Category: Politics

bookmark_borderFUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt)

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By Daniel Brouse
For Widgette / Private Business

Has America turned into a giant Tupperware Party?

The field of consumer behavior is a social science that studies the psychology of consumerism. There are five basic psychological tactics to marketing:
* emotional and psychological appeals
* optimize credibility by highlighting your flaws
* re-position your competition
* promote exclusivity
* introduce fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD)

Fear, Uncertainty, And Doubt (FUD)

The "Daisy Ad" Video
The “Daisy Ad” Video (Click for Video and Audio)

Fear is very powerful in marketing. An example of fear advertising happened when Lyndon Johnson ran against Barry Goldwater in 1964. Johnson wanted to stoke public fear that Goldwater would cause a nuclear war. The “Daisy ad” or “Peace, Little Girl” ran only one time. It showed a little girl picking petals from a daisy, followed by a nuclear explosion and Johnson ominously stating, “These are the stakes. To make a world in which all of God’s children can live, or to go into the dark.” Johnson won, carried 44 states, and took 61% of the vote in a landslide victory.

One of the first companies to use FUD as its business model is Tupperware. They pioneered the direct marketing strategy made famous by the Tupperware party. “A Tupperware party is run by a Tupperware ‘consultant’ for a host who invites friends and neighbors into his or her home to see the product line. Tupperware hosts are rewarded with free products based on the level of sales made at their party. Parties also take place in workplaces, schools, and other community groups.”

When friends and neighbors attend a Tupperware party, the host introduces fear, uncertainty, and doubt to the participants. The consumer is made to worry what their friends and neighbors will think of them if they don’t make a purchase. There is fear of being publicly humiliated and doubt whether you will be un-friended.

The most disturbing use of FUD is Donald J. Trump. The Donald has used every trick in the book when it comes to using fear, uncertainty and doubt to motivate people. The current atmosphere makes one wonder — “Has America turned into a giant Tupperware party?”

bookmark_borderTrump to Trash the Environment

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United States of America — The world watches in dismay as Donald Trump appoints Myron Ebell, a professional climate change denier, to head his EPA transition team. During his campaign, Trump said that climate change is a hoax. Slate magazine reports, “Trump had tweeted in 2012 that global warming “was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.” He has also has previously called it a ‘hoax.'”

During his campaign, Trump also threaten to pull out of the Paris Climate Pact (which the US has already signed.) The Paris Accord is meant to prevent the world from reaching “the point of no return” — limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degrees Celsius. 2016 is already forecast to be the hottest year on record with the global average temperature 1.75°F above the 20th century average of 57.4°F.

Diplomats from around the world have voiced their concern. “A carbon tariff against the United States is an option for us,” Rodolfo Lacy Tamayo, Mexico’s under secretary for environmental policy and planning, said in a New York Times interview. He added, “We will apply any kind of policy necessary to defend the quality of life for our people, to protect our environment and to protect our industries.”

“I renew my offer to President-elect Trump to come to Fiji and see the effects of climate change,” said the island nation’s prime minister, Frank Bainimarama.

Now, Trump has appointed a professional climate change denier to dismantle the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). Activists at the United Nations’ Paris talks depicted Myron Ebell, a climate contrarian, as one of seven “climate criminals” wanted for “destroying our future.” Now, Trump has appointed Ebell as head of the EPA transition team.

Municipalities throughout the U.S. are scrambling to take action prior to Trumps’ inauguration. The Baltimore Sun reports:
he Hogan administration’s petition filed this week urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to crack down on 19 out-of-state, upwind coal-fired power plants that pollute Maryland’s air is certainly a welcome development. Maryland’s environment secretary had more or less promised such action earlier this year when he declined to join a multi-state lawsuit seeking similar enforcement by the federal agency.

The strategy might even prove productive if action is taken in the waning days of the Obama administration, which has expressed concern not only about toxic pollutants like sulfur dioxide that can be particularly harmful to people with asthma or other breathing problems, but carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Maryland is imperiled by all of the above and needs federal authorities to act given that as much as 70 percent of the state’s air pollution can be traced to upwind sources.

So why does it sound like Maryland is asking for Marquess of Queensbury rules in the face of a street brawl? Most likely because Donald Trump was elected president last week and, in his first act of environmental stewardship named Myron Ebell, a professional climate change denier, to head his EPA transition team. The appointment came as no surprise given how often Mr. Trump attacked EPA’s efforts to protect public health and safety during the campaign, but it surely set the stage for what is coming next.

Here’s another clue: Those offending coal-burning plants are located in Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. What else do they all have in common besides dirty air? They all supported Mr. Trump. How did Maryland do in this regard? Hillary Clinton won 60.5 percent of the vote, one of her best showings in the nation.

More on Climate Change

bookmark_borderGay Church Vs. Corruption

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WEST CHESTER, PA — A microcosm of what is going on globally can be found at the corner’s of Gay and Church Street in West Chester, Pennsylvania. It is the County Seat and has a university within the Borough — a collision of humanity and hypocrisy.  Musicians, and artists of a wide variety, often come together at the corners of Gay and Church. Though the name Gay Church Band was meant as a location not a political statement, it is ironic that art and spirit are under attack at the corner. Police brutality in conspiracy with bureaucracy is unfortunately a reality.

REFERENCES:

Hate Crimes, Human and Civil Rights Violations in West Chester, Pennsylvania

West Chester Restricts Singing & Dancing (October 18, 2016)

Video Sample Of Gay Church Bashing

Gay Church Picture Collage

bookmark_borderViolation Of The Constitution

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WEST CHESTER, PENNSYLVANIA — Civil rights violations and hate crimes have been occurring within the borough of West Chester, PA. An existing noise ordinance was used by corrupt cops and a few businesses (Penn’s Table, Malena’s, and Malcolm Johnstone of the West Chester Business Improvement District) to commit crimes of hate. After the civil rights violations, a conspiracy to cover-up the illegal activities ensued. When that failed, a new ordinance was adopted that further violates the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the Constitution of the United States of America:

Street Performing — Includes, but is not limited to, the following activities: acting, singing, playing musical instruments, pantomime, juggling, magic, dancing, reading aloud, puppetry and reciting.

West Chester Passes Unconstitutional Law October 18th, 2016

Dan Truitt Vs. Carolyn Comitta for PA State Representative October 13th, 2016

HATE CRIMES AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
(most recent)

Anthony Marion (Penn’s Table Restaurant) Right To Know
Anthony Marion Criminal Complaint #1
Anthony Marion Criminal Complaint #2
Anthony Marion Criminal Complaint #3

Chronological Order of Crimes in West Chester Against Street Musicians in 2016 (Partial List)

More information about the Busking / Street Performance Law
Boycott-Malena's, West Chester, Gay Church

Updated Hate Crimes and Ordinance from August

August 2016

bookmark_borderDisappearing Islands (Climate Change Refugees)

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By Daniel Brouse

THE MARSHALL ISLANDS — If your home is going underwater, you have no doubt about human induced climate change. This is the case for Bikini islanders. In the 1940’s, Bikini island was used for atomic bomb tests. The United States conducted at least 23 nuclear tests including the Bravo hydrogen bomb (the largest weapon of mass destruction at that time.) In 1946, the US relocated residents of Bikini island to another of the Marshall Islands and set up a trust fund. However, by 2011 floods, high tides and encroaching salt water began threatening their existence.

“The people of Bikini came back to us and asked us to take this proposal to the US, to request the resettlement trust fund be used to settle people in the US not just the Marshall Islands,” said Tony de Brum, Foreign Minister of the Marshall Islands. “We have not seen the final text of the legislation but the request that went in was on the basis of Kili being uninhabitable because of climate change.”

This could be the first wave of climate change refugees. It is possible that coastal cities worldwide will need to relocate during this century.

Atomic Bomb Test at Bikini Island
Atomic Bomb Test at Bikini Island

bookmark_borderThe FED (Federal Reserve Bank)

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by Daniel Brouse

The FED tries to control our spending… and that ain’t easy.

It seems to happen around election time — all these wacky posts about the FED. (Luckily, I’ve a degree in international economics for just such an occasion.) If you are posting about the FED, please remember these facts:
* The FED regulates banks to the best of their ability. (They also try to keep inflation and employment under control.) It is called “monetary policy”.
* No one owns the FED as it is part of our government oversight.
* Those that borrow money from the FED fund the FED (usually banks foot the bill.)
* The FED has too little power and no control over fiscal policy (spending).
* If we control our own spending, the FED doesn’t do anything.

Though I hated it happening, thank God the FED went beyond their powers. When the Fiscal Policy of “us” USA citizens was (and still is) in crisis, the FED was forced to intervene in an unprecedented manner; however, even under these circumstances the FED made money for USA citizens. (The “bailouts” made billions of dollars for the Treasury. OUTFLOWS: $617 billion / INFLOWS: $681 billion) Please blame us before blaming the FED. Check out your responsibility for fiscal policy.

bookmark_borderTrans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP)

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by Daniel Brouse

The Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) is a free trade agreement being negotiated by twelve countries:
Australia, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, United States, Vietnam, Chile, Brunei, Singapore, and New Zealand. The TPP will eliminate over 18,000 taxes, tariffs and other trade barriers.

One of the largest benefits of the TPP will be protecting the environment. Participating countries will need to adopt tougher pollution standards similar to the USA. “TPP includes the most robust enforceable environment commitments of any trade agreement in history,” according the United States. “TPP requires countries to play by fair environmental rules if they want to send their goods to the United States, and upgrades NAFTA by putting fully enforceable environment obligations at the core of the agreement.” In addition, TPP helps improve conditions on the ground in TPP countries by requiring them to:
* Fulfill their obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to protect and conserve iconic species, such as rhinos and elephants.
* For the first time in any trade agreement, prohibit harmful fisheries subsidies, including those that contribute to overfishing, and work to restrain new subsidy programs or enhancements to existing subsidy programs.
* Combat illegal fishing, promote sustainable fisheries management practices, and protect wetlands and important natural areas.
* Promote the long-term conservation of whales, dolphins, sharks, sea turtles, and other marine species at risk.
* Combat wildlife trafficking, illegal logging, and illegal fishing through enhanced national and regional actions.
* Protect the marine environment from ship pollution, including by implementing their obligations under MARPOL (an international agreement to prevent marine pollution).

Another benefit of the TPP will be the recognition of Intellectual Property (IP) Rights. Countries would be required to adopt standards inline with the USA. TPP copyrights are proposed to be “for the author’s life plus 70 years.”

The Agreement covers more than 40 percent of global GDP. Of the international economists questioned, the only complaint about TPP is — it doesn’t include the entire world.

Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) Map
Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) Map

Also see: GMO Rice Wins Humanitarian Award

bookmark_borderCopyrights And Patents

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by Daniel Brouse

Though copyrights and patents are generally thought to protect the creator from the public, sometimes they may be thought to protect the public from the creator.

A copyright offers protection to literary and musical works. In the United States a copyright’s duration is usually for the life of the author plus 70 years. The laws vary from country to country. Mein Kampf is a book written by Adolf Hitler while he was in prison. When Hitler died, the rights passed to the Bavarian authorities. Some people consider Mein Kampf to be the most dangerous book ever written. The expiration of the copyright is in December 2015. “The Bavarians have used copyright to control republication of Mein Kampf but that control is coming to an end – what happens next? This is still a dangerous book – there are issues with neo-Nazis, and a danger of people misinterpreting it if it’s not put into context,” says John Murphy, whose grandfather translated the first unabridged English language version in 1936.

In the United States, a utility patents’ term is 20 years. Monsanto says, “The first-generation Roundup Ready® soybean trait – the world’s most widely adopted biotech trait, planted by farmers on billions of acres since 1996 — comes off patent in 2015.”

bookmark_borderTorture = Enhanced Interrogation Techniques

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The United States’ Senate Intelligence Committee released a 6,000 page report detailing how the CIA tortured prisoners at Bagram, Guantanamo Bay, and Abu Ghraib. A 480 page summary gives a troubling overview. The BBC reports:

  • Were the interrogation methods – torture if you like – more extensive and more brutal than previously admitted? It looks like the conclusion is “Yes”
  • Did these interrogation techniques deliver life-saving intelligence to the US? That answer appears to be “No”
  • Were CIA officials at the time honest with the White House about the program? Again, “No”

Dianne Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, referred to “Enhanced Interrogation Techniques” as torture.

bookmark_borderWar Declared

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Washington DC — On September 10, 2014 between 9PM and 9:15PM, President Obama declared war on the Islamic State (ISIS).

“Our objective is clear: We will degrade, and ultimately destroy, ISIL through a comprehensive and sustained counter-terrorism strategy.”

Critics raised debate on the irony of Obama going into Iraq after his position on getting out of Iraq.

President Obama Declaring War on ISIL
President Obama Declaring War on ISIL