Below is an article I wrote up for the BYU Political Review. You'll probably agree with me since I'm right.
Our Foreign Policy Calamity
It’s about time for our empirical, oppressive, interventionist foreign policy to come to an end. For the past sixty years, our government has been maintaining a foreign policy, that especially recently, has shaped a despicable perception of our country. The majority of the international community shares resentment toward our government’s neoconservative policies and our prideful actions in the international theatre. This is possibly one of the most important issues facing our nation today.
World War II was a war formally declared by the Congress and effectively didn’t last all that long. It didn’t last nearly as long as our involvement in Afghanistan or Iraq, and certainly not as long as the Vietnam War. It makes one wonder, why is that the case? I’ve come to the conclusion that we’ve become bogged down in no-win wars because we’ve gone to war for all the wrong reasons. We haven’t declared war since WWII. Arguably, we haven’t won a war since then, yet a lot of killing has been going on and a whole lot of money has been spent. Now if we’re going to follow the rule of law, the Constitution states very clearly that the power to declare war lies specifically with the Congress, not on the whims of a president. The president has no authority to send our country to war on his word alone.
I couldn’t imagine a foreigner seeing our country as anything other than an empire with the way we approach the rest of the world and other countries’ internal politics. We have assumed a moral superiority over everyone else and we’ve had no problem imposing our will on weaker states. Our foreign policy is that of an empire mainly because we have over 700 military establishments in over 140 countries. Hundreds of thousands of troops are stationed everywhere in the world, from Japan to Germany. I ask why? Why do we needlessly prop up military bases and station troops all over the world if not to impose our will and influence in sovereign nations?
Not only is this morally despicable, this maintenance is also bankrupting our nation. In order to maintain such an empire, we end up spending up towards 1 TRILLION DOLLARS on overseas adventurism alone… annually! All of this money is being spent outside of the United States. Think about what we could do with that kind of money! We could have the entire national debt paid off within a decade. We could fix the social security system and actually have money in that fund for the next generation. We could fix our crumbling infrastructure instead of maintaining Iraq’s or Afghanistan’s. Or even better, let the taxpayers keep the money in the first place.
Not only are we going broke from our foreign policy, we are actually much less safe because of it. There is no doubt in my mind that the main reason we are threatened from outside terrorists is because of our foreign policy. It’s not because we’re free and prosperous. It’s not because we give women the right to vote, or because we have freedom of religion. A great deal of other nations are very similar to us in this respect and yet they don’t face an equal threat of terrorism. This concept is described by the CIA as blowback. Blowback is defined as being the unintended consequences of the US imposing its will and influence in other sovereign nations.
A couple examples of this concept include the formation of al Qaeda against the US. During the Cold War, believe it or not, the United States armed and trained Osama Bin Laden and his men to rebel against the forces of the Soviet Union in the Middle East. Then when we established bases along the Saudi Arabian Peninsula, this angered al Qaeda; we had established our forces on their Holy Land. This is al Qaeda’s main reasoning for its actions of terrorism against the US. Another consequence of our blowback is the increasing threat of Iran. In 1953 our CIA took appalling steps to overthrow the democratically elected leader of Iran and put the Shah Dictator into power. This eventually led to the fundamentalist revolution and caused a great deal of strife for the Iranians. When our country takes actions like that against foreigners they don’t just let it go. Heck, we even allied ourselves and propped up Saddam Hussein up until his actions didn’t quite serve the US interest- then he became enemy of state number one.
It’s time we adopted a foreign policy of non-intervention. It’s time we lived within our means and treated all other nation states as equals. It is unnecessary to maintain all of these troops and military establishments abroad; we would be better off if we brought our troops home. We would be better off if our main focus was our nation’s infrastructure and our national security instead of policing the world and nation building. It’s time that our actions abroad starting reflecting the interest of the American people and not a neoconservative agenda.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Marriage of Figaro
The Classical era.
If you ask me it was the most important time for classical music, its very existence, and what it would mean for centuries to come.
The masters that surely shape the way we listen and analyze today dominated during this period of time. Not only did they write and notate fantastic pieces of art and expression, they revolutionized the very culture of the people. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven all left a very lasting impact on music. I'm a pretty big fan of all of them.
Too bad its killing me because I have a very lame test on all of them tomorrow.
I don't really have something on my mind that's just begging to be written down. This might be a brief post.
A couple hours ago I had a great conversation with some folks out in the lobby. I had met most of them on the spot but we got really in depth with a discussion about the US foreign policy. I think I got a lot of good points across. I'm telling you, I just keep getting caught in political discussions over in that lobby. Its just me I guess.
If you ask me it was the most important time for classical music, its very existence, and what it would mean for centuries to come.
The masters that surely shape the way we listen and analyze today dominated during this period of time. Not only did they write and notate fantastic pieces of art and expression, they revolutionized the very culture of the people. Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven all left a very lasting impact on music. I'm a pretty big fan of all of them.
Too bad its killing me because I have a very lame test on all of them tomorrow.
I don't really have something on my mind that's just begging to be written down. This might be a brief post.
A couple hours ago I had a great conversation with some folks out in the lobby. I had met most of them on the spot but we got really in depth with a discussion about the US foreign policy. I think I got a lot of good points across. I'm telling you, I just keep getting caught in political discussions over in that lobby. Its just me I guess.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
The Federal Reserve Disaster
The Federal Reserve Disaster
For the first 137 years of our country’s history, our government thrived on the principles of federalism. Up until the early 20th century, our monetary policy was shaped and enforced by the Congress. In 1913, Congress established the US Federal Reserve to give the economy a much more stable and secure structure. By putting the Federal Reserve in charge of US monetary policy, the United States severely compromised its own principle of federalism. The entire idea of federalism is that the government is representative of its citizens; however, the Federal Reserve is unaccountable to the people because its officials are not elected. While some may claim that the Fed’s unelected and independent status can somehow be a good thing, I argue that because of its lack of representation, the Federal Reserve should be abolished.
The Federal Reserve is an unelected body of government and is therefore in conflict with the practice of Federalism. Federalism by definition is a political philosophy that binds a group of people together with a representative government at its head. Our monetary policy should be run by representative leaders that were elected by the people. Monetary policy and the regulation of a nation’s currency is an important issue to a great many Americans and they don’t want to see it run by an organization that has no incentive to represent public opinion. For example, in March 2008, over a weekend of private negotiations, the Federal Reserve advanced 55 billion dollars of the taxpayer’s money to JPMorgan Chase so that it could buy out Bear Stearns at two dollars a share. The takeover was hostile because it wasn’t approved by the shareholders or the American people. A government entity should not have the power to spend so much of the taxpayer’s money and not be accountable to those same taxpayers.
The solution to this insufficient representation of government is to abolish the Federal Reserve and restore the power to the United States Congress. By doing so, the citizens of the United States will be directly represented in monetary policy. In Article I Section 9 of the Constitution it states: “The Congress shall have the power… to coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures.” Even the framers of the Constitution understood this principle of federalism when they wrote the constitution. They understood that it was the elected representatives of the Congress that should shape and enforce monetary policy in the United States. It is time that our Congress reassumed its Constitutional duty.
Some may claim that we are represented adequately by the Federal Reserve. They will argue that because the President nominates the chairman and the Congress ratifies it, that the Federal Reserve represents the American people. Their point is that because the American people elect the president and congress, these branches of government will in turn appoint a chairman that also represents the American people. Another might also argue that because there is a degree of congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve, such as annual testimonies and audits by the Government Accountability Office, that the Congress is fulfilling its Constitutional duty of regulating monetary policy.
A nomination by the Executive Branch and ratification by Congress is not adequate representation of U.S. citizens. It states in Federalist no. 59 that: “appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistracies should be drawn from the same fountain of authority.” By the same fountain of authority, he means the votes of the citizens. Madison also stresses in Federalist no. 59 that “members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others.” It is dangerous to let a branch of government appoint the leaders of another branch- this erodes the separate interests of each branch of government. It is also known that 12 private banks comprise the Federal Reserve. Only a few of these banks have been identified and some are even foreign. Half of the stockholders of the Fed are also foreign. Because the Fed answers partly to foreigners, it does not always have the best interests of the USA at heart. The Fed is not fully accountable to the people if it is allowed to operate under this level of secrecy and in order for the Federal Reserve to be adequately representative it needs to be open about its structure.
Our republic relies drastically on the principal of federalism. We rely on a representative government to carry out the will of the people. Monetary policy is extremely important to the American people and the fact that a private institution with inadequate representation controls that policy in the US is absolutely unacceptable. Our monetary policy needs to be shaped by a body of government that is directly representative to the American people and is subject to the checks and balances that arise from the separation of powers- the Congress. Because the Federal Reserve isn’t subject to these standards it should be abolished.
For the first 137 years of our country’s history, our government thrived on the principles of federalism. Up until the early 20th century, our monetary policy was shaped and enforced by the Congress. In 1913, Congress established the US Federal Reserve to give the economy a much more stable and secure structure. By putting the Federal Reserve in charge of US monetary policy, the United States severely compromised its own principle of federalism. The entire idea of federalism is that the government is representative of its citizens; however, the Federal Reserve is unaccountable to the people because its officials are not elected. While some may claim that the Fed’s unelected and independent status can somehow be a good thing, I argue that because of its lack of representation, the Federal Reserve should be abolished.
The Federal Reserve is an unelected body of government and is therefore in conflict with the practice of Federalism. Federalism by definition is a political philosophy that binds a group of people together with a representative government at its head. Our monetary policy should be run by representative leaders that were elected by the people. Monetary policy and the regulation of a nation’s currency is an important issue to a great many Americans and they don’t want to see it run by an organization that has no incentive to represent public opinion. For example, in March 2008, over a weekend of private negotiations, the Federal Reserve advanced 55 billion dollars of the taxpayer’s money to JPMorgan Chase so that it could buy out Bear Stearns at two dollars a share. The takeover was hostile because it wasn’t approved by the shareholders or the American people. A government entity should not have the power to spend so much of the taxpayer’s money and not be accountable to those same taxpayers.
The solution to this insufficient representation of government is to abolish the Federal Reserve and restore the power to the United States Congress. By doing so, the citizens of the United States will be directly represented in monetary policy. In Article I Section 9 of the Constitution it states: “The Congress shall have the power… to coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and fix the standard of weights and measures.” Even the framers of the Constitution understood this principle of federalism when they wrote the constitution. They understood that it was the elected representatives of the Congress that should shape and enforce monetary policy in the United States. It is time that our Congress reassumed its Constitutional duty.
Some may claim that we are represented adequately by the Federal Reserve. They will argue that because the President nominates the chairman and the Congress ratifies it, that the Federal Reserve represents the American people. Their point is that because the American people elect the president and congress, these branches of government will in turn appoint a chairman that also represents the American people. Another might also argue that because there is a degree of congressional oversight of the Federal Reserve, such as annual testimonies and audits by the Government Accountability Office, that the Congress is fulfilling its Constitutional duty of regulating monetary policy.
A nomination by the Executive Branch and ratification by Congress is not adequate representation of U.S. citizens. It states in Federalist no. 59 that: “appointments for the supreme executive, legislative, and judiciary magistracies should be drawn from the same fountain of authority.” By the same fountain of authority, he means the votes of the citizens. Madison also stresses in Federalist no. 59 that “members of each should have as little agency as possible in the appointment of the members of the others.” It is dangerous to let a branch of government appoint the leaders of another branch- this erodes the separate interests of each branch of government. It is also known that 12 private banks comprise the Federal Reserve. Only a few of these banks have been identified and some are even foreign. Half of the stockholders of the Fed are also foreign. Because the Fed answers partly to foreigners, it does not always have the best interests of the USA at heart. The Fed is not fully accountable to the people if it is allowed to operate under this level of secrecy and in order for the Federal Reserve to be adequately representative it needs to be open about its structure.
Our republic relies drastically on the principal of federalism. We rely on a representative government to carry out the will of the people. Monetary policy is extremely important to the American people and the fact that a private institution with inadequate representation controls that policy in the US is absolutely unacceptable. Our monetary policy needs to be shaped by a body of government that is directly representative to the American people and is subject to the checks and balances that arise from the separation of powers- the Congress. Because the Federal Reserve isn’t subject to these standards it should be abolished.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Retainer
So there are a lot of exams in store for me this week. I guess its midterm already. Don't worry though, I'll be able to handle it. I'm on top of it.
I finally decided to start wearing my retainer again, starting about a week ago. You see, its been a few months now that I've been feeling this terrible pressure between my teeth. I was hoping that getting my wisdom teeth out over the summer would take care of it, but I think I started feeling the dreaded pressure again last week. So I just threw my retainer back on and its barely been off since. I'm hoping if I keep it on for a few weeks and slowly move back to just nights then I'll get my teeth situation back where I want it. For the meantime though, my mouth has been a very uncomfortable place.
My best buds are visiting this weekend, I'm really excited. Jordan and Steph are a lot of fun to hang with. I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be a bundle of fun.
Tonight we're having family night. Wednesday because its visiting hours and I think we're planning to watch a movie in Steven and my room. That should be great, I think we've got ourselves a great FHE group. I think we have the best looking ladies in the entire ward, I'm not going to lie.
Steven just got himself a bike yesterday, thats pretty exciting. I'm hoping I'll be able to bum off him as much as possible. Boy, maybe I can convince my parents to give me $60 for a bike too. Maybe....
I've been reading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes lately. Its a classic and boy does it bring back the memories. I read quite a lot of it when I was tiny, although I'm sure most of it went right over my head.
Anyways, my astronomy study guide is calling out to me and I best be answering. Thanks for reading.
I finally decided to start wearing my retainer again, starting about a week ago. You see, its been a few months now that I've been feeling this terrible pressure between my teeth. I was hoping that getting my wisdom teeth out over the summer would take care of it, but I think I started feeling the dreaded pressure again last week. So I just threw my retainer back on and its barely been off since. I'm hoping if I keep it on for a few weeks and slowly move back to just nights then I'll get my teeth situation back where I want it. For the meantime though, my mouth has been a very uncomfortable place.
My best buds are visiting this weekend, I'm really excited. Jordan and Steph are a lot of fun to hang with. I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be a bundle of fun.
Tonight we're having family night. Wednesday because its visiting hours and I think we're planning to watch a movie in Steven and my room. That should be great, I think we've got ourselves a great FHE group. I think we have the best looking ladies in the entire ward, I'm not going to lie.
Steven just got himself a bike yesterday, thats pretty exciting. I'm hoping I'll be able to bum off him as much as possible. Boy, maybe I can convince my parents to give me $60 for a bike too. Maybe....
I've been reading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes lately. Its a classic and boy does it bring back the memories. I read quite a lot of it when I was tiny, although I'm sure most of it went right over my head.
Anyways, my astronomy study guide is calling out to me and I best be answering. Thanks for reading.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Sipo
So I always get the feeling I should write in my blog. But then I realize that there is so much that has happened since my last post, whats the point? I couldn't possibly cover it all. So I just put it off.
Now, a few months later I'm back. Maybe this'll stick, maybe it won't- we'll just have to see.
My life has been ideal for the past few weeks. I'm living in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University. I'm up at May Hall in Helaman Halls and I'm rooming with my good buddy Steven. He's a swell chap might I say. I might also say that the college life is well suited for me. I do what I want and I eat what I want. The two most important things one can attain in life.
The past couple of days I've been overcome with a cleaning and organizing fit. What was a messy mishap of a dorm room has become a pristine sanctuary that I'm proud to linger in.
Tonight I don't feel like getting into anything deep. Despite my commonalities I don't feel like discussing our country's economic crisis, or my solution, or why Chuck Baldwin should be president. Those are topics for other nights.
Tonight I just want to talk about something that I realized today. For myself, its probably more important than all of that stuff above. I realized that I've once again distanced myself from God. I've yet again fallen into a personal apostasy and I've let pride rise above humility.
If I'm going to get through my freshman year with respectable grades and smart choices then I need to turn this situation around. I don't know how I let myself get this way- denying myself of Christ's love and the blessings of righteousness and humility. Without Christ I am nothing. Hands down absolutely nothing. In my fallen state I would be doomed to eternal hell. God the Father continues to bless me despite my prideful behavior. How can I find my way back?
Its never easy. Personal prayer. Scripture study. Pondering gospel principles. I realize that I need to shun the many distractions that pull my away from the spirit.
And I need a scale. Who knows how much weight I've gained in my first month at college.
Now, a few months later I'm back. Maybe this'll stick, maybe it won't- we'll just have to see.
My life has been ideal for the past few weeks. I'm living in Provo, Utah at Brigham Young University. I'm up at May Hall in Helaman Halls and I'm rooming with my good buddy Steven. He's a swell chap might I say. I might also say that the college life is well suited for me. I do what I want and I eat what I want. The two most important things one can attain in life.
The past couple of days I've been overcome with a cleaning and organizing fit. What was a messy mishap of a dorm room has become a pristine sanctuary that I'm proud to linger in.
Tonight I don't feel like getting into anything deep. Despite my commonalities I don't feel like discussing our country's economic crisis, or my solution, or why Chuck Baldwin should be president. Those are topics for other nights.
Tonight I just want to talk about something that I realized today. For myself, its probably more important than all of that stuff above. I realized that I've once again distanced myself from God. I've yet again fallen into a personal apostasy and I've let pride rise above humility.
If I'm going to get through my freshman year with respectable grades and smart choices then I need to turn this situation around. I don't know how I let myself get this way- denying myself of Christ's love and the blessings of righteousness and humility. Without Christ I am nothing. Hands down absolutely nothing. In my fallen state I would be doomed to eternal hell. God the Father continues to bless me despite my prideful behavior. How can I find my way back?
Its never easy. Personal prayer. Scripture study. Pondering gospel principles. I realize that I need to shun the many distractions that pull my away from the spirit.
And I need a scale. Who knows how much weight I've gained in my first month at college.
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