War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

Presidential Election Ahead…Cue The War Drums

War and rumors of war. This time between the United States and Iran. These days you don’t know what’s real. We’ll talk about it in War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832.

The Devil’s In The Details

In addition I’ll provide details and perspective you don’t get from breathless cable news channels, talk radio and advocate commentators. Once a crisis develops advocacy media will try to convince viewers for or against.

Complicated Issues

Iran is a much more complicated issue.

First of all, at issue is the so called JCPOA. The Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action.

The JCPOA was signed by all five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Iran during the Obama administration.

Moreover in exchange for Iranians giving up weapons grade uranium some US and European sanctions dating back forty years were temporarily waived.

The Worst Deal Ever…Might Have Been Working

In 2016 republican presidential candidate Donald Trump campaigned on getting rid of the JCPOA calling it ‘the worst deal I’ve ever seen’. In contrast some  sources say Iran was actually abiding by that agreement. By the way, the deal Trump signed with North Korea recently pledging to de-nuclearize the Korean Peninsula was in fact a communique like the JCPOA, with fewer conditions.

Trump Imposes Sanctions

No matter. President Trump has taken the US out of the deal and imposed sanctions last year. Just recently the US has reimposed sanctions on Iran’s oil exports as well as copper, aluminum and steel most recently. The economic effects have not been good for Iran.

Iran Uses Proxies To Retaliate and Threatens To Start Enriching Uranium

Reportedly Iran has retaliated using Houthi rebels in Saudi Arabia to attack oil pipelines and shipping in the Persian Gulf.

Trump Sends The USS Abraham Lincoln

Trump ordered a US carrier battle group into the gulf. The Saudis want Iran ‘defanged‘ and have called for ‘surgical’ US Airstrikes.

24 Hour Cable News Channels and Talk Radio Love War

Here come endless loops of jets leaving carrier decks. Pundits talking over shock and awe. Headlines across the bottom of screens showing US troops in Iraq.

Deja Vu All Over Again

Finally we have been through all this before. It did not end well. In fact it has not ended. The Iranians are not paragons of virtue but they are no Iraq or Afghanistan either.

In conclusion we ought to think about that before we’re snookered into another war.

(Editor’s Note: I refer to PPP when giving Iran’s per capita income at about 22,000 a year. In US Dollars it’s probably about 8,000 a year. In addition I gave Iran’s oil export total as 1.2 barrels a year. Even more it is roughly 1.2 million barrels a day.)

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War-Rumors-Iran-Trump-Bob Davis Podcast 832

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

America’s Royalty-Bush-McCain Funerals-Bob Davis Podcast 784

Watching coverage of George HW Bush’s funeral I wondered when we turned our presidents into emperors. Learn more in America’s Royalty-Bush-McCain Funerals-Bob Davis Podcast 784.

Royal Weddings and State Funerals

Moreover I think state funerals in this country are going overboard. The State Funeral has become our answer to British Royal weddings and coronations.

No Pomp and No Titles of Nobility

Most noteworthy our constitution forbids granting of titles of nobility. Furthermore Alexander Hamilton called this the cornerstone of the Republic.

Why No Royalty In The US?

The real founders of this country did something that had never been done before. Our constitution guarantees the sovereignty of the people.

We The People Are The Nobility. Not The Politicians!

Moreover We the people ARE sovereign. Americans don’t need royalty.

In contrast, leave it to the media and the politicians to create a backdrop to make them seem like royalty.

Mediocre Politicians Should Not Be Hailed As National Heroes

These days a mediocre politician who dies can’t just be a guy who lived a full life and served his country. The loss is a national tragedy. The deceased was a “contemporary founding father“, or a “Hero”.  Hence, Bush and McCain funerals carry all the trappings of American Imperial Nobility.

Settling Scores At Funerals Is Bad Form

Even more offensive to me is the penchant some of these people have to settle political scores.

We are submitted to an endless stream of mind numbing stories about politicians who won’t talk to other politicians. Or reports on what clothing was worn and how it was received and so on.

The Media loves these royal funerals. Funerals mean big ratings.

Consequently politicians love funerals. Above all, they love the chance to be seen being seen. I’ve never met a politician who will miss a funeral.

A Macchiavellian World Without Principle

Truth is we’re lauding men and women who came up in a system which demands loyalty. The rules in politics are, never refuse a favor. Dance with the one who brung ye. Be a good boy. Good boys get rewarded. Long political careers sand away the rough edges and principles.

Is This What We Want?

Finally these days people complain a lot about politicians. The people say their representatives don’t listen and aren’t true to their word.

Here we have President Bush who famously pledged “Read My Lips, No New Taxes”, then raised taxes.

Then we have John McCain, who torpedoed the repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Remember, the republican majority, and the president ran on repeal legislation. This is heroism?

In conclusion I think we should remember, no matter how high the media holds them up, even presidents are chosen by the people. We delegate our sovereign authority to them. It’s not the other way around.

They are not Caesars.

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America’s Royalty-Bush-McCain Funerals-Bob Davis Podcast 784