American soldiers in battle don’t fight for what some American President says on TV. They don’t fight for mom, apple pie, the American flag.

They fight for one another…

I love this video. It can’t help but bring peace to your life. At least for the 4 ½ minutes you watch it..

This song was written in the early 70’s I believe. When they speak of ‘Please Buy One’. They are speaking of buying a Peace Sign Sticker. The sticker was meant to be placed on your car to demonstrate your objection to the V.N. war..

The closing scene says, ‘Coexist’.

Agree or disagree?

...instead of land, labor and capital--the traditional inputs of economic theory--it was "people, ideas and things" that mattered, driving technological change and entrepreneurial creativity. "No longer were the advantages of technical superiority to be understood as a case of 'market failure,'" Mr. Warsh writes. "They were part of the rules of the game." Such superiority was by its nature temporary--i.e., nonmonopolistic. New knowledge constantly trumped old, and the law (rightly) gave ideas only limited property-protection.

...British economist Alfred Marshall...observed as early as 1890 that "knowledge is our most powerful engine of production; it enables us to subdue nature and force her to satisfy our wants." More than a century later, knowledge is still the true wealth of nations.

From:

Knowledge and the Wealth Of Nations: A Story of Economic Discovery

by David Warsh

TK says:

I disagree 100%

Knowledge can be both a shortcut to success, or failure. Let’s not forget the consequences of the apple.

Common sense, ingenuity, and GOD given artistic/ physical talents. Allow a nation to prosper and utilize it’s natural resources.

In the absence of knowledge. The items mentioned above will lead. Fill the gap. And produce success..


In fact. Bad or other wise wrong headed knowledge. Has in the past and will in the future Lead a nation to destruction..

A perfect example would be the knowledge handed down over 150 years, concerning battery technology. It has consumed a huge amount of our nations resources and has proven to be a ineffective source of automotive propulsion..

Common sense should have told all. That there was no hope for success down the path that had been set.

There are many more examples that can prove that knowledge can lead to failure. Knowledge that led to destructive end results.

Fuel cells were not invented by NASA. They were invented around 1840. A little bit of ingenuity. And those fuel cells would have been powering automobiles. There would have been no need to build the first hydroelectric plant at Niagara.

The world may have never experienced Smog or global warming..

Our future is filled with things of which we can not even dream. When the benefits of knowledge are over stressed. Our dreams may be never be fulfilled. Illnesses may never be cured...

Defining knowledge as a label, such as Phd or a BA. Is my main argument against knowledge as the sole source of a nations wealth.

For instance. The bootlegging of Microsoft OS in China.

China has a vast supply of knowledge. Yet it’s shortest route to success in the modern world was through ingenuity.

Ingenuity, that some might call thievery..

The system of patents have proven to hinder advancement in many fields. Not improve them.

Fuel cells have been set aside, because of those that had resources in other fields. Set up barriers that handicapped the advancement of fuel cell technology.

Is knowledge, a Doctorate in Business administration? A field that has as it’s goal, the accumulation of wealth. Not the concern of society or the health of a nation..

Education, outside of politics. Is extremely conservative. Arguments such as those appearing in internet blogs. Are always frowned upon.

The Jr. College in our area, is much more conservative in their grading, compared to our local State College. The difference? The cost per unit. You pay more. With just a little effort. You should expect more.. (From the mouth of a locale State College Professor)

In the industrialized nations. Almost all have a opportunity to advance to higher education.. There are just different paths.

One path that would resemble a trip down a waterslide. Money no object. Even the system of grading a students ability can be greatly influenced by the ability to attend schools that have a favorable environment for a certain class of people..

Another path is that of a extremely intelligent and imaginative person. Stuck in a conservative teaching environment. A student that is doomed because of his unwillingness to conform.


Then there is the path out of poverty and despair. Much like our, greatest generation, that survived the Great Depression. Educated through the CCC’s and military service. Educated in the back alley. At the foot of a dieing siblings bed.

The most ingenious honest people on this earth. Are the American troopers. The most ingenious dishonest people on this earth. Are the American convicts..

In summary. We are giving away our future. Handing out diplomas to those who do not have a reason to, or ability to add to society.. Higher education is no longer a tool. Higher education has become a crown. A free pass to stardom. A method of wealth accumulation.

You shouldn’t have to have a doctorate to ring up the cash register at Lucky Louie’s. And how much would you pay the poor sap, if he did have a doctorate?

How would our nation improve. If we all had 8 years of college? Do you really think that that would be the cure for poverty? Wouldn’t there still be wealth envy and Backstabbing to success?

The system that was set up by society to provided the knowledge to improve society. Is no more..

The system is broke. Education should not have as a goal. The accumulation of wealth..

The Laffer curve misinterpreted!

The Laffer curve is used by most Reganista economists to explain away debt and justify tax rate reduction. But Laffer, why even a 4^th grade math student. Can see that the graph does not in any way. Give credence to a broad brush approach to tax rate reduction.

The curve specifically demonstrates that any move to increase revenues. Depends solely on the nations current economic position on the graph..

Specifically. The Graph demonstrates that when the nation is in debt. The nations revenues are in the left half of the graph. A further reduction in the tax rate. Would send revenues spiraling into deeper debt...

Rather than a anthem for tax rate reduction. The Laffer curve was meant to demonstrate a sweet spot for establishing a tax rate..

Both the Reagan and Bush Jr tax policy. Disregarded the curves message. In order to unjustly enrich wealthy political supporters and Corporate leaders..

Clinton on the other hand. Demonstrated the wisdom of the Laffer curve. Raising tax rates for the extremely wealthy and eliminating debt..

Clinton set a tax rate that hit the economic sweet spot. Clinton demonstrated that a centrist economic policy could benefit all classes of our nation. And still bring our nation out of debt..

NostraTK

For over 4 ½ years I have spoke out against invading Iraq. I Have accused the Bush administration, at the very least, of holding back from the American public. TRUTHS..

Everyday that went by. Validated my statements. Yet I was accused of name calling. Invalidating the President.

While without exception. Every board that I participated in. In some form. By some members.

Unapologetically belittled me.

Not accepting my thoughts. Demanding proofs for the un-provable, yet obvious. While bowing to obvious partisan rants, by the Rovanists.

The President is acting in a manner that would suggest an inability to accept reality. His press conferences demonstrate an inability to think clearly.. He is unsteady. Unsure. Devoid of any character that would suggest an ability to lead a nation..

It is time for those who care. For those who have the ability to reach the President. To speak clearly to him. And insist that he comes to terms with his past failures. To insist that in order for him to end his reign with some resemblance of stability. He must make an about-face, in his past mismanagement.

He must get out of Iraq…

Or step aside..

If incompetence is recognized as a excuse for impeachment.

If incompetence is a disability that would bar one from serving..

An impeachment may be in Bush’s future. If not over due.

No need for a Nostradamus. A NostraTK will do in this case..