Pedro's Podium International: Europe Takes a Different Path

I would like to say that I predicted the outcome of the G20 meeting last week on PPI, but I think it was too obvious. The leaders of the European nations were not going to follow the path laid out by the President of the United States. The unrest in Europe caused by the run away spending and promises that can not be fulfilled and they are willing to stand up to the US and say NO. The idea of taking on more debt is more with an understanding that there is really no safety net is something that they are unwilling to attempt.

President Obama stated that the world could no longer depend on the US for world leadership and they took him at his word. They decided to lead and that left the US in an unusual position. For the first time in decades the major economic powers were willing to chart a new course. This course is to reduce national deficits by 2013 and to raise taxes. They are looking for a way to reverse the dangerous situation that has been building for years. These leaders can see the riots that are occurring due to the agitation from the left, but they move to the right for solutions. It is clear that many see that the socialist policies that the western world has romanticized for so many years are not working.

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It is obvious to me that once again President Obama showed his total lack of leadership. To be a good leader you must inspire confidence and be able to project not only your vision but an air of success. This President does not seem to be able to do these things. His ability to campaign was amazing, but when it comes to actually deliver he falls short. Some of this can be explained away due to his lack of experience before taking office, but his ideology driven vision can not be ignored. He is a true believer. True believers are dangerous due to their commitment they often overlook facts that do not fit their worldview. This is a character flaw that could imperial the entire world at times like these. There are too many enemies that are gaining strength who are willing to take advantage of any sign of weakness.

The European insistence on reducing spending is a great start to bring our financially troubled economies to health. It will bring stability that is necessary to encourage private investment and small business growth that can start to fill the tax rolls and treasuries of the free economy countries. I do fear that the agreement to raise taxes will rob will undo all of the promises of reduces deficits The middle class of the USA can depend on an increase in their tax rates, thereby breaking a major campaign promise of Mr. Obama. As the world governments cut spending and raise taxes there will be even more unrest. Will the major economic powers be able to maintain domestic tranquility?

Over the next 2 years there will be a lot of continuation pain around the world as the leaders try to put their financial houses back into order. This could be the first step into the return to free markets or it could be the beginning of the end to many of the freedoms and prosperity that many have enjoyed for many years. We can hope that the path taken will be followed and the destination will be one in which the world will move forward. But there are many that see freedom as the problem. We must not allow our liberty to be lost in the hope of a progressive utopia.

Pedro's Podium International: Europe Takes a Different Path

©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved


Europe Takes a Different Path by Pedro Sykes is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.

None of the Above

One interesting thing that has happened in the last week was the decision by the South Carolina Democrat Party to not overturn the will of the people by keeping Alvin Greene as their Senatorial candidate. Maybe some of those currently in power are beginning to finally understand the changes in the political winds that are blowing through this country. Those who run the national and local parties seem to be running scared in some states. It is becoming clear that the much demonized "TEA Party" has become a force within the system. The dismissive attitude by many of those in power has shown that the disconnect between those who rule and the ruled is great.

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Inspiring curious minds everyday. This division is very apparent in the results seen in the recent primaries. In the case of the South Carolina Senatorial Primary, it appears that the voters took the "none of the above" option. The members of the Democratic Party in that state were willing to vote for a totally unknown person. His opponent was well known and was considered to be the party choice. The thing that seems to be clear is that the mood of the voters has become something very different from past few elections.

South Carolina also presented to the Republicans an upset. The golden boy chosen to run for governor in that state could not win the primary. The desperate means used to attack his opponent also showed weakness from that party. This type of meltdown in these parties presents opportunities for new leadership to emerge. The members of the TEA party are proving that their voice must not be ignored, but those in power don't really seem to want to listen. If those in power don't learn, not only to listen but to respond, they will find that none of the above may become the preferred option on the ballots in November 2010 and 2012.

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©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

The Shocker of South Carolina

I have been shocked for a couple of day. I must share a little about myself. In the mid 70s I worked and lived for a short time in South Carolina and became aware of the state's politics. In those days the Democrat Party was very powerful. The saying went: There are about 7 people who run the state. I know of at least one person who may have been one of them. Through my brief interaction with members of Democrat party, most who are dead now, I got a view into the state's real rulers. These people were major forces in the state. Through these individuals the Democrat party kept a major hold on the state. My experiences in the state were eye opening.

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I left the state many years ago, after my contract ended, and no longer stay in touch with anyone in the state. With the results of the June 8th Democratic Primary it appears that things have really changed. The fact that an unknown person, who did not have any support from the state party, would win the primary for the Senate seat for the Democratic Party, tells me a lot about how much the people of South Carolina have changed. The shock that the state party is publicly displaying, even accusing the GOP of running a ringer, tells me how far the once dominate party of the Palmetto State has lost its way and standing.

To think that someone could run against a major politician and will a major state-wide office and win as a complete surprise to the party is amazing. The once all might party is no simply a shadow of what it was 30 years ago. This whole episode demonstrates that the members of the party were willing to gamble on an unknown. This may not only be a sign that the American people are tired of politics as usual, but are also tired of the machines that are running the parties.

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The Democrat Party should stop blaming anyone but themselves. They should look at why they've lost control of their party. They should consider their own failures, at a time when the national party has had a strangle hold on the national government.

Is it time for the national party to realize that in their power grab has exceeded their grasp and the will of the people, which could spell the end of the party and not just their ability to keep their foot on the throats of the American People.

So maybe I shouldn't be shocked at this first sign of the downfall of the South Carolina Democratic Party, but it is amazing to see how fast things can turn in politics. But I must say that a message was sent. The question still remains: Did the party get the message or will they still think that they are living in their glory days? Will the national party also look to South Carolina for a lesson? We shall see if the shock in South Carolina becomes a national event and a sign of things to come, or just a flash in the pan that means nothing to the nation.

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©2010 Pedro Sykes - Some Rights Reserved

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

The Failure of Power

Governments have a lot of responsibilities. The citizens of any country depend on the leaders to do certain things. One is to enforce the laws that are on the books and are needed to ensure security and domestic tranquility. Our leaders swear to protect and defend the Constitution and defend us against enemies both inside and outside of the country. Our federalist system was originally designed to be small. Throughout history governments grow larger and ours is no different. Through the use of bureaucracies, control is maintained at local levels. But as government grow beyond their control, they lose the ability to govern effectively. When any government fails to fulfill it primary duties while acquiring more power, their actual powers tend to decrease. Since government ultimately rule through the general approval of the citizens, anytime a government loses that approval it is doomed to fail.

The US Federal Government has extended its power for many years. Just recently, with the passage of the National Healthcare takeover, the government has made the largest power grab in American history. But with all of the failures of the government, from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, and the SEC, it is clear to many that regulations are worthless without the will to regulate. There is becoming a view that the US has fallen into a greater state of lawlessness. The US Justice Department has refused to punish individuals who did not even defend themselves when found intimidating voters in Philadelphia.

Our leaders have openly criticized state laws, that mirror federal law, without bothering to read it. Various members of the government have openly encouraged riots, by lying about the Arizona law while at the same time refusing to enforce the federal immigration laws. Even though other states have similar laws on their books, Arizona has been singled out for political reasons. This is not good governance.

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Beyond the failures is the fact that the only answers coming from Congress is the call for more regulations. What good is it to pass more regulations that will also be ignored. I oppose any new immigration laws due to the fact that the current proposed law in the end is no different from the Immigration law of 1986. The politicians are saying that "this time there will be enforcement." Well I just wonder if they think that we are that stupid. Without enforcement, laws are worthless.