Today's News & Politics
News Story #1: UBS refusing to hand over names of people from America with bank accounts in Switzerland.
Thoughts:
How much money is in secret off shore accounts here? Millions? Billions? Gazillions? Maybe they can compromise and just hand over names of people with accounts (or sum of accounts) totalling over a certain amount.
If I was a rich person with off shore accounts, I would be ashamed of myself. People are suffering because of the financial crisis. If you are rich and hiding money, you are contributing to their suffering. They probably already live crazy luxury lives, why shouldn't they pay for their fair share of taxes?
Switzerland is in serious risk of being blackballed in the global financial system. Tax evasion can't be tolerated. The swiss "rules" need justification. The laws shouldn't continue to be the way they are just because they are laws. Rules and laws should have good reasons. But, there are always two sides to the coin. Right now, switzerland, by helping extremely rich people, is hurting those who are suffering and could benefit from the money instead of it sitting in a bank account.
Gordon Brown, thanks for standing up and saying what needs to be said. Sen. Levin, thanks for standing up to UBS.
Links To Learn More:
WRS Story
Bloomberg Article
UK Gaurdian Story
Washington Post
News Story #2: CA High court listens to opening arguments in the Prop 8 debate.
Thoughts:
Finally, a court case and a court trial. We all knew it was going to come down to this. Thousands of people across CA held a candlelight vigil last night to rally in hopes to spread awareness and attention that the trial is beginning today. Rob and I plan to listen to the webcast tonight. I think this issue is a simple one.
Protect minority rights and do not let religious values dictate laws for everyone.
If either of these two ideas are broken, we will have inched closer to majority and religious rule. Do I need to explain further? Maybe. But I think founding fathers of this country can do it much more eloquently.
Here is what Thomas Jefferson had to say about majority rule:
"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression." --Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801. ME 3:318
Here is another simple thought. America is a republic and we elect leaders to study the issues and create laws. The mass of people in America do not have the time or the intelligence necessary to create laws. One person can be smart, a crowd of people is always dumb. Therefore, I don't want uneducated people voting on my basic human rights.
I could go on and on about how much I really want religion to stay out of government. The answer always boils down to this one thing. People are scared to die. Instead of facing this fear, they fill their head with a religious story (fairytale) that tells you "your never going to die in mind and spirit". With this fairytale, in order for you to prevent death and suffering, you have to follow these religious "guidelines" and impose them on others. NOT COOL. Recognize that your religion should have nothing to do with others. Keep it out of other's lives. Forget about me, save yourself and we'll both be happy.
Sorry, need to stop ranting.
I would love to hear your comments on this one. I am always up for a good debate. 
Links to Learn More:
LA Times - Candlelight Vigil's
Mercury News - Calif. Legislature supports gay marriage challenge
USA Today
And for fun - an intresting Dilbert Blog thread. Some people get it, some people don't.
Posts
2 comments:
Phew.... I am going to put your blog as a favourite if that is ok with you.... because your comments are challenging on this post... not that I agree necessarily, but you argue your point well...
Some thoughts... I disagree with the UBS thing... Why should Switzerland enforce inadequacies of the IRS of the USA? It is only now that the US is struggling with revenues that this is an issue, and perhaps it serves as a diversion from its real problems...? Rich people should not be embarassed as much as the US regulators themselves (SEC) in this mess, even if they have squirreled away money. Regulation has failed us here and incompetent government and over regulating one aspect of tax evasion will still be far away from any solution to this crisis... If it is not Switzerland then it will be somewhere else... perhaps Guernsey, Isle of Mann (Mr Gordon Brown)? They should be focussing first on what they can control, which will take them far further to closing up the problems than Switzerland and UBS.
I am not sure if Switzerland is right to be honest, but feel uncomfortable with bullying a country for not enforcing another ones rules, particularly when the rules may be open to interpretation... there is alot of grey area here...
Secondly... I am of the belief that the "one man one vote" system is flawed for reasons as you point out... Africa is full of uneducated people who are abused in terms of their vote and lack of education by power hungry despots. This results in incompetence in government and educated contributors to the economies leaving the continent due to a total inability to swing the "public" feeling.... I believe that voting should be based on education levels, which are reviewed periodically to be adjusted to the "increasing education" of the populous... Africa doesnt protect the minorities and therefore the mess. Read the minorities as the educated please, not whites.
Sorry for cluttering up your blog with a whole lot of comment... I like reading it by the way... thanks
Thanks for the comment Shaun.
What matters most, is that they are tackling the issue at all. I honestly don't care where they start. In my opinion, if you are harboring money off shore - you are a criminal. Institutions should NOT help criminals. I am happy for the baby steps being made.
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