Pnags of Cold War Reflux Disease

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE

Special Issue – Nov 2010

PANGS OF COLD WAR REFLUX DISEASE

(from its last pawn still standing)

I left Korea some sixty years ago, grown old, at 22, from that brief experience there. I've never been back.

Today, North Korea is the last Cold War pawn still standing, still being manipulated in the same moves and counter-moves of that era between China and America. And after all that passage of time, despite the fact that the Cold War has passed into history, and relations between China and America have evolved, nothing seems to have changed. China is still manipulating that pawn, creating pangs of Cold War Reflux Disease for America and its South Korean ally.

Plainly, at this point in our mutual history, this is a ridiculous situation. A situation neither China nor the America really need or want. So why is it still going on?

In part, because, the inmates of China's North Korean asylum have not only progressively taken over their asylum, they have also managed to acquire nuclear capabilities along the way. In the process they have morphed from just being an extreme totalitarian application of the Communist gospel, into a very avaricious and ruthless kleptocracy. One which maintains its grip on power solely for the purpose of keeping everything worth anything there, in their hands, and no one else's. Ideology is just the means to that end.

Meanwhile, China's commissars have evolved from their ideological perspectives into a very affluent and octopus-like oligarchy of their own, whose tentacles reach into almost every nook and cranny of their empire. The difference, of course, is the more sophisticated and silky-smooth way they've gone about it. The irony, of course, is that they have simply come full circle, and reverted back to the same formula so successfully applied by their former imperial ancestors over the past five thousand years. Simply put, whereas before their kleptocrats and oligarchs wore yellow silk, today's version wears red underwear. Other than that…nothing much has changed.

Here, in America, our own kleptos have become an oligarchic class of ever growing influence and power. Different in style, perhaps, but essentially, cut from the same cloth as their Chinese counterparts. It's no wonder then that they get along so well, with each one vying to see which one can be quicker and slicker at cheating the other. So, this last relic of the Cold War should be a mutual embarrassment, because its unpredictability and paranoia could really gum up the works of such a game for both China and America.

For no other reason then, it's time to put it down as firmly and strongly as possible, because these Pyongyang morons may draw both into another useless military meat-grinder situation. We lost too many of the best and brightest of our youths the last time, and the thought of it happening again because of some pretentious miscalculations on their part, stirs a great upwelling of anger and disgust in me.

The big question now is why China is being so mute and seemingly unengaged in this current situation? With hardly any effort it could squash its upstart pawn, now gone rogue, like a bug if it wanted to. Instead it continues to stall and equivocate about it.

The answer may be multi-facetted. That is:

a) It may not really have as much control over it as it once had, and, because China's former commissars are now its klepto/oligarchic leadership busily making their fortunes while expanding their country's global economic domination and power, they prefer to let that sleeping dog lie, unless and until it is absolutely necessary to put it down.

b) Its continued presence on China's front porch, so to speak, keeps America off-balance and distracted, making that nuclear capable pawn a useful bargaining chip in whatever negotiations it might engage with it.

c) Lastly, it is a useful buffer against the economic and social dynamism of South Korea. So long as it sustains the Pyongyang mob in power, China is guaranteed that there is no possibility of a re-unified and booming Korean Republic, smack dab against its borders. That would be a much too dangerous model of a relatively open and prosperous society influencing its own internal elements of dissent. And the temptation for cross-border defections would just be too strong.

So, perhaps now is the time for us to bluntly ask China – which is more important to you, us….or them? Maybe then it will be possible to formulate an effective joint-action to permanently contain these North Korean fits of insanity.

Even so, until Peking's oligarchs become convinced that getting rid of Pyongyang's hierarchs will be to their financial advantage, and won't disrupt their grip on the levers of political power….nothing will change. North Korea will remain an irritating boil on the ass of the global community, which only a violent "lancing" will ever do away with it.

But, for everyone involved, that is the very worst kind of Russian roulette game to be playing.

CENTURION

Rembering Past Thanksgivings

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE

Special Issue – Nov 2010

REMEMBERING PAST THANKSGIVINGS

(while now it's only….turkey for two)

There was a time, way back, when Thanksgiving was a time for an annual gathering of the family clan, with a horde of kinfolk, not to mention a few friends, neighbors, and even the occasional lone acquaintance found at loose ends and drawn in for the occasion.

And, naturally, having such a large assemblage of eager mouths ready to gorge on all that a well stocked farmstead could provide required a logistical operation worthy of the Army. A logistical operation launched well in advance of the day itself. One which required an annual bartering exercise with neighboring farmers….a bushel of our prized black walnuts in exchange for the largest and freshest turkey critter that could be found, well buffed up from a finishing diet of corn and other goodies that turn turkeys into gourmands. Sweet potatoes and corn (still in its green husks), exchanged for a couple of gallons of our own honey bees endless production (three hives of them), and home-churned butter, from the creamy contributions of our tiny sweet Jersey family cow (more of a pet than a bulk milk producer), for sweet peas, string beans, or whatever else we didn't produce ourselves. All in all, a few weeks of frenzied activity in preparation for the main event resulted in a cornucopia of mostly home grown edibles.

Then, of course, there was a whole lot of baking to be done…. biscuits, rolls, pies, cookies, even a cake or two. All of them produced from scratch, from our own eggs, butter, cream, walnuts, and hazel nuts.

And while the womenfolk were busy with these most critical aspects of the preparations, my father, our tenant farm-hand, and I, chopped, stacked, and prepared plenty of stove and fireplace wood to keep the entire system from coming to a halt. Besides the chopping and hauling of wood, my main duties were to take care of our Jersey, gather eggs from my step-mother's prized chickens, and otherwise keep both the old wood-fired brick oven, the cook stove, and all the fireplaces in good working order (the house was a relic of Colonial times, so most of its "modern" amenities were limited to the bathrooms, and things electrical).

Eventually, the time for feasting finally arrived. My late uncle, a career naval officer of salty reputation, was traditionally given the task of saying grace because, much to my aunt's displeasure, he would always conclude the ritual with a sign of the cross and his anticipated roaring quarter-deck-voice-in-a-hurricane…"Now hear this! All you turkeys….GET STUFFED!" At which point the whole assembly would applaud, laugh, and with loud merriment, stampeded itself upon all the goodies spread out onto the heirloom antique cherry wood dining table (extended with its extra leaves for the occasion). And stuffing itself….it did. Living was indeed good in those times.

Today, however, most of them have long been gone. Those of us still round are scattered across the country and in different parts of the world. Too far away, and too complicated to consider having a similar gathering of the clan. Besides, a small apartment in the middle of an urban area just wouldn't work too well for such an occasion.

So, as an elderly couple, my wife and I have worked out a comfortable mini-version of those past grand feastings….it's turkey for two. And for those who find themselves at a loss about what to do for Thanksgiving when there are only two people to share it, perhaps this formula should work well for them also.

There's no such thing as a "small" turkey, so rather than spending a frustrating time looking in vain for one, we just buy a nice two- turkey-thighs pack. Its price and quantity being ideal for the occasion, with hardly any left-overs or heavy cleaning up to do. A simple home-made batch of dressing, a quick freshly made whole berry cranberry sauce, a scattering of sweet potatoes baked in their skins, a tossed salad, perhaps even a homemade apple pie, and, voila….a modest but satisfying Thanksgiving feast…for two….a bit of wine…optional.

Of course, old traditions still linger, so I pick up where my late uncle left off, saying grace, making the sign of the cross, while voicing….ALL YOU TURKEYS….GET STUFFED! And much as my poor old aunt did long ago, the wife scowls, shakes her head….then breaks into a giggling fit, as we set to…and get…. stuffed.

Living is still good.

CENTURION

Groping For Security

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE

Special Issue – Nov – 2010

GROPING FOR SECURITY

(the friendly skies are getting way too  friendly)

It's difficult to decide whether the latest security procedures implemented by our TSA are, indeed, serious efforts to make our air travel here in America even safer than before, or, just another example of bureaucratic knee-jerk reactions to continuing threats and incidents attempted against us.

On the face of it we have the impression that the TSA has applied an ancient Chinese solution for dealing with 1000 suspects, among which there is at least one known criminal. That is, lop off all 1000 heads, and voila, you have the guarantee that you've eliminated that one criminal. The rest, to use a modern euphemism, are simply – collateral damage.

Granted, with the volume of travelers flying hither and yon, it is a problem trying to figure out how to separate wing nuts having nasty kinds of death wishes….from everyone else. Still, one would think that there has to be a way to go about it without classifying the rest of us as "suspects."

Super vision technology, with see-through capabilities, is apparently one answer to that problem. Of course, such equipment is very expensive, and, there are some unknown health risks from it, particularly for those who are very frequent flyers, who thus have to go through that gauntlet more than the rest of us. Minimal radiation is still – radiation- and such a process does have cumulative effects. As for the groping for security part, that's just making the friendly skies way too friendly for my tastes. And a lot of others probably feel the same.

So, what can be done about that? The answer I've come up with may not please everyone, but, I do believe it might make the process seem less distasteful…..that is….allow travelers to choose which gender they prefer to have for that groping procedure. For myself, I'd feel much less offended being groped by a burly female TAS agent, than otherwise, others, might prefer the opposite.

Oh well, as they say in la belle France….chacun a son degout.

CENTURION

It just takes political rhetoric to do nothing

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE
Special Issue – Nov 2010

IT JUST TAKES POLITICAL RHETORIC TO DO NOTHING
(but it takes political guts to do….something)

Our recent – Second American Revolution – may have altered the political landscape, and rattled the cages of many career politicos in both of the major parties; but, from the hot air rhetoric now being exhaled by these back in Washington, any expectations that we tax-paying voters might have had that such a revolution was going to create some real change there….are rapidly dimming.

Like all losers in an election battle, especially when they really get a "shellacking" like this one, the Democrats are now crying in their political beers, and whining about the need for bi-partisanship to solve our country's problems. Last time…it was the Republicans doing the same moaning. One might call it political – kharma – I suppose.

On the other hand, the Republicans, flush from their election victories aren't saying much of anything meaningful about anything….and doing even less, beyond licking their political chops in anticipation of ripping as much of the Obama agenda to shreds as possible.

Meanwhile, the rest of us are left still sucking eggs, and wondering if anything will ever be right again. So much for "revolution".

So what were we expecting to happen from this last political donnybrook? Actually, not much, only, at least, we did want some reasonable token efforts to set us back on a decently forward path, such as:

1) In a momentary bout of leadership-by-example, we thought they might announce a collective agreement to call for a 10% cut in compensation for everyone in the Federal structure for the next two years. That is, starting from the President, all Cabinet members, all Agency heads, and all members of Congress, plus all the rank and file of the aparatnik bureaucracy as well. Instead, they are making further moves to go in the opposite direction, seeking further increases above and beyond what they've already received from us.

2) That they would quietly, without further debate or argument, extend the current tax rates for another two years. Instead, they are indulging in their usual class warfare debates about who deserves them or not.

3) As a token of their "serious concerns" about our deficit spending and ever increasing national debt loads, propose that every fiscal year budget for the same two years would have a 15% across the board cut, right off the top.

While the cumulative impacts of such bi-partisan action might only provide modest forward reduction effects on our deficit spending habits and the national debt, it would demonstrate to both we taxpayers here at home, and to the rest of the world at large, that America was making a positive effort, having finally displayed real political – leadership-, and our country was now heading in a good direction. A few baby steps, to be sure, but at least they would be forward baby steps. As the old financial adage puts it that would be - cash now, money later.

All of which would do much to restore confidence with business and industry, providing a better certitude about the near term future. In turn, that would further motivate these sectors to consider expanding and hiring again, thereby beginning a trend that would slowly reduce the currently unacceptable level of unemployment.

Lastly, of course, we should not forget all those empty promises made back in'06 and '08 that our troops would be out of both Iraq and Afghanistan, and all brought home. Those promises have not only not been kept they have been largely abandoned. Many of those troops now seem doomed to remain in both places for some time to come, at a continuing cost in the blood of our finest youths, and billion dollar drains on our treasury. So, instead, perhaps now is the time to tell both of them – We've done everything possible to help you get back on your feet, but for the past nine years, you've just picked out pockets, while our troops did the dying for you, and neither of you have ever gotten your acts together. Now, shape up, quit playing games with us, or we're out of here….tomorrow. You and the Taliban and al Queda all deserve each other…or words to that effect.

Which leaves us with a big question. Do any of us really believe that this new pack of career politicos we've been dumb enough to vote back into office again, have either the smarts or the political guts to take such actions?

Even money says….they don't.

CENTURION

FACING THE AFTERMATH

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE
Special Issue – Nov 2010

FACING THE AFTERMATH
(means moving forward briskly – lest the past gain on us)

If nothing else, this midterm election has shown that when the American electorate gets riled up – career politicos can, and do, find themselves unemployed, replaced either by insurgent neophytes to the political arena; or, by those politicos who were quick and clever enough to have changed their spots, to keep themselves feeding at the trough of "public service."

Whether that's a good thing, or not, is hard to say. The way things are, the neophytes might not do any better for us, but, they certainly can't do any worse. As for those politicos claiming to have changed their spots, they're still leopards, so we can only hope such a political shake up will have convinced them to really change their usual ways as well. Of course, that's a long shot. We'll just have to wait and see if they really have.

The hard reality we face today is that there are no quickie fixes for our many problems…. jobs, taxes, deficit spending, a humongous debt load, home foreclosures, a devalued dollar (almost on life support), all combined with meager economic growth, etc.. All of these issues are interconnected. It will take considered and carefully thought out measures just to begin resolving them. Knee-jerk reactions that might stampede us in the wrong directions, in the wrong way….just won't cut it. So clearly, let's hope that all those we've now put into office are people who will focus on doing what's right for the country as a whole, rather than for any particular interest.

That's a tall order, and we shouldn't be naïve or delude ourselves that they'll live up to our expectations. Neophytes or old hands….they're all still political animals.

Well, it's one hell of a load of manure we've allowed to pile up in this American barn of ours, so let's just watch and see how they go about cleaning it out.

Meanwhile, let's keep our own pitchforks handy, just in case we need to remind them again…in 2012.

CENTURION

NEVER MIND MILLER....IT'S VOTING TIME!

THE CENTURION CHRONICLE
Special Issue – Nov-2010

NEVER  MIND MILLER….IT'S VOTING TIME!
(it's a serious occasion….so no mail-in procedure for me)

Tomorrow, at the earliest I can bestir myself from my slumbers, I'm going to crank up and get ready for my usual ritual of getting primed to get out there and go vote….in person. Never mind MILLER….it's voting time! It's a serious occasion….so no mail-in procedure for me.

I don't know about anyone else out there, but all these new gimmicks to make voting "easier", more "convenient", and otherwise less of a "burden" is nonsense. They diminish  not only its meaning, but the value of that right as well.

Too many people seem to have gotten fat and lazy about – voting – these days.  Many don't even register to exercise that right. Others, though registered, just don't bother to vote, equating it apparently with another citizen's right (and duty)….jury service. What they overlook is…IF YOU DON'T VOTE….YOU DON'T COUNT!

I suppose it's a matter of values, what's important. Hell, they'll line up in droves, to camp out all night, just to be the first in line for the opening doors of a "blowout" sale at Walmart, Target, Macy's, or even Nike, to get their hands on some cheaply made-in- China or elsewhere imported "stuff", palmed off on them as a deal….at over-inflated prices. But….having to stand in line to vote….or spend maybe an hour….to do so. No on your Nelly! Horrors!

As for me, I like to make it a formal ritual, giving the exercise of my right to vote its proper respect.

Though rising early for the occasion, I will have myself a nice leisurely breakfast of some favorites. All the while, solemnly re-browsing through my sample ballot, verifying my initial selections, or, making any final changes I think are necessary. In this instance, having previously decided not to support any Democratic or Republican candidate for any office, I'm re-checking the alternative choices for each of the offices in play. There aren't a lot of them, but they do pique my interest, so I go over these again, narrowing things down to an ultimate choice.

 It's a process of elimination for me, mostly determining which ones seem to have the most likely and broadest perspectives, rather than any single issue narrow focus. It's not easy, but I'll soon have my picks sorted out . Frankly, it's a lot like trying to pick a winner at the racetrack, either way, you pay your money and you take your chances. But the way things are these days, and in our present circumstances, the odds are about even for making an alternative voting selection this way. They sure as hell can't be any worse than what we're being offered by our two major parties.

Well, that's what and how I'll vote tomorrow. It's my right as a citizen of this great republic of ours, and the devil take the hindmost!

Besides, if none of these yoyos work out, I can then righteously bitch and moan, rave and rant about anything. Democracy let's you vote –dumb-  as well as – smart -.

CENTURION