James Pyle – Author

November 20, 2013

Yesterday, the NY Times ran two featured articles that caught my attention:

1. Increasing prevalence of Alzheimer’s and efforts at early detection.

2. Continuing revelations about problems with ObamaCare.

It got me to thinking: Maybe there is a relationship, given the average age of our ‘people’s representatives’. They voted for this 2,700 page abortion without ever reading it – much less understanding what was buried therein. The median age in the Senate is 62 (22 are 70-85); median age in the House of Representatives is 57 (52 are 70-90).

A mentally impaired individual with a gun can kill a few people with one blast. ObamaCare has the potential to kill thousands, yet there is no public outcry for mental background checks on these old guys.

Somewhere, deep in the details of that bill, is a clause exempting Congress from mental testing. In any event, such tests would not be covered by ObamaCare.

November 10, 2013

I just finished a wonderfully crafted book by Evan Thomas, Ike’s Bluff, which chronicles the Eisenhower presidency and the physical toll it took on him.

I found it particularly interesting because during Ike’s presidency, 1953 – 1961, I was in high school and college, relatively sheltered from the politics of the era, never realizing the reason for the peaceful, prosperous times we enjoyed.

The book relates the story of a war-weary man who faced daunting challenges – Korea, Formosa, Red China, Khruschev, and at home, Joseph McCarthy. His “rubbery face and loopy smile” hid a determination to keep the country out of another, potentially nuclear, war by hiding his conviction never to use atomic weapons behind a balustrade of contradictions thus confusing our enemies and politicians alike. He understood and resisted the entreaties of generals and admirals who, without exception, favored more military intervention around the world.

He knew, and understood well, the mind set of military leaders who continue measuring their personal worth by the number of men in their command and the expensive weapons under their control. Keeping the world, including his generals, friends and family, confused about his willingness to use weapons of mass destruction was Eisenhower’s greatest gift to the country. Our enemies, knowing his military background, dared not fire the first shot.

Until reading this informative work, I, like many others, felt Ike’s most valuable contribution to the country was the interstate highway system; though I remember well his parting speech in which he warned the country about the ‘military-industrial-complex’ that had the power to destroy the world. That final speech is worth remembering as our current leaders continually fail to reduce government spending, intimidated by the third-rail of defense budgets. Again we hear howls of despair from generals fearful of losing pet projects and members of congress rant against base closings in their district. But – do we really need F-35s configured differently for the Air Force, Navy and Marines? Their specious arguments seem self-serving in light of the success of unmanned aircraft. But, what else can we expect from men whose self-worth is so fragile that they must wear ribbons on their chest and gold braid on their sleeve to remind themselves how important they are: And – politicians who are paid by defense contractors.

Where have all the soldiers gone, long time passing?
Where have all the soldiers gone, long time ago?
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards, everyone.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Thanks, Peter, Paul and Mary – for the reminder.  And thanks to Evan Thomas for unveiling the agonies endured by a great man for the sake of his country.

October 30, 2013

OMG!   The United States has a spy program.

Gott im himmel!  Who could ever  imagine a government doing that? screamed Germany’s Chancellor Merkel.

Not to worry, however; we know who’s to blame. Whew!

It’s Edward Snowden and the Russians have a hold on him. No one in the White House ever knew.

But The NY Times, inveterate defender of the down-trodden, has its corporate panties in a knot over this one; the latest in a never-ending series of screw ups by Washington. They report that Diane Feinstein, Chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee (sounds like an oxymoron to me) claims she disapproved of the NSA intelligence gathering program. She stated on Monday: “I do not believe the US should be collecting phone calls or emails of friendly presidents and prime ministers.”   What the… ?

By the way, Senator, who decides which world leader is friendly?  You?

I was comforted, however, that her committee “would begin a major review of all intelligence programs” – said ‘review’ to be completed by December. Excuse me, Senatorita, but isn’t that what your committee is already supposed to be doing?

There must be something special in California Cannibus that imbues morons with heightened intellect. Maybe the beautiful people out there should elect Cheech and Chong next time around.

October 29, 2013

If the dysfunction within the Beltway were not so serious it would be laughable. Who says Laurel & Hardy are dead? They are alive and inept as ever. Yes, I’m talking about you, Mr. President – and you, Representative Pelosi. (“You have to pass this bill to find out what’s in it.”)

The current ruckus and politicking is about finding who is responsible for the colossal failure of government management. Some poor schmuck down in the bowels of Health & Human Services will likely be fired. (Just like the banking debacle.) But, for a change, how about starting at the top? The President is at fault for never offering guidance on how to implement his only meaningful piece of legislation in five years. He had a phantasmagorical idea, but walked away assuming low level congressional staffers would “figure it out”. Ms. Pelosi’s arrogance is exceeded only by her managerial incompetence.

My solution?  Turn it over to Amazon. Let Jeff Bezos sell insurance programs as well as books and toasters. At least his web site works well and customer satisfaction could not be higher.

You’re welcome.

October 23, 2013

The continuing problems with ObamaCare (and the entirety of the health industry), Syria and the entire Mid-East, banking scandals, America’s declining role in maintaining world order, education (or the lack thereof) and hopelessly low unemployment raise the question of: “Who is in charge here?”

That question sent me to the Googleictionary to look up the definitions of ‘leader’ and ‘manager’. It turns out there are many differing definitions but I distilled the results into the following:

       The leader’s role is to see the future and organize an enterprise to engage with that distant vision.

       The manager’s role is to organize resources with a goal of efficiency and/or profit.

Clearly, our federal government is neither. The President may dream of a utopian future but lacks the organizational skills to organize even a Kenyan picnic.

Congress is much too invested with special interests to risk asking Google for a definition of efficiency. They understand profit, but only on a personal level.

Forty two percent of Congressional members are lawyers – by education and legal apprenticeship – trained to look backwards for precedent. We need people who can see the future and make appropriate laws for future generations.

Instead, we continue to elect Doofuses.  It’s time to clean the House (and the Senate).

October 21, 2013

Senator John McCain, when interviewed on NBC news last week, was asked to comment on the by-then-aborted-threat to shut down the government. His response was typical psycho babble but included reference to The American People: not once – but nine times, in a single two minute interview.

Also last week, Senator Bob Corker of Tennessee responded to a reporter’s question on the same topic with: “I have to believe The American People are totally fatigued with this issue.”

One has to ask: Who are The American People?

Makes one’s thoughts drift back to the Clinton years when we all had our panties tied in a knot over ‘The Children’. Lunch programs were threatened, unions were aghast at threatened cuts to inner city education programs, smaller classes and computers in every class room were mandated. How did all that work out?

The Children survived but did not excel academically despite billions spent on their behalf. Now the Children are The American People and politicians have regressed to being The New Children.

And guess what?  They don’t trust or respect their elders.

October 20, 2013

Possible environmental damage brought about by hydraulic fracking pales by comparison with inevitable economic chaos resulting from energy independence at home.

Disclaimer: I am Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineer who has worked for and with Conoco, Exxon, BP, Amoco and ELF (now TOTAL).

Some facts:

1. In 1973, President Nixon and Saudi king Faisal struck a deal: Saudi Arabia and its neighbors would price their oil in US dollars in exchange for a US pledge to protect Saudi Arabia from threats by the Soviets, Iran and Iraq. Both sides have kept the bargain. Saudi today is ringed with US military bases.
2. That agreement created the foundation for an incredibly strong US dollar. Every oil importing nation needed to buy dollars to pay for their oil. All of the world’s oil money started to flow through the US Federal Reserve, creating an ever-growing demand for US dollars and US debt. Oil exporting countries started spending their cash on US Treasury securities. Slowly but surely the petrodollar system spread beyond oil to encompass almost every facet of global trade.
3. Now Russia, China and the UAE have all begun selling and/or buying oil in their own currencies. Others, like Brazil, will follow, due largely to anger over US spying activity.

Some scary risks:

• Large, emerging economies like China, India and others no longer need to buy dollars.
• If that trend continues, much of the value in the dollar will evaporate. Massive inflation, high interest rates, and substantial increases in the cost of food, clothing, and gasoline will make our 2008 recession look like a speed bump in the road. The government will be unable to finance its debts. The house of cards, built on the assumption that the world would rely on US dollars forever, will come tumbling down.

If there was ever a time for leadership in Washington, this is it! The environmentalists will ultimately lose this fight to the laudable effort of disconnecting from Mid-East oil dependence, but efforts to fortify the dollar in that eventuality are not even on the table. Fear of US spying has even ticked off our friends. Thanks, Mr. Snowden.

Sadly, the feckless representatives of ‘the American People’ have, once again, got their fuzzy heads firmly implanted in the wrong orifice.

October 13, 2013

Much recent political and media capital has been spent on radical Islamists. (i.e.‘terrorists’.)

From the West’s perspective, Islamic views concerning the value of life, women’s role in society, individual freedom, etc. are difficult to comprehend, much less accept.

One thing we do know: A terrorist’s world view is shaped by his religion – not facts, not economics, not reasoned debate, just religious beliefs expressed as dogma by their clerical leaders – beliefs that subsume common sense and sound logic. Religious zealots have toppled societies for centuries. And they are still at it – Ireland, Bosnia, Iraq, Syria – using deadly force in the name of an exalted deity.

Now this unchecked force of religious belief is challenging Western societies. It’s become difficult to separate politics from religion. Just as Arabs won’t talk to Jews; Republicans won’t talk to Democrats – not based on valid philosophical differences – just unsupportable beliefs. (Hell, even Republicans no longer talk to each other.)

Religious freedom in America is a First Amendment guarantee; but by no interpretation is it a license to force one’s belief on another. Too many socio/political issues these days come cloaked in the unstated guise of religious doctrine: birth control, gay rights, race and/or ethnic prejudices. The timbre of immoderate, ‘politically correct’ speech is rising and threatens to drown the voices of reason and intellect.

Religious believers, not informed thinkers, have  been  the casus belli of most wars. Now they are increasingly being insinuated into our Congress. Have these nouveau radicals painted the picture of America’s future?

God bless America?

October 11, 2013

Lost in the hand-wringing and teeth-grinding over the government shut-down is another unintended consequence of government intrusion into our lives. Yesterday the NY Times reported on a perplexed small business owner, Chris Leh of Ephrate, PA, who has been approved by Susquehanna Bank of Lititz, PA, for a $1.5 million loan to procure new machinery for his expanding business. Alas, the funds cannot be released until the SBA finalizes paperwork guaranteeing the loan. Leh risks losing a big contract if the machinery cannot be bought. Of course, SBA is currently shut down.

Were banks allowed to function free of government intrusion we would not need the SBA. Created in 1953 to promote small businesses after the Korean War, it has become a slush fund for large banks and should be eliminated. It now serves mainly big businesses applying through fabricated subsidiaries.

The Cato Institute, among others, has challenged the justification of the federal government to intervene in credit markets, stating “the SBA benefits a relatively tiny number of small businesses at the expense of the vast majority of small business that do not receive government assistance. SBA subsidies also represent a form of corporate welfare for the banking industry.” Cato notes the failure rate of all SBA loans cost taxpayers $6.2 billion in 2011.

Like, the Education Department, Commerce and selected (by me) others; it should be abolished.

Good luck, Mr. Leh.

October 10, 2013

In response to a reporter’s question yesterday about government’s failure to pay survivor benefits for fallen military members, our President responded thusly: “I’ve directed Secretary Hagel to, within administrative limits, fix the problem.”

“Within administrative limits”?

Who is this guy?  A third tier accountant or a leader?

Oh, sorry. We already know the answer to that one.

Now a charity, Fisher House, has assumed the government’s responsibility to pay our military their due. What next? The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Way paying for our drones?

What a joke! It would be funny, but the world does not laugh with us – just at us.