Tuesday, September 29, 2009
This seems like an odd thing to do...
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hUZamhqvPGVrYZpGq_clUpC7dAUg Apparently the Empire State Building will light up red and yellow in honor of the 60th anniversary of communist China. I'm a little confused as to why. Maybe we are trying to play nice after the whole "tariff on tires" thing.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Coup at UN?
I found this Onion video very hilarious. And,like all good satire, I believe that it highlights some very important points. The UN has become more-or-less irrelevant in today's world. I think that the most important step in this, is , as Singer pointed out in One World, when President Bush completely disregarded all UN rules and protocols and invaded Iraq. I was one of the people who thought the invasion of Iraq was a idea was good at the time, but looking back, I have, through some Monday-morning quarterbacking or course, come to re-evaluate my decision.
Anyway, I believe that organizations like the G20, with their recent meeting in Pittsburgh, and the G8 are taking over the power and authority that the UN lost. We will see how all this plays out in the future, but I do not think one international organization will hold the majority of the international law-making and protocol-issuing power, but that it will be split among different organizations such as the G20, G8, the World Bank, and the IMF, at least for the immediate future.
Anyway, I believe that organizations like the G20, with their recent meeting in Pittsburgh, and the G8 are taking over the power and authority that the UN lost. We will see how all this plays out in the future, but I do not think one international organization will hold the majority of the international law-making and protocol-issuing power, but that it will be split among different organizations such as the G20, G8, the World Bank, and the IMF, at least for the immediate future.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Israel and Iran
I just read this article on the bbc website: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8267189.stm , and it really struck me. I truly hope that Israel does not take any military action against Iran. As we all were made aware of this summer, the vast majority of the Iranian population is under the age of 30, and many of them are not happy with their government.
True change in Iran must come from within the country. The Iranian/Persian people have a long and proud history of open and non-repressive regimes, and I hope and believe that the past 30-odd years of this totalitarian Islamic regime is a fad. This summer the world watched as everyday Iranian men and women sacrificed their bodies and their lives in their desire to make their lives better. True, the oppressive regime did not collapse, but I belief that its pillars were shaken. True democracies are not formed instantaneously, but rather through years of strife and pain. That is why it would be a terrible idea for any military intervention from an outside force, and that is why I believe that President Obama did the right thing when he took a hesitant position towards the revolution in Iran.
The worst thing for the revolutionaries would be for America, "the great Satan," to support their movement. Any citizens of Iran who had not yet made up their mind on whom to support would be scared away from supporting the reformers.
I believe that Iran will someday very soon become a much more democratic, non-oppressive society, but that change must come from within. As I read news articles and watched reports on tv about the reform movements in Iran, I was enthralled. The base of the movement were college students. Kids my own age whom were being beaten and killed by the oppressive police force for daring to question the legitimacy of their election.
I have come to realize just how much globalization has allowed me to truly identify with these college kids on the other side of the planet. They go to college just like me, use facebook just like me, use youtube just like me, and use tweeter just as millions of Americans do. These students, who some day will become the face of the nation, are, thanks to the ever shrinking world, using the same tools and discovering the same things about life as myself. As their government tries to oppress them and restrict their usage of technology, they just find internet proxys to get around.
I firmly believe that Iran should be left alone from outside military intervention, because the current regime cannot hold itself together much longer. The populous, younger generation is able to access the rest of the world through the internet, and are able to plan opposition movements and let the world know of the injustices being done. This younger generation is more tech-savvy than their elders and can get their internet firewalls, and many of them want to be more free like America and the West. If Israel, or any other nation, decides to use military force against Iran, I believe that reform in Iran would be pushed back by years. There is change afoot in Iran, and this change should be allowed to occur naturally.
True change in Iran must come from within the country. The Iranian/Persian people have a long and proud history of open and non-repressive regimes, and I hope and believe that the past 30-odd years of this totalitarian Islamic regime is a fad. This summer the world watched as everyday Iranian men and women sacrificed their bodies and their lives in their desire to make their lives better. True, the oppressive regime did not collapse, but I belief that its pillars were shaken. True democracies are not formed instantaneously, but rather through years of strife and pain. That is why it would be a terrible idea for any military intervention from an outside force, and that is why I believe that President Obama did the right thing when he took a hesitant position towards the revolution in Iran.
The worst thing for the revolutionaries would be for America, "the great Satan," to support their movement. Any citizens of Iran who had not yet made up their mind on whom to support would be scared away from supporting the reformers.
I believe that Iran will someday very soon become a much more democratic, non-oppressive society, but that change must come from within. As I read news articles and watched reports on tv about the reform movements in Iran, I was enthralled. The base of the movement were college students. Kids my own age whom were being beaten and killed by the oppressive police force for daring to question the legitimacy of their election.
I have come to realize just how much globalization has allowed me to truly identify with these college kids on the other side of the planet. They go to college just like me, use facebook just like me, use youtube just like me, and use tweeter just as millions of Americans do. These students, who some day will become the face of the nation, are, thanks to the ever shrinking world, using the same tools and discovering the same things about life as myself. As their government tries to oppress them and restrict their usage of technology, they just find internet proxys to get around.
I firmly believe that Iran should be left alone from outside military intervention, because the current regime cannot hold itself together much longer. The populous, younger generation is able to access the rest of the world through the internet, and are able to plan opposition movements and let the world know of the injustices being done. This younger generation is more tech-savvy than their elders and can get their internet firewalls, and many of them want to be more free like America and the West. If Israel, or any other nation, decides to use military force against Iran, I believe that reform in Iran would be pushed back by years. There is change afoot in Iran, and this change should be allowed to occur naturally.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Tire Tariffs
I am very intrigued by the new tariff issued by the United States on tire imports from China. According to the Financial Times, Barack Obama issued a new order creating a 35 per cent tariff on tire imports. Obviously this economic decision, which was issued in an attempt to spark US economic growth, specifically in the automobile industry, has far reaching political ramifications.
China’s minister of commerce, Chen Deming, stated that the tariff “send a wrong signal to the world,” and he believes that China and America should work together to combat the current world-wide economic problems. I actually agree with Deming. Even if the current increase in the number of Chinese-made tires have led to a decrease in thousands of job losses in the US auto sector, I believe that the world’s two greatest economic powers should work together to combat the current economic crisis.
I believe that this poor decision on President Obama’s part could lead to retaliation from China. The Peoples Republic of China has already stated that it would “investigate imports of US poultry and vehicles,” and if China decides to issue retaliatory economic sanctions, we could enter an economic war with America’s greatest trading partner. China has already decried the tariff as a “serious act of trade protectionism,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Obama administration bases the tariff on the United States International Trade Commission’s, or ITC’s findings that the Chinese export surge in the tire market is unfair, and does not follow WTO regulations, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal also comments how Obama’s reaction is in “stark contrast” to the way George W. Bush handled the ITC findings and recommendations, while Obama listened to the report, Bush rejected four separate calls for increase in tariffs.
I think that this tariff may help the American economy initially, and may even increase some jobs, but I think that the political ramifications may eventually harm the American political and economic scene. We do not want to get into an economic war with China, especially during a period of time when the US economy is not at its strongest, and with the dollar plunging against other currencies. Even if the tariff would give a temporary boost to the auto industry sector of the economy, personally, I do not feel that it would be worth the risk. The potential negatives from the tariff far outweigh the potential positives.
The biggest callers for the tariff were different American Trade Unions, which illustrates the view I already hold for much current day Union activity, that these Unions, rightly or wrongly, only look out for their own good, and not the good of the American economy as a whole.
I hope that this misguided tariff does not do more harm than good for the US economy, although I feel that this may be the case. Even if the surplus of low cost Chinese tires entering the market is unfair and goes against WTO regulations, I feel it would be a much better move to discuss that grievance during either the upcoming G20 meetings, or Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to China. I feel that this direct and sudden economic action will negatively affect America’s political and economic relationship with China, at a time when it would be very unfortunate to do so.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125283952859406521.html#mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f67c6fe6-a024-11de-b9ef-00144feabdc0.html
China’s minister of commerce, Chen Deming, stated that the tariff “send a wrong signal to the world,” and he believes that China and America should work together to combat the current world-wide economic problems. I actually agree with Deming. Even if the current increase in the number of Chinese-made tires have led to a decrease in thousands of job losses in the US auto sector, I believe that the world’s two greatest economic powers should work together to combat the current economic crisis.
I believe that this poor decision on President Obama’s part could lead to retaliation from China. The Peoples Republic of China has already stated that it would “investigate imports of US poultry and vehicles,” and if China decides to issue retaliatory economic sanctions, we could enter an economic war with America’s greatest trading partner. China has already decried the tariff as a “serious act of trade protectionism,” according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Obama administration bases the tariff on the United States International Trade Commission’s, or ITC’s findings that the Chinese export surge in the tire market is unfair, and does not follow WTO regulations, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Journal also comments how Obama’s reaction is in “stark contrast” to the way George W. Bush handled the ITC findings and recommendations, while Obama listened to the report, Bush rejected four separate calls for increase in tariffs.
I think that this tariff may help the American economy initially, and may even increase some jobs, but I think that the political ramifications may eventually harm the American political and economic scene. We do not want to get into an economic war with China, especially during a period of time when the US economy is not at its strongest, and with the dollar plunging against other currencies. Even if the tariff would give a temporary boost to the auto industry sector of the economy, personally, I do not feel that it would be worth the risk. The potential negatives from the tariff far outweigh the potential positives.
The biggest callers for the tariff were different American Trade Unions, which illustrates the view I already hold for much current day Union activity, that these Unions, rightly or wrongly, only look out for their own good, and not the good of the American economy as a whole.
I hope that this misguided tariff does not do more harm than good for the US economy, although I feel that this may be the case. Even if the surplus of low cost Chinese tires entering the market is unfair and goes against WTO regulations, I feel it would be a much better move to discuss that grievance during either the upcoming G20 meetings, or Barack Obama’s upcoming visit to China. I feel that this direct and sudden economic action will negatively affect America’s political and economic relationship with China, at a time when it would be very unfortunate to do so.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125283952859406521.html#mod=WSJ_hpp_MIDDLTopStories
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f67c6fe6-a024-11de-b9ef-00144feabdc0.html
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