Expected Slide For The USA Into An Authoritarian Form Of Government

Expected Slide For The USA Into An Authoritarian Form Of Government

Comments 0 Comment

What are the United States of America corruption scores?  We first go to Transparency International, the global coalition against corruption, web site.  This organization has found measurements that are applied to most all countries on Earth and then given each a corruption score after their examination is completed.  They have defined corruption to be the abuse of entrusted power for private gain.

The higher score number, the apparent less corruption that that country practices.  Please see their continuum scale shown below.  

Scale shows degree of corruption

Note that each country scores are not perfect because patterns of corruption are almost always hidden from the public.   Note that a score of 100 is perfect and no country has this score.  In 2020 two countries had the best scores.  The two top countries measured are New Zealand with a score of 88 in the year 2020 and Denmark also had the top score of 88 in the year 2020.

In comparison, the United States had a score of 67, in the year 2020, the most recent measurement.  Canada has a score of 77 in 2020, way less corrupt than the United States. 

Each year this organization calculates a single score for each country.  The numbers for each country typically rise or fall depending upon what Transparency International finds each country practices in that measured year.  Sometimes the score does not change.  This organization is looking for any method of corruption practiced by any portion of the county they are examining.  The corruption can be political, banking, legal system, education, social practices, etc.  Corruption, unfortunately comes in many forms and because people trying to use this scheme try to hide it as best as they can.  Thus, the corruption scores are not perfect for a number of reasons.  Some countries, typically authoritarian, try to hide much if not all of their operations.  Transparency International tries best to look deep into each countries operations.

Transparency International puts up a wonderful colored map to show us which countries are doing poorly or very good with staving off corruption.

Corruption Perception Index Map

 

 

https://www.transparency.org/en/cpi/2020/index/

Looking at the map a rather shocking realization appears.  The lighter colored countries have less corruption and they are mainly located in Europe, USA, Canada and Australia.  So much of the map is dark red colors revealing that much of the countries have a significant corruption problem due to a variety of factors, namely ignorance, selfishness, and religion as well as other factors.  Transparency International puts up individual stories into their web site, for each year, explaining individual significant instances of corruption that they have found.

Looking at the map one can quickly draw some rather quick observations or opinions:

  • Democracies seem to have less corruption.
  • Highly regimen religions like Catholicism, Islam etc seem be prone to more corruption when viewing the map.

Looking beyond the colors on the map you can examine further why there are color differences by reading some research:  Following are some examples for the color differences:

Let us next look at the United States scores for past year corruption figures to see if there is any revealing pattern.

  • (Note: Transparency International changed their score method in 2011 and prior. years.)
  • 2012 = 73 score. Obama: January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
  • 2013 = 73 score. Obama: January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
  • 2014 = 74 score. Obama: January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
  • 2015 = 76 score. Obama: January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
  • 2016 = 74 score  Obama: January 20, 2009 – January 20, 2017
  • 2017 = 75 score. Trump: January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
  • 2018 = 71 score. Trump: January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
  • 2019 = 69 score. Trump: January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
  • 2020 = 67 score. Trump: January 20, 2017 – January 20, 2021
  • 2021 = Not yet recorded.

Looking at the United States scores shown above, note the lower scores for the GOP president as compared to the Democrat.   Unites States most recent score of 67 is quite a drop from 2017.  Why?    

US$1 trillion in suspicious funds was laundered through US banks, exposing significant gaps in US anti-money laundering rules.

Companies paid a record-setting US$2.9 billion to resolve charges that they bribed foreign officials. 

The United States of America, expected corruption scores for the future years should go to a much lower number because the Republican Party is cheating to win the next elections and the expected result into a dictatorship form of government for the United States.

“The Brennan Center for Justice reports that “between January 1 and May 14, 2021, at least 14 states enacted 22 new laws that restrict access to the vote” and “at least 61 bills with restrictive provisions are moving through 18 state legislatures.” Those bills are designed not to avert nonexistent voter fraud but to avert another election defeat for Republicans — and they are drawing perilously close to that goal.”

 

 

 

 

Posted: August 19, 2021
Updated: August 20, 21, 2021

Why The Country Fell

Why The Country Fell

Comments 0 Comment

The Afghanistan country military appears to have stopped fighting against the Taliban enemy forces in quick order.  The whole country seems to have been taken over within weeks.  Why?  Looking over many news reports one single factor really stands out.  The individual Afghan soldier seems to have realized that no one had his back.  He was not getting normal expected support for his own existence and efforts.  The military is one major arm of a whole country’s political process and existence.   If a system’s arm or leg is seen to be severed then the outcome that the system is pursuing is in trouble.  It appears that the Afghanistan military was not properly supported to fight with ALL the single factors required for the fighting effort.  In fact, numerous support deficiencies have been reported.  

Here are some of the major individual factors and reasons to promote the feeling that each Afghan soldier felt he was not getting proper support:

  • Poor military supply including ammo to Afghan military fighters.  
  • Lack of pay.
  • Lack of food.
  • Lack of water.
  • Lack of proper effective military leadership.

In addition to the important list of individual items that a soldier needs to be a good warrior, there seems to be also the view of how competent the military leadership is.  

The Afghanistan political leaders at the top of the political pyramid were viewed as being possibly corrupt due to these factors:

Self dealing:  “… wounded soldiers in a prestigious military hospital were left to starve if they did not bribe nurses for food.”

Corruption:   “Rampant corruption and poor leadership have taken a terrible toll. Soldiers complain of not being paid or not getting food or ammunition.”

Incompetence: “A small coterie of palace officials without military experience are widely held to have disastrously micromanaged strategy.”

US Government used wrong approach:  “We should have invested in Afghan forces from the outset, and fought this entire campaign by, with and through them.”

Future implications for the United States political system:  

It appears that President Biden’s administration failed to perform a proper civilized withdrawal from Afghanistan.  It appears that the people who advised the administration may have bungled the withdrawal planning.  As a result, this simply awful event may have given the GOP added support for the next round of elections.

 

 

Posted August 15, 2021

 

 

Pentair Superflo VS Pool Pump Error Code 0008

Pentair Superflo VS Pool Pump Error Code 0008

Comments 0 Comment

Pentair Superflo VS Pool Pump Error Code 0008

 

I had just switched out my Nautilus FNS 48 DE filter elements and put in the required DE powder.  Years ago I had a problem getting my DE filter top section to fit properly.   The top section can be lifted up so the filter can be lifted out of the bottom half.  When I put the top filter shell down in place and clamped the top and bottom assembly together it leaked.  I fixed the problem but ever since I have put a plastic sheet up to protect the motor from getting wet from the filter.  The pool motor is next to the filter.  My mistake was to allow part of that plastic to also cover the pool pump rear fan.  Thus, the pump gave me an error code of 0008.  Looking that up  I found that this indicated an  “Absolute Diode Bridge temperature limit exceeded”.  This means the motor was getting too hot.  I looked down and viewed my mistake of allowing part of the plastic sheet to cover the pool motor fan intake.  Ooops.  I moved the plastic sheet away from the pool motor fan.  I then shut down the power to the pool pump but the pump display still was showing that I had power.  So, I pressed a lot of control buttons which depleted the internal power supply of voltage and the display went blank showing that I had truly shut off power to the motor.  I went to Starbucks and purchased my usual coffee drink, a zebra, grandi, lava hot, 5 an 5 pumps and drove home.  I applied power to the pool pump and it came back up working.  I guess I need to reprogram the pump schedule. 

It also occured to me to get a vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment and vacuum out the pool pump fan opening.  I read reports that this can get clogged with debris.  

I love my Pentair Superflo VS Pool Pump. It is the only aspect of my pool that I like.  I hate my pool!

We are paying to get rid of our pool for a whole long list of reasons listed next.  

  • It wastes water.  Our part of the United States has an acute water shortage.  
  • The pool chemicals are expensive.
  • I do all the pool maintenance and I see no reasonable positive payback for the effort.
  • The pool had a diving board at one end so that end of the pool is very deep.  This is not a pleasure to swim in a pool that is shallow at one end and deep at the other.
  • The company that put the pool in did not have a license.  
  • Prior to us buying this house, the former owner applied pebble stone all around the pool.  I think they did this to hide the fact that there was a lawsuit against the company that applied the cement decking.  There are a number of cement cracks and the decking slants toward the house.  You never allow decking to slant toward a house.  You want all rain water to move away from your house.  Also, I hate pebble stone because you are expected to apply pebble stone epoxy every couple of years so the pebbles do not come loose.

We have received a number of bids to get rid of the pool.  We require that the whole pool be removed.  Estimated cost is just under $20,000.

 

 

 

Posted July 25, 2021
Improved H1; July 11, 2022

Current Treason Factors In The United States

Current Treason Factors In The United States

Comments 1 comment

What is treason if practiced in the United States today?

The Constitution specifically identifies what constitutes treason against the United States and, importantly, limits the offense of treason to only two types of conduct: (1) “levying war” against the United States; or (2) “adhering to [the] enemies [of the United States], giving them aid and comfort.” 

Some Republicans:

It appears that some Republicans may have committed treason by helping Russia but this is only an act of treason if Russia is considered an enemy.   So far, research only shows that Russia is a rival, not an enemy of the United States.   Thus, the apparent despicable acts of some Republicans should not be considered treasonous.  But, these episodes of some Republicans could be construed as disloyal and may come close to treason.

Mitch McConnell:

McConnel may have committed treason with his decision not to support President Obama’s wish to reveal to the American public CIA reports that Russia was supporting Trump in the 2016 election.

“Republicans were—and are—more concerned with hurting Obama than they were in stopping Russia. In a sense, Republicans as a group colluded with Russia.”

January 6 Insurrection:

“If some of those who attacked the Capitol assembled in order to incapacitate Congress—perhaps even by kidnapping or killing lawmakers—then their actions could be construed as an attempt to overthrow the government, and federal prosecutors could plausibly consider treason charges.”

Donald Trump:

“a treason case against Trump himself might conceivably be built, if prosecutors could establish that he knew in advance that his supporters planned to violently assault the Capitol…”

“No amount of playacting and rationalizing can change the fact that the majority of the Republican Party and its apologists are advocating for the overthrow of an American election and the continued rule of a sociopathic autocrat.”

Summary:

It seems that the Republican Party has in the past and still is making some profound mistakes that have turned away quite a lot of support.  As a result, the party has had to resort to cheating by changing the voting laws in a lot of states to favor the Republican Party and packing the judicial courts with right wing judges.  The United States is slowly becoming less equal, less democratic, more authoritarian.  

 

___________________

Reader’s Comment follows:

j’accuse

This Nation, this Democracy, is in trouble. The danger and threat to our Constitution is real and comes, not from foreign powers, rather it arises domestically — from within our own borders. Trump themes which are echoed in the Halls of Congress: the 2020 election was a fake; fraud was rampant in the voting; climate change is a hoax; U.S intelligence sources are not to be believed; the “insurrection” on January 6, 2021 was simply a group touring the Capitol.

The Leadership of the Republican Party is guilty of purveying misinformation and lies.

These “lies” have now permeated the psyches of many. Among the consequences: our government is crippled as the Supreme Court fails to support voters’ rights; bills have been filed in a majority of states that aim to reduce non-white voter participation in elections. Meanwhile, the Minority leader of the Senate, Mitch McConnell [R – Kentucky], has brought the Congress to a standstill regarding legislation supported by the Democratic majority.

McConnell’s dictatorial behavior has the hallmarks of fascism:

“Fascism refers to a way of organizing society with an emphasis on autocratic government, dictatorial leadership, and the suppression of opposition.” [Merriam-Webster]

McConnell’s efforts to cripple the two most recent, duly elected, Democratic administrations are evident from the following quotes:

“The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president.”

“100% of our focus is on stopping this new administration.”

McConnell has prevented debate and votes on the floor of the Senate. He has kept his minions in line with threats to oppose legislation on: voting rights; pay equity; infrastructure updating; climate; a special commission to investigate the January 6 assault on the Capital. This infection of inhibiting and stopping the peoples’ choice for governing this country is spreading including the House of Representatives, e.g., Representative Chip Roy [R-Texas] stated his party [Republican] wants ”18 more months of chaos and inability to get things done.”

It is one matter to speak of a desire to retain and exercise power, utterances which are protected by the First Amendment [Freedom of speech] to the Constitution. That protection ceases when the words are put into ACTION!

McConnell’s ACTIONS ARE ACTS OF TREASON!

“Treason: A betrayal of trust or confidence, a breach of faith, treachery.” [Legal Dictionary]

“Engaging in any act that weakens the might of the United States” is considered “providing aid and comfort” to the nation’s enemies. [18 US Code 2381]

McConnell has forsaken the role of legislator/statesman in an attempt to grasp and retain power for political reasons despite his oath of office to protect the United States “against all enemies both foreign and DOMESTIC” [emphasis added] and at a significant cost to his country’s welfare.

McConnell and McConnellism must GO! File charges; kill the filibuster.

This threat to our democratic system of government must be removed.

Find a way!

(Author of this comment is not revealed which is the policy of this blog)

 

 

Post: July 19, 2021
Comment Approved: July 23, 2021
Updated: July 25, 2021
j’accuse comment Approved February 24, 2022

Covid Vaccination Rejection Issues

Covid Vaccination Rejection Issues

Comments 0 Comment

It is vitally important that every person get inoculated agains the COVID-19 virus.  To not get inoculated really increases your chance of getting very ill and dying.  This is especially true for people of all ages including children who come into contact with the Delta variant.  Please get inoculated!

Misinformation fueling vaccine hesitancy

There also may be a natural selection factor for the humane race at work for individuals who are reluctant to get inoculated.  This some times is also called “survival of the fittest” which means that some of us are born with bodies and minds that can more easily and successfully fight off infections.  

Another related factor for individuals who fail to get vaccinated for reasons they get their information from allegedly bad sources:

There are some legitimate sources that state that the virus inoculation should not be administered:

A medical director of the vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization program at the Tennessee Department of Health was fired for sharing a memo with others that. “according to Tennessee Supreme Court case law, minors ages 14-17 years are able to receive medical care in Tennessee without parental consent.”       Note that Tennessee is a Republican state.

Another Issue:

There may follow some form of follow up retribution against known groups and individuals who promote not getting vaccinated.  The Republican Party has already lost a lot of followers.  Maybe Fox “News” is next.

If those people who reject being inoculated do so because they can not properly calculate how to react to this covid threat, then it is quite possible that the humane race might improve if their death precedes them making children that pass on this alleged deficient factors.  This is a terrible demeaning proposal but if this possibility shames more people to get inoculated, then the better for them, their families and this nation if this changes their attitude.

 

 

 

Posted July 15, 2021
Updated: July 16, 2021
NOTE:  This is an active story and this blog post will change in the future.

Some States Pay More. Some Get Less.

Some States Pay More. Some Get Less.

Comments 0 Comment

There appears to be another stark division between Republican and Democrat states that few people seem to realize or understand.  

The Basics:

  • The amount of money going into the national treasury from each state is NOT equal to the amount of money sent back to each state.
  • The reason is the people living in some states have very high income.  The state these people live in becomes a donor state because the occupants of that state are taxed more because their total yearly income is high.
  • The Democratic states seem to have high income earners, for some reason, and thus are taxed more and more money from that state goes into the national treasury which explains why some states are considered donor states.
  • The money in the national treasury is then withdrawn in uneven portions and given back to each state due to federal programs.
    • Individual Social Security
    • Medicare
    • Highway spending
    • Education
    • Federal wages
    • Federal contracts
  • Each state thus receives a sizable amount of assistance money each year but the amounts vary by state.

“Federal aid is allocated to states for a variety of purposes, primarily to supplement state funding for programs or projects deemed to be of national interest, such as Medicaid payments, education funding assistance, infrastructure assistance, and more. Some federal aid is awarded in the form of competitive grants, while other federal funding is given according to formulas established by law. Formula grants usually incorporate factors like population size, poverty statistics, and state matching dollars for distributing federal aid among states. Competitive grants are awarded on a discretionary basis and are more likely to fluctuate from year to year.”

  • There is not a balance of payments to each state.  What a state pays to the federal treasury and what it gets back is not the same.  Here is a partial list of the results:
    • New York is a big giver.
    • New Jersey is a big giver.
    • Massachusetts is a big giver.
    • Connecticut is a big giver.
    • Kentucky is a big recipient.
    • West Virginia is a big recipient.
    • Mississippi is a big recipient.
    • Alabama is a big recipient.

      Summary:        Note that the giver states seem to be Democratic while the recipient states appear to be Republican.  

 

 

 

Posted July 13, 2021