U.S. Supreme Court allows politicians to get the donors to cover their own personal campaign “debts”

The American Dream is dying, one step at the time. Senator Ethan Roark Jr. of Sin City is becoming the norm of society. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas did deliberately violating campaign finance laws just so he could petition the courts and get the laws changed. He has achieved his mission and by doing so. The donors, the corporations and the Public Action Committee’s (PACs) can circumvent certain stipulations and indirectly pay a candidate. Therefore, the candidate or politician will be beholden to their interests and in the end… not work for the citizens, but for the companies, lobbyists and other interests groups who is paying for their campaign.

The United States of America isn’t getting any better, but only turning worse. The Supreme Court is using benign reasoning. Calling it a political speech to loan money to fund their own campaigns. While we know the loans will be paid by the donors and beneficiaries of the candidates in question. This is ensuring the corporate candidates and the ones who serve certain industries to get massive funding, which will be pocketed by the candidate itself.

A candidate can take out a loan to his/hers own campaign of a ONE MILLION US Dollars and after the campaigns the His/Hers for House/Senate can cover these debts with interests, which goes straight into the account of the politician. That is self-serving and free money, a bribe that ensures the interests of the companies or industries are taken care off. So, it is so weird that this getting allowed, but shows what the Supreme Court really believes in.

Here’s the vital information:

“The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority on Monday continued a decades long dismantling of federal campaign finance limits in a divided decision in favor of Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. The 6-3 ruling, written by Chief Justice John Roberts Jr., struck down Section 304 of the 2002 federal Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act that limited post-election contributions to repay a candidate’s personal campaign loans” (Zack Needles – ‘Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz Wins Federal Campaign Finance Limits Case Before U.S. Supreme Court’ 16.05.2022, Texas Lawyer, Law.com).

“For the reasons set forth, we conclude that Cruz and the Committee have standing to challenge the threatened enforcement of Section 304 of BCRA. We also conclude that this provision burdens core political speech without proper justification. The judgment of the District Court is affirmed” (Federal Election Committee Versus Ted Cruz for Senate, May 16, 2022).

The next U.S. elections the campaigns can get vast loans from the candidates themselves. While later cash-that-in, as they are fundraising and getting donor funds from various of sources. All of these sources and lobbyists are doing so for their interests and policy needs. Therefore, we all know the gist of this.

The U.S. elections and campaign funding is already a corporate white-wash of funding. This is just tripling down and ensuring a “sign-on-fee” for politicians, which is only have been known for athletes. If not it is securing a means for an advance by “loaning” to your own campaign and getting a donor to cover the “debt”. So, in return the candidate will cash-in and get refunded this as personal revenue.

Ted Cruz and the current Supreme Court has made it possible for the rich candidates to enrich themselves on their own campaigns. In some regards, the way and manner of which they are elected has now also become a cash-grab for the wealthy representatives of Washington D.C. The Republican’s are clearing the swamp, but creating a bigger one. Where they are destroying the rules and opening up all avenues for creating personal wealth. While they are hoping the public doesn’t see or doesn’t care. Because, this is just a way of gaining more money on the job. Since the campaigns are part of the lifestyle and needs to get elected into office. Now the way of getting the job is also a possible way of getting vast profits. This is defended by need of political speech.

So, in the minds of the Supreme Court moving money from one account to another is a sign of political speech. Clearly, the banks of JP Morgan Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, CitiGroup and such will be really happy about this. They don’t even need to get this politicians to hold speeches and get paid. No, they can just donate funds, which will cover the “debts” of the candidates and that will go right into the pocket of whoever they deem fit for their cause. Peace.

Be woke!

Never let anyone take your soul, take your spirit and thinking mind. Not accept everything said and done. Put questions on to the men and woman in power, not just accept it. There are secrets and there are state secrets, but that doesn’t mean we can rationally questioned the ones who represent us. That is what we have to do. We cannot accept to just shuffle their snow and their regulations, without any contribution coming our way.

We have to question the social media, the media itself and also the written word. The government press releases will be the subtle and wanted spin on the manner. They can try to say it rosy affair, when we know their was dirty laundry behind the scenes, kinda like CD full of hits like Shakira’s Laundry Service.

As the people are tired after work and trying to live hand to mouth, as the corporations are getting more wealthy. The major political parties are working for corporate greed and the 1% wealthy, we have to question, if the system we have is the right one. If this is how it is supposed to be. We might not have to much slave-trade in the world at the moment, but the biggest corporations are really reeling and betraying the ideals of fair trade and righteous wages for their workers. Even Unions are squashed, the tariffs are hurting the low-level productions and the strict codes of conduct, even stops some from exporting to major markets.

The poor is kept, so that the aid industry can continue to be relevant, also so the rulers can beg for loans and donations for state institutions without having much of transparency and neither real results. Misusing the funds for own personal gains and elites, which offers the needed Forex Exchanges. This is all happening day-to-day and no-one blinks of an eye. We just let it happen, clap our hands and gives a coin. But not question how the operations are done and why the Lesser Developed States doesn’t evolve or even deliver governance that matter. That is because it doesn’t, it is cycle of desperation and despair, where the poor is used by both parties, while the public sympathy abroad is securing the need of delivering more direct state aid. Even if the rulers has no plan of making sufficient systems or building institutions, because if that happens. Then the donors will back-off and the funding for the lavish and easy life-style will vanish. An unjust ruler cannot let go off the simple money delivered smack-daddy in the middle of the face with very few strings attached. The game is rigged and some elites are eating the whole plate.

It is with this in mind, we needs to question ourselves and be woke. We need to ask ourselves, is the world we want? Where lobbyist and elites are trading the resources, where the states are near vassal states of the superpowers, even the dwindling ones like the United States. While Russia and China is promoting their clear agenda. China is rigging itself nicely with major loans, big infrastructure building and economic stimulus. Not only to make partnership with this states, but also to secure the first hand grab in needed resources. Even get control of the infrastructure if the state starts to fail on their loans. The latest victim for this tactic was Sri Lanka. We will know that more nations will fall as prey for this. It is just a matter of time, before someone lacks funding for loans and default.

Not that I have all the answers, I don’t, I usually have to few and asks questions, because we have to see and the steps ahead is uncertain. We cannot anticipate how it will go, but the ones in power. The ones with the biggest cut, will not share. They will lie and deceive to trick us, to make us feel okay and move-on. Instead of we questioning why they are ruling, why the corporations are taking over and why they are allowed to do what they do.

We have to question, we cannot accept that all of the media on one side or another sounds like robocalls of each other. Where the media isn’t checking and balances of the power, but instead are making enough drama and enough entertainment. So that ignorance breathes ideocracy. We could have questions, we could have minds, where the state isn’t arrogant and ignorant of the needs of the people, but they are, because they are more vital for consumption, but not for service delivery. When it becomes like that, then the nations are lost. Also the real advantages of our times.

When Multi-National Corporations, Multi-National Organizations and Big Corporate Media is working together and making sure we doesn’t think of what they do and how it becomes the way it are. Not because everything is devious. Because everything is not made with the mind control, with the ability to spin. But it is made for profit and made for the cash. The world moves on the currency and the monies made that day. If there wasn’t money in wars, there wouldn’t been invested such vast amount of money in killing people. Mercenaries is a thriving business, hired guns in international operations are a thing. Dark money is a thing, because the society is not supposed to tax every industry.

We still need to question their behavior, even as we their main motivation and their reason for existing in our lives. To deliver products, but also profits for their shareholders. That doesn’t mean their should have total secrecy and not be transparent in their ways of handling affairs and employees. As well, as Multi-National Organization, which needs to deliver Bi-Lateral Agreements and Negotiations. They are important to create trust and security. To check the states, but when they get to friendly and become hired guards, than we should worry. When the United Nations Organizations get to involved, instead of being their on short time mandate and with backing for the International Community. We should worry that this weakens the sovereign nations and the institution building, as the UN Organizations are there instead. Creating the same vacuum for the rulers as the Non-Government-Organizations, which are there to deliver one mission, but ends up filling the gap of the state. So the state doesn’t have to work on the matter, because foreign donations and work covers it.

That is the grandest of it, the lacking questions, it isn’t a quick fix. This wasn’t created in a swift hand. This system wasn’t there from just yesterday, it has been there for years and we need to think and ask. Is this the best we can up with? Isn’t there other ways to make sure of governance and institution building? Isn’t there a better way to secure the free mind and spirits? Or do we need to live in fear?

There are many questions, many unanswered, but there is a need to ask. I don’t have the answers. But we cannot hide under a rock and anticipate that it moves on its own. That only happens to Jesus. For the rest of us, we have to find tools, call for help or start digging in the dirt around the rock to get out.

Ask questions, write what you like, but don’t just accept everything. Being critical is good and doing more research on matter is good to. Because we need that to have a healthy discussion about our time and our problems. That is why I have little answers, but have questions. Because I don’t fear asking them. Neither should you. Peace.

A quick look into the leaked DNC report of 2015 on Donald Trump

“The Press Are Liars. They’re Terrible People.” “‘The press are liars. They’re terrible people … Not all of them, but many of them.’ Trump also bragged that he knows how to get past the media: ‘I have millions of people on Facebook and Twitter,’ which he likened to ‘owning the New York Times without the losses.’” – Donald Trump [New York Magazine, 6/12/15]” (DNC, P: 203, 2015).

This is written regard to the leak that was from the Democratic Party and their plan to counter Donald Trump, also shows the level of donor funding from certain famous people into the DNC. All of that shouldn’t be surprised, but the juiciest part of it we’re the pages where the DNC had built around the GOP most likely nominee Donald Trump. Certain things been said before, but I will take the pieces that are the best from this, of other people do the same; than it is because the systematic and also not news anymore, as the Trump doesn’t care about what he really says or pledges; as they are all just in the moment flashes of his humanity, that the most important is that he is the centre of attention. Something he has been in his own mind since he built the Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York. But now go back into… the matter at hand, the December planning document from the DNC!

“Donald Trump Said He Would Rescind The Dream Act Executive Order And Deport Entire Families Of Immigrants, Even If Some Family Members Were Legally Documented. CHUCK TODD: “What do you do about the DACA order now? The Dream Act, however you want to refer to it. The executive order that is—” DONALD TRUMP: “The executive order gets rescinded. One good thing about … One good thing about—” TODD: “You’ll rescind the Dream Act executive order—” TRUMP: “You’re going to have to. …  We have to make a whole new set of standards. And when people come in, they have to come in legally—” TODD: So you’re going to split up families? … You’re going to deport children—”   TRUMP: “Chuck. No, no. We’re going to keep the families together. We have to keep the families together.” TODD: “But you’re going to keep them together out—” TRUMP: “But they have to go. But they have to go. … They have to go. Chuck, we either have a country or we don’t have a country.” [Meet The Press, NBC, 8/16/15]” (DNC, P: 23, 2015).

From the man ‘making America Great again’ did this in his past to save his own skin:

““Two of developer Donald Trump’s operations, the Taj Mahal Casino Resort and the Trump Shut-tle airline, announced Friday they are eliminating a total of about 370 jobs as part of streamlining efforts. The cutbacks come amid speculation that Trump has overextended himself with rapid expansion into the airline and Atlantic City, N.J., casino industries. The Taj Mahal Casino Resort said it is cutting 300 jobs, mostly in its culinary section, less than two months after it opened. In a separate announcement, a spokesman said the Trump Shuttle, which serves air passengers on the busy Boston-New York-Washington, D.C. route, had furloughed about 70 of its roughly 1,000 employees.” [Associated Press, 5/25/90]” (…) “The post-summer casino slowdown and a weak gaming market spell 500 layoffs at Donald Trump’s Taj Mahal Casino Resort, a top Trump official said in a published report.  Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino will also end up with 150 fewer workers, the official said. The casino industry traditionally lays off employees after the busy summer months. Few casinos have been able to turn a profit or boost gross gaming revenues this year, due largely to competition from the Taj Mahal, which opened in April.” [Newsday, 9/20/90]” (…) “Nearly 200 employees were laid off Monday at the Trump Castle Casino Resort in a money-saving move. Casino president Roger Wagner, who was hired away from rival Claridge Casino Hotel earlier this month to cut costs at Trump Castle, said the layoffs of 190 workers came across the board at the management and executive levels. The layoffs leave the casino with about 3,400 employees, Wagner said. Wagner said the declining economy and flat gaming market prompted the need to cut costs.” [Associated Press, 1/29/91]” (…) ”Marc Lasry, chairman and CEO of Avenue Capital Group, was given final approval Wednesday by New Jersey casino regulators to control the Atlantic City casino company that was founded by Donald Trump. Avenue, which specializes in distressed investments, won the company in a bankruptcy battle last year, and is the largest shareholder at nearly 22 percent. Trump, the real estate magnate and reality television star, owns 10 percent. … The company has been paying down debt and cutting jobs since the new owners took over last July. The sale next month of Trump Marina Hotel Casino to a Texas firm will bring its debt to near $300 million from its current level of $332 million, Griffin said. … Trump Entertainment Resorts has cut 600 jobs since last fall and now has a work force for their three casinos of about 8,000 employees, Griffin said.” [Associated Press, 4/6/11]” (DNC, P: 14-15, 2015).

Hard to spot the difference:

“HUGH HEWITT: “Are you familiar with General Soleimani?” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, but go ahead, give me a little, go ahead, tell me.” HUGH HEWITT: “He runs the Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, okay, right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior…” DONALD TRUMP: “The Kurds, by the way, have been horribly mistreated by …” HUGH HEWITT: “No, not the Kurds, the Quds Forces, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Quds Forces.” DONALD TRUMP: “Yes, yes.” HUGH HEWITT: “…is the bad guys.” DONALD TRUMP: “Right.” HUGH HEWITT: “Do you expect his behavior to change as a result…” DONALD TRUMP: “Oh, I thought you said Kurds, Kurds.” HUGH HEWITT: “No, Quds.” DONALD TRUMP: “Oh, I’m sorry, I thought you said Kurds, because I think the Kurds have been poorly treated by us, Hugh. Go ahead.” HUGH HEWITT: “Agreed. So Soleimani runs the Quds Forces. Do you expect his behavior is going to change as a result of this deal with Iran?” DONALD TRUMP: “I think that Iran right now is in the driver’s seat to do whatever they want to do. I think what’s happening with Iran is, I think it’s one of the, and I covered it very well. I assume you saw the news conference. I think Iran is, it’s one of the great deals ever made for them. I think it’s one of the most incompetent contracts I’ve even seen. I’m not just talking about defense. I’m not talking about a contract with another country. I’ve never seen more of a one-sided deal, I think, in my life, absolutely.” HUGH HEWITT: “Well, Soleimani is to terrorism sort of what Trump is to real estate.” DONALD TRUMP: “Okay.” HUGH HEWITT: “Many people would say he’s the most dangerous man in the world, and he runs the Quds Forces, which is their Navy SEALs.” DONALD TRUMP: “Is he the gentleman that was going back and forth with Russia and meeting with Putin? I read something, and that seems to be also where he’s at.” HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “He’s going back and forth meeting with other countries, etc., etc.” HUGH HEWITT: “That’s the guy.” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good.” HUGH HEWITT: “And so do you think…” DONALD TRUMP: “Not good for us. And what it shows is a total lack of respect, I mean, that the other countries would even be entertaining him, and they’re entertaining him big league, big league.” [Hugh Hewitt Radio Show, 9/3/15]” (DNC, P: 34, 2015).

Self-profile with Gadaffi:

“TRUMP: “I’ve been interacting with leaders of countries and leaders of business all over the world, all of my life. And I think you guys know that probably better than anybody. I think I probably have more experience than anybody, whether I sell them real estate for tremendous amounts of money — I mean, I’ve dealt with everybody….  I dealt with Qaddafi.” DOOCY: “You buried the lead. What did you do?” TRUMP: “Excuse me. I rented him a piece of land. He paid me more for one night than the land was worth but the whole year, for two years, and then I didn’t let him use the land. That’s what we should be doing.” DOOCY: “Was that over in New Jersey?” TRUMP: “I don’t want to use the word screw but I screwed him. That’s what we should be doing. I rented him a piece of land in Bedford, New York. I rented him a piece of land…. He paid me a fortune and then I didn’t let him use the land.”[Fox & Friends, Fox News, 3/21/11]” (DNC, P: 67, 2015).

It’s okay when he could bribe the politicians, but not now he was running:

“TRUMP: “Well, it’s a very complex — you know what?  It’s a very complex thing.  As an example, I’m allowed to give $1,000 to every senator, right?… Do you know how little that is, and this was 20 years ago, $1000.  Now, I love it, because, you know, I’m capped out at a $1,000 per senator and they all love me for it.  You know, I give them $1,000, it’s great.” KING: “But you can reform where you have soft money, hard money, PAC money.” TRUMP: “Well, no, you have other ways.  But the one thing I feel strongly about — you know, I have heard Bradley and others talking about the government should pay for the elections, and I totally disagree.  If you like a candidate, you should be able to contribute to that candidate.  Now, they should let it be known that you’re contributing, but you should be able to contribute and help that candidate.  Otherwise, you’re taking away the whole American system.” [Larry King Live, CNN, 10/7/99]” (DNC, P: 76, 2015).

Not as Savvy in Business as he think he is:

“As ‘really rich’ as Donald Trump is today, he might have been even richer if, instead of dabbling in skyscrapers and casinos, he’d simply taken his eight-figure inheritance decades ago and sunk it into the stock market. Had the celebrity businessman and Republican presidential candidate invested his eventual share of father’s real estate company into a mutual fund of S&P 500 stocks in 1974, it would be worth nearly $3 billion today, thanks to the market’s performance over the past four decades. If he’d invested the $200 million that Forbes magazine determined he was worth in 1982 into that index fund, it would have grown to more than $8 billion today.” [National Journal, 9/2/15]” (DNC, P: 30, 2015).

Here it was all in his own words, showing that his bluntness and loose mouth is not to be controlled, there we’re more things in the over 200 pages report, most a well-known and been addressed in the media. As the media who has undressed the Presidential Nominee have all has been revoked from the Campaign trail as Buzzfeed, Gawker, Huffington Post, Washington Post and so on have all been banned from the Donald. His thin skin can’t accept that he scanned thorough as a Presidential Candidate, he expect to be in glory as he is Fox News.

We can also see how little knowledge (Donald Trump has) and (his) understanding of the Syrian crisis, I will not say I have much understanding, as there are Kurdish forces, ISIS, Bashir Government Forces and other guerrillas together with loyalties to Turkey, Iran, Russia, EU-USA and so on. So that I would be more cautious as the steps and understanding of the conflict in Syria, are very complicated and would be cautious to describe the defining forces between who is who; and who is responsible for what and who are the legitimate force for change or stability of the country of Syria, as I am not sure and wouldn’t be as aggressive and ignorant as Donald Trump.

The other parts show how easy he can fire people and go bankrupt in the end also be in charge for other people losing their job, so he could save his skin and such. Together with his business savviness as the index fund investment could have earned as much as he claims to be worth. Though the claim is hard to address as he still haven’t delivered any IRS Tax Returns, so we can’t scrutinise his economy and business. There no real proof or registered fortune of the man. We can therefore question the validation of the values his current business and personal wealth. Since we have no grounds or legal documents, other than his bragging papers dropped in 2015, right after his start of his Presidential Campaign in the GOP Primaries.

With all of this in mind, the document said something and put the man in perspective, but not as much news, the others are the systematic proof of how his words and his ply in public, as he has no records as a legislator, member of Parliament or in the Senate, therefore he can only be seen as the man talking to Talk-Show hosts and radio-shows as he have always enjoyed the lime-light. Peace.

Reference:

Democratic National Committee – ‘Donald Trump Report’ (19.12.2015)

“Greed is Good”, is it really so? There are more Gordon Gekko’s out there then we could imagine.

“The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greed — for lack of a better word — is good. Greed is right. Greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Greed, in all of its forms — greed for life, for money, for love, knowledge — has marked the upward surge of mankind” – Gordon Gekko (Wall Street Movie 1987).

There are stories that fun, there are stories that are deep, there conspiracies, as I usually digs deep into things, there is more again of showing that the Corrupt behavior is not only set in Nigeria or in any other place there expected to be Corrupt civil servants or corporate businessmen, they are all around the world, as I like to show that there not a place without people wanting to take the short-cut and gain extra for their job or under their role at some function in society or in business.

This here is international issue, it’s in the skin and heart as the opportunity to gain quick funds and money. That is proven, as the Pharma Industry is implicated, FIFA scandal continues, former Belgian biker, NYPD, Prison Guards in New Zealand and civil servants in the Philippines; take a look!

Pharma industry corruption:

“It is shocking that despite scandal after scandal involving pharma companies, still policy makers simply are not taking seriously the corrosive effect of corruption,” Sophie Peresson, its head of pharmaceuticals and healthcare, said. “The red flags are being ignored.” (…)”GlaxoSmithKline (GSK.L), for example, paid a record fine of nearly $500 million in 2014 for bribery in China and many companies face investigation under the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act” (Hirschler, 2016).

The ball is still round for FIFA:

“Per AP, Bill Burck of American law firm Quinn Emanuel, which is retained by FIFA, said: “The evidence appears to reveal a coordinated effort by three former top officials of FIFA to enrich themselves through annual salary increases, World Cup bonuses and other incentives totaling more than 79 million Swiss francs—in just the last five years.” In a statement, FIFA said it “will refer the matter of these contracts and payments to the Ethics Committee for its review.” (Simpson, 2016).

Tour De France Winner caught red-handed:

“The prosecutor, who spoke Tuesday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements, said Merckx is accused of corruption and the use of false documents in the sale of 46 bicycles by his then-company Cycles Eddy Merckx to police in southern Brussels in 2006-07” (…)”The contract, worth an estimated 15,000 euros ($16,700 U.S.), was allegedly obtained after a policeman furnished Merckx with inside information. Merckx allegedly rewarded the officer by selling him a carbon-fiber bicycle at a low price and giving a bicycle to the man’s wife” (Dahlburg, 2016).

NYPD Corruption Probe:

“An NYPD official said the planned retirements wouldn’t affect the ongoing investigation and denied that the cops were being forced out — even though Police Commissioner Bill Bratton last month said some may choose to leave to avoid humiliation.“No one was told to retire. If they’re being advised by their peers, or union, or families, that’s a personal decision,” the official said.“These guys are making personal decisions. They’re reading the writing on the wall.”But a rank-and-file source said the situation was “not going over well with us lower-ranking guys.” (…) “The feeling from the ground troops is that they all should be fired,” the source said” (…) “If it was us, we would be crucified. Now we’re looking at these chiefs and wondering if there’s a double standard here. Because they’re high ranking, they get to retire, they get to avoid discipline and collect their pension.” (…) ”Roy Richter, president of the Captains Endowment Association, cautioned against a rush to judgment” (…) “No one has filed for service retirement with administrative charges pending or has been identified by federal investigators as a target of their investigation,” he said. The police corruption probe is among several investigations that also target fund-raising efforts by Mayor de Blasio and his closest associates” (Cohen & Golding, 2016).

Convicted justice:

“Davis says he was contacted by the family member of a prisoner in Serco-run South Auckland Correctional Facility, Wiri Prison. “The guard will make an arrangement where they meet at a Caltex station not far from the prison,” said Davis.”And the family member will give over $500, and two 250 gram packets of tobacco will be taken in to their loved one.” (…)”Collins confirmed the Department of Corrections had taken the allegations seriously and made a complaint to the police. She was critical of Davis going to media, rather than going to Corrections. She revealed since 2007, four Corrections officers had been imprisoned because of smuggling or bribery charges, and two more were currently before the Courts. The Department of Corrections said the introduction of contraband into prisons, and corruption, was very serious. “Thorough security measures are in place at all New Zealand prisons to prevent the introduction of unauthorised items,” a spokesperson said. “Drugs, weapons and cellphones pose a serious risk to the safety of our sites. Prisoners, visitors, contractors and staff are all subject to random and targeted searches on entry to a prison, and anyone found to have facilitated the entry of unauthorised items will be held to account.” A Serco spokesperson said they have “zero tolerance” for any actions that compromise security. There is robust anti-corruption training and there is on-going supervision of all staff” (Price, 2016).

On the Next Philippine Government:

“Philippine Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano warned corrupt public officials that their days are numbered under the administration of President-elect Rodrigo Duterte” (…) “Under the Duterte administration, there is no room for corrupt, slow and inefficient officials. It’s either they shape up or ship out. They have one month,” (…) “President Duterte is used to quick action and brave solutions. We must therefore match his political will and the people’s expectations for real change by making sure that we become the best agents of change,” (…) “The days of corrupt government officials are numbered. If you cannot mend your ways, you better resign. The Duterte government will give no quarter for the corrupt,” (…) “I have always believed in President-elect Duterte’s vision and leadership. I will help him by pushing and passing laws that are necessary for him to build a government that will be truly responsive to the people’s needs and aspirations,” (Ager, 2016).

Is greed really that good, then all kind of societies and all over the world when the money is spent on the government officials and used by sportsmen and others on corrupt behavior, instead of being used as they we’re supposed to be, either on the sport, on the people or generating business? Peace.

Reference:

Ager, Malia – ‘No room for corrupt govt officials in Duterte administration’ (01.06.2016) link: http://www.asianews.network/content/no-room-corrupt-govt-officials-duterte-administration-18511

Cohen, Shawn & Golding, Brian – ‘Massive corruption probe is sparking an exodus at the NYPD’ (01.06.2016) link: http://nypost.com/2016/06/01/massive-corruption-probe-is-sparking-an-exodus-at-the-nypd/

Dahlburg, John-Thor – ‘Former pro cyclist Eddy Merckx to be charged in Belgian corruption case’ (31.05.2016) link: https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2016/05/31/former-pro-cyclist-eddy-merckx-to-be-charged-in-belgian-corruption-case.html

Hirschler, Ben – ‘Anti-graft group says drugmakers failing to tackle corruption’ (01.06.2016) link: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-pharmaceuticals-corruption-idUSKCN0YN624

Price, Rosanna – ‘Whistleblower investigated over Corrections corruption and bribery’ (02.06.2016) link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/80656844/labour-mp-kelvin-davis-alleges-corruption-in-nz-prisons-over-tobacco-smuggling

Simpson, Christopher – ‘FIFA Raided for Evidence in Corruption Investigation: Latest Details, Reaction’ (03.06.2016) link:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2644045-fifa-raided-for-evidence-in-corruption-investigation-latest-details-reaction

Opinion: Where did the Statesmen go?

There is a lot’s of Members of Parliament, lots of cabinets and governments with Ministers smiling and making nonsense claims or laws for quick popularity instead of long-term care of their citizens. That is why I write today, because this is international issue, where did the honorable elected person who actually gives a damn go? Do they hide in cave in Afghanistan or is it in tiny local council in Dublin? I just have to ask as the assets and the capital are spoilt, bent or betrayed by the same persons who are supposed to represent us. First let me explain what a Statesman is… and be clear this is not done in my words.

Meriam Webster says this: “a usually wise, skilled, and respected government leader” (Meriam Webster). Another dictionary says this: “a man who is a respected leader in national or international affairs” (Vocabulary). Some qualities many people agree that a Statesman should have is: “Principles”, “A Moral Compass”, “A Vision” and “The ability to build a consensus to achieve that vision” (McKay, 2012).

With that in mind you have a lot of expectation of a man or woman to be respected and qualities in the leadership from the person. There are not easy being resourceful, have the ability to govern and become respected. The ability and skills comes from the person and the respect. The respect comes from the ones the statesmen actually govern and international community.

The statesmen isn’t like the Members of Parliament (MPs) and Ministers of our day. There might be a few exceptions but our society is so quick and so microwaved. The news and the decisions are taken out of nowhere. What is worrying is how the multi-national companies (Like Royal Shell, Amazon, Monsanto and others) and multi-national organizations (World Health Organization, World Bank and International Monetary Fund). That together with International trade and Unions (NAFTA, European Union, ASEAN);  who keeps forging the sovereign nations under siege by trade-regulations and the restrictions on the nations who complies with laws they set.

This here is with all of this in mind together with the endless cycles of elections that the politicians have in mind. The initial issues with the access to the media as the live-TV and debates, together with Social Media and even radio programs; there are these where their legacy and character are on display, together with the initial reporting on what they are doing in their councils or parliament. The Politicians have aspects as they supposed to be loyal to the party organization and also to the constituency.

The people who read the papers, the articles, listen to the radio and watch TV are the ones that will discuss these politicians and vote for them. They are the ones responsible for their existence if they are real elections then the ballot will pick the men and be tallied right. If they are rigged in and selected by a committee or an Executive, then they never will be statesmen; as they never have the moral compass to even show respect to the ones they represent.

An initial position for them is supposed to be the Representatives of the citizens or the constituency. These people who are supposed be leaders and take decisions where the end-game are supposed to be for the better for the citizens and constituency. In our time, the MPs and the Politicians are more into their own career and their own capital than the ones they are supposed be there for. Many of them could just been lobbyist and work for corporations instead of the chambers where they represent a district or a county.

When it is like this with the bottom-line is their own personal wealth instead of the moral judgement, when the words portrayed and pledges given are for fitting the times and popular judgement of the times instead of longevity of the constituency and nation. That is what is missing. So few politicians of our time is gambling their career for the common good or the care of their constituency; with that in mind the level of trust between politicians and the people are low.

The low trust is because politicians are not who supposed to be, they are either biased by the structures over them like the European Union or the Multi-National Companies who are controlling their judgement. The judgement and the laws set to regulate the actions of the Politicians are altered as they are usually the ones that set the standard and are the lawmakers in the Nations. That is why they need to be men of vision and moral capacity to create a consensus with others; this is because it is also agreed upon by the other parties and also with the other people who elected them.

Now that I have the bar; take shot and sit down. I have already black-balled a generation as we have inherited this, the parliament didn’t sit there all of sudden, as much as the books we have in our libraries with common knowledge didn’t happen to jump into the houses. All of this got created over time and with capacity and tender hesitation of what we wish for. This is because we as citizens have to take more care of the parties and politicians around us, as they are a reflection of our societies and the ground-level we all build. We cannot be bushwhacked by strangers, we have to make sure the policies and a law they creates is the ones that are accepted.

Because a true statesmen are the ones that makes a mark on our time; the ones that are not a politician who are just popular, but will be remembered for making the decisions that maybe was hard at the time, but on the long-term making sure that the nation and constituency got better or made progress. That is why we have politicians, they are not there to be kings and queens, be lords and honorable men who think they can run us naturally. Certainly they cannot, they are there because of us; if they do not serve us and they are not useful for us.

What I miss as I see in a Statesmen, is not take the popular decisions or the one in the time, but the ones who are there now is more politicians who thinks more about polls and elections cycles, than being about the people they represent. That they are pressured by the Multi-National Companies and International Organizations who putting pressure on them as well, but they shouldn’t bend backwards for these, as they doesn’t represent Brussels or Coca-Cola, but they represent their constituency.

I want a politician I can remember for having the balls to think about how the decisions will be remembered in 20 years and if it will be setting the standard for the ones after him/her. That is a statesman, who is somebody who actually cares about the real future, not next election cycle, not only the persons own career and also the clarity of the ramifications of their acts as representatives. So with this in mind, do you feel the same or am walking alone in this tabloid world of quick headlines and quick careers; instead of building nations and being gentlemen of the board and take charge of what is left of it. Peace.

Reference:

Meriam Webster ‘statesman’ link: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/statesman

McKay, Brett & Kay – ‘The 4 Qualities of a True Statesman’ (30.01.2012) link: http://www.artofmanliness.com/2012/01/30/the-4-qualities-of-a-true-statesman/

Vocabulary – ‘Statesman’ link: https://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/statesman

Worrying signs of devalued ballot value in the American Democracy as their to many disfranchised voters, PACs holds on campaign funds and the Corporate Media hold on message sent to the Citizens.

Just as the Primaries in the United States are winding down and getting closer to the Conventions of the Democratic Party and the Republic Party. The main candidates and Presidential Candidates have soon been selected and gotten picked through the mixed of ballots and the caucuses differing how the Primary Elections in the states was done.

I am not an American and can only see it as an outsider and with the view as an outsider has. To listen to the American TV reporters on FOX, MCNBC and NBC makes a European shake. The TYT is some positive, but still shows the fragmented media landscape that have been created in United States. As the grand corporate media is loyal to a certain party or a certain candidate; much like the state media houses are for their ruling parties in LDC. So the FOX channel follows and hates anything from the Democratic Party even if the person initially acts and votes similar to the Republic Party. That is the irony. The same with certain “liberal” media who follows the Democratic Party by any means and blackballs the Republican by any means.

As the Progressive and the liberal are supposed to be on the Democratic side, and the conservative side is on the Republic side. The Parties have big sides and the range of political spectrum could initial be based into four parties as the suction between all the areas and range should be concern as the Presidential candidate cannot be like a Tea-Party General and at the same time be affiliated with the establishment when it comes to certain policies. That means of actions from a Tea-Party member should be different then the Conservative party member!

The Same is in the Democratic Party the establishment of the this party is more moderate and clear-faced close to the conservative establishment of the Republican. The Moderate in the party believes for instance in the sense like lax-taxation and the government institutions as small-corporate friendly environment for the 1 % instead of 99 %. While the Progressive are more on the line of Bernie Sanders and wants the taxation on the rich corporation and have labor right for the workers. So the Sanders line is far from the moderate part of his party. Still they both belong to the Democratic Party. That is what initially makes the American a rare venue of political discourse.

The Political discourse and the view on political aspects are in view concoction of corporate media, losing old papers who was the ones setting the agenda and is now not as big as before and the new media as TYT, Huffington Post and Buzzfeed changes how the political news get spread and questioned. As the radios and local broadcasters do not have the only venue and the corporate media is not the only place. Even live feeds on Youtube gives the voters more access to other sources then the ones supported by the giant multinationals who wants to decide and continue in the same level as of recent as it is profitable to keep it that way.

The other thing that is special about the American Politics are the level of money that the candidates needs to raise, the amount of adverts in the media and how much they matter; that together with the presence how the Super-PACs matters in the campaigns for either senators, representatives and also Presidential Candidates. PAC stands for Public Action Committee (PAC) where they pool funds and collectively works to enhance a campaign for a certain candidate or political idea. They are not supposed to be directly connected with a Candidate up-for nomination or for a State Senator who needs ads and commercial space for their “Message”. The PAC can run to donors and financial beneficiaries that will give to the PAC as a calculation on how they can be “puppets” or necessary persons to get the legislation that the corporations who funds the PAC need. So the business has the opportunity to “own” candidates and nominations instead of the ones that are there in public confidence. That is something that make the American system lacking democratic values as the cash cows and the cash hungry campaigning endorse the idea of corporations funded candidates instead of the party funded and the people funded through this PACs. Therefore the American democracy is very corporate.

The American media that are connected to certain Political Parties and even endorse certain candidates are embedded with the ones that give highest ratings and can keep the legislation in positive favor of the stakeholders and owners of the corporate media. Not the ones that are there for the middle-America or the middle-class, working-class or any other class then the owners of the Multinational corporations or Wall-Marts of America instead citizens.

That is why I am little skeptical to the American Democracy. The value of the vote is less there as the system is built around the corporations and the money train. As of now it is. The ones with wealth, the ability to gain amounts of funds and collect delegates in the inner-party elections get to be the Presidential Candidate for their party. The Positive is the political range in the Democratic and Republican parties as the public can find their different candidate inside their parties.

So as an outsider I am worried and does not like with what I talked about when it comes to democratic values that the money fueled and cash registered American democracy is supposed to be the greatest and the one to aspire to. That in mind as the American Government condemns and explains their values whenever a foreign government holds an election and they are a “stakeholder” in it or support the government there.

Certainly with the values of respecting the ballot and having systems that certainly transparent and securing the vote. As the American Government have had the hanging chad and the electronic malfunction of Florida that helped George W. Bush into power in 2000. That is not the only one issue coming with the ballots loss of value in recent times. Not the delegate system of primaries. I will speak about the election laws.

The Election laws are made to make it harder to register as voter, shorter time and if your felon or former-felon in certain states is impossible to become a voter again. We know that their groups of people who have become disfranchised by the directives and laws. Certainly this deficiency and also fear for ghost-voters make it harder to get voter-ID then getting license at the DMV in some states. If it is easier to get license to ride their Buick in Texas then getting to vote, then there something missing. Certainly something missing in the so-called democratic state in question; I just mentioned Texas the laws might be worse in Utah for all I know.

The main subject is the voters and the ballot should get respect. The Delegate in convention should follow the voters as much as the votes follow the registered ones in the tally; so the ones with the most votes in Indiana should become the Indiana Senator or Representative in Congress and Capitol Hill. That is the same if they are independent, Democratic or Republican.

But why does this matter, it is a principal. That in a democracy the votes should equally matter and the voice of the men and woman who are parts of the civic duty does it in good-faith of dropping their vote and delivering a just change or keeping status quo after their own fate in the government system and picking the right candidate to do so. If the candidate fails in their tenure or term, then the voter can through ballot pick somebody else and change guards of the democracy.

The issues with election laws that disenfranchise people, when the corporations of the media spreads certain message and ideas swallows the minds and the grand idea of the free speech and level playing-field together with the monies used and needed to campaign. Gives the race and campaigning for the Presidency and the Senators’/Representatives addicted to the donors and funders of their campaigns instead of the confidence of their citizens.

And if that is the way and the corporate policy of the American Dream, if that is the vision that the forefathers of the American Democracy wanted for their American Centaury and the American ideals. That cannot be what the men and woman who fought against the British and wanted to be free nation for the settlers. As they wanted to be free to build their own nation in the vision of their citizens not in the vision of GM, Doritos, AIG, Warner Brothers, AT&T and American Express. I don’t believe that the American Government and the citizens who picks the ones that votes for the ones that represent them; that it was built for the corporate citizens for the corporations and to serve the Limited Liability Company (LLC). I thought the American Government and the ideals of their democratic values was built for the citizens and not to fit the corporate agenda and their needed heads-up to get their bills through congress either by lobby-money or PACs to secure the right Candidates in the Senate. Peace.

Opinion: Who is really the “Empty Suit”? Who might it be the Empty Suit in the Ministry of Health Care or KCCA? As the recent unfolded operations of maladministration in the public view… henceforth somebody who is just nodding to the Executive for the brown envelope.

McNULTY: “West Baltimore is dying and you empty suits are running around to pin some politician’s pelt to the wall. Thought you was real police, brother” (The Wire Season 2, Episode 13).

There is in this day and age lots of appointed government officials, they work supposed to be diligent and with honour of the codes of their work, not work directly for the ones that appointed them. That cannot always be easy as the station and the position would not been opened or given to the person if the appointee didn’t give that extended hand or blessing for the job. When you have that situation you need a strong state and strict regulatory regime that counter the possible backhand and kickbacks to the ones that appointed them.

Why do I discuss this at this point? Because it is a vital part of our government regimes and is a question that can be asked in nearly all parts of the globe. As all jobs in the branches of government does not automatically goes to the most educated, relied on or the one person who has the most integrity in the position. Instead the man or woman who gets appointed is an “empty suit”.

What some of them might do?

“What typically saves the empty suit is the tenuous relation between what he or she does and any actual business results. This may be a function of the job he’s in: a staff post, with lots of power to nix others’ initiatives but no responsibility to make or sell anything. Or a pocket of avoirdupois in a still-too-fat corporate bureaucracy, the kind of position that causes underlings to scratch their heads and wonder, ”Gee, do we really need all these vice presidents?” Or the empty suit may have come up through a system that rotates fast- trackers through a new job every 18 months, even though the effects of his tenure don’t become evident for two to three years. He hardly had time to get any grounding in the work his people do, and he may have royally screwed up the few decisions he was compelled to make, but when the chickens come home to roost, he has flown. If somebody has the bad taste to try to assign responsibility, the suit can easily fuzz the matter over by suggesting that the blame rests with his successor or former subordinates” (Kiechel, 1989).

There certainly similar like the ones described in our time in every department, every corporation and every single institution we know of. This might be the Electoral Commission of Uganda and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission of Kenya. As much as the regulatory chairs of the banking industry of Kenya must feel like empty suits these days as the confidence at that is low-key as well. The Chase Bank, The Imperial Bank and National Bank of Kenya have fallen from grace. The most likely selling of the Barclays Bank African Group might also make the fragile banking sector into more disarray as the leading regulators seems like the extra board-members instead of people who uses their position and chair with care and uses the mandate to make a difference and even square.

The situations are different when the appointed is not hired for their knowledge of their field, but the loyalty of the regime or government that is running in the country. The likes of Ministry of Health in Uganda for the moment where the hospitals are creaking and the machines are criss-crossing between life and death. Electricity and other cases of depleted. As the missing extra blood for surgery, the copy-medication and the loss of necessary equipment; that shows the lack of management and reasons for empty suits. The highest empty suit for the moment must be State Minister for Health Hon. Dr. Chris Baryomunsi who seems to be more concern with catching checks then doing his job at this point. This point comes with the correlation of Minster of Health Hon. Elioda Tumwesige and the State Minister for Primary Health Hon. Sarah Opendi Ochieng. One of the three must generate a valued pay-check and makes sure that the NMS delivers the Global Funded projects and the other government funded health care, but either Chris, Elioda or Sarah, one of them or more must be a hired “empty suit” as the three of them are put into ministerial position working for initially the same thing.

It is just like the same mess with the KCCA where you have KCCA Executive Director of Jennifer Musisi. You have Frank Tumbewaze who is both Minister of the Presidency and Kampala Affairs. Then you have the third person who got a mandate the Presidential Advisor for Kampala affairs Mr. Singh Katongole what he does is surely only him and the Executive of Uganda who knows, since his appointment in December 2015 his silence must mean a envelope and letting Hon. Tumbewaze and Hon. Musisi does what they like. To make it more hectic you have the actual people’s elected through the ballot who supposed to run the Kampala Capital City Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago. So you have hon. Musisi, Hon. Tumbewazi, Hon. Katongole and Lord Mayor Lukwago. All of them are supposed to central people in the running of administration and regulate the divisions of Kampala politically and create policies that builds and secure the functions of KCCA. That must be hectic one of these men and woman must be a empty suit. Unless Hon. Katongole who I haven’t heard a word from since appointment is an ear-to-the ground and talking or addressing letters directly to the Executive or Head of State as his role has still not been served. As the accountability of the NRM-Regime is not strong they prefer keeping people in the dark.  Hon. Tumbewaze seems more to be the ones who was appointed to turn opposition Lord Mayor on his knees and therefore also gotten a permanent Executive Director in Musisi to shut down the elected person. But the end-game is that one of them must be an “Empty Suit” as the basic needs cannot be that big, and one of them is catching the brown envelopes without doing anything.

There are certainly more empty suits in the system as I started with the appointed men who is not educated for the position, but are there for the loyalty not because of the office is needed or there for a general purpose. That is the same as extra board-members in a corporation who is hired to vote for the general consensus in the board, but not to generate profits in some sense. They are there because the Corporation and LLC need useful idiots to be paid to follow the remarks of the stakeholders and shareholders, not the common-sense of their position.

We can all question the value of these leaders and honourable men-or-woman in a representative or appointed position by the President for instance. The level of credible men and woman and the need for expertise in the government organisations, into the department and the civic care from the road-development to the health care facilities need men and woman who knows the trade. As long the men does what is needed for the President or for the Stakeholders. The ones that lose are the ordinary person, employee or civil servants as they will either work under them or have to pay them tax-money to keep them. As they have to be paid an envelope to be the empty-dress. The person who is an empty dress doesn’t become that for free. Somebody has to be charge to keep him there. Most likely it is me or you. We can just ask ourselves. Who of the appointed leaders in government is an empty suit? Who in the corporate world are the extras?

Lastly, why does the Minister Without Portfolio. Hon. Abraham Byandala gets away and is not questioned by the opposition or anybody else. Why is this man the free-man the invisible creature in the parliament that does not have scruples? This since this position is the epitome of a Empty Suit. He is a MINISTER, but does not have an OFFICE, Department or a MINISTRY to run. Hon. Byandala can do as he pleases and still get paid. You cannot check his ministry or running government portfolio as it is non-existence from the get-go. The Government Official without any oversight and anything to initial control or say in other words the official Minister of Nothing (MoN). Hon. Byandala is running the Ministry of Nothing. The Minister of Hot-Air and the checking the chapattis’ in parliament is fresh enough for Hon. Oulanyah’s taste.

Well, what do you think? Are the somebody you feels are an Empty suit? Somebody you question or wonder if really have anything more than pay-check from the Tax-Payers money, but does not use it’s office or even delivers anything. Then that person might be an empty suit who just nods the head to the Executive and the general leadership without exercising power or determine the future of the government institution, department or ministry. Even if the person is really doing anything in the boardroom or a needed voter for the stakeholders; if it is only the needed majority to follow procedure then the scheme need a check or reform.

There will certainly be more stories and the existence of similar men and woman who can be described as “Empty Suits” and be stooges needed by any administration and corporations as they viciously need structure to control the citizens and the policies without questions from the inner-circle. Even if that means not procurement of needed medicines, fuel, transformers or building bridges to easier access the missing Okor Bridge in Kumi District: “This project was intended to connect Nyero and Mukongoro sub-counties in Kumi district” (MoFED, March 2015). A bridge that does not exist or is built by now so the sub-counties is not yet connect because of the altered situation and have to run long roads around the area than crossing straight over the river. So a project like this says there some empty suits as in 2009 as company was hired to build the river, by December 2012 the works by the river had stopped. Even if the departments to UNRA gave reports of progress of the project was last monitored in 2014 and by 2016 there not been done more to build the bridge since the monopoly of the Chinese Contractor have stifled the progression and in the end wasted government funds into a building a bridge who does not exist. Just like the Ministry of Nothing Hon. Byandala.

Think that is enough for today! Peace.

Reference:

Kiechel, Walter – ‘HOW TO SPOT AN EMPTY SUIT This breed of modern manager looks good and gets along splendidly with the brass. But is he contributing anything?’ (20.11.1989) link: http://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1989/11/20/72761/index.htm

Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development – ‘NATIONAL BUDGET FRAMEWORK PAPER FY 2015/16’ (March 2015).

Ugandan government positions and the share between the regions.

Here is a short list of how the different regions have employed people in the main position in Government. This tells a story on either where the quality of those employees or where their related to. This can be either a sign of nepotism or favouritism, it could just be luck. But when you have had a stable government running since 1986, it can’t be pure luck how the picture is painted today. The clear picture is telling it all. The Western tribes are having the most significant positions and that happens to be the area where the president reside and have has big farm. In the NRM Ten-Point Program – point number three: “Consolidation of national unity and elimination of all forms of sectarianism”. We can all see that unity started in the West and Centrals has also some great positions.

Ministers:
The total amount of them is 77. The Westerner regions have 35 and that is about half of them. East have 20 so they have a great amount of them nearly one-third. Central have 15 of them. Northerners have 12. So you can see that there are more of the Western and Eastern has in total 55. So they to regions together is 2/3 of all ministers. This tells the whole tale, but also might tell how many more people lives in this regions compared to the North and Central who has 27 combined.

Presidential advisors:
It is 88 of them. Of this the Western and Central has 69 of them, but the Western has one more then Central. But there are really in charge of the advice to the executive. North and Eastern has 19. Eastern has 12 of this, so you can easily calculate that Northerners have only 7. The percentage of the Western and Central has surely a big piece of the pie.

Ugandan People’s Defense Force (UPDF):
Even like all history of Uganda, Northerners has been fitted into the army. If you read some history about the British King’s African Rifles then you’ll see that the British picked the Northerners into the army. But the biggest positions in UPDF are still to the West and none in Northerners. But the lowest mid-level positions are delegated to them.

Ugandan Police Force (UPF):
When it comes to the Police when you merger West and Central of the 15 positions they have 10. The East has 4 and Northerners has only 1. Even if it comes to the Prisons you can see that the Western has 3 positions while the Central has 2. North and East has one each. So you can see the favouritism.

Corporations, Commissions and Authorities:
The Western has 19 alone, the Central has 14, the Eastern 4 and the Northern has 1. This shows that Western and Central has 33 of the 38. Eastern has a percentage but not of any significance considering the Central has double of that one. The Northern has 1 person who the lucky one representing them. It has a meagre and nearly not existence in the further away parts of the government, and the corporations that has ownership in it.

That was my résumé on the matter. Hope it makes sense.
Peace.