 6. This means more stress for most of us and we are all looking for coping mechanisms to survive. 7. people need to air their fears and anxieties. In the past that mean a pint with your mates and commiserating. Now days people are far more isolated and too busy to get together with friends. So they chat online. 8. That is where chat sites come in, the modern equivalent of chatting with mates to release your stress.
Companies expect us to keep working no matter what. At least until they lay us off that is. The press keeps us in a constant state of anxiety with their reporting. And our time is compressed so that we have few options but to blog, chat and reach out to virtual friends to release all the resulting stress.
So 2channel or whatever is serving a purpose for people to vent. If companies don't like it, too bloody bad. I don't buy that 2channel or mixi will kill off any company worth saving. These guys are just looking for excuses to hide their own incompetence and greed that led to this disaster. Deal with it business world. And if you want to fight back, get your corporate communications guy to spend some time online posting rebuttals.
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tkoind2
Maybe it is time for a revision of the amendment. Who needs a militia now? We are not a rural collection of towns any more. We do not need a militia. We don't need guns. So let's change the amendment to clearly show both facts.
Posted in: 7 residents, 1 nurse die in N Carolina nursing home shooting
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tkoind2
The gun crowd suffer under a few illusions that need to be overcome.
Gun Crowd: "The constitution guarantees the right to own guns." Reality: This is not correct. The constitution provides for the citizenry to form militias and bear arms in defense of the nation. It does not say anything at all about personal gun ownership.
Gun Crowd: "Guns protect us from oppression." Reality: In 1776 a bunch of armed famers could resist and fight against a modern army with modest effect. In 2009 a bunch of farmers would be up against smart weapons and top level technology. Which means farmers die and the oppressive attacker wins. Without the support of a competing super power and equally high tech weapons, guns in the hands of the citizens to resist an oppressive govenment just means giving the repressors a chance to wipe out some of the competition.
Gun Crowd: "Guns will protect us from enemies who attack the US." Reality: Like who? See the point above when talking about any invader who has a modern army. And for anyone without such military power, just how do you think their attack will go? And why would your standing military need you and your Walmart weapons to help out?
Gun Crowd: "Guns protect us from crime." Reality: No, they usually end up being stolen for use in crimes, taken and used on you as a crime or used by you or members of your family to commit crimes agains each other. Statistics show again and again, guns do not protect you, they endanger you. Plain and simple.
Gun Crowd: "But we want our guns." Reality: Time to become a more enlightened society. Guns must go.
Posted in: 7 residents, 1 nurse die in N Carolina nursing home shooting
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tkoind2
America when will you learn that guns should be banned? They do far more harm than good and this is another example to add to the countless others of just why guns are so dangerous.
Ban guns and put an end to this kind of tragedy.
Posted in: 7 residents, 1 nurse die in N Carolina nursing home shooting
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tkoind2
Sure! One of the most amazing experiences I ever had was with someone on what was originally planned as a very casual first date. We had intense chemistry and had a great time. Our relationship was fine as well in the months after.
We broke up because we were moving in different directions with life plans. But I think we both have good memories and positive feelings about each other.
Doesn't make sense to decide absolutes good idea or bad. Love, relationships, sex are all unpredictable things driven by human emotion. If you think you can make a formula of it, good luck. Better to live your life open to following the right path when it appears. Sometimes yes, sometimes no.
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tkoind2
I have to say my money is on India for pulling ahead. This article is looking past a lot of very real problems to achieve its optimistic view.
Japan's economy is export based. Take away exports and your patents don't add up to much. With consumer credit tight and economies turning away from hard core consumerism to something a little less spend focused, exports will suffer. And Japan with them.
Productitity. Japan has never ranked very high in productivity. Norway, Finland and other nations frequently outstrip Japan for worker productivity. Given the number of hours people work here, one would think a lot gets done. But it simply does not. Japanese business has too much red tape and the government is too bogged down to be adaptable. Productivity is a big problem.
Well Capitalized. Today maybe. But what about after a few years of double digit unemployment and economic hardship?
Japan is great at improving things. Far more than making new things. Japan has a great history of taking existing tech and making it better. This is where Japan really shines. The fact that patents are developed, does not mean that financially viable things are being patented. If it isn't sellable, it won't help keep Japan's position. And you can see my point on exports for the financially viable things that were patented.
Politics. The DJP represents as much opportunity for real change in Japanese politics as switching from Abe to Aso. The fact is both parties are far too invested in the status quo to shake things up. They both lack trusted and inspired leaders. And nothing will help with these issues until Japan's so called democracy actually becomes one where the people choose the leadership. Until then, Japan's old Gentleman's club will carry on supporting their own best interests over those of the people.
Quality. Sony products self destruct as if programmed to do so at the two year mark. Japanese goods used to be synonymous with quality. But like former US makers, they are more intersted in upsales and resales than they are in providing us with long lasting products. This is not helping exports. Especially when Korea is making better and better products.
So why India. They have an economy based on more than exports. And are investing the necessary money to continue to educate their people and empower entreprenurial development. Their corporate world is developing with global values and not the rigid "We do things the Japanese way" thinking of many companies here. And unlike China, they are not staring down the barrel of lost exports and potential political revolt by workers.
India is a far better bet today.
Posted in: Why I’m bullish on Japan
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tkoind2
Sometimes I think JR should open a kiosk in every major station. They will provide free pamphlets on how to kill yourself. None of them involving trains or other people. And of course a helpline number for those still deciding to go on or not.
As the economy falters the mental health situation will get worst and worst here. Already Chuo line is stopped constantly by human "accidents" and it is getting worst.
Don't stand near the edge, watch your back and keep an eye on the skies while walking around high buildings. At this rate we'll top 40,000 this year.
Posted in: Man arrested for attempted murder after pushing woman off platform at Tokyo station
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tkoind2
DeepAir65. That is not entirely correct. Since the 80's there has been a political push for deregulation. This was driven not by consumers or working people but by the very companies who later took advantage of the lack of regulation to create this mess.
While consumers are in part responsible, they were also subjected to years of advertising and culturalization by companies and the media to accept the culture of credit that subsequently developed.
A lot of people saw these things for what they were and avoided debt. But a lot of them bought into just exactly what companies wanted them to buy into. And with no regulation to prevent stupidity on both sides, this mess evolved.
Sure people are to blame for too much credit and buying what they cannot afford. But the the greater blame rests with companies who very much wanted consumers doing exactly that so they could enrich themselves and their share holders.
We should go after these guys on the principle alone. Let the economic experts concentrate on the problems with the economy. Let the legal and law enforcement people make examples of the greedy dirtbags that feel entitled to bonuses while their companies die. Find them, tax them, charge them and bleed them dry!
Posted in: Judge orders Bank of America to disclose Merrill Lynch bonuses
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tkoind2
Stand all you want. And demand all you want. If your company is sliding to a point where you need to come begging for tax dollars you sure as hell better not be paying out bonus payments. Choose one or the other my friend.
As for best and brightest. Who defines who qualifies as the best and brightest? I think you are being very self important defining yourselves as such. Does driving up imaginary values on etherial products make you the best? Does the obvious lack of foresight credit default swaps and derivatives indicate make the brightest? Does the over valuation of the markets make you so deserving? And does the run of frightened panic you have been on for months now make you so admirable?
These so called best and brightest are the source of this problem. You are the greedy dirtbags that created these products that many of us have been warning were dangerous. You are the ones responsibile for making the labor of average workers into a tradable commodity with your globalization plans that pretend to be extending prosperity when it is just clearly taking advantage of cheaper labor and undermining worker security.
You want what you deserve mate? This group deserves prison time. Prison for the greed that blinded you to the apparent dangers and risks. Prison for the corruption your companies encouraged by buying your way out of regulation. And Prison for the disregard and lack of care you show, EVEN NOW, for working people who do most the hard labor at your companies.
You are lucky I don't run the country you live in, there would be walls and blindfolds waiting for the most guilty.
From where I stand the best people in our society are the ordinary workers who get up and go to work every day for less than deserving wages. My heroes are the working parents who struggle to build their communities and raise families. My brightest are the people who give back something to the world. These are the teachers, the cop, the social worker and the volunteers out there.
The deserving are the normal people who are consumers to keep your economy going. They are the workers who make it work. And they are the ones paying the money that is bailing your shameful lot out.
This best and brightest you talk about are a collection of self important arrogant opportunists who have lost their humanity to greed. You want what 's coming to you. Be careful what you ask for.
Posted in: In view of what's happening with AIG in the U.S., what is the best way to monitor how taxpayers' money is used in bailing out big companies?
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tkoind2
Tokyohustla. In this time of crisis, no company at risk should be giving any bonuses at all. And those taking tax dollars should be prevented from any bonus or retention payouts.
A for bonuses for the hardest working. I see the janitor in my building working his butt off every day. He's polite, positive and takes great care to do his job. He's clearly over retirment age but still at work. I'm one of a very few people here who say hello to him and ask him how he is. The "best" people here don't have time for janitors I guess.
If he didn't do his job every day the place would be an unbelievable mess. Especially the rooms and desks of the "best" people here.
Companies live an die on the work of everyone from the guy taking care of the trash to the CEO taking care of the business. Take away the janitor or the IT guy or receptionist and the CEO cannot achieve anything. Take away the CEO and the others are no longer important.
Just because you are the "star" of the show does not mean it is only about you. The people who make everything else possible are also the best and brightest in their roles. And they are all working hard. Some for very little compensation.
We all deserve a bonus in good times. We all deserve respect and value all the time. Our society puts too much emphasis on the stars while forgetting the countless many who make that stardom possible.
It is time that workers came first!
Posted in: In view of what's happening with AIG in the U.S., what is the best way to monitor how taxpayers' money is used in bailing out big companies?
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tkoind2
You are kidding right? There is no significant drug problem in Japan. Period.
Legalize it. Tax it. Control it. And everyone can be happy. You do this cigarretes and alcohol and both of those kill millions. So what is the problem with weed? It is no better and no worst.
Quit wasting money on this and spend that law enforcement and press energy on something that really matters. But then again that would mean the authorities would have to solve real problems and the media would need to think of real topics with importance to write about.
Going up in smoke? Not really. Going up in pointless distractions while the nations burns. Every heard of Nero?
Posted in: Japan goes up in marijuana smoke
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tkoind2
Timesup" Let's stop punishing success." What success?!?!?
How does a company that needs a tax bail out justify any part of the organization as successful. If your heart stops beating is your body successful because the heart was the only part that stopped?
Companies are entities with interdependencies within their many departments. If the company is failing the weight of that failure should be universally shared across departments. So no one in these companies deserves or has a right to a bonus.
As for how would I feel? Ask yourself how the millions of people who go to bed every night worried sick if their jobs will be there tomorrow feel. Ask yourself how a laid of sole wage earner is going to care for his or her family with no jobs out there. And what about the many who are homeless now and have no options left to them.
The workers of this world are suffering the most from this crisis. They are the ones doing without basics in many cases. They are cancelling their kid's education, cutting back on food, having to fear losing everything and you want us to care about the feelings of people getting million dollar bonuses. Are you kidding?!?!?
I care about the working class people who have always done the hard work to make our economy move. It is their taxes that pay for everything and their blood that oils the wheels of all economies. They do all the hard work and get the least amount of the end benefit. They don't have massive bonus payouts, most barely get by. So why the hell would anyone care about people who have enough money that they can survive years without work? Why would we care about people with assets that can care for their well being until the crisis passes?
Punish success! Damn right! Punish success that is illusiory. If my company fails, then I am not successful. Period. No bonuses for these guys. No more golden parachutes. Just one RULE. If you want out tax dollars to bail out your company, then roll up your bloody sleeves and get dirty right along side the rest of us. Take responsibility and give up any entitlements your imagination may think you are due and help us save your company so we can save our economy.
One more thing. Punish greed!
Posted in: In view of what's happening with AIG in the U.S., what is the best way to monitor how taxpayers' money is used in bailing out big companies?
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tkoind2
These guys deserve to be burned at the stake. We allowed ourselves to become dependent upon the mega banks. Now their fall threatens everything and we have no choice but to bail them out or face a global depression. Yet while these companies were making massive profits, they didn't care about the public well being at all. Certainly not beyond their tiny PR initiatives anyway.
Now they beg for money from us and pay it out to the very people whose greed caused this crisis and is resulting in hardship for most of the world's working class people.
Hunt them down and burn them at the stake. Legally that is. Audit them, take back bonuses, seize their assets and put them to work paying back all they raped and pillaged over the years.
Posted in: Judge orders Bank of America to disclose Merrill Lynch bonuses
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tkoind2
If a company needs tax dollars for a bail out, then compensation should reflect their modest status of beggar company. No bonus payments, reduced salaries for high paid execs and fines for those responsible for running their company into the ground. Jail time for any actions that were knowingly dangerous to the stability of the institution.
But we also have to blame ourselves for allowing deregulation to give these guys a free reign. Anyone who thinks capitalism is self adjusting is delusional. Greed has no bounds and no common sense. I see this in the financial world where I do a lot of business all the time. Arrogance, self importance, greed, pride, short sightedness and insensitivity define the people who caused this problem. And they still don't get it! Even now they behave like want to be gods waiting for the world to admire them.
Just look at their adds. "Investing is Art" no investing is BUSINESS. Art is art. Art requires the presence of a soul. Something clearly missing from most of the elite capitalist world.
To hell with these guys. Take back the money and put the scum bags in prison for incompetence and graft.
Posted in: White House, Congress knew AIG was planning to pay bonuses
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tkoind2
One more thing. If you think the financial services industry didn't understand the risky nature of their products, think again. Derivatives, credid default swaps and mortgage backed securities all had inherent risks that companies understood. They just didn't want to see the problems as long as they were raking in profits.
The arrogance, short sightedness and greed of most banks, investment firms and corporations blinded them to the dangers. And they are still, even after all the fall they've been through, a collection of self important twits who care zero for the average worker and have no real loyalty to anything but profits.
I had hoped the fall would teach them lessons. And teach us to better regulate these monsters. But AIG's behavior demonstrates just how miguided these companies are.
Now we cannot let them fall because we depend upon them too. But if we rescue them, then they belong in part to us and had better start to behave with greater civic and social responsiblity. And I am not talking about a little philantropy here and there. I am talking about real responsibility for the nations they do business in. And real strong oversight and regulation by the government to keep them in line.
If you are naive enough to think business has your best interests in mind then I have a bridge for sale in NY you might want to buy. Wake up people. Corporations are sociopathic entities and a threat to our liberty and well being. We must control them or risk being controlled by them, as we very much are today.
Speak out and fight this AIG decision!!!!
Posted in: Obama berates AIG and vows to try to block bonuses
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tkoind2
Jefferson was right. We have allowed corporations to bleed our power away and to replace it with their own. We have been complicit in this by our failure to demand regulation.
For the right wingers on this site. This unfolded on your watch. Have the backbone and guts to take responsiblity for deregulation that led to this crisis. Your party's denial is nothing less than blatant cowardess and evasion of the responsiblities you bear.
For the tax payer. Most of us live out our lives dreaming about $1million dollars. That amount would dramatically change the lives of most working people in most countries. But how many of you will ever see that kind of money without working 10-20 years to earn it? Very very few. Yet these execs are taking home many times that amount. And for what? For bleeding the planet dry? For dreaming up exotic financial products that even they knew were risky? For running rampant when left with less regulation? For raping and pillaging most of the planet to turn profits that never see their way back to the general public?
And now they are doing it with our tax dollars! Well enough. To hell with their contracts. If they took our tax money at $170+ billion and are then going to try to pay that out at bonuses then they have declared war on tax paying people.
If they can afford bonus payments, then they don't need our money. The company should support itself first before bleeding us dry to do so.
We need wage caps on any company taking any form of public money. Bonus freeze or cancellation for any company taking tax dollars. And prison sentences, VERY LONG ONES, for anyone misdirecting funds to excessive compensation as long as the company is in financial danger.
We need to regulate, control and manage these companies as servants of society. Not the other way around. Time to bring them in line.
Posted in: Obama berates AIG and vows to try to block bonuses
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tkoind2
correction: Will now cost more lives.
Posted in: Bomb kills 4 U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan