Heinlein Centennial

China No Longer Red Nor In The Red

Forward Into The Past could be the motto of modern capitalist China. China could eradicate poverty by 2050: think tank Or perhaps its backwards into the future. China frets over widening income disparity

As Comrade Lenin once said One Step Forward Two Steps Back applies to China.
‘Democracy-less China laid waste' Pollution has become one of the biggest tests for the Chinese Communist Party but a lack of democracy stands in the way of an easy remedy, a newspaper on Thursday quoted a top environment official as saying. China's Toxic Capitalism
China Reports Rise in Coal Mine Deaths

He also said that 'socialism was state capitalism with electricity' which also applies. China unveils blueprint to become world power in Science & Technology

Ironically the only people who still believe that China is Red are those retro politicos like unrepentant Stalinsts/Maoists, ultra-Trotskyist sects and the vast majority of the American Right Wing.

China is no longer Red nor is it in the Red.
China planning to set up gold fund
China becomes a net vehicle exporter in 05-official
China 2005 non-financial overseas investment up 25.8 pct at 6.92 bln (US))
China leads developing countries in trademark applications

While China transforms from a sole monopoly state capitalist economy into a growing Monopoly corporate capitalist economy before their unbelieving eyes.China established nine FTAs in past five years

Sure the CPC is still in control politically but the party in power does not alter the nature of the political economy of a country, ideology does not trump economic fact. And the fact is that China is opening up its state capitalist economy to a market model, with state funded monopolies not unlike other countries. For instance China and Saudi Arabia are a natural fit. China Challenges US over Saudi Oil

India booms but -- unlike China -- democracy dulls the tiger's claws

There is a lingering doubt that the Indian tiger will be roused from its 50-year sleep. India is not China; even as the Sensex soars, the government reached a deal with airport workers, promising them job security after a five-day strike created stinking rubbish heaps. Where China's despotic gerontocrats can bulldoze teeming slums for new highways, India's leaders must negotiate. The government sees a need for an extra 100 gigawatts of power by 2012, but the dams and power stations will be fought every inch of the way by petty officials, hysterical NGOs and any babu after a buck.

It's the price India pays for democracy. The country's rapidly expanding middle class is the growth engine but it is the 200 million locked in poverty that could push the engine off the rails. Half a century after independence, literacy is 63 per cent, a reproach to the buyers of a million cars that emerge every year from India's shiny new factories.

And it has opened itself up to the world market and the market has responded with the first WTO meeting ever held in China. Ok it was Hong Kong but that is still China. By playing by the WTO rules Chinese corporations and investors even offshored their textile plants to Africa in order to bypass textile regulations that restricted its marketing cheap textiles into the G8. And as soon as that regulation was dropped this year they shut those plants down. Just like any other capitalist company would do.

And freedom loving democratic capitalist corporation like Google and Yahoo have responded to Chinas growing technologically accessible consumers by doing business with and in China, with little concern of the government in power.. Yahoo accused in jailing of 2nd China Internet user

And the US is mightly afraid of it, as the only global super-power that can challenge it.

Pentagon plays up "China threat" to secure more military funds

US senate legislation seeks to repeal China normal trade relations ...

Today’s cost-benefit equation decisively favors the U.S., but that balance is shifting. The U.S. is losing manufacturing capacity, and becoming more dependent on Chinese imports. 2005 data will show that the U.S. trade deficit with China grew 25 percent. Meanwhile, China’s manufacturing capacity and sophistication are increasing. Time is therefore on China’s side.Who's Afraid of China?

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The New Space Race for the Red Planet

Here is why NASA is cutting funding for scientific research to fuel a new space race. Cause the Soviet Union might get to Mars first. After all it is a Red planet, so it would he a natural to house dem Reds. NASA's Griffin: 'Humans Will Colonize the Solar System'

Is it important that Americans lead the way?

To me it's important because I like the United States, and because I know -- I don't know the date -- but I know that humans will colonize the solar system and one day go beyond. And it is important for me that humans who carry -- I'll characterize it as Western values -- are there with them.

You know, I think we know the kind of society we would get if you, for example, carry Soviet values. That means you want a gulag on Mars. Is that what you're looking for?

Yes I know the Soviet Union collapsed seven years ago don't tell me tell the director of NASA. A gulag on Mars heaven forbid. The Americans would build a Gitmo.

Also see: The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress


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William Stairs

William Stairs the Conservative Communications boss, who obviously has been missing in action this week reminds me of this guy, he has the same combed over hair, the whispy mustache and the craggy old face. I wonder if they were seperated at birth.....nah it would make William as old as he looks and as outdated as his ideology is.



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A Week of Scandal

Oh it gets better and better for the Tories. First week and they not only blow their honeymoon they kick the party goers out and pull up the draw bridge and make like they are the Branch Davidians in Waco.

Lets review shall we.

'

Didn't want to run' in election, Fortier says

Emerson blocked deal on softwood- Liberals

Softwood file may be too hot for Emerson

Liberals, NDP balk at plan to cut MPs out of gun registry decision

NDP to introduce national child-care proposal

Tory MPs say Emerson should run in byelection

Harper ally urges Senate elections

Raising age of consent, tougher gun penalties top Tory list

Harper urges caucus calm

What change? Conservatives comfy in power

Harper's already forgotten why he won

So much for Harper's promise

Harper not above political games

Same old, same old

PM's eye firmly fixed on next election

EDITORIAL: Bad start for Tories

Meet the new boss, same as the old boss

A page from the Liberals

And finally this takes the cake:

Nine Pro-Life Members of Parliament in New Canadian Government Cabinet

And by the way notice that there is not a word about Gay Marriage. Cause that important agenda item is waiting till the fall.

Yep the week is barely out and its the scandals are still warm and writhing in Ottawa, and folks thought there would be a big change after Harper got in.

Give your head a shake.


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You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

Ralph Kleins brain was on Mike Duffy Live today. I am speaking of Rod Love of course. Now that Rod is no longer Ralph's EA he is in Ottawa doing his usual, working the backrooms of the Conservative party.

In a heated debate with Liberal and NDP strategists about the four days of Conservative screw ups, Love with typical Alberta PC arrogance after being told that Harpers Conservatives shouldn't be smug, replied smugly " You ain't seen nothing yet".

Love, like Klein indeed like Stockwell Day and all the boys from Calgary are smug bastards. They make Trudeau look loveable in comparison. The fact is that Harper has inherited this Calgary disease, though folks outside of the province mistake this for an Alberta smugness, which it isn't of course. It comes from being in power, a virtual dictatorship a one party state for so long that when it comes to Ottawa politics these guys are out of their league.

While Klein has media savvy and a relationship with the press that allows him to appear congenial, when push comes to shove, he too throws hissy fits and the old Calgary arrogance gets the better of him.Eleven Days of Scandal Alberta Style

Same with our new Conservative government in Ottawa. Harper ran away from the traditional photo op press scrum opening day of his first cabinet meeting. Black cars carrying the new cabinet and to their Meech lake retreat sped past the media.

Harper's ministerial rookies attend all-day training session There was one group of people not allowed to ask questions of ministers on Wednesday - the media. The few reporters who covered the meeting were forced to stand alongside the highway leading onto the property while ministerial sedans drove past

Then the media goes to cover the first family moving into the rundown mansion that is the offical residence of the PM and again the Harpers become camera shy.
So they snap pictures of the moving vans and 24 Sussex Drive. They have an easier time interviewing the moving guys than the PM.

Peter McKay has a private conversation with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and there is no media briefing. Harper has a conversation with Jean Charest Premier of Quebec and a deal is made over day care funding, making a special deal with Quebec while stating he will cancel the Liberal deal with the other provinces.

His child-care vision
Scant days into his hard-won mandate, Stephen Harper is apparently succumbing to the insidious temptation to buy peace at any cost to this precarious federation. In a conversation with Quebec Premier Jean Charest this week, the Prime Minister gravely agreed to discuss a possible "transition period" for Quebec that could extend its federal funding for child care beyond the program's new termination date of March 31, 2007. The result was predictable. The other provinces are scrambling to form a united front to demand continued funding for themselves, arguing that all provinces should be treated equally. The drama has become a parable on how not to handle the federation.

Then David Emerson calls two conference call press conferences. One yesterday that was postponed till today. After waiting 25 minutes reporters in Ottawa get told the controversial Minister is stuck in traffic and the conference call is canceled. Mike Duffy Live: David Emerson conference call cancelled The problem was that Emerson was in Ottawa, there was no traffic jam and he was in the same building as the media. Truly this is the gang that couldn't shot straight.

What has the Ottawa wags talking is that Harper has essentially blown it this week. When Greg Weston of the Sun, a Tory symp, gets in a lather over the lack of communications from the Conservatives, well you are in trouble.

The Conservatives arrogantly asumed the Emerson affair would be a one day news story and go away. PM: criticism 'superficial' track Harper defends Emerson's appointment in interview Well that didn't happen. Then their syncophants in the media suggested it would blow over in four days. Well its four days later and beside the stupid press conference call mistake here are todays headlines;

Outrage grows over defection

Controversy dogs Emerson move

Turncoat MP Emerson unbowed by criticism

'I don't really care' about reaction to party switch: Emerson

Yep arrogance and smugness. Welcome to Ottawa, Alberta. The media is about to get a taste of what the media, the public, the voters, the taxpayers of Alberta have faced for 13 years under Love and Klein. Harper brings the same paranoid secretaive governing style as he ran his party with, and as the Calgary gang runs Alberta.

Clearly this week Harper has been PM, chief strategist, chief policy wonk and chief media coordinator. Because we have returned to the old politics of the Alliance and the Alberta Tories. Which may go over in Airdrie and Red Deer but won't fly in Ottawa. The media in Ottawa is political, it has teeth and you don't shut them out like you do the media in Alberta.

So Rod Love better be prepared to wipe that smug look off his mug he is playing with the big boys now, not the backroom boys he is used to. Mr. Harper had better hire some communications people quick, like yesterday, and should reconsider the wisdom of not appointing a deputy PM. He should also drop the cone of silence routine, that may sell in Calgary but it's political suicide in Ottawa.





More Love stories:
The Love Affair is Over
Political Piggies At The Trough
Gomery in Love

More Emerson



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You Are Paying For This

While collecting his MP's salary ......Pallister tours province to gauge support for Tory leadership run





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Good Point

Another attack on unionized city workers, you know the stories we all hear, about the guys standing around doing nothing. Well such was the case when the City of Montreal decided to secretly spy on its blue collar workers and see how they were working. As a result the city bosses alleged they found workers taking to long to fill potholes. However there are always two sides to a story. This one will make the rounds of course because it is a stereotype, but the union side will probably get less coverage. So lets hear from them...

"The city is trying to advance its own interests by turning the public against the blue collar workers," says union spokesman Michel Fontaine. He's worried the city will use this issue to promote privatization of its municipal work force. Fontaine also has questions about how the investigation was undertaken. "How could the workers in question not have done their work for so many hours and be under surveillance, but not have a supervisor present?"

Yeah that was convenient having the supervisor the shift foreman away when the workers were being video taped. So where was he, and how come he didn't get suspended....I smell a rat.




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Will Tories Goose Workers

Sorry I just couldn't resist that headline after seeing this;

Tory government worries Goose base workers
Workers at the Goose Bay air base are wondering if the new government in Ottawa will implement $50-million of improvements promised by the Liberals in November.

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Canada

Science or Tourism

First NASA science research gets censored by the Bush regime then they do this;

Science will play a diminishing role at NASA as the space agency emphasizes lunar exploration in the next five years, according to a new governmental budget.

Budget would squeeze NASA spending
Bush, who two years ago called on NASA to recapture its former glory by mounting an ambitious program to return astronauts to the moon, is asking Congress to give the space agency a minimal raise. (Related items: White House version of NASA budget | Full NASA budget document (both PDF)

And how do they plan to fund their next moon mission, well through P3's.

NASA makes hard cuts in research to preserve shoot for the moon
Yet the budget also breaks ground for NASA, which proposes to invest $500 million over five years to nurture a fledgling commercial-rocket industry outside the usual cast of major aerospace characters. Start-ups such as SpaceX in Redondo Beach, Calif., are designing and building rockets aimed at driving down launch costs far below the shuttle's pricey $10,000 a pound. Space entrepreneurs have long complained that NASA has steeply tilted the playing field toward behemoths such as Boeing and Lockheed-Martin, even as it professed a sometimes grudging willingness to expand commercial development of space.

"Using money intended for science programs to find continued operation of the shuttle is a serious setback to the US space program," according to Wesley Huntress Jr., former associate administrator for space science at NASA who heads the geophysics department at the Carnegie Institution in Washington.

He argued the agency is using money from "a popular and highly productive program" to pay for a program slated for cancellation.

Which means expect less of this; NASA's Spitzer Uncovers Hints of Mega Solar Systems and this:Hot Halo Find Confirms Theory

And more of this:Tourism and Travel Commercial space flights may be on horizon
In Business Las Vegas, NV - 3 Feb 2006
... The FAA says a recent space tourism study that included a poll of affluent Americans indicates that space tourism could generate more than $1 billion in ...

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